Do you have feelings for Yiyang?

Hugging Snowy, Xiyang rolled back and forth across the large bed. "Snowy, from now on, this big house will be our home."

Snowy, dizzy from being tumbled around in her arms, protested, "No matter how big the house is, I still want to sneak out."

Xiaoqi looked down on him. "You really are as timid as a mouse. Since you're here, just make yourself comfortable."

Snowy retorted, "Right now, I'm an adorable kitten. That's much cuter than a mouse."

"Xiyang, open the door."

Xiaoqi, afraid someone might overhear her sweet dreams, always locked the door at night, though she’d never had that habit before. Looking back, she wished she did—maybe then the signal device wouldn’t have disappeared.

Xiaoqi hopped out of bed to answer the door.

The girl standing outside was radiant, her face brimming with energy and a cheerful smile, her mood seemingly as high as it could go.

Just yesterday she had looked so down and listless; after one night’s sleep, it was as if she’d been injected with pure energy.

Being silly isn’t so bad, Xiaoqi thought; at least she won’t be troubled by worries.

"You look well. Come downstairs for breakfast."

"Alright!" Xiaoqi touched her own cheeks. Did she really look that healthy?

"Xiaoqi," Snowy said from the bed, "are you going to confess to him today?"

Confess?

Xiaoqi frowned in thought. "As they say, honesty brings leniency, resistance brings severity. I suppose I’d better confess!"

Snowy added, "No matter if you stick your head out or keep it down, the blade will fall all the same. So either way, you’re going to take it."

"…"

"Snowy, can’t you be a little more subtle when you speak?"

"Subtlety? Is that something edible? Sorry, I’m just a cat, so I don’t understand you humans’ subtleties."

"…"

Her Snowy was acting a little strange.

Oh well. Seems losing the signal device has hit Snowy pretty hard too.

Downstairs in the dining room, Xiaoqi was happily eating breakfast as she spoke. "President Lin, can I skip work today and go tomorrow instead?"

She’d made up her mind. With the signal device still missing, she couldn’t focus on work; today she needed time to rehearse how to confess everything to him.

Yichen glanced at her. "Just now upstairs you were so full of energy. What’s this? Despair hitting you again?"

"…"

"Just think of me as despairing, then. Either way, I’m not going to work today."

Was she giving up and letting herself go?

Yichen gracefully dabbed his lips with a napkin. "As you wish."

President Lin left the table elegantly, but after a few steps, he stopped. "By the way," he said, glancing back, "we’re out of groceries. I’m going to teach you how to cook tonight, so after breakfast, go to the supermarket and buy plenty of food."

"…"

Grocery shopping—an utter thunderbolt for someone like her who could only eat and not cook.

It was as if she’d been struck by lightning, left in a scorched daze. After a while, Xiaoqi asked hopefully, "President Lin, I only know how to eat, I can’t recognize vegetables. Can we go shopping together when you get back?"

Yichen smiled with impeccable politeness. "Absolutely… not."

"…"

Honestly, making her do the grocery shopping!

Couldn’t he just pick some up after work? Clearly, he was just giving her a hard time.

Xiaoqi glared at his upright back as he walked away, as if she wanted to burn a hole straight through it.

Only when his figure disappeared completely did she retract her fiery gaze.

She bit fiercely into her fried egg, as if it were a certain someone.

Her phone rang.

Seeing it was Yiyang calling, she brightened. "Yiyang!"

"Xiyang, are you at the office?"

"Uh, I’m not feeling well today, so I didn’t go in."

"You’re not feeling well? What’s wrong? Should I come see you?"

"No, it’s nothing, really…" Suddenly, Xiaoqi had an idea. Right now, Yiyang didn’t have much to do—why not have him take her grocery shopping?

"Yiyang, I’m at your brother’s place. Drive over and let’s go to the supermarket together."

#

Xiaoqi hadn’t expected the big supermarket to be so crowded, especially in the produce section.

It was buzzing with activity.

"Why are all those aunties crowding over there?" Xiaoqi pointed at the area with the chicken leg special.

"Chicken legs are on sale today," Yiyang explained, pushing the shopping cart. "Those aunties are especially loyal to bargains."

Xiaoqi didn’t quite understand and was about to ask when Yiyang hesitated and spoke. "Xiyang, after the fire at the last art exhibit, even though you weren’t hurt, do you hate the arsonist?"

Her first reaction was, "You mean you found the person who set the fire?"

"No," Yiyang stopped and looked at her. "I mean, if the person who set the fire apologized to you in person, would you forgive her?"

Xiaoqi scratched her head. "Shouldn’t I be asking you that? I wasn’t hurt, but your exhibit was destroyed by fire. So the question is, would you forgive them?"

Yiyang lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

Xiaoqi sighed. "Actually, I feel I’m not much different from that arsonist. I’ve been lying to someone who’s… quite good to me. That makes me feel awful, like I’m a bad person."

"I think I’m a bad person too."

"Hmm?" Yiyang's words were so quiet she didn't catch them. "What did you just say, Yiyang?"

"Oh, I said the culprit was me…" Yiyang caught himself. "No, I mean the culprit has nothing to do with me…"

Not knowing how to explain, he simply said, "You almost got hurt because of me, Xiyang. I hope you can forgive me."

Xiaoqi laughed openly. "You didn’t do anything wrong. Besides, we’re friends. If I’d been in your shoes, I would’ve done the same. Let’s just get the groceries, okay?"

"Alright!" Yiyang watched her big eyes dart around, thinking that Xiyang now seemed quite different from the Xiyang he once knew.

"Xiyang, are you living with my brother now?"

Xiaoqi only admitted she was staying at Yichen’s, saying nothing more.

When she heard the word "living together," she was stunned for a few seconds before realizing what he meant. Her cheeks flushed.

"It’s not what you think, it’s just…" Xiaoqi scratched her head. "It’s complicated. I’ll tell you everything once we’re back."

"Alright!"

A white car pulled up not far from the supermarket entrance.

The window rolled down. Yichen's dark eyes watched as the two of them got into the car, chatting and laughing.

He’d told Xiyang to buy groceries, but deep down he didn’t trust her to manage it alone.

She was always finding herself in trouble.

So he’d driven over, planning to do the shopping himself and cook for her, giving her a little surprise.

He hadn’t expected to be the one surprised.

If, five years ago, Xiyang and Yiyang had been laughing together, he would have had no worries.

But now…

Not until the white sedan drove away did his grip finally loosen on the steering wheel.

"Your brother is so cunning. I just had a few meals at his place, and now he wants me to learn to cook. Classic capitalist move."

Aside from the signal device, she told Yiyang everything—he understood at once.

His brother would stop at nothing to keep Xiyang close.

Yiyang had wanted to offer to cook for her, but he didn’t know how either, so…

"It’s already eleven. How about I take you out for lunch?" Yiyang suggested.

"Sure! Just give me a moment, I’ll get my bag."

"Alright!"

Xiaoqi ran upstairs to grab her bag, and her phone rang.

Huh? Why was he calling at this hour?

Did he find out I took the sapphire?

No, the sapphire was mine to begin with. I’m just taking back what’s mine.

Even so, Xiaoqi felt nervous.

She picked up, anxious. "Hello, President Lin, what is it?"

Yichen’s voice was deep on the other end. "Did you buy the groceries?"

"…"

He called just to ask about groceries?

Xiaoqi felt both disdainful and relieved.

At least it wasn’t about the signal device.

"I did. I bought plenty—enough for several days."

He said nothing. Xiaoqi thought she heard the sound of traffic in the background.

Wait… was he outside?

Xiaoqi was the type who couldn’t help but ask questions. "President Lin, aren’t you at the office?"

"And why do you say that?"

Uh… because…

Xiaoqi quickly came up with a clever excuse. "Because I can’t hear you shuffling any papers in the background. So I figured you weren’t working. President Lin, don’t tell me you’re slacking off and sneaked out. As the boss, you should—"

Yichen cut her off coldly. "Stay at the villa and don’t go anywhere."

And hung up with finality.

Xiaoqi: "…"

What did he mean by that?

"Xiyang?" Yiyang called her from downstairs.

Xiaoqi hurried down.

"What took you so long?"

"Nothing." For some reason, Yichen’s last words had a burning anger to them.

Now she felt a little afraid to go out.

"Um, Yiyang, actually, I ate a lot this morning, so I’m not hungry. And I woke up super early, so I’m really sleepy now, so…"

"You want to sleep now?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Yiyang looked at her for several seconds, something flickering in his eyes.

He nodded. "Then next time, I’ll treat you to lunch to celebrate your brave rescue at my art exhibit."

"Oh, yes, definitely!"

Xiaoqi lay down on the sofa.

Sigh, no lunch—now what?

She patted her stomach. Maybe she should try cooking?

But…

You have to try everything at least once.

Xiaoqi got up and opened the fridge, staring at the mountain of vegetables inside—most of which she didn’t even recognize.

Biting her finger, she wondered which one she should take out.

"Xiyang!"

"Ah?" Xiaoqi jumped. "Why are you back?"

No wonder she’d heard the sound of cars on the phone—he really had snuck off.

Wait, but why would he sneak home?

Yichen didn’t look at her, just stood at the sofa with his hands in his pockets. "What? I can’t come home?"

"…"

Why did he seem so angry?

And his words were so sarcastic.

"Aren’t you supposed to be at work—"

"Or am I in your way by coming home?"

"…"

Is he… jealous?

"Ye Xiyang!" He suddenly called her full name, turning his gaze on her. "Tell me honestly—are you hiding something from me?"

What he really wanted to ask was: Do you like Yiyang?

But how could he bring himself to say it out loud?