Chapter 25: Who Wants to Be Friends?

The mapo tofu, while lacking its signature spice, still managed to make one’s cheeks flush with warmth as it was poured over the rice.

"Why do you keep staring at me..."

The girl stirred the rice in her bowl with a spoon, her voice growing quieter. "Is my cooking that bad? It is my first time, after all..."

Xia Xing shook his head quickly to deny it, mirroring Shin Yuna’s method by pouring the mapo tofu over his rice. "It’s delicious."

"You’re lying. It barely has any flavor..."

"To be honest, when I knew you were planning to stay and have dinner with me, I was truly happy."

"I can’t quite explain why, but there’s a sense of comfort in knowing, 'You are still here.'"

"So, the reason this meal tastes good isn't because of the flavor, but because of the person I'm sharing it with."

Xia Xing spoke exactly what was in his heart, without any intention of hiding his feelings. His direct and fervent words provided Shin Yuna with an answer in her own heart. She understood that Xia Xing felt much the same way; he just needed a little more time to face those emotions squarely.

For Shin Yuna, perhaps it had started with his words that morning—"I was lost in thought watching you"—and she had gradually begun to clarify her own feelings. It was a mix of the naive impulsiveness belonging to a twenty-year-old and the maturity and inner conflict of someone four years into her career.

During the time Xia Xing was at work, she had crossed a line, feeling out his bed. It started because she had sat there briefly the night before while looking for her tablet, and the excellent rebound and support of the mattress had left a lasting impression. So, the next day, under the guise of checking the brand of the mattress, she had entered his bedroom again to test it out once more. If it felt good, she could buy one for Lia unnie later, who had been struggling to sleep due to anxiety.

But the moment she tentatively lay down, the soft touch and the warmth radiating from the bedding felt like a pair of giant hands gently embracing her. It was a sensation reminiscent of being held and having her back patted to sleep when she was very young. Overwhelmed by a tide of sleepiness, she quickly lost control of her body and drifted into a sweet dream. It was one of the best sleeps she had had since her debut.

When she woke up, the hazy, radiant afternoon sun was spilling into the room, warming the patch of wooden floor in front of the bed. Wrapped in the quilt, she stared blankly, feeling surprisingly not lonely in the quiet room where only she resided. Was it because she knew that by evening, someone would return from the company? She couldn't explain it, but she wished she could sleep so comfortably every day.

As her consciousness cleared, Yuna finally remembered she was lying on Representative Xia's bed. Checking the time, it was already past four in the afternoon. If he found her in his bed, would he be angry? He was usually a man with such a strong sense of boundaries. But then again, he had scooped her up in a princess carry just last night. And the intimacy of that morning—her hands resting on his waist as she pushed him toward the kitchen, the look in his eyes when he was captivated by her while she fried eggs... Perhaps she could use this incident to test his thoughts.

Thus, the girl gave up on the idea of restoring the bedroom to its original state and chose to go out to buy ingredients for dinner. She needed to confess this at a suitable moment, and now seemed like the right time.

Her thoughts returned from the day’s events to the dining table. Yuna nodded slightly, momentarily unsure how to respond to his bluntness.

"I... I think I know what you're thinking."

"But, there is one thing I want to say."

"Go ahead?"

She had intended to confess her boundary-crossing behavior, but as the words reached her lips, she changed her mind: "Is Xingcan your name as well?"

Xia Xing, not expecting this to be what was on her mind, couldn't help but chuckle. This girl was indeed a sensitive and delicate person.

"That's right. That was my name when I was a child. I changed it later."

"So, can I call you Xingcan? Xia Xingcan?"

"Yes, just Xingcan is fine."

Reflecting on his childhood, Xia Xing remembered a time when he had struggled with his name. But having grown up smoothly as a child of the Xia family, he had long since moved past that.

"Xingcan?"

The tentative, soft tone caught Xia Xing’s attention, and he responded quite earnestly: "Yes, I'm sitting right across from you. What's wrong?"

"I just wanted to call your name." The girl whispered as she took small bites of rice: "I don't know why, it's strange, right? I don't know why, but just saying your name makes me feel so happy."

So... she felt the same way he did. Although they hadn't spent much time together, looking back, Xia Xing and Shin Yuna had already been through quite a lot. Eating Chinese food, which he liked; walking through Hangang Park with coffee in hand; the Eddy and Loopy cartoon hats; shopping for pots and pans at the supermarket; going to a nightclub in Seongsu-dong to drag Park Se-min out; the princess carry; making breakfast together... Two nights could be so profound.

"Actually, I think I feel the same way you do."

"When I got off work and knew you were still at home, I felt an inexplicable sense of peace."

"O...okay, let's eat first. If we keep talking, the food will get cold."

***

Myoui Mina placed her handbag on the entryway table. After a full day of touring the park, she felt completely exhausted. Kicking off her high heels, she shuffled in her slippers to the balcony to retrieve the dry laundry.

Her gaze inadvertently focused on the apartment building across from her, and her thoughts drifted back to the conversation they had by the river that morning.

"If I saw Myoui Mina when I woke up in the morning, I think I would be very happy."

Her slightly trembling hand feigned composure as she finished her jasmine oolong tea in one gulp. Under the guise of drinking, she hid her somewhat flustered expression. She was no longer a little girl, but she couldn't remain calm in the face of such sudden, almost rogue remarks. Perhaps... this was what made Xia Xing unique; sometimes, his bluntness had a way of being disarmingly clever.

Her flushed cheeks were likely not too obvious under the sunlight. So... finding an excuse to run away back then really hadn't been a wise move. Mina regretted her reaction at the time, and then remembered the scene where Xia Xing chased after her, asking to exchange contact information.

"Shall we exchange contact info?"

"Why?"

"No reason, just a simple request. If you must have a purpose, perhaps it's because I feel we will become friends in the future."

"Who wants to be your friend?"

Looking at the sticker Xia Xing had sent in their chat room, Mina fell into a state of indescribable, quiet contemplation.