Okay.
This is unexpected, but it's a pleasant coincidence.
I still don't know what I want with Mei Ling, but the attraction I feel for her is undeniable.
Mei Ling remained silent the entire ride back. She was drowsy in the seat; it seemed she trusted me enough to relax that much.
"We're here."
Mei Ling's sleepy eyes regained focus. She leaned toward the window and looked outside.
Seeing the tall building rising against the rain clouds, she nodded and asked, "Is this the place?"
"Yes," I said calmly as I drove the car through the parking garage, which was covered and kept the rain out. I parked in an exclusive spot and then got out of the car.
"I'll get the groceries," I said, opening the Lamborghini's trunk. I grabbed the heavy bags, which included the wine and meat, and balanced them in my arms.
Mei Ling watched me, looking surprised at how easily I handled the weight.
"I'll help you," she offered, holding out her hand.
"No need. They're heavy." I pulled the bags away. "You said you live in 1205, right? Let's go."
I didn't wait for her answer and walked toward the elevator. Mei Ling followed me, looking embarrassed that I was carrying all the groceries, even hers.
A heavy silence hung in the elevator. I didn't know how to break it and, frankly, I didn't care.
I had already decided I wouldn't get involved with her, so it makes no difference.
After a few boring minutes, the elevator stopped on the 12th floor.
Mei Ling followed me as I got out of the elevator. She looked completely lost, unsure where to go, so I turned to face her and asked, "You look confused. Is this your first time here?"
She blushed and looked around, apparently trying to find an answer, but in the end, she sighed and said, "Yes, actually. It's my first time in Tokyo. I've never been here before."
"Not even on trips with your husband?"
Mei Ling grimaced at my question and answered, frustrated, "No... He's always on business trips abroad... He doesn't have time for things... like this..."
There was a sadness she was trying to hide. But that's not what caught my attention.
Apartment 1205 is always rented out to someone, and there haven't been any recent changes in ownership... How strange.
I decided to investigate and said, laughing, "You got lucky then. You barely arrived in Tokyo and already chose one of the best apartment districts to live in."
She crossed her arms shyly over her chest and corrected me, embarrassed, "No... My husband chose it. He said he already paid for the whole stay."
I feigned surprise and exclaimed, "Oh?! So your husband has been here before?"
Mei Ling fell silent and replied humorlessly, "Um... He's always traveling."
The silence returned, this time heavier with uncertainty than fatigue.
Apartment 1205. My neighbor. Always busy.
I knew the habits of the former resident.
He was an annoying man who always brought a woman there. What were they doing? I was never curious enough to find out, but I could guess.
He had moved out several months ago, but he was always away for several days, and when he returned, he was with this mysterious woman.
"Mei Ling," I said, lowering the bags for a moment to turn completely toward her. "You said your husband is a CEO, and he 'paid for the whole stay.' Don't you think... it's strange for him to pay such a high rent for an apartment in a building where he's never brought you to live?"
Her expression twisted from confusion to growing alarm. She looked at the door of 1205, then at me, and her voice became an insecure whisper, "What are you implying, Ren?"
I didn't answer immediately. I picked up the bags again and started walking toward 1205.
"Here's your apartment, 1205. Go ahead."
I stopped in front of the door, my gaze fixed on the digital lock. There was no keyhole, just a keypad for a code.
Mei Ling hesitated for a moment, her hand outstretched, before shrinking back.
"I... I don't know the code. He said I just needed to ring the doorbell and that the key would be inside with the housekeeper..." She tried to force a smile. "But the key must be under the mat, right?"
I shook my head slowly, observing her transparent denial.
"There's no mat, Mei Ling. And it's not customary to leave keys like that here." I glanced at apartment 1201, my front door. "Security is the priority here."
The rain outside sounded heavier. The last trace of color vanished from her cheeks. She looked like she was about to panic.
"I don't understand... Where is my husband? He gave me the exact address..."
I felt the same nausea I felt when thinking about Satsuki being sad. What she needed right now was certainty and protection, not speculation.
"He might have been delayed or made a mistake," I lied, for the first time today, to calm her down. "What we'll do is simple. You're going to wait for the rain to pass and call him from somewhere safe."
I walked to door 1201 and used the electronic key, opening the way to my apartment.
"Come in. You're shivering from the cold. You can dry your clothes, have something hot to drink, and I can lend you my phone. Afterward, if you want, I can take you to a hotel or we can wait for your husband's reply."
I opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Apartment 1201 was spacious, minimalist, and smelled of cleaning products, which contrasted with Mei Ling's sweet floral scent.
Mei Ling looked at me. There was distrust, but the fear and the night's cold were stronger. She clasped her damp hands over her chest.
"I don't know... Ren. You said you didn't want to get involved with me..."
"And I don't," I replied, my tone serious. "I'm not going to touch you. You need help and a dry place. I'm your neighbor and a complete stranger. As strange as it sounds, you're safer with me than wandering alone in a place you don't know."
She took a few more seconds. Her eyes scanned my face, obviously searching for any trace of malice, but found nothing beyond my usually impassive expression.
Finally, she took a hesitant step and came inside.
I closed the door silently behind her, feeling the weight of the grocery bags in my arms. The sight of Mei Ling huddled, her dress clinging to her body, was tempting. Very tempting.
It made me think.
Did I really want to help her? Or did I just want a reason to take advantage of her?
"I'm going to put away the groceries. The first door on the left is the bathroom. There are fresh towels in there. You can dry off and get warm."
I placed the bags on the kitchen counter, which was integrated with the living room, and turned to watch her.
"Make yourself at home, Mei Ling."
She nodded weakly, without meeting my eyes, and headed toward the bathroom with slow, uncertain steps.
Great.
Now I had a beautiful, emotionally fragile, and homeless woman in my house, on the day Satsuki was supposed to come over.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Satsuki's number.
It rang twice, and she answered, her voice slightly breathless and excited.
"Ren? Are you already in that much of a hurry to punish me?"
"Satsuki, change of plans," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Something unexpected came up, and I have a guest at my place."
The silence on the other end was cut by a tense breath.
"What? Why?" Her voice lost its lust and was flooded with insecurity. "Who is there?"
"None of your business," I replied dryly, knowing the rudeness would make her back down. "I'm not punishing you today... I'm inviting you on a date... Please, come."
And without waiting for a reply, I hung up.
Man... How embarrassing...
That was the first time I've ever asked her out, and I did it like that...
What is Satsuki going to think of me?
The sound of the shower distracted me from my thoughts, my body instinctively turning toward the sound.
The desire to make a big dinner was fighting against the urge to walk into that bathroom and do something I would probably enjoy and never regret.
I sighed and headed to the kitchen to make dinner.
I know Satsuki doesn't care how many girls I sleep with, but I need her approval first. Hooking up with Akemi without consulting her really hurt her feelings.
Whether she liked it or not, Satsuki was a controlling woman. Although, most of the time, I'm the one controlling her.
After exactly 30 minutes, Mei Ling came out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel to cover her body. It was a heavenly sight; the towel was unable to cover her curves, leaving a portion of milky skin exposed. Her damp hair fell over her shoulders, and her pink lips were pursed in worry.
Inappropriate thoughts stirred within me before I forcibly suppressed them. Since her clothes hadn't dried, I tossed one of my shirts to her and said, "Wear this. Your clothes won't dry anytime soon, and you can't walk around the house in just a towel."
Mei Ling caught the shirt and held it against her chest for a few seconds before nodding.
"Thank you, Ren." Her voice was more controlled; the hot water must have calmed her. "I wish my husband had some of your kindness."
She then turned and walked into the living room. Still in the kitchen, watching from the corner of my eye, I saw her drop the towel and caught a breathtaking view of her back.
She was completely naked, revealing her pale skin and the prominent curve of her breasts. But the most impressive part was her ass—two white globes that I could almost feel the softness of just by looking.
She put on my shirt in a single motion. The fabric hung loose in some places but was tight against her curves. It looked like a short, provocative dress on her, reaching mid-thigh, barely covering her ass.
I turned my attention back to the meat I was frying. But before I turned away, I could have sworn I saw Mei Ling's nipples, hard as pebbles against the thin fabric.
I gripped the spatula in my hand, concentrating on the mundane task of cooking.
But fuck, it was hard to focus with the stirring in my pants. Seeing that scene really got me aroused.
The smell of garlic and onions began to spread, contrasting with Mei Ling's floral aroma. She stopped beside me at the counter.
"Dinner smells good," she said, her voice completely steady now. "You know how to cook?"
"Yes. Even better than people who call themselves professional chefs," I replied without looking at her. "What do you usually make for your husband?"
The question, perhaps a bit invasive, didn't bother her. She sighed, leaning her elbows on the counter.
"I... I don't cook for him. He usually eats out or at business dinners." She paused. "I only cook for myself."
Suddenly, the spark returned to her eyes, and she continued, "But I can say with confidence that I am a good cook."
She took a step to the side, watching the precise movements of my hand as I chopped the vegetables.
"What's your favorite dish, Ren?"
I stopped chopping and turned to face her. The shirt, with the pink teddy bear design, looked ridiculous on her, but the contrast with how her curves strained against it and the seriousness of her gaze was disconcerting.
"Don't waste your time," I said dryly. "I already told you I'm not giving you false hope."
The light in her smile dimmed, replaced by a flash of hurt, but she recovered quickly, forcing a weak laugh.
"Always so direct, Mr. Kurokawa. I got the message. But can't I be your friend? A neighbor? Or better... a neighbor who cooks?"
Her voice was dripping with provocation; it wasn't clear if she was joking or not. She reached her hand toward my shoulder but hesitated and pulled it back before touching me.
"I already have a girlfriend," I said, turning back to the skillet, the scent of seasoned meat filling the air.
"Yes, I figured." Her voice was low and a little ironic. "Only a girlfriend would make you buy expensive wine. She's lucky. You're a man who knows the value of things, even if you try to hide it with that 'bad boy' act of yours."
I remained silent, trying to ignore her perceptiveness.
She was partly right, but no. I really was a bad person.
It's just that Satsuki was different. Everything about her drew my attention; I was incapable of going a day without thinking about her.
I also only helped you because you remind me of Satsuki. But I'm not going to tell you that.
I really am a selfish man.
But what can you do? I'm not going to change.