Ye Feng, you... have a crush

“So? How is it? Does it suit your taste, Ye Feng?”

Seeing Ye Feng nod at her, Xie Yuyan’s mood, which had been dampened by the incident involving Shen Mengli, finally eased a little.

She loved watching Ye Feng enjoy the food she prepared. To her, it wasn’t just an acknowledgment of her cooking skills—it felt more like the simple, everyday life of a married couple. This kind of ordinary, peaceful existence was what Xie Yuyan yearned for the most.

She had no fondness for her days as a killer. Before meeting Ye Feng, she hadn’t even felt like a real person—just a machine following orders without question.

After taking the last bite of the vegetable pancake Xie Yuyan had made, Ye Feng quickly swallowed it and turned to look at her, who had been staring at him the whole time.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Xie Yuyan? It feels a little awkward having you watch me like this every time.”

“I’ve already eaten. You go ahead, Ye Feng. The only reason I’m watching is because I want to hear your thoughts on whether my cooking has improved.”

“Improved? It’s more like you’ve leveled up! If you opened your own restaurant, you could easily start a brand with skills like these.”

Hearing Ye Feng’s praise, Xie Yuyan couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“It’s not that exaggerated, Ye Feng. I just followed the recipe. But as long as you enjoy it, I’ll gladly cook for you for the rest of my life.”

“Xie Yuyan...”

Ye Feng froze at her words. He had never imagined that in this unfamiliar world, someone would willingly go this far for him—without expecting anything in return.

“Hmm? Could it be... you’re moved, Ye Feng?”

Xie Yuyan smiled faintly, stepping behind him and leaning down to rest her chin on his shoulder.

“D-Don’t talk nonsense! I just think this isn’t appropriate for you, Xie Yuyan.”

“Inappropriate? How so?”

Her lips brushed close to his ear as she whispered, her warm breath sending a shiver down Ye Feng’s spine.

“Your life is yours to live, Xie Yuyan. When I brought you back, it wasn’t so you could do things for me. I just want you to have the life you truly desire.”

“The life I desire...”

Xie Yuyan released her arms from around his neck and circled around the chair to stand in front of him. Before Ye Feng could react, she swiftly climbed over the chair and settled onto his lap.

“Xie Yuyan?!”

Startled by her sudden closeness, Ye Feng immediately tried to stand up, but Xie Yuyan wasn’t about to let him. She pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him back into the seat.

“Sit still, Ye Feng. Our conversation isn’t over yet—are you really going to leave like this? How disrespectful.”

“What kind of logic is that?! Xie Yuyan, get up already. This isn’t how people normally talk.”

“No way~”

No matter what Ye Feng said, Xie Yuyan shook her head with a playful smile, her arms looping around his neck as she gazed at him affectionately.

“If you want me to leave, then finish our conversation properly. Otherwise... you’ll be stuck in this chair for the rest of your life~”

Being toyed with like this was too much for Ye Feng to handle. Just because he was injured didn’t mean Xie Yuyan could act so boldly in front of him. Even the meekest person had their limits, and Ye Feng decided it was time to teach her a lesson—to remind her who was really in charge here.

He gripped her shoulders firmly and lifted, rising from the chair himself to force her to let go.

But Xie Yuyan was no pushover. She had anticipated his move the moment he tensed. As Ye Feng stood, she tightened her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around him, clinging to him like a sloth hanging from a tree.

“......”

Feeling the weight of her entire body against him, Ye Feng sighed as he met Xie Yuyan’s stubborn gaze.

“Can’t you act a little more reserved, Xie Yuyan? Is this really how a proper young woman should behave?”

“Tch~”

Xie Yuyan had expected Ye Feng to force her off, but instead, he resorted to lecturing her. Knowing his injuries, she reluctantly released him with a pout.

“How boring~”

Ye Feng shot her an exasperated look, silently vowing to make her regret this once he recovered. Seizing the opportunity, he picked up the plate from the table, intending to wash it—only for Xie Yuyan to snatch it away in a flash.

“Ye Feng, don’t bother with chores. I’ll handle them.”

“It’s fine. Washing one plate isn’t a big deal. Besides, you already put so much effort into making breakfast. Let me at least do this much.”

Xie Yuyan knew he was just being considerate, but after her earlier misstep, she wanted to make it up to him. Though they seemed to be getting along on the surface, she could sense an invisible wall between them—one she had built herself by losing control. Only time could mend that rift.

“No need. You’re injured, Ye Feng. Normally, I wouldn’t argue, but right now, you should be resting.”

With that, she turned and began washing the plate, flashing him a playful wink over her shoulder—as if to say, “Leave it to me.”

“Then... I’ll leave it to you.”

Seeing her insistence, Ye Feng gave in and headed to the couch. Just as he sat down, his phone rang.

Crack.

The sound of shattering ceramic echoed from the sink. Xie Yuyan, having gripped the freshly washed plate too hard, had snapped it in two. A sharp shard sliced into her palm, drawing a trail of crimson blood.

Yet she didn’t even flinch. Her gaze remained fixed on Ye Feng as he pulled out his phone, completely ignoring the wound on her hand.

“Hmm?”

Seeing the caller ID display “Telemarketer,” Ye Feng promptly hung up—this wasn’t the first time he’d received such calls. Then, remembering the sound of breaking dishes, he glanced up and met Xie Yuyan’s intense stare.