At the second-hand furniture market, it didn't seem like he'd bought much, but looking around now, Hugo realized the place was packed. Besides the items in the living room, Hugo's bedroom now had a wardrobe, a desk, a sofa, a guitar, a storage locker, and a shoe rack.Hugo cleaned all the furniture and then unpacked the moving boxes, placing everything in its proper spot. Before he knew it, it was past midnight. Looking at the messy boxes still in the room, Hugo stretched. It was impossible to finish organizing everything tonight; he'd need at least another day. So, Hugo decided to take a shower and get some rest.After Hugo got out of the shower, he headed toward the kitchen while drying his hair, looking for some water. He had gone to the bathroom several times after drinking beer earlier that evening and was now starting to feel thirsty. However, as he passed the front door, he heard the sound of knocking. Hugo stopped in his tracks, but the sound vanished just as quickly. He wondered if he had misheard.He walked into the kitchen and downed a glass of water, finally feeling refreshed. But then, the knocking returned from the hall, clearly louder this time, with a slight echo. Hugo walked out and frowned at the door. Having just moved in, he wasn't sure about the safety of the neighborhood. Who would be knocking at this hour of the night?The knocking stopped for a moment before starting again, this time accompanied by a raspy female voice calling out, "Hugo! Hugo Lancaster!" Although the voice was somewhat hushed, it was clear the woman was getting impatient. If he didn't open the door soon, she would likely start shouting.A woman? Did anyone know he lived here? Hugo thought carefully and quickly found the answer. He had very few friends in Los Angeles—none of his predecessor's friends had come to claim him yet—and among his friends, only one knew he was moving: Uma Thurman.Hugo opened the door and was quickly proven right. There stood Uma, wrapped in a beige trench coat and holding a plastic bag that faintly smelled of fried chicken. Her long, curly hair cascaded over her shoulders with effortless grace, but her expression at the moment was far from pleasant. Her delicate eyebrows were knitted together as she glared at Hugo with a look of pure frustration.Hugo knew he must have taken too long to open the door. He had just been showering; who knew how long Uma had been waiting outside? Once again, Hugo felt the inconvenience of not having a cell phone. If he had one, Uma could have called ahead, and this awkward situation would have been avoided. But there were no "ifs."So, Hugo lowered the hand holding the towel and offered an apologetic smile. "How long have you been waiting? Sorry, I just finished organizing and then went to shower." But after speaking, he noticed Uma still hadn't responded. Hugo then realized he was still letting her stand at the door—hardly the behavior a gentleman should have.Realizing this, Hugo quickly stepped aside and said politely, "Please, come in."Uma took a step inside. Looking at the simple and modest hall, the atmosphere of a bachelor pad was evident in every corner. Having heard Hugo's explanation, Uma realized that while she had wanted to create a surprise, she had overlooked reality. This wasn't a movie; in real life, surprises often turned into disasters. She had been standing at the door for at least ten minutes. Although it was already March, Los Angeles was still chilly late at night, and Uma had nearly lost her temper.Finally snapping out of it, Uma's expression softened considerably. She held up the plastic bag in her right hand. "Late-night snack. I thought you'd be organizing the house even later. Looks like I miscalculated."Looking at the bag in Uma's hand, the scent of fried chicken grew stronger. Hugo couldn't help but chuckle. "Can I take this to mean you're making the first move?"Hugo had just seen Uma this afternoon, and now she was showing up at his door at night. The signal was incredibly obvious. However, Hugo hadn't quite processed it yet. He remembered that his predecessor had actively pursued Uma, but she had never relented. Now, it seemed the roles were reversed.Seeing the warm smile on Hugo's face, the corners of Uma's mouth curved even further. "Your way of playing hard to get is quite something. It's clear you've pursued women often. I think I need to see for myself whether you're being sincere or just playing games."Though Uma was loath to admit it, the truth was that Hugo's "push and pull" tactics had worked. In January, he had been all over her, showing up like clockwork every day, only to vanish after the Golden Raspberry Awards. Uma had initially thought he was too embarrassed to show his face, so she gave him some space. But she hadn't expected him to disappear completely. Setting aside the time spent filming scent of a woman in New York, there was still no word from him. This had indeed piqued Uma's curiosity.That kiss when they met again was actually Uma's way of getting back at him; she wanted to see what kind of reaction her initiative would provoke. But to her surprise, Hugo's performance—a blend of gentlemanly humor, politeness, and a touch of dominance—made her see him in a new light. And after the premiere of the last analysis, Hugo had vanished once more.If all of this was part of Hugo's strategy, Uma not only had to admire his skill but also admit that her curiosity had truly been piqued.Their accidental meeting this afternoon had allowed Uma to truly recognize Hugo's charm—the kind of charm that could make her heart flutter. Looking back at Hugo's changes over the past two months, his embarrassment at the Golden Raspberry Awards made him seem more sincere, and scent of a woman marked a new beginning for him as an Actor—while the results were still unknown, it was at least a start. His standout performance at the premiere further showcased his masculine charm. Later, Uma heard that Hugo had reached the final round of auditions for another major production. Hugo was now clearly poised for a comeback, not to mention that his gentle, jade-like smile was far better than before.In her memory, Hugo was handsome, but he had also been somewhat flighty and greasy, with an aura of failure about him. But the current Hugo, while looking the same, had undergone a world-shaking change in temperament. It was easy to feel a soothing warmth from him.This version of Hugo held a fatal attraction for Uma. And so, she had appeared here, now past midnight.Faced with Uma's provocation, Hugo didn't know how to respond. He couldn't exactly say that he wasn't playing games but that his soul had been replaced, causing the change. So, Hugo could only offer a broad smile. "And what's the result of your investigation so far?"Uma took a small step forward, leaving only a fist's width of space between her and Hugo. She looked up at the tall man before her. "I need more evidence." Uma raised her free left hand and placed it on Hugo's chest. She didn't press down, but simply let the slight warmth of her palm move gently across his bare chest.Droplets of water still lingered on Hugo's post-shower body. His smooth, wheat-colored skin seemed to take on a beautiful luster in the dim light. Firm, well-proportioned muscles without a trace of fat rose and fell beneath Uma's palm. Though there was no substantial contact, Hugo's breathing involuntarily quickened. The heat in his breath made his recently moistened throat feel dry again.Hugo could feel the thumping of his heart—a sensation that wasn't unfamiliar. A pulse beating for a woman reminded Hugo of his current disarrayed state of mind. Hugo wanted to suppress this feeling, telling himself it was just his predecessor's thoughts at work, but his parched throat, which felt like it was about to smoke, showed that his body and mind were reacting in two completely different ways.Uma also clearly felt the changes in Hugo's body. She let go of the plastic bag in her right hand, letting it hit the floor with a dull thud. Then, she stood on her tiptoes and blew gently into Hugo's ear. "Don't tell me... you're actually incapable?" That slight upward lilt at the end carried a faint provocation, reminiscent of the meaningful look Uma had given him at the premiere.Hugo had originally intended to push Uma away because he didn't think the thumping of his heart was a normal reaction. But hearing those words, no man could accept such a provocation from a woman, especially in such an ambiguous moment. Midnight, moonlight like water, a man and a woman alone, skin-to-skin contact... Hugo lowered his head slightly and whispered in Uma's ear, "You know, a man can never resist a provocation." That warm breath caused Uma's ears to flush instantly, and her previously calm breathing became erratic.Uma finally couldn't help herself. Her hands fully touched Hugo's chest, and then she pressed her whole body against him. Softness and hardness embraced tightly. The heat radiating from Hugo's firm chest warmed Uma's cold hands on this chilly March night. It seemed as if flames could be seen slowly igniting where their skin touched.Hugo couldn't help but swallow, trying to soothe his dry throat. But Uma looked up at the gentle curve of his jaw and pressed a kiss onto his Adam's apple.The touch of a single kiss caused whatever reason they had left to burn away completely. (Three hundred words deleted) The spring scenery of the room could not be contained; a branch of red apricot blossoms reaches over the wall.
