Chapter 344: A Lonely Man and Woman, Going Upstairs Late at Night

Lin Yuan was half‑sobered instantly by that question, his face went "peng" red to the ears.

At this moment, he felt panicked.

"How come your face is red? Could it be that I guessed right?" Qin Bore narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly.

Lin Yuan hurriedly waved his hands and shook his head, voice trembling: "No, no! I didn't mean it that way!"

The courage that had just welled up vanished instantly, leaving only a heart full of panic; he didn't even dare to meet her gaze, obviously feeling guilty.

"I, I just wanted to say, I want to be lifelong good friends with you..." Lin Yuan said awkwardly, trying to cover up.

He ultimately couldn't say those words, because he didn't dare, because he felt inferior and timid.

Qin Bore looked at his embarrassed state, couldn't help laughing, reached out and ruffled his hair, the motion casually affectionate: "Of course, although you're my tenant, you're quite interesting; I've always treated you as a good friend. I celebrated your birthday and planted osmanthus trees for you, treating you as a good friend."

Lin Yuan nodded awkwardly, his face full of endless disappointment.

She really just treats me as a friend, huh?

Lin Yuan sighed inwardly.

The wind blew again, osmanthus petals fell into the wine cup on the stone table, creating tiny ripples; Lin Yuan watched the petal, his disappointment fading a bit—being able to sit like this with her, enjoying osmanthus and wine, being friends didn't seem so bad.

Some women are destined to be unattainable.

Then I'll stay by her side, silently accompanying and protecting her.

This is enough.

Qin Bore picked up the wine bottle and poured a little more for both of them, smiling as she changed the subject: "We've almost finished this wine, and we're hungry—how about getting some late‑night snacks from the street?"

Lin Yuan nodded immediately; he was also feeling hungry, he tidied the ebony wood box and put it in the car, then followed Qin Bore toward the nearby night‑snack street.

The night‑snack street buzzed with lively energy, the sizzle of skewers and the vendors' calls blending together; Qin Bore led Lin Yuan to an old‑brand skewer stall, skillfully ordering a few skewers of non‑spicy pork tenderloin and chicken wings, plus a serving of stir‑fried rice noodles.

Lin Yuan watched her practiced manner and couldn't help asking: "Do you come here often to eat?"

Qin Bore bit into a freshly grilled pork tenderloin, her eyes shining with satisfaction: "I come whenever I have a craving; this place's stir‑fried rice noodles are the most fragrant—give them a try."

It's hard to imagine that a rich heiress like Qin Bore would occasionally come to a roadside stall for late‑night snacks.

She's really down‑to‑earth.

Qin Bore picked up a chopstickful of stir‑fried rice noodles and brought it to Lin Yuan's mouth; he instinctively opened his mouth, the oily aroma mixed with soy sauce spreading in his mouth—indeed it was chewier than elsewhere.

After finishing the night‑snack, Lin Yuan volunteered to drive Qin Bore home; she didn't refuse, sitting in the passenger seat of the Ferrari, watching the streetlights flash by outside, occasionally exchanging a few words with Lin Yuan.

Ten minutes later, the Ferrari pulled up beneath an office building, the Qiantang Technology Building.

The whole building belongs to Qin Bore; she lives on the top floor of the office tower, a several‑thousand‑square‑meter river‑view luxury residence.

"Miss Qin, you're home," Lin Yuan said as he opened the door and stepped out, "Today, thank you for celebrating my birthday and giving me such a precious gift."

Qin Bore also opened the door and stepped out, waving her jade hand: "It's fine, no need to be so formal—we're friends. Good night."

Saying that, she stepped in her high heels and was about to enter the building.

Lin Yuan was also about to scan a Meituan bike to go home.

But just then, Qin Bore suddenly turned her head and shouted, "Lin Yuan, do you want to come up and sit for a while?"

Swish! Hearing those words, Lin Yuan froze??

Lin Yuan's heart raced, he had some words that were flustered and sluggish?

Goddess landlord, actually inviting him to come upstairs late at night?

This??

Lin Yuan really was overthinking a bit.

At that moment, Qin Bore continued: "Sweet Cone's anorexia has improved a lot lately; it now eats cat food voluntarily. Also, the fish you helped me pick last time—I've put it in the fish tank. You know a bit about veterinary medicine; could you check if they're okay?"

Lin Yuan scratched his head embarrassedly: "Um… sure."

So it was just asking him to look after the pet.

Lin Yuan's heart had really been racing earlier; only now did he realize what was going on.

Qin Bore laughed and led Lin Yuan into the building.

The two took the elevator upstairs.

The elevator lights were bright; the two stood there, the atmosphere feeling a bit subtle.

Soon the elevator stopped at the top floor, the 52nd.

As the elevator doors opened, she slipped the key into the lock; with a "click" the door opened, and immediately a cheerful cat's meow came from inside.

Before Qin Bore could take off her high heels, an orange‑white British Shorthair cat leapt down from the cat climbing frame in the entryway, tail held high, racing straight toward Lin Yuan—it was Sweet Cone.

Sweet Cone wasn't shy at all; it rubbed against Lin Yuan's feet, then climbed up his trouser leg, finally leaping into his arms, its fluffy head rubbing against his chest, making a "gurgling" sound.

Lin Yuan was amused by its enthusiasm; he set down the ebony wood box, gently supported Sweet Cone's body, and scratched its chin with his fingertips: "Sweet Cone seems a bit plumper—looks like its anorexia really improved."

Qin Bore changed into slippers, watching the person and cat being affectionate, she smiled gently: "Before, it wouldn't even eat canned food; later, following your advice, I mixed some minced chicken breast and fish into its kibble, and gradually it started eating."

She pointed to the cat food bowl by the entryway, which still held about half a bowl of kibble: "Look, it ate quite a bit tonight—much better than before."

Lin Yuan held Sweet Cone and went inside.

In the several‑thousand‑square‑meter residence, a faint woman's fragrance drifted in the air.

Everything in Qin Bore's residence smells nice; Lin Yuan inhaled the scent and felt his mood relax considerably.

He checked Sweet Cone's cat food: "This ratio is just right; Sweet Cone's condition is very good."

Sweet Cone curled up expertly, its tail lightly hooked around his wrist, lying in Lin Yuan's arms… shortly after it began to emit a faint purring.

This little guy actually fell asleep in Lin Yuan's arms?

Lin Yuan stiffened, not daring to move, his fingertips hovering in mid‑air, afraid that even a slight motion would wake the little creature in his arms; he subconsciously softened his breath, only daring to glance at the furball of Sweet Cone curled on his leg with the corner of his eye.

Qin Bore walked over holding two cups of warm water, seeing this scene she couldn't help laughing; she stepped lightly and sat on the sofa opposite him.

"Sweet Cone never lets strangers hold it; when I once had a pet vet come to check it, it hid under the sofa all day and wouldn't come out—but with you it's an exception," Qin Bore said with a smirk.

Hearing that, Lin Yuan felt a faint warmth rise in his heart; he lowered his gaze to Sweet Cone's pink paw pads peeking out, couldn't resist lightly touching them with his fingertip—the soft sensation made the corners of his mouth involuntarily turn up.

Wait for Sweet Cone to fall asleep, Qin Bore then brought Lin Yuan to the balcony to look at the koi fish; the water in the fish tank was clear and transparent, a two‑jin koi fish swayed its tail swimming freely, occasionally pecking at the fish food floating on the water surface.

"Xiao Lin, your older brother has come." Qin Bore said to the large koi fish in the fish tank.

This fish tank was newly purchased by her, specifically for raising this koi fish.

That koi fish actually swam over, blowing bubbles while sleeping.

Lin Yuan bent over and leaned close to the fish tank, his fingertip touching the water surface; the koi fish seemed startled, darting down then quickly popping its head up: "Your condition is much better than last time, the water quality is also clean, you take very good care of it."

Qin Bore leaned on the balcony railing, looking at his serious expression, smiling as she said: "All done according to the method you mentioned last time, changing one‑third of the water each day, controlling the amount of fish food, just afraid of overfeeding them."

Lin Yuan meanwhile helped Qin Bore replace the fish tank's filter cotton and cleaned the tank a bit.

Qin Bore brewed a cup of milk tea for Lin Yuan; the two sat in the living room, petting the cat, chatting and laughing.

Unnoticed, time passed quickly.

The living room wall clock struck twelve, its hands overlapping in the warm light into a straight line; Lin Yuan raised his head to check the time, only then realizing it was already after midnight.

He gently lifted Sweet Cone from his leg onto the sofa, covered it with the small blanket, then got ready to leave: "Miss Qin, it's getting late; I should head back now, not to disturb your rest."

"Mm‑hmm." Qin Bore nodded and followed him to the doorway.

Qin Bore suddenly turned, picked up a light brown small cloth bag from the shoe cabinet, her fingertips pinching the bag's edge, handing it over still carrying a soft warmth of the fabric: "This is for you."

Lin Yuan took the bag, opened it to see several pairs of light gray pure cotton socks inside, soft and skin‑friendly to the touch; looking at the label, they seemed to be a big brand.

"The last time you came to my place, I noticed your socks were torn." Qin Bore observed his reaction, her voice soft: "So I bought you a few pairs of pure cotton socks, sweat‑absorbent and soft, should be more comfortable."

Lin Yuan clutched the socks, feeling both warm and flustered, just about to say something thankful……

But before Lin Yuan could get the words to his lips, he saw Qin Bore suddenly lift her head, her gaze a bit more serious than before, as if she had something to say.

Qin Bore's lips twitched, her fingertips unconsciously brushed the edge of the shoe cabinet, and her voice paused: "Lin Yuan, actually..."