Lin Yan made up an excuse to send Su Xin off first.
Then she walked across the street.
Xing Yu came forward to meet her.
“Why are you here too?” She muttered under her breath—the man was like a shadow that wouldn’t leave.
Xing Yu didn’t answer. He opened the car door. “Get in.”
Once she was seated, the car’s heater dispelled half the chill from her body.
Before she could speak, Xing Yu pulled a carton of plain milk from his coat pocket and handed it to her.
“Milk dissolves capsaicin and protects the stomach lining.”
Lin Yan curled her fingers slightly before reaching out to take it.
The warmth in her palm was unmistakable—it had been heated.
Gripping the milk tightly, Lin Yan felt her heart tighten along with her grip.
She looked up. “How did you know I can’t handle spicy food?”
Xing Yu rested one hand on the steering wheel, the veins on the back of his hand prominent with tension.
On New Year’s Eve, he’d added just a little chili, and she’d found it too spicy.
Naturally, she couldn’t handle it.
He turned sideways with a lazy grin. “Just a guess.”
Lin Yan parted her lips but said nothing.
Suddenly, Xing Yu leaned in close, the tip of his nose brushing past her cheek, his breath falling against her ear.
“Tonight, I want hotpot too.”
Lin Yan’s ear tingled. She shifted her neck, watching him with wary tension.
“Xing Yu, what are you—”
Before she could finish, her waist was pulled, and she tumbled into his chest.
Her limpid autumn-pool eyes were gradually swallowed by those deep black pupils, which also swallowed the rest of her sentence along with them.
He really had that kind of hard-edged handsomeness that was hard to look away from.
In her moment of distraction, a low voice sounded softly: “Clear broth hotpot, okay?”
Whether it was the car’s heater running too high or him being too close—
Either way, she felt a little hot.
“You… let go of me first.”
Xing Yu’s arm tightened again. “Okay? Hmm?”
Lin Yan’s body had already gone stiff. She nodded reluctantly.
Xing Yu stared at the mole at the corner of her eye, a hint of tenderness soaking his gaze. “Good girl.”
“…”
The car began to move, the greenery outside the window receding, flashing past her eyes in rapid succession.
Her thoughts drifted along with it.
Time and again, she’d clearly resisted, but she always ended up sinking in without realizing it…
She took a deep breath.
Continuously giving herself psychological cues.
It must be because she’d never been close to a man before—lust clouding her judgment, that was all.
Normal.
…
At six in the evening, Lin Yan received another photo from Xing Yu on WeChat.
Another pile of groceries he’d bought.
Clearly, he really was going to have hotpot.
She worked overtime until eight. When Lin Yan arrived home, Xing Yu was leaning against the door as usual, waiting for her.
“Good girl, waiting for you to cook.”
Lin Yan sighed wearily, suddenly regretting why she’d ever agreed to cook for him.
She’d clearly walked herself straight into a trap.
But thinking of Xing Yu’s hand, injured for her sake, it was only right.
Lin Yan went back to drop off her bag, then headed to the door across the hall.
As she entered, a pair of pink new slippers sat by the entrance.
While she hesitated, Xing Yu spoke.
“Bought them for you.”
“I’ll just wear my old ones.” Being treated like the lady of the house made her resistant.
After changing her shoes, Lin Yan was about to take off her coat and head to the kitchen to prep the ingredients.
Xing Yu’s infuriating voice cut off her zipper-pulling motion.
“Did you wear a bra today? You’re just taking it off like that.”
“…” Ever since she started working, she wore one every day.
The office had heating on; she had to take off her coat.
There was no way she’d go commando.
Lin Yan ignored him, took off her coat, and walked straight into the kitchen to start working.
The kitchen was open-concept. Xing Yu leaned against the dining table, gazing intently at her beautiful silhouette.
She wore a fitted beige low-neck sweater, paired with light blue slightly flared jeans.
Her silky black hair was loosely pinned up at the back of her head, revealing the elegant line of her neck.
A very simple outfit, yet like a breeze drifting through summer—fresh and somehow burning.
Xing Yu watched quietly, finally fixing his gaze on the red mark on the side of her neck.
That was left by him last night…
A phone ringtone suddenly sounded, pulling him back from his thoughts.
He watched as Lin Yan pulled her phone from her pocket and glanced at the caller ID.
Seeing it was an unknown number, she answered and put it on speaker, placing the phone on the counter as she continued washing vegetables.
“Hello.”
“Yanyan, it’s me.” Song Yanzheng’s low, hoarse voice echoed through the kitchen. “Why did you block my number? Why did you delete my WeChat? What’s going on with you?”
Lin Yan was startled at first, then set down the vegetables in her hand.
She was about to pick up the phone and turn off the speaker.
But Xing Yu’s long arm had already reached over, grabbing the phone and holding it high above his head.
His eyes darkened, and his low, rich voice slid past her ear.
“A-Yan, focus.”
Lin Yan narrowed her eyes, mouthing a warning at him.
“Stop it!”
On the other end of the line, Song Yanzheng heard the man’s voice, his usually gentle tone now carrying a hint of angry questioning.
“Yanyan, who’s speaking? Are you with Xing Yu again?”
“Yanzheng-ge, I—mmph—”
Her lips were sealed, cutting off the words she hadn’t yet spoken.
“Focus on… cooking.” Xing Yu pressed lightly, the last word barely audible.
Lin Yan knew he was doing it on purpose again.
Deliberately provoking Song Yanzheng.
Deliberately making him misunderstand.
“Yanyan!” Song Yanzheng couldn’t hold back on the other end, his voice rising several notches. “Yanyan, say something! Are you trying to piss me off on purpose?”
She couldn’t breathe, furrowing her brows as she pounded on Xing Yu, reminding him to know when to stop.
But Xing Yu only buried his head lower, sliding toward her ear.
His voice was still very soft, meant only for her to hear.
“Friend… how about we make him die of anger?”
Lin Yan was completely unprepared as the wild, frenzied kiss descended once more.
Dangerous and thrilling.
Eroding her rationality.
Xing Yu sensed the change in her, his palm gently cradling the back of her neck as he gazed into her glistening eyes, speaking slowly.
“A-Yan… you’re cooperating very well…”
With that, Xing Yu hung up on Song Yanzheng’s call directly, scooping Lin Yan up and turning toward the sofa.
The Xing Yu before her now had eyes dark and deep, fierce as a wolf or tiger.
Lin Yan quietly drew in a breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
“That’s enough. No need to act anymore…”
Xing Yu stared at the reddened corners of her eyes. “Mm, your acting is really that good.”
Lin Yan pressed her lips together, her gaze flickering like a faulty light bulb.
Even she found it hard to believe—just now, she had actually been a little… dazed?
Her expression betraying nothing, she changed the subject and shoved at him forcefully.
“Move.”
Xing Yu remained unmoved, gazing at her deeply.
“No strength. Can’t move…”