Jiang Zhixue stood dazed as he pulled her along, heading upstairs.
She hadn’t intended for him to pull her like this—she was just too tired and had stopped to catch her breath.
But with the man holding her hand like this, she felt half her weight lifted, making the climb much easier.
After months of rough labor, Zhou Yan’s broad palms were covered in calluses, some thick, some thin.
His palm was solid and warm, and holding her hand like this made her feel grounded and secure.
After all, he wasn’t her real husband. Jiang Zhixue bit her lip uncomfortably, blushed slightly, and lowered her head, letting him lead her.
In her past life, she had always been alone—struggling, bearing everything, pushing herself to the brink.
Now, being protected and led like this, she felt a sense of reliance and security in her heart.
Moreover, since such days were only temporary, Jiang Zhixue’s mood improved considerably.
Sensing her emotions, Zhou Yan couldn’t help but glance at her.
She was obedient, calm, and carried a composure and confidence she had never shown before.
Though it was baffling, this version of her didn’t suffocate him as before. He felt relieved and a sense of peace.
His tense, anxious, and despairing heart also settled a little.
His gaze unconsciously fell on her bitten lips.
She had typical petal-shaped lips, a natural and fresh light pink. The way she unconsciously bit them made his eyes darken.
Feeling the man’s gaze, Jiang Zhixue looked up and met his eyes.
Deep, profound, and penetrating.
She felt a panic as if her soul had been laid bare.
Biting her lip, she explained, "I… suffered too great a blow before, you know."
Zhou Yan didn’t deny it, only slowed his pace to make it easier for her.
Not to mention her shattered dreams of wealth and the heavy blow she endured.
Zhou Yan was the same—from a poor boy to a billionaire, then to a debtor with billions in losses, all in just a few years. It felt like a dream to him.
"That’s why I lost my senses and failed to see through people like Han Ling."
"It took so long to see his true colors…"
That made sense, didn’t it?
Though Zhou Yan couldn’t fully understand, he still responded with an "Mm," acknowledging her.
She was fine like this now.
As for the future, they’d deal with it later.
Jiang Zhixue was pulled by him up to the seventh floor—no, the eighth floor—before Zhou Yan finally let go of her.
He bent down, unlocked the door with a key, and entered.
Jiang Zhixue followed him inside.
Only when the two of them stood inside did she realize how small the space was.
Zhou Yan placed the breakfast on the table.
Then he took off his jacket, climbed onto the bed, and placed it near the window to avoid picking up food smells.
He didn’t dare fold the suit—the quality was too poor, and it would wrinkle completely with a single crease.
Jiang Zhixue stood at the doorway, feeling like an outsider, unsure of what to do.
She watched as Zhou Yan climbed onto the bed. The man wore suit pants and a white shirt tucked into them, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist, with a black tie.
He crawled onto the narrow 1.2-meter bed, arranging his clothes there.
Though the clothes were of poor quality, his figure was excellent, and he was a fine man.
His long legs and seductive hips were presented before her in the most natural and alluring posture.
He propped himself up on the bed with one arm, his shoulders, back, and side waist stretched in the most relaxed manner.
What a robust and sensual man!
After arranging his jacket, Zhou Yan crawled forward a little more.
Jiang Zhixue stared straight ahead, not even blinking.
When Zhou Yan stepped back from the bed, he saw her standing behind him, her face flushed red.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Jiang Zhixue forcefully shook the pile of indescribable images out of her mind. "It's… it's hot."
Zhou Yan moved aside, leaving Jiang Zhixue with nowhere else to squeeze, so she naturally sat down on the bed.
A towel was handed to her: "Wipe your hands."
She took it, wiped her hands, and seeing Zhou Yan waiting, handed it back.
Zhou Yan put the towel away and handed her the steamed buns and soy milk, both wrapped in plastic bags.
She took them and began eating while sitting on the bed.
Zhou Yan sat in a narrow chair next to the kitchen cabinet, his tall frame looking cramped.
After taking two bites, she looked up and saw him, immediately freezing.
"Those who achieve greatness are all tempered in adversity" had materialized.
Only then did she realize she was eating meat buns and had a carton of soy milk.
As for Zhou Yan, his bag contained two large plain steamed buns, which he was slowly chewing.
They were the bland, dry kind, meant mainly to fill the stomach.
Jiang Zhixue looked at herself again, her eyes aching with discomfort.
If it were another man, someone like her treating Zhou Yan this way, the other party would have likely divorced her and cut ties long ago.
Even in this situation, he still gave her the tasty, nutritious food, only allowing himself to buy two plain steamed buns.
The male lead was truly good to his malicious ex-wife.
She took a bite of the bun but suddenly found it hard to swallow.
There were six buns in the steamer. She had eaten four and handed the remaining two to him: "Here."
Zhou Yan turned to look at her.
She pursed her lips: "I'm full."
The man paused for a moment: "Save them for lunch."
Jiang Zhixue was taken aback: "I don't want buns for lunch."
Zhou Yan looked at her silently, then took them and began eating.
Clearly, after chewing the bland, dry plain buns, the soft, fragrant meat buns made his expression change slightly, showing a hint of enjoyment.
But his eating movements were truly elegant.
Excellent people remain excellent and elegant in any environment.
Coupled with his superior physique, handsome features, steady wisdom, and gentle demeanor…
Jiang Zhixue suddenly felt that this rental apartment wasn't so hard to accept after all.
He finished one bun in two bites, and when he swallowed, his prominent Adam's apple bobbed, looking quite sexy.
Jiang Zhixue couldn't help but stare, mesmerized.
Sensing her gaze, Zhou Yan turned to see her holding a cup of soy milk, staring blankly at him.
She quickly snapped back to reality, immediately lowered her head, sipped the soy milk, and pretended she hadn't been caught.
Zhou Yan frowned slightly and continued eating the bun.
Jiang Zhixue sipped her soy milk while secretly watching him again.
Such a good man would belong to the female lead in the future. While he was still under her name, she might as well look while she could—each glance was one less.
Zhou Yan kept his head down, focusing on his food, pretending not to notice her.
But her staring at him like this…
Thinking back to when she wanted to sell his kidney, he suddenly felt like a commodity being appraised.
His frown deepened.
"Here." Just as he was lost in uncomfortable thoughts, half a cup of soy milk was handed to him.
He turned to look at Jiang Zhixue, momentarily stunned: "You drink it."
"I… I've had enough, I don't want any more." Jiang Zhixue was both hungry and thirsty; six buns and a cup of soy milk were just right for her.
But watching Zhou Yan struggle to swallow the dry steamed bun without even a bottle of water, she couldn't bear it and left half for him.
Besides, with him working so hard day and night, how could he manage without a proper breakfast?
Zhou Yan stared at her, clearly unconvinced that the little she had eaten was enough.
Jiang Zhixue: "…If you don't drink it, I'll pour it out."
Only then did Zhou Yan take it, drinking through the straw.
Jiang Zhixue had just turned away when she glanced back at him. He just drank it? Using the straw she had used?
Having been single for two lifetimes and never even held a man's hand, this pure workhorse blushed instantly, her mind wandering off in a crooked direction.