Stay with me.

"Makka Pakka, Acka Lacka, Makka Makka, Moo."

"Makka Pakka, Abba Lacka..."

The phone rang as Lin Yu, cocooned in his blanket like a silkworm pupa, rubbed his face sleepily and picked up the call.

"Hello?"

"Where are you right now?"

Hearing the distinctively cool and clear voice on the other end, Lin Yu immediately knew who was calling.

"At home."

"What do you want?"

Lin Yu rolled over on his small bed and scratched his butt before asking.

"I'm in a bad mood."

"Come out and keep me company."

Bad mood?

Three question marks slowly surfaced in Lin Yu’s still half-asleep brain.

Why go through all this trouble just because she’s in a bad mood?

Wouldn’t it be easier if he just cursed her out a couple of times?

After a moment of deliberation, Lin Yu swallowed back the insults on the tip of his tongue.

Going out for a walk wouldn’t be so bad.

His brain had been fried from days of studying, and some fresh air would do him good. Plus, he could squeeze a couple of nice meals out of her while he was at it.

"Sure."

"Where are you now?"

"Should I come to you, or will you come to me?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, as if Qing Mo hadn’t expected Lin Yu to agree so readily. After a pause, her voice came through, tinged with a hint of delight:

"I’ll come to you."

"Just wait downstairs for me in half an hour."

"Ok."

After hanging up, Lin Yu checked the time—8:30 AM. According to Qing Mo, he still had half an hour before she arrived.

Hmm.

No way he could squeeze in another full nap.

But he could at least close his eyes for a little while.

With that thought, Lin Yu slowly let his heavy eyelids droop shut...

...

Opening the butterfly door of the sports car, Lin Yu bent down and slid into the passenger seat. After shutting the door, he guiltily rubbed his nose, not daring to look at Qing Mo beside him.

A moment passed, and when the car still hadn’t started, Lin Yu finally spoke up weakly:

"Sorry about that. I accidentally dozed off again, and my phone died, so I didn’t hear your calls."

Even after his apology, Qing Mo remained silent and motionless. Curious, Lin Yu turned to look at her and saw the reproach and displeasure in her cold eyes.

In an instant, he understood.

Glaring at her, Lin Yu’s courage flared up, and he snapped fiercely:

"What are you staring at?"

"Think you’re special or something?"

"You had to wait two extra hours for me, and now you’ve got an attitude?"

"Cut the crap!"

"Just drive already!"

"I’m starving."

"Take me somewhere fancy!"

Watching Qing Mo’s icy expression soften immediately, Lin Yu maintained his tough exterior while sighing inwardly in resignation.

This woman was hopeless.

"What do you want to eat?"

Qing Mo asked softly, her tone now gentle.

"Dunno. You pick."

"But if I’m not satisfied, I’ll—"

"I’ll..."

Lin Yu paused, searching his mind for the perfect punishment for Qing Mo. After a moment, he growled:

"If I’m not satisfied, I won’t curse at you once this entire winter break!"

A flicker of unmistakable panic flashed in Qing Mo’s eyes, and she immediately began asking more detailed questions about his tastes and preferences.

"Something with lots of meat, flavorful, and filling."

Lin Yu leaned back in his seat and stated his demands seriously.

Not daring to object, Qing Mo noted his requirements and mentally sifted through restaurants that fit the bill as she drove the sports car away from the rundown neighborhood...

...

After a hearty meal at an upscale riverside restaurant, the two took a stroll along the riverbank.

Both shores were blanketed in white, and the river itself was dotted with countless broken ice floes.

The rushing current shattered the thin ice that hadn’t fully solidified, washing large chunks to the banks. Layer upon layer, some stacked vertically, others slanted, frozen into formations that resembled icy rock strata—a striking sight that felt refreshingly novel.

As Lin Yu admired the snowy riverside scenery, he asked casually:

"So, what got you so upset today?"

Qing Mo kept her gaze forward and replied calmly:

"Zhou He went to complain to my parents."

"They still favor him."

"They don’t want me to break things off with him."

Lin Yu nodded noncommittally and pressed:

"And then?"

"Then we argued, and I left to find you."

Qing Mo’s tone was indifferent.

Lin Yu nodded again and let the subject drop.

The two walked side by side along the river, and after some time, Lin Yu—tired from the walk—stopped by a bench. Brushing off the snow, he plopped down to rest.

Qing Mo halted as well, but she hesitated at the edge of the bench, seemingly unsure.

Lin Yu swept another clean spot on the bench and shot her an exasperated look.

"Always so damn picky."

Qing Mo glanced back at him, the corner of her lips lifting imperceptibly, and sat down without a word.

Once they stopped moving, the cold seeped in quickly. Lin Yu zipped his coat all the way up, stuffed his hands into the pockets, and continued gazing at the river, letting his mind drift.

"Lin Yu," Qing Mo turned to look at him, her voice soft, "can you tell me why you changed your mind after coming out of the shower that day?"

Lin Yu thought for a moment and offered an analogy:

"Say I want to lose weight, so I decide not to eat late-night snacks. But then, right in front of me, there’s this incredibly delicious, aromatic snack—and I’m a little hungry."

"Tempted by the smell, I can’t resist the urge to eat it."

"But just as I’m about to dig in, my phone rings. I have to put the food down to answer."

"The call is from some guy selling diet pills."

"He makes me remember what I really want."

"So, I turn down the snack."

"Basically, reason won over desire."

Qing Mo listened quietly. After a long pause, she smiled faintly and praised:

"You’re amazing."

Then, with a sigh, she added wistfully:

"But I can’t do that."

"I don’t have a choice. The only thing in front of me is this one perfect dish—everything else is just dry bread and flavorless broth."

"I can’t bring myself to refuse it."

"Having never tasted salt, I can’t use reason to fight my body’s craving for it."

"Lin Yu."

She turned to face him, her eyes filled with unprecedented seriousness.

"Be with me."

"I can give you everything you want."