Never had such treatment before time travel

Breaking free from the overwhelming shock, Lin Yu didn't even pause to catch his breath before another scene involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

It was a moment from the original storyline—Xia Muzhu wandering the streets in despair after her emotional breakdown.

Back then, she had encountered the original protagonist. A single brief word of concern from him had felt like a lifeline to her shattered spirit, and she had begged him not to abandon her too...

The memory froze on Xia Muzhu's face—exhausted, desperate, and tinged with a trace of frantic pleading.

A bone-chilling coldness seeped into Lin Yu's heart.

As if denying the possibility or perhaps comforting himself, Lin Yu shook his head repeatedly, muttering "impossible" under his breath like a mantra.

He had already decided to stay with Xia Muzhu.

Nothing like that would happen again.

Never again.

Absolutely never...

...

Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. Lin Yu grabbed a tissue from the box and wiped his face haphazardly.

Sitting heavily on the chair, he took several deep breaths before finally calming down.

Once composed, recalling Xia Muzhu's personality and principles, the faint sliver of confidence in his heart grew steadier.

Xia Muzhu was gentle, but she was far from weak.

She had her own dignity and boundaries.

When her younger brother faced bullying, she had confronted the perpetrators head-on. And after yesterday's incident, she hadn't used it as leverage to guilt-trip him into staying—instead, upon realizing it was a misunderstanding, she had let him leave without hesitation.

Someone as resilient as her, soft on the outside but unyielding within, wouldn't easily crumble into such a state.

In the original plot, it had taken an overwhelming series of blows to break her.

But now, all those events were behind them. With him here to protect her, she would never fall into that abyss of despair again.

Never!

...

After spending the entire afternoon sorting out housing and daily necessities, Lin Yu decided to visit Xia Muzhu's place before nightfall.

Entering the neighborhood and arriving at her building, he hesitated at the foot of the stairs, nerves and awkwardness tying his stomach in knots.

His unease wasn't directed at Xia Muzhu, though.

It was that little brat, Xia Yueshan!

The mere thought of exchanging tender words with Xia Muzhu while that punk watched on made his skin crawl!

Especially after previously declaring, "I have zero interest in your sister" to the kid...

Lin Yu shuddered in disgust. After another moment of internal wrestling, he gritted his teeth—no avoiding the inevitable. Might as well face the music now.

He knocked on the door, which swung open almost immediately. The sight of Xia Yueshan on the other side first tightened his chest, then left him stunned.

Why did the kid look even more nervous than he did?

A second later, it clicked.

After causing such a mess, Xia Yueshan was lucky Lin Yu wasn't here to throttle him. One wrong smirk, and Lin Yu would knock his teeth out!

Bolstered by this realization, Lin Yu shot the boy a warning glare before brushing past him to find Xia Muzhu.

The faint sounds of cooking led him to the kitchen, where Xia Muzhu was busy at work.

A clay pot simmered on the stove, its contents bubbling rhythmically. Nearby, she stood at the cutting board dressed in an adorable cat-themed apron, deftly slicing meat and vegetables.

Lin Yu turned to glower at Xia Yueshan again.

The bewildered boy, halfway to his room, froze—clueless about what he'd done wrong this time.

Lin Yu had no patience to explain. In two strides, he was beside Xia Muzhu, murmuring softly:

"Let me handle the chopping."

"No need—"

She shook her head in refusal, but Lin Yu didn't give her the chance, plucking the knife from her hand.

Deprived of her tool, Xia Muzhu relented.

Lin Yu thoughtfully fetched a stool from the corner, settling her onto it before taking over the prep work.

Following her instructions, he sliced the pork paper-thin, then cut the peppers into triangular pieces.

When she rose to resume cooking, Lin Yu stopped her again:

"I'll do it."

"My cooking skills are pretty terrible anyway."

"With an expert like you guiding me, maybe I'll improve."

"Can't have you doing all the work forever..."

Xia Muzhu blinked, as if hearing such words for the first time. Then, like sunlight melting frost, warmth bloomed across her face. Her sapphire eyes shimmered with barely perceptible moisture.

Through the kitchen window, Lin Yu saw her moved, joyful expression.

He assumed she was simply relieved to share chores, unaware her happiness stemmed from his unspoken promise of a shared future...

Lin Yu meticulously asked about cooking techniques while Xia Muzhu answered in hushed tones, occasionally sharing personal tips that had him nodding earnestly.

As he focused on stir-frying, Xia Muzhu quietly approached to monitor the ingredients—easier to gauge doneness up close.

Sensing her proximity, Lin Yu distractedly flipped the pork and peppers with a wooden spatula. After stealing a few glances at her reflection in the darkened window—now acting as a mirror under the kitchen lights—he hesitantly whispered:

"Muzhu, you... um..."

"How are you... feeling now?"

Against the black backdrop of night, their reflections appeared startlingly vivid.

In the glass, he watched Xia Muzhu's cheeks flush pink. Her mirrored self peeked at his reflection before lowering her gaze. When she spoke, the voice came from behind him rather than the image:

"Much better now."

"Glad to hear it."

Flustered, Lin Yu nodded and returned his attention to the sizzling pan.

The stir-fry was their final dish. Once plated, he carried it to the dining table.

Xia Muzhu turned off the stove, ladling thick tomato-and-beef soup from the clay pot before setting out bowls and rice.

They made several trips between kitchen and table before everything was ready.

Right on cue, Xia Yueshan emerged from his room at his sister's call, phone in hand.

The sight made Lin Yu's blood boil.

Damn brat!

I've been slaving in the kitchen while you lazed around?

Even in my past life, I never had it this easy!