The first time, it happened because Bai Lu was unhappy with her life and he seemed like the perfect way to rebel. She didn't expect much then, but Long Wei was not only attractive but also somewhat charming.

The second time, she had been tired, and although she spent the day thinking about how it was a mistake when her mind asked her to take a breath, her steps led her back to Loko's, to look for him.

Her heart was still pounding in her chest, but it was much easier than the night before to get carried away by the sea of ​​sensations that ran through her body, and hours later the dream came easily as when he ran his fingers through her hair in silence.

In the morning, being in Long Wei's apartment wasn't too uncomfortable, and once more she helped him prepare breakfast before leaving.

" You should come again when you have time and teach me how to make those dumplings."

There was a pause that seemed like an eternity and a second at the same time.

" Okay. I think it could come over the next weekend."

" Do you really have to go now?"

" I have things to do with my colleagues at work."

And it was true, but when she met Zhing Yi at the mall later, Bai Lu realized that she had forgotten her keys in Long Wei's apartment, so there was no choice but to go back and look for them. Even she doubted whether this was simply her carelessness or just an excuse to return to the pub. Either way, after that night she had his phone number registered in her contacts.

They kept seeing each other afterwards.

He was a lover who knew just where to kiss, he took his time to learn the different ways her body could reach the peak of joy and pleasure. Some said men were weaker than women when they had to face temptation, but Bai Lu didn't know. She was very weak to temptation when she was around Long Wei. All it took for him was to plant some tender, slow kisses on her neck, press his already wanting body to hers, and she was done, already delirious in the expectation of what was to come.

But still, she couldn't explain how she failed to resist his game of seduction and he had her wrapped around his little finger.

The fact was that she kept going to his apartment almost every day. Because she forgot something, or because he needed help with something as small as editing material for the pub's website, and so on. Both pretended to believe the excuses the other made, as long as the result was the same and kept benefiting both of them.

The past few days Long Wei was already texting before she left school, and wondering what they would have for dinner later as if it was certain that they would see each other again.

More than once in the past two weeks, Zhing Yi and Tao had asked her if she was seeing someone, but Bai Lu denied it every time. Yes, she was sleeping with the handsome Chinese-American who was supposed to be a one-night stand, but even though they kept seeing each other, it didn't mean they were heading for something worth telling others about. He found her intriguing and she found him charming, even magnetic, but he would probably stop as soon as they got bored with each other, in a month or so.

He didn't mention anything about a relationship, and neither did she. In fact, even though they spent a considerable amount of time together, she still knew next to nothing about him, and he didn't really know her either.

" How was your day?"

She was exhausted. Wednesdays used to be the most exhausting day for her, not only because it was the middle of the week, but she also had first and second-grade groups that day, and although she had a lot of fun with them, the kids demanded a lot of energy and attention. At the end of the day, Bai Lu felt completely exhausted.

" It was good, actually. Today Minny, who always cries when her work doesn't go as expected, tried it a second time and finished her painting. That was a surprise.

" I see. But you are tired."

Long Wei was already massaging his shoulders. That man was an angel, sometimes.

" Actually, you always seem tired."

But on other occasions, he made those kinds of comments.

" Thanks for the compliment."

" I'm only saying it because it makes me worry about you."

Bai Lu just pursed her lips together, trying not to say anything she would later regret, that he had no reason to worry about her. It was something that made her uncomfortable, and nervous. So she chose to change the topic of conversation.

"How was your day? Don't you have to go back to the pub in a couple of hours?"

"I already went this afternoon to check the cellar and confirm that the musician will arrive at the right time. I'll just go to take a look later, it won't take long."

Bai Lu just nodded.

"I'll make some rice and fried chicken for us before you go, then."

"Sounds pretty good."

***

He was not lying when he said that he did not plan to stay in the pub for long. That was, of course, because of Bai Lu. She had been going to her apartment almost every night in those two weeks, but she had only stayed to sleep a couple of times, always using his absence at night when he had to supervise the pub as an excuse to leave early. This didn't sit well with him, since he was constantly wondering if it would be the last day he would see her.

"Boss, are you leaving early today?"

He nodded.

"If something important comes up, call me and I'll be back."

It was difficult to explain why this attraction to this woman was so strong, perhaps it was because she was so elusive, very often she would just vaguely answer the questions he asked about her personal life, nor did she ask questions, and in the face of her apparent detachment, Long Wei's curiosity only increased. He wanted to know more and more about her, not just how she liked her coffee, or her availability in the evenings and weekends. If he was to be honest, Bai Lu had him wrapped around her little finger.

Despite his interest and the obvious compatibility that existed between the two, at least in bed, Long Wei did not believe that this would go beyond a short adventure either. At the moment he was living in that city and had a project that was going well for him, but he didn't think he would spend the rest of his life there. At some point he would return to California, why complicate his life?

As a young man, he had been a romantic fool, especially in his first year in college. Her name was Claire, and he was madly in love with her, even though they were in an on-and-off relationship since she seemed to have a hard time deciding between him and an ex-boyfriend. After months of that patient waiting, she left the ex and chose him. Long Wei had really been in love with Claire, he still kept a photograph that she had given him on his birthday in one of his desk drawers ... sadly, in the end, he had discovered that she was still seeing the ex-boyfriend secretly.

When he was twenty-five he had had the sudden urge to marry and start a family with his girlfriend, Thalia, but living together had only made clear the differences between them and, now that he was older, Long Wei no longer saw the need to chain himself to some relationship.

For the moment, it was enough to find Bai Lu sitting on the sofa in her apartment, entertained with a movie until she heard him arrive. She greeted him with a smile.

"What are you watching?" He asked, sitting down next to her and taking the bowl of popcorn from the center table.

"Big Hero, the one that came out last year. I only started 20 minutes ago, I can start it again if you want us to see it together."

"Okay, I did not see this one before."

He brought her closer to him, hugging her waist, and inhaled for a moment the floral scent of her hair when she rested her head on his shoulder.

He didn't see the need to chain himself to a relationship, but if he had to be honest, the nameless thing between him and Bai Lu didn't feel entirely casual.

***

Three weeks and four days. Three weeks and four days in which she had not stopped seeing that man. Bai Lu had counted them, the night before she had tossed and turned in bed thinking about the matter. She couldn't sleep well.

" Dew, you're a little pale, are you feeling alright?" Tao asked, coming with two cups of coffee to sit next to her.

" Yeah, sure, it was just a long morning, you know. Thanks for the coffee.

" Oh, I saw that you have been working a lot for the school festival. You should stop a moment to catch a break."

Bai Lu smiled.

" Well, now everything is ready, so I will follow your advice, Senior."

" I'm just worried that you're over demanding yourself again."

Tao had studied at the same university as Bai Lu, he was in his senior year when she was still a junior, so it could be said that they had known each other for quite some time. He was already a friend by the time she met Peter and began her relationship with the exchange student. He had also been a friend of Peter, and so it was difficult to understand how a couple that seemed to be a match made in heaven ended up separating in that way, but it was she who was still there, and who constantly looked sad even if she did not talk about it with anyone in the past years. So it was normal for her to worry a little when he didn't see her well.

"My cousin will get married soon, I am getting a headache to find a decent dress and a suitable gift ... Professor Tao, when you get married please let us know in time so we can prepare."

He smiled and scratched his head. Certainly, he was thinking of making his marriage proposal in those days, but it wasn't something he was going to talk about until everything went well ...

"See you tomorrow, Dew, take care."

"You too, drive carefully."

Actually, she was a little relieved when Tao left. She could continue to solve the puzzle in her mind in peace. Although it was true that she should buy a decent dress for Meng Meng's wedding, as her mother reminded her that morning that the invitations had arrived, Bai Lu's real concern was how to end things with Long Wei at once.

It couldn't go on. The more they continued to see each other, the nicer and more attentive he was, the more confused her heart became. In a short time, he was becoming part of her routine, and the night before she had realized that she left her favorite pajamas in his apartment since it was where she had slept the last days.

She couldn't start a relationship with him at all, and because of how things had progressed in those weeks, it was clear that she didn't know how to keep something casual.

Long Wei was someone with whom she simply could not afford to have romantic illusions. He was the type of man who wouldn't stay long, she knew that. And she had already fooled herself the first time, with Peter, thinking that the words he uttered without much thought about plans and the future meant more than they really did, barely a small chance that could easily disappear when the winds changed direction.

Going through that one was more than enough.