Washing dishes, sweeping, mopping there was still a pile of chores left to do. However, Pei Huixue looked at Gu Minghe and shook his head: “No need, I can do it myself.”
Pei Huixue kept his beautiful little face cold, like a proud and haughty ragdoll cat that didn’t want to pay any attention to humans.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Gu Minghe frowned.
“No need!”
Pei Huixue certainly didn’t want Gu Minghe to help him. He was still angry at him; he wanted to give him the cold shoulder so that Gu Minghe wouldn’t keep clinging to him, and consequently, wouldn’t get hurt again.
Having made up his mind, Pei Huixue’s expression became even more aloof.
Mimicking Gu Minghe’s usual “strangers keep away” demeanor, he pursed his lips and walked past Gu Minghe without glancing sideways. He then walked into the kitchen and began washing the few dishes left over from the morning.
His tender fingers had only been soaking in the sink for a moment before they started to wrinkle. Pei Huixue complained to the production team again: “Couldn’t you guys have prepared a dishwasher?!”
Just as he was muttering to himself, Gu Minghe walked in.
“Ah, what are you doing here? Go out, go out!” Pei Huixue deliberately poked Gu Minghe with his soapy fingers, putting on a look of disgust: “You aren’t needed here!”
He tried hard to make his expression look spoiled and willful, trying to be annoying, but his pursed little mouth was as red as a cherry, looking sweet and delicious.
Gu Minghe’s gaze darkened slightly. Ignoring the little cat intentionally trying to be bad, he walked over to the cabinet beside him and rummaged out a box of gloves: “Wear these when washing dishes, so you won’t hurt your hands.”
As he spoke, he grabbed Pei Huixue’s hands, washed them thoroughly with clean water, and helped him wipe them dry bit by bit with a clean paper towel. Finally, as he was about to help him put on the gloves, the person in front of him finally reacted, eyes widening: “I told you I don’t need your help, why are you so annoying?”
Pei Huixue yanked his hand away forcefully and put on the gloves himself, acting extremely hostile toward Gu Minghe.
Xia Mu happened to pass by the kitchen, and hearing the commotion inside, he hurried in to vent his injustice on Gu Minghe’s behalf.
“Pei Huixue, what are you doing? Best Actor Gu is helping you out of kindness, how can you treat him like that?”
“Hmph, I didn’t ask him to help me.” Pei Huixue placed his hands on his hips, his tone sharp, like a very qualified villainous cannon fodder: “He insisted on crowding over here himself; I certainly didn’t beg for his help.”
“How can you be like this!” Xia Mu stomped his feet in anger.
“Pei Huixue, you’re too mean!”
Seeing Gu Minghe revolving around Pei Huixue all morning, Xia Mu had felt something was wrong. He was worried that Gu Minghe might really have taken a fancy to Pei Huixue, and he had been fretting over not finding a chance to ruin Pei Huixue’s image.
To his surprise, this idiot had directly detonated himself.
He didn’t even need to make a move.
Too good! With this, even if Gu Minghe had some affection for Pei Huixue, he surely wouldn’t cling to him anymore, right?!
Xia Mu felt a surge of joy.
The netizens in the live stream obviously felt the same way.
Ahhh, Pei Huixue is too much. Gu Minghe is helping him this much, and he actually has this attitude!
This must be his true nature; he stopped pretending.
He probably saw Gu Minghe’s decent attitude toward him and assumed the guy liked him, so he started acting spoiled.
Gu Minghe was only being kind this morning, which gave him the wrong idea, making him think he could put on airs in front of Gu Minghe.
Just say forget Pei Huixue, why bother with him so much.
Gu Minghe surely won’t pay attention to him anymore!
Run, Best Actor Gu!
The comments floated by, and everyone was looking forward to Gu Minghe disciplining Pei Huixue. Who knew Gu Minghe would only glance at Pei Huixue indifferently: “Right, you didn’t ask me to help.”
“I was the one begging you to let me help.”
“Is that okay?”
Film critics across the country said that Gu Minghe’s eyes were the most ruthless; he could play a psychopathic killer, a judge who prioritized the law over human emotion, or an ancient tyrant who trod ants beneath his feet. Yet in this moment, his eyes were brimming with humble pleading.
It was as if Pei Huixue’s mere nod would be the greatest grace bestowed upon him.
In simple terms, it was one word: Simp!
Netizens: What’s going on? He’s actually simping?? Is this still the Best Actor Gu we know?!
Xia Mu’s expression was also somewhat dazed.
“B-Best Actor Gu, you don’t have to speak up for Pei Huixue…”
“What I do with Pei Huixue… does it have anything to do with you?” Gu Minghe turned around, his eyes icy and bone-chilling, even showing a hint of annoyance. He looked at Xia Mu as if he had been doused in a basin of cold water, leaving him not daring to utter another word.
Thus, facing the shocked gazes of the netizens and Xia Mu, Gu Minghe said to Pei Huixue again: “If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as you agreeing.”
“Huh?” Pei Huixue was dazed, his face still struggling to act like an annoying person.
Yet Gu Minghe didn’t care in the slightest.
He had tried his best, but his efforts were all in vain.
Why didn’t the plan go the way he wanted?
Could he not stop Gu Minghe from wanting to cuddle him, even when he pretended to be the bad guy?
Pei Huixue couldn’t help but start thinking. While he was lost in thought, Gu Minghe had already finished washing the dishes and mopping the floor for him. By the time he came to his senses, there was nothing left for him to do.
The netizens were also left stunned.
I can no longer understand Gu Minghe…
Best Actor Gu is actually so good at chores; it’s quite surprising.
Actually, he just likes doing chores, so that’s why he’s helping, right?
I get it now, Gu Minghe is intentionally seducing Pei Huixue! As long as Pei Huixue falls for him, he won’t intervene between Gu Yanchen and Su Jin anymore. Gu Minghe truly has deep intentions!
Makes sense! No wonder he tolerates Pei Huixue this much; what endurance, what hard work!
Approaching noon, Pei Huixue had to go out to buy ingredients to prepare a meal.
Gu Minghe followed him without a word again.
Pei Huixue said angrily: “Stop following me!”
Gu Minghe: “Do you know how to pick ingredients?”
Pei Huixue: …
He did not.
“And you can’t carry them by yourself.”
“Fine then. You… stay away from me, don’t get too close.”
Seeing he couldn’t stop him, Pei Huixue had no choice but to agree.
Gu Minghe obediently walked behind, keeping a certain distance from Pei Huixue.
Once they reached the supermarket, Pei Huixue was indeed baffled. Buying groceries felt like a battlefield, with many grandpas and grandmas scrambling for produce. He followed them foolishly, trying to grab some, but was hauled out by Gu Minghe after a short while.
“That over there is the discounted area; our budget is sufficient, there’s no need to scramble for the discounted food with them.”
Gu Minghe took the list from Pei Huixue’s hand and, checking against the list, placed the ingredients into the small cart one by one.
It didn’t take long before all the groceries were bought.
Looking at the cart full of produce, Pei Huixue suddenly felt that he had truly been pampered by Gu Minghe to the point where he couldn’t take care of his own life.
He hadn’t noticed it back when they were together, but now that they were separated, he realized how deep an influence Gu Minghe had on him.
He knew it was wrong he shouldn’t attach his own life to someone else but he had grown habitually dependent on Gu Minghe, and he loved that feeling very much.
The supermarket wasn’t far from the villa; the two of them had walked out on foot.
Gu Minghe carried the two large bags of groceries, not letting Pei Huixue carry a single thing, walking ahead by himself.
Pei Huixue looked at his tall back, feeling as if their days had returned to the past—those small, precious moments where they only relied on each other.
His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly followed after him.
His gaze lingered on the bandage wrapped around Gu Minghe’s arm.
“Hmph, the injury on your arm must hurt a lot, right? Serves you right, who told you to insist on following me.”
“I won’t be concerned about you, even if your wound splits open from carrying heavy objects, it has nothing to do with me.”
“I’m certainly not going to help you, if you like carrying it so much, carry some more!”
Pei Huixue felt his tone was as nasty as it could be; no one could stand him.
He quietly reached out his hand, readying himself to toss the grocery bag onto Gu Minghe once he got angry.
Yet, all he heard in his ear was Gu Minghe’s low, soft chuckle.
“I like it very much.”
The breeze blew past his ear, blowing Pei Huixue’s fair, white ears a bright red.
Throughout the entire day, Pei Huixue was racking his brain trying to find ways to be bad.
He wanted Gu Minghe to be unable to stand him; he wanted Gu Minghe to stop clinging to him. But no matter what he did, Gu Minghe showed no reaction.
He acted spoiled and petty all day long, yet Gu Minghe not only didn’t get angry, he even reminded him to drink some water to soothe his throat before continuing.
Pei Huixue lay weakly on the sofa, out of ideas.
He asked 029: His husband loves him too much, and he can’t get rid of him at all—what should he do!
029 was playing dead.
Only after a long while did it reply: Host, this system has never encountered a tian gou like Gu Minghe; I am helpless to assist, you must figure it out yourself.
Pei Huixue felt depressed.
In the evening, the others returned to the villa.
Pei Huixue, who had been playing the villain all day, saw Gu Yanchen return and his eyes lit up.
His target for the mission had returned!
Once he finished the mission quickly, he could put an end to all this!
Pei Huixue flew over, smiling particularly sweetly: “Brother Chen, you’re back. Is work tiring?”
As he spoke, he swiftly helped Gu Yanchen take off his suit jacket and dragged him to the dining table. Completely ignoring Su Jin’s existence on the side, he lavished attention upon Gu Yanchen: “Drink some water first. Hungry, right? I stewed spare rib soup for you; you can taste it. This is my first time cooking, hehe.”
Gu Yanchen felt his entire body go numb from his smile.
What left him even more speechless was the terrifying gaze vaguely emanating from behind him.
He didn’t need to turn his head to know who it was.
Su Jin, on the other hand, felt a surge of jealousy from Pei Huixue’s performance. He stepped forward and pulled a smile for Pei Huixue: “Xiaoxue, you’ve worked hard. Go rest first; I’ll be the one to take care of Yanchen.”
“How could that work,” Pei Huixue pinched his voice: “Given my relationship with Brother Chen, this is all things I should be doing.”
Screech.
Gu Minghe walked over, pulled out the chair next to Gu Yanchen, sat down with his legs spread wide, crossed his arms over his chest, and said coldly: “What kind of relationship?”
Pei Huixue muttered internally: “A relative relationship.”
Gu Minghe raised his eyebrows, looking at Pei Huixue with piercing eyes.
Gu Minghe played the simp for Pei Huixue all day, and yet Pei Huixue is here simping for Gu Yanchen. Haha, I think Gu Minghe is about to die of anger!
Gu Minghe is doing this because he saw Pei Huixue trying to stir up trouble between the brother and sister-in-law again, so he stepped out to help his brother out of the awkward situation.
Pei Huixue’s attitude toward Gu Yanchen is the same as always. Look at his attentive look right now where is the imperious look he had toward Gu Minghe during the day?
Gu Minghe has endured it for the sake of his brother and sister-in-law for a whole day; he’s really not having an easy time!
The comments felt sympathy for Gu Minghe.
Pei Huixue avoided Gu Minghe’s gaze and said on his own: “Brother Chen, I’ll go bring the soup over for you.”
Netizens started accusing him again: Pei Huixue is really something—Gu Minghe has been ordered around by him all day, yet he doesn’t even serve a bowl of the soup he boiled to Gu Minghe!
When Pei Huixue brought out the bone soup he had meticulously simmered, the live stream fell silent.
What… what a black, murky bowl!
“Brother Chen, hurry and drink it; it’s very nourishing.” Pei Huixue looked at Gu Yanchen with anticipation.
Gu Yanchen: …
“Can I choose not to drink it?”
Su Jin: “Xiaoxue, is this really bone soup you simmered?”
“Of course it is; I followed the tutorial, it can’t be wrong.” Pei Huixue pushed the soup bowl toward Gu Yanchen.
Netizens: Good thing he didn’t give it to Gu Minghe to drink.
Gu Yanchen didn’t really want to drink it; just as he was about to open his mouth to refuse, Gu Minghe beside him had already reached out, snatched the bowl, and drained it in one gulp.
Everyone: !!
Netizens: Gu Minghe, you shouldn’t be drinking that!!
Gu Yanchen: Thank you, my good brother.
Pei Huixue screamed and hurried to pat Gu Minghe’s shoulder: “Ahhh, spit it out! Hurry up and spit it out! Drinking soup that tastes this bad will give you diarrhea! Who told you to drink it? It wasn’t boiled for you to drink!!”
Pei Huixue was dying of heartache. He was fine with Gu Yanchen drinking the dark cuisine he made, so why was his husband scrambling to drink it!!
Gu Yanchen: …
Hehe, so he isn’t heartbroken if I drink it, right…
Gu Minghe set the soup bowl down and said to Pei Huixue: “It’s a bit burnt, but the taste is alright.”
Things his wife cooked himself how could he let anyone else eat them?
Did Gu Yanchen deserve to eat it?
As long as it was made by his wife, even if it was dark cuisine, it could only be eaten by him!