Ding Ling~ Ding Ling~ This is big brother's dinner for today~

"Stupid Su Qi..."

"If you dare do anything..."

"I... I'll..."

"I'll..."

Liu Yuan didn't know what she would do.

Maybe... half-heartedly resist?

Maybe... actively respond?

She wasn’t sure.

...

As for what Su Qi was thinking right now?

The breathtaking sight before him was enough to shake even the most resolute mind.

A peerless beauty was right within reach, her breath warm and audible.

A slight tilt of his head would bring his lips to hers.

A mere shift of his arm could pull that slender waist into his embrace.

And worst of all—she was allowing it.

Her eyes held a dazed, almost encouraging allure, as if silently urging him to go further.

Who could resist such temptation?

Su Qi admitted he couldn’t.

He was young, his body surging with restless impulses.

Faced with this scene, his rationality was already hanging by a thread.

Even legendary monks couldn’t resist the allure of beauty—mouthing empty platitudes about detachment while refusing to lift their heads lest their eyes betray desire.

And Su Qi? He was just an ordinary man, bound to earthly desires.

Su Qi could only avert his gaze. "Isn’t this... a little too fast? And the martial exam is coming up. Let’s wait until after that."

"'Roleplay' ends here for today. Go change your clothes."

Liu Yuan froze.

She yanked her leg back abruptly, the motion so sharp the air itself seemed to tremble with her frustration.

Sliding off the couch, she stood up straight—too fast, her head spinning slightly.

The living room lights were still soft, but to her eyes, they mercilessly illuminated Su Qi’s unreadable expression.

"Oh."

The single syllable squeezed out of her throat was light, laced with a hoarseness she didn’t even notice.

She couldn’t bring herself to look at him again.

One more glance, and the fragile composure she’d mustered might crumble entirely.

How could anyone be this clueless?!

Her nose tingled with unshed tears.

Spinning around, she hurried toward her room, steps unsteady.

She didn’t want him to see the redness threatening her eyes.

So embarrassing.

He’d clearly reacted earlier!

Her chest ached.

At the door, she paused.

Fingers curled around the cold doorknob.

She didn’t turn back.

Just muttered, voice muffled and tinged with something between resentment and a plea:

"I’ll... handle the housework from now on."

Then she twisted the knob, slipped inside, and shut the door with a quiet click.

The sound sealed away the living room’s light—and the infuriating idiot who’d left her so flustered.

Alone in the living room, Su Qi remained motionless.

The faint scent of the girl still lingered in the air.

The couch bore the fading warmth where she’d sat.

His hand hovered midair, still frozen in the act of holding her calf.

Slowly, he lowered it.

His palm seemed to remember the softness of her skin.

Eyes fixed on the closed door, his gaze darkened with unreadable emotions.

He could imagine Liu Yuan’s state—disappointed? Angry? Or... hurt?

Rising, he walked to the window.

The night sprawled outside, city lights flickering in the distance.

On one hand, Liu Yuan had just turned eighteen. Did she even understand what love truly meant?

Maybe what she felt was just dependence—confusion mistaken for affection. Today might’ve been nothing but impulse.

On the other hand, Su Qi knew the influence of the cards had stirred her emotions. Taking advantage of that would be unforgivable.

So playing dumb was the only choice.

...

Inside her room, Liu Yuan buried her face in her knees.

Shoulders trembling.

So. Mad.

Su Qi, that absolute blockhead!

A steel-reinforced straight man!

A log for a brain!

She’d been this close—this close to losing control!

And what did he do?!

Or... maybe he didn’t like her at all?

The thought sent a sharp pang through her chest.

She shook her head violently, as if to dislodge the idea.

No.

Su Qi wasn’t like that.

He could be dense, infuriating, but he’d never toy with someone’s feelings.

Then why...?

Lifting her head, she stared blankly at the ceiling, thoughts in chaos.

Was it the martial exam?

Did he think it’d affect his performance?

That... sort of made sense.

The exam was important.

But still!

Was that reason enough to ruin that moment?!

Pouting, she flopped onto the bed, face smushed into the pillow.

Her stomach chose then to growl loudly.

Right. They’d been so caught up in "roleplay" that dinner had been forgotten.

She rubbed her belly.

No matter how upset she was, hunger couldn’t be ignored.

After dawdling a bit, she pricked her ears for sounds outside.

The living room was quiet—just Su Qi, probably.

Should she go out?

How would she even face him?

But her stomach protested louder.

Wait.

If she was hungry... wouldn’t she have to eat...?

...

Liu Yuan pushed her bedroom door open.

(She pointedly ignored Su Qi’s earlier order to change clothes.)

The living room light spilled in, harsh against her eyes.

Su Qi stood by the window, back turned.

He didn’t react to the sound.

Steeling herself, Liu Yuan walked—calm, composed—straight to the fridge.

The door swung open, releasing a wave of cold air.

Inside: drinks, fruit, instant meals.

Her eyes scanned the contents before landing on a chocolate cake.

She grabbed it, tore off the wrapper.

Then, just as she turned to leave—

Her feet tangled.

A soft squeak.

Su Qi glanced back just in time to see Liu Yuan wobble dramatically.

"Whoops—!"

Su Qi: "..."

That acting was painfully obvious.

Still, reflex had him reaching out to catch her.

But he forgot one crucial detail.

The cake in Liu Yuan’s hand seemed to defy gravity—not flying up or forward, but down.

Splat.

Su Qi stiffened.

His gaze dropped to the cake now smeared across Liu Yuan’s foot.

As if to ensure he noticed, Liu Yuan piped up, voice dripping with faux distress:

"Ah, Brother, could you check if my foot’s sprained?"

Her expression was the picture of pitiful innocence—like she’d suffered some grave injustice.

"The cake..."

"It... fell."

Su Qi: "..."

Liu Yuan, undeterred by his silence, amped up the theatrics.

She lifted her cream-coated foot, toes curling—smeared chocolate now oozing between them.

"Such a waste..."

She muttered under her breath, her gaze secretly darting toward Su Qi.

Su Qi remained silent.

Liu Yuan bit her lower lip.

Even after all this, he still wouldn’t react?

Then she lifted her eyes, her dewy gaze locking onto Su Qi.

That look—pure and innocent, laced with a hint of cautious inquiry.

"Big brother..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a touch of coquetry.

"This cake..."

She paused, lowering her head slightly as her eyes settled on the now-misshapen dessert.

"Seems... still edible?"

Su Qi: "..."

"It didn’t hit the floor, so it’s clean!"

She even raised her foot to demonstrate the cake’s pristine condition.

Liu Yuan’s long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings as she met his gaze, her smile sweet yet tinged with mischief. In a hushed tone, she asked, "Big brother hasn’t had dinner yet, right? Want some cake~"

Before Su Qi could muster a rebuttal—

His breath hitched.

Only then did he notice the delicate silver chain wrapped around Liu Yuan’s slender, porcelain ankle.

At its end dangled a tiny bell.

Thanks to the passive effect of Spirit Fox’s Phantom Step, she had been able to walk without making a sound—until now.

With her slight movement, the bell’s clear, melodic chime rang out.

Mingling with Liu Yuan’s playful laughter, it echoed through the living room.

A sway, a chime.

Ding-ling~

Ding-ling~

It shattered every last shred of Su Qi’s composure.

"This is big brother’s dinner tonight~"