Renault had always been elusive when it came to relationships.

Was he just too picky?

There had been many who had pursued him, but he never felt anything special, as if he had been waiting for the perfect person who had never appeared. 

But now, sitting with Wanqing Mu, he found himself constantly thinking about her. 

What had begun as a chance encounter had grown into something more. It was as if fate had brought them together.

Wanqing, on the other hand, struggled to make sense of her feelings. She looked down, her face slightly flushed as she said, "Renault, could we... stay friends?"

Renault’s heart skipped a beat. Finally, he leaned closer, whispering softly into her ear, "No."

Wanqing’s face turned a deep shade of red, and before she could react, Renault gently cupped her cheek, trapping her between his arm and the wall.

The heat from Renault's gaze was palpable, and Wanqing, now blushing furiously, squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment, not daring to look at him.

Just then, the silence was broken by the loud, familiar voice of Crowball, Renault’s pet crow, perched nearby. “Ahhh, ahhh!” the bird squawked.

The intimate moment was shattered.

“Shut up!” Renault muttered, frustrated by the interruption.

The tension that had built up between them dissipated in an instant, replaced by awkward laughter. 

Crowball continued its noisy protests, clearly disapproving of Renault’s actions.

Renault and Wanqing awkwardly returned to the dinner table, trying to laugh off the incident.

The table was filled with delicious food, and they continued their meal, trying to push the strange moment out of their minds.

Renault downed glass after glass of wine, while Wanqing quietly sipped on a non-alcoholic drink, her mind lost in thought.

The night wore on, and as the wine began to take effect, Renault found himself reminiscing about a certain dish from a corner restaurant they both loved. It brought back memories of simpler times. 

He remembered how he used to drop by that restaurant, toss a few dollars on the counter, and enjoy a late-night meal. But now, with everything in chaos, the thought of visiting that place seemed impossible.

The two of them eventually finished their meal, and Wanqing, being considerate as always, began to clear the table and wash the dishes. After she finished tidying up, she excused herself and hurried upstairs to get ready for bed.

Renault, not wanting to let the night end so easily, quickly cleaned up as well and followed her upstairs.

He knocked gently on her door. "Wanqing, are you asleep?"

There was a pause before she answered, her voice soft. "I’m... not asleep yet. You should go to bed."

Renault smirked. Hiding? Not likely!

“Come on, I’ve had a bit too much to drink, took a shower, and now I’m feeling a bit dizzy. Could you help me to bed?” Renault called out in a playful tone.

Wanqing hesitated for a moment, unsure if he was serious. "Did you really drink that much?" she asked, sounding concerned.

Renault laughed under his breath. "Of course not! I just thought we could chat for a bit longer. But, hey, if you're not up for it, I’ll just crash in the hallway!"

Wanqing knew Renault well enough to realize he was joking, but the thought of him sleeping in the hallway in the cold night made her feel uneasy.

She sighed, finally giving in. "Alright, alright, come in," she said, stepping out of her room to help him.

She guided him to his bed, making sure he didn’t stumble over anything. He put on an exaggerated act of drunkenness, leaning heavily against her, grinning the whole time.

“Renault, you’re impossible! You’re not even that drunk!” Wanqing complained, though a smile played on her lips.

Finally, she managed to get him to his bed. Renault suddenly lost his balance and fell onto the bed, pulling Wanqing down with him.

There was a sudden closeness between them as they lay there, his arms wrapped around her. He could smell the faint floral scent of her hair, and without thinking, Renault leaned in, pressing his lips softly against hers.

Wanqing’s mind went blank. It was her first kiss, something she had never expected would happen so suddenly.

The night passed in a blur, filled with dreams and brief moments of quiet affection.

...

It was well into the afternoon by the time Renault finally woke up.

Opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of Wanqing gazing at him quietly, her expression soft but her face still tinged with embarrassment.

Upon realizing he was awake, she playfully swatted him and said, “You tricked me!”

Renault chuckled. “What did I trick you about? I didn’t trick you at all!”

Wanqing blushed, trying to look angry but failing as she giggled. “You... you tricked me into staying with you last night!”

Renault laughed as she tried to tickle him, both of them forgetting their embarrassment as they enjoyed the moment.

Eventually, after some rest and laughter, they got out of bed to start their day.

After a hot shower, Renault joined Wanqing, who had already prepared a simple but warm meal. She had a lot on her mind, and Renault could tell.

He tried to make small talk, but deep down, he knew there was something she wanted to say.

As they ate, Wanqing finally spoke up, her voice soft but serious. “Renault... what are we going to do now? What’s the next step?”

Renault thought for a moment before responding. "Well, we’ll need to figure out how to survive this cold and what supplies we still have left. The power’s out, and we’ve got to be careful.”

Wanqing nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You’re right. We need to be strong to face what’s coming. But... I can't help feeling like everything's just a dream."

Renault smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know what you mean. But this is real. We’ve just got to keep going."

Wanqing looked up at him, her eyes soft but filled with determination. “You always seem to have a plan. That’s why I trust you.”

Renault nodded, feeling the weight of her words. He knew Wanqing had placed her trust in him, and he wouldn’t let her down.

They spent the rest of the day preparing for whatever lay ahead. Renault took stock of their remaining supplies, checking the generator and ensuring the house was still secure.

Later that evening, Renault decided to make a short trip to the corner restaurant they both missed so much. He didn’t expect much but felt a sudden urge to see if the place had somehow survived the chaos.

When he arrived, to his surprise, the restaurant was still standing, though abandoned and dark. He pushed open the door, stepping inside, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings.

It was eerie, like walking through a memory frozen in time. The faint smell of food still lingered in the air, as if it had been cooked just yesterday.

Renault sighed, realizing how much had changed. But as he looked closer, something caught his eye—there, in the cold storage, lay the ingredients for the dish Wanqing had been craving.

Grinning, Renault gathered the ingredients and hurried back to the villa, eager to surprise her.

As he returned home and stepped through the door, Wanqing’s eyes lit up when she smelled the familiar aroma.

“Renault! Where did you... how did you even manage this?” she asked, rushing over, her face full of disbelief.

Renault just smiled, lighting a candle and setting the table as if nothing unusual had happened. "I have my ways."

They enjoyed the meal together, savoring the moment. 

Wanqing couldn’t believe what Renault had done for her. She leaned back, staring at him in wonder. "You really never stop surprising me."

Renault winked. “That’s my job, right?”

For Wanqing, it was becoming harder to deny her growing feelings for Renault. He had won her heart in more ways than one.

As the night deepened, they both knew that their journey together had only just begun.