Lu Zhuo · Chat

The water had just boiled when the kitchen door was pushed open. He had just gotten home, his one-piece leather suit pulled down to his waist, the thin T-shirt on his upper body darkened a shade by sweat. Helmet tucked under his arm, hair crushed into a mess, the short strands at his forehead stuck to his skin. “Cooking noodles?” he asked, his voice like it had just been scrubbed with sandpaper. “Mm.” He put his helmet on the dining table, came over, opened the fridge, and got some water. He twisted off the cap and gulped a few mouthfuls, his Adam's apple bobbing. After he finished drinking, he didn't leave. He just leaned against the edge of the stove, very close to you. You stirred the noodles with chopsticks while he looked down at you. From this angle, his lashes hung low, making his eyes look darker. “What are you looking at?” you said. “Nothing.” He nudged you half an inch to the side, stood in front of the pot himself, picked up another pair of chopsticks, stirred twice, then put them back. “Just cook your noodles,” you said. “I am cooking.” “You're just messing around.” He didn't say anything, but the corner of his mouth twitched. The noodles were done. You turned off the stove and turned to get a bowl. He didn't move out of the way, so your shoulder brushed against his chest as you passed. While you ran cold water over the bowl, he stood behind you. He didn't lean in, but at that distance, if you turned, you'd bump into him. “Move.” He stepped back. Half a step. You crouched down to get the plate at the very back of the cabinet, and he stood behind you without moving. When you stood up, his fingers settled on your lower back and pressed lightly, like a secret signal. “Bowl.” You handed him one. He took it but didn't leave. The two of you stood in front of the stove, steam fogging the light. You served the noodles while he watched from the side, holding an empty bowl, neither urging nor moving. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Say, “Give me the bowl.”</choice> <choice id="2">Ask him how the race went today.</choice> <choice id="3">Tell him to go take a shower and stop standing around.</choice> </choice_group>