Come on, What Kind of CEO Chases His Roommate Back to the Country? - Chapter 3

Ding. A notification popped up on the laptop.

Pei Song opened it, it was an email from the mathematics department at M University.

The sender, “L. Schneider.” Wasn’t that Leon’s last name?

The email was brief. “Starting next week, I’ll be preparing for my thesis defense at home. If you’re planning to move in, I suggest doing so this weekend. Also, my project team may occasionally come over to discuss things. I hope that won’t be a disturbance.”

Still the same formal, businesslike tone. But the underlying information caught Pei Song off guard, so Leon was a student too?

That strong presence from earlier didn’t feel like something an ordinary student would have. Just then, Su Mi sent a message, “How’s the apartment? Did my cousin give you a hard time?”

“It’s fine, I already signed the lease.” Pei Song replied, hesitated, then asked, “Your cousin is from the computer science department?”

“Oh, he’s a PhD student in computer science at M University, specializing in AI,” Su Mi explained. “But he’s insanely smart, got a direct recommendation for his PhD and has won multiple international awards. Just has a bit of a weird personality. Always has this serious face on.”

Pei Song nodded thoughtfully. No wonder Leon had that aura that set him apart from regular students. Then again, anyone doing a PhD at M University was bound to be extraordinary.

“But don’t worry,” Su Mi continued. “He may be cold, but he’s reliable. Compared to your current roommate, he’s definitely a better choice.”

Pei Song gave a bitter smile.

Yeah… at this point, what could be more important than safety?

Over the next few days, Pei Song focused on moving. Most of the furniture was rented, so there wasn’t much to pack. He made sure to move his stuff while Leon was at school, carrying his belongings on several trips.

Every time he entered or exited the apartment, he carefully scanned his surroundings. James hadn’t shown up again, but the eerie feeling of being watched never left. Even as he unpacked in his new place, he found himself straining to hear any movement outside the door.

Leon must have sensed his unease because he took the initiative to explain the security system to him. His tone remained distant, but the gesture carried a subtle warmth.

Finally, on Friday night, Pei Song unpacked his last box. Looking around at the fresh new space, he let out a long breath. It still felt unreal, but at least it was safe here.

Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed from the front door. Leon was back early tonight. Normally, at this hour, he’d still be in the lab with his project team. Pei Song instinctively held his breath, waiting for the footsteps to pass.

But this time, they stopped right outside his door.

“I ordered dinner,” Leon’s voice came through the door, still as formal as ever. “If you want some.”

Pei Song froze. Was this… an invitation?

He hesitated for a long time but ultimately chose to stay in his room. He wasn’t ready to get too close to anyone just yet. Outside, Leon didn’t seem surprised. His footsteps fade away.

Soon after, the familiar sound of rapid, rhythmic typing filled the silence. Pei Song leaned against his bed, listening.

This was his new life now, living with a near-silent roommate in an environment so quiet it was almost suffocating.

But at least, it was safe.

On Saturday morning, an unexpected storm shattered the good weather in M City. Pei Song was sorting his things when he heard a commotion from the balcony. Peeking outside, he saw that a stack of research papers on Leon’s balcony had been caught in the wind.

Leon had left for the lab early in the morning.

One paper was teetering on the edge of the railing, seconds away from being blown away.

Pei Song quickly sent a message, “Your papers are about to be blown away. Want me to grab them?”

“I’d appreciate it.” Leon responded almost immediately.

Pei Song stepped onto the balcony and realized the situation was worse than he’d thought. Not only were the papers scattered everywhere, but some had gotten stuck outside the security bars, at risk of being lost to the storm.

He stretched his arm through the railing, but it wasn’t enough. Looking at the papers, then at a foldable drying rack nearby, an idea struck him. Carefully, he extended the rack, using its clips to “fish” the papers back in one by one.

It was a painstaking process.

A few times, the wind snatched the papers right as he grabbed them, forcing him to try again. The rain blew in, soaking his sleeves. But finally, after exhausting all his patience and effort, he managed to retrieve the last sheet.

Pei Song let out a relieved sigh, carefully laying the damp papers out to dry before neatly stacking them on the coffee table.

“Got them all. A few got a little wet, but I’m drying them now,” he texted.

Leon’s reply was short as always, “Thanks.”

That afternoon, the doorbell rang. It was a delivery guy holding two elegantly packaged meal boxes. “Delivery for apartment 2704.”

Pei Song frowned. “I didn’t order anything.”

“Leon ordered it,” the delivery guy explained. “Said to bring it straight to your room.”

Opening the box, a rich aroma filled the air. It was a signature dish from a Michelin two-star Chinese restaurant, Braised Dongpo Pork with Truffle.

His phone vibrated. A message from Leon, “Thanks for earlier.”

As brief as ever, yet it carried a rare warmth. Pei Song took a bite. The flavor was exquisite, but something felt missing. He thought back to his own time experimenting in the kitchen. It had been a while since he cooked properly.

As a food blogger, he used to try out different dishes all the time. Just as that thought crossed his mind, his phone vibrated again.

Leon messaged, “How’s the taste?”

Pei Song responded, “Really good, thanks. But if the heat was adjusted slightly, it’d be even better.”

There was a long pause before Leon replied, “You can cook?”

“Yeah, I have a food account on Instagram. I experiment with different recipes a lot.”

This time, Leon took even longer to respond, “I’d like to try your cooking sometime.”

The tone was as neutral as ever, but Pei Song couldn’t help but sense a hint of anticipation. Maybe food really did have a way of bringing people closer.