Tossing and turning on the hardwood floor, Ru finally gave up on sleep. The one thing that seemed to have been a constant in her life was this insomnia that didn't let her sleep.
Giving up on her sleep, Ru changed into a tracksuit and left her condo. She went to the running track in the park to vent out her pent up frustration. Lack of sleep often left people with a bad mood and she was no different except for the part that she always hid her turbulent state of mind with ease.
She spent hours running on the track just to tire herself out. But her stamina was way better than even a professional runner. Because she was a martial artist, there was no way a bit of running could wear her down.
As the dawn approached, Ru decided to give up on this endless cycle of running and went back to her place. Right when she was about to enter the passcode, her eyes fell on a parcel that was placed before her door.
Taking the parcel with herself, Ru went inside the condo. She took off her shoes and walked towards the sitting area barefoot. As she tore open the parcel, to her surprise, she found three books inside along with a sticky note that read: Have a happy time learning something new.
She pressed her lips together and looked at the titles of the book. She noticed that each book was published in a different country.
Although there was no name on that note, Ru could still tell who sent these books. There was a warm feeling in her heart as her lips curled upward.
She spent that day thinking about the parcel. Even when Wu Dishi was showing her the new design models for their upcoming project, she wasn't listening.
In the evening, she stood right outside the apartment no 101 and kept hesitating. There were two choices in her mind; either to just forget about it or to say thank you for the gift she received. She was rather reluctant because of the latter. Since life gave her plenty of opportunities to say sorry but the same life didn't really give her a reason to say thank you.
In her heart, she knew that if she knocked on this door today for the sale of gratitude, she'd be involving herself in something undo-able. And she'd lying if she said she wasn't scared of getting attached again. Even if it was friendship, she had lost her faith in it. Because in the end, people would always choose the one they love rather the one they called a friend.
But as she learned to always go with the choice that scared her, she eventually knocked on the door. In her opinion the scariest one's choice would be, the better that decision would turn out to be.
Within minutes, the door was pulled open and Xiao Zhi Ren's damp hair came in her view. He lifted his eyes and immediately frowned to find Ru at the door.
"Rong? What brought you here?" His mellow voice broke her gaze from his raven colored hair that was a precise match with his eyes.
"Ahem… Zhi, have you heard that the darkest hour comes right before the dawn?" Xiao Zhi Ren couldn't fathom where this conversation was heading but he chose not to fathom as well because of the peculiar nature of the person before him. He simply chose to nod his head. "I once heard a joke that if you want to steal your neighbor's milk and newspaper, that's the right time to do it. Heh heh!"
Xiao Zhi Ren smiled at her not so humorous joke and asked, "So, did you steal the milk?"
"Huh?" Ru quirked her brows at his question and shook her head saying, "I'd been many things in my life but I'd never been a thief. That's against my principles." After speaking righteously, she suddenly noticed something as she asked, "Hey, why didn't you ask for the newspaper?"
"Because you'd rather drink milk than to read some boring current affairs." Xiao Zhi Ren answered with a shrug of his shoulder and Ru was a bit surprised that he actually could see through her now. But obviously, she wasn't embarrassed at all.
"Anyway, that was not what I came here for, " she took a pause to look straight into his eyes and continued, "I believe you chose that darkest hour to drop a parcel at my door."
"How did you figure that it was me?" He wasn't really surprised that she learned about it.
"Because of the note. I only told you that I love learning about new things but I don't buy books myself." Ru answered matter-of-factly.
"Are you here to confront me or something?" asked Xiao Zhi Ren.
"No… Not at all." Ru shook her head and wiggled her nose a bit before she crouched down and picked up a pot that she had placed beside his door. "I don't really know how to say thank you but I recently learned that it shouldn't be done empty handed. So, I brought this for you."
Xiao Zhi Ren took the pot from her and eyed it in a weird way as he said, "So, you brought me spring onions?" Yes! That's exactly the thing planted in that small pot.
"Correction… It's fresh spring onions. Whenever you want they'd be right there for you. Just cut that green part and you are good to go." Ru even pointed at the green part to let him know. "I took care of them for the past 6 months. You better be nice to them."
How exactly was one supposed to be nice to spring onions? That was what Xiao Zhi Ren wanted to ask but he noticed that she gave him this with sincere feelings. Also, it was one of the most practical gifts he had come across in his life.
"Rong, there is really no need for this." Xiao Zhi Ren only left those books because he thought that a person like her would definitely love to read something meaningful. He never really thought he'd be the one receiving a thank you gift.
"You don't like the gift?" Ru asked with a solemn face. She didn't think buying him something expensive would be any useful after all he was a billionaire himself.
"I like the gift," answered Xiao Zhi Ren.
"Okay, then I'll take my leave now." She turned, intending to leave.
"Stop!" Ru looked back at Xiao Zhi Ren and raised her brow inquiringly. "I'm about to make dinner. Stay for the meal."
"Nah… I'm okay." Xiao Zhi Ren was taken aback by her answer.
He lifted his hand and placed it against her forehead as if checking her temperature. Ru swatted his hand away with a scowl. "What are you doing?"
"I was checking if you're fine… I mean how can Rong say no to food?" Ru's mouth twitched as she heard him teasing her like this. "Have you been switched with your evil clone?" Seeing him being dramatic was quite new for Ru.
"Ha ha ha…" She gave a dry laugh and rolled her eyes, "That was not funny. Also, I do love food but I don't like being a burden to someone."
Xiao Zhi Ren smiled, held her wrist and pulled her inside the apartment saying, "It's not like I'm going to cook specifically for you. If you still think you'd be a burden just help me in the kitchen."
Ru looked at his hand holding her wrist feeling a strange sensation making its way up to her heart. 'When was the last time someone held my hand?' She didn't have the answer for herself. She shook her head and thought about his suggestion. She could help in the kitchen in exchange for food. That was a good deal. "Okay!" She gladly agreed.