What if - MATURE rating

Love O2O - Hao Mei and KO Part 1

Hao Mei POV

The scent of food roused me from my short nap. My nose sniffed the air like a bloodhound as I groggily made my way into the main room. The dining table was filled with most of my favourite dishes: stir-fry of assorted vegetables in blackbean chilli sauce, sweet and sour ribs, prawn curry, steamed seabass topped with ginger, spring onion and fried shallots and sweetcorn soup.

KO was adding the last bit to the table as I quickly rushed to the bathroom to wash my hands. Now I'm not necessarily a slob when it comes to hygiene but I will admit I can be lazy. However, after only a few days of living with KO, I was forced to break that habit otherwise I wouldn't be allowed to eat.

He was very strict about that. When he said that he would cook, wash up, clean and do the laundry if I let him move in I thought I had hit the jackpot. However, I quickly learned there were things I had to do, if not, he would give me this look.

If I leave my plate on the table, one look says to take it to the sink. If I kick my shoes off haphazardly, one look says to move them out the way. If I don't put my clothes in the wash bag, one look says to put them in. It was a look that said do it or else.

I was annoyed at first, after all, he said he would do everything but then I realised that since he is doing most of the household chores it wouldn't hurt me to be a bit more considerate.

He was putting the last plate down when I came back and took my seat. My mouth salivated as I eyed each dish hungrily. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him smiling softly at me. I'd noticed he does that often but I've never asked why.

With a small grateful smile aimed his way, I dug into the feast. In what felt like only a couple of seconds the food was all gone, I actually missed each dish. He chuckled at my pout and stood up.

I sat rubbing my stomach as I watched him clear the table and start to wash up. That guilty feeling washed over me again and I tried to get up to at least help clear the table but my stomach groaned in resistance.

Eventually, I moved over to my desk and booted up my laptop. KO's laptop was on the other side and when we were both on them we could see each other.

Often I found myself watching him as he coded or did a PK battle, he looked so damn handsome. Only when he would look up would I focus back on my own screen.

I shook my head clearing my thoughts and logged into A Chinese Ghost Story. After a few hours of battling monsters with my friends, I decided to call it a night as we both had work in the morning.

"Goodnight KO," I called out.

KO grunted in response and didn't look up from his screen. I hadn't noticed when he had sat down. Though he never looked up at me I could have sworn I felt him watching me but when I turned before going into my room he was still staring at his screen. Maybe I imagined it.

----

After a full day of slaving in front of the screen at work, I was ready to go home, stuff my face and fall fast asleep.

"Hey, Hao Mei! Let's all eat together. Nai and Weiwei are coming as well as Yonghua. How about you?" Yu Banshan asked.

"Sure, you coming, KO?" I called out to him as I gathered my things.

"No, I have plans," was all he said before leaving.

I stared after him almost speechless. Yu Banshan clapped me on the shoulder, breaking me out of my trance.

"Come on! I'm hungry."

During dinner, I, absentmindedly, joined in the conversation at times but I couldn't really focus on what they were talking about. Even the food wasn't appealing. Lately, I had noticed KO frequently having plans. Though I never dared to ask him what they were.