Chapter 150: A Bitter Ruse

"Still saying you aren't? Look at how cold your face is." She poked the cheek right in front of her.

Yan Rushan pulled at the corners of his mouth, his smile looking rather strained. Zhong Yuxiu slapped her small hand against his face. "Enough, stop smiling; it looks truly awful. I know you're blaming yourself, but it was just inviting someone to a meal, and it was last-minute—there was no time to call you anyway."

"Yuxiu." He pulled her hand down, lowered his head, and then looked back up, his smile helpless yet indulgent. "Thank you."

Thank you for being willing to tolerate my selfishness and possessiveness.

Zhong Yuxiu gave a light snort. "As long as you know it. Don't go pulling a long face at me in the future, or I won't be giving you a pleasant look either."

The tightness in his chest dissipated, and feeling at ease, Yan Rushan chuckled softly, parting his thin lips.

"I can't bear to."

I can't bear to treat you poorly.

"Alright, do you feel better now?" She brushed his face; there was clear exhaustion in his expression, and her starry eyes flickered with concern.

Yan Rushan simply sat down on the floor, grabbed the hand she was about to retract, and rubbed his face against her soft palm.

Opportunities for intimacy were rare. Suddenly being rubbed against so preciously and caringly, Zhong Yuxiu felt a tingling sensation in her heart. She looked up to see Gou Dan bringing over a heaping plate of egg-fried rice and let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.

"If you're feeling better, eat something, then head back early to rest. For the sake of you treating me so well, I agree to go to your house for the Lunar New Year."

The large head in her palm froze.

Yan Rushan looked up in surprise. "You're willing? Aren't you afraid of what people might say?"

"Afraid of what?" Zhong Yuxiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, her expression somewhat provocative.

Her features were vivid, her gaze dancing with spirit, which made Yan Rushan’s heart burn with intensity. "Xiuer, you are so kind."

"If I don't go to your house for New Year's, I’m not kind anymore?" She wanted to give him a side-eye, but instead, she pursed her lips, took the egg-fried rice, and handed it to him. "Eat quickly. If you had come twenty minutes earlier, you would have made it for mealtime; now, this is all there is."

Ripples spread across his heart, and he felt a sweetness take root. Yan Rushan held the plate of egg-fried rice, a smile on his handsome face, and picked up the spoon from the edge of the plate to slowly feed himself.

When egg-fried rice is made well, it is delicious and appetizing; when it is made poorly, it tastes greasy and leaves one feeling stifled.

The fried rice made by Gou Dan was truly delicious, containing not only eggs but also greens. Every mouthful was fragrant with the distinct flavors of greens, eggs, and rice. He finished every last grain, even cleaning the plate.

He placed the spoon back on the plate, handed the plate to Gou Dan, and now that his belly was full, the exhaustion between Yan Rushan's brows had slightly faded, leaving him in a languid state.

"Eat up and go back, get some rest early. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve; surely you won't be going to the black market again, right?" Yan Rushan's looks and voice were exactly to her taste; he grew on her heart. Even now, in his languid and exhausted state, she found him pleasing to the eye.

Yan Rushan braced his hands on the floor and lifted his thin lips. "I won't be going for the next ten days; I’ll stay home and keep you company." Being cared for and cherished by his sweetheart made him feel completely at ease, as if he were soaking in warm water; every pore felt relaxed.

"Mmh," Yuxiu nodded slightly.

***

Yan Rushan climbed up from the floor and squatted in place, reaching out to take her hand, but she dodged him.

"You're all dirty, get going."

It was quite heartless.

Yan Rushan: "..." His heart went cold.

His enthusiasm was doused by ice water—it couldn't have been colder.

"Xiuer."

Zhong Yuxiu gave a soft hum and looked down at him; for some reason, she caught a glimpse of grievance. Resigned, she reached out and patted his large head. "Go back. We can see each other tomorrow, so get to sleep early today. If you aren't in good spirits tomorrow, it will ruin your looks, and if you aren't handsome and good-looking, I won't like looking at you."

Fine then.

He was relying on his face to get ahead.

"You get to sleep early too, don't stay up late. Tomorrow at eight, I'll be here on time."

Hearing this just before he left, Zhong Yuxiu sighed. After Gou Dan closed the door and returned, she asked, "Gou Dan, why are you sighing?"

"I want to sleep in." Being diligent didn't stop her from wanting to sleep in.

Gou Dan: "..." Is being this lazy really okay?

"Master, you sleep. If Yan Rushan comes, Gou Dan will stop him." It would be best not to let him in, so he could stand outside in the cold wind and wake his mind up.

The next day, Yan Rushan arrived punctually at eight, but he truly couldn't get through the door.

Zhong Yuxiu got up and went downstairs to find the front door shut tight; only then did she remember what Gou Dan had said. She pulled the door open and indeed saw Yan Rushan waiting outside, his face pale and his lips frozen blue.

"Brother Yan, how long have you been here?"

"Not long. It's just too cold outside." Yan Rushan pulled at the corners of his mouth, his skin stiff, and smiled weakly.

Zhong Yuxiu pulled him inside and shouted toward the kitchen, "Gou Dan, get out here!"

"Beep, beep, beep." The robot arrived before its voice did. Then, Gou Dan walked out of the kitchen, a tall, sturdy robot playing the mute, standing before Zhong Yuxiu to wait for the follow-up.

"Brother Yan is here, why didn't you open the door? Look at how frozen he is." This was unacceptable.

"Beep."

Yan Rushan pursed his lips in a faint smile, casting a meaningful look at Gou Dan.

Gou Dan: ??

***

*Dog man, playing the pity card.*

The two males—one robot, one human—clashed. The robot was slightly inferior; Gou Dan marked him down. Even if he might be the future male master, did he need a reason to mess with him?

At first, Zhong Yuxiu hadn't noticed the silent war between them, but she was sharp-eyed and had the benefit of her spiritual energy. After a short while, she detected the sharp edge between the man and the robot. She took a deep breath, her temples throbbing.

"Yan Rushan, go get some hot water to warm your hands and feet. Gou Dan, make Yan Rushan a cup of ginger tea; remember to add brown sugar."

*Oh no, the jig is up.*

Yan Rushan looked at Yuxiu cautiously. "Yuxiu."

"Beep, beep, beep." Making sounds, Gou Dan turned and walked away briskly; those beeps sounded like mocking laughter.

"Yuxiu, I'm cold."

Zhong Yuxiu sneered, "You were enjoying the cold outside, what are you afraid of now?"

Yan Rushan knew he was in the wrong and rubbed his nose. "I knocked, but Gou Dan wouldn't open the door."

"Gou Dan wouldn't open the door? That's its fault, but what about you? If the door didn't open, couldn't you have gone home? What kind of sense does it make to catch a cold on the New Year?"

She rarely saw her this angry; he could feel her fury from afar.

Patting her chest, Zhong Yuxiu calmed the fire in her heart. "Do that again, and get lost. We have no connection."

"Okay, okay, okay." Knowing she had softened, Yan Rushan stepped forward, reaching out to take her hand; suddenly, he remembered his hands were as cold as ice blocks. Having just been caught in a lie and making her angry, he dared not push his luck. "Yuxiu, I didn't want it to be like this; but Gou Dan wouldn't open the door, and I couldn't get in..."

It had always been this way; it was quite heartbreaking.

Zhong Yuxiu's gaze shifted. "You want the key to my house? You intentionally froze yourself like this just for this?"

"This is not a small matter." Yan Rushan stared steadily at the young woman before him, persistent and stubborn.

"You're a grown man, not a child; why can't you take better care of your health?" Zhong Yuxiu gave him two speechless looks and turned to go upstairs.

Watching her go upstairs, he closed his eyes in frustration, his heart feeling uneasy and unsettled.

Yan Rushan crouched down in defeat; no matter how cold he was on the outside, it couldn't compare to the panic in his heart.