Chapter 75

She playfully shot Ye Xiao a glance, exuding a completely different vibe compared to her usual image of the girl-next-door.

Perhaps recent experiences and work pressures had catalyzed her transformation in a short time. Yet deep down, she was still the same shy girl, her face flushed as if it could bleed.

“Xiao Xiao! Go out first. After dinner, you can do whatever you want,” Shen Yunchu murmured, her head lowered in embarrassment.

Ye Xiao was momentarily stunned. Although she was already immensely teased by Sister Yunchu’s antics, she nodded in agreement, curious to see what other surprises Sister Yunchu might have in store—whether delightful or shocking.

Soon, dinner was ready. It consisted of all of Ye Xiao’s favorite dishes, but today Shen Yunchu went the extra mile. She carefully arranged the plates, retreated to her room to change, then lit a candelabra to set a romantic, candlelit dinner ambiance by turning off the lights.

Ye Xiao chuckled slightly and remarked, “Wow, Sister Yunchu, when did you learn so many tricks? This is getting interesting. I just wonder if you’ll stay this composed later~”

Earlier, Shen Yunchu had explicitly said that Ye Xiao could do anything she wanted after dinner. Shen Yunchu’s intention in creating this elaborate setup was to calm her nerves and feel a bit more in control of the situation. But instead, her heart was racing even faster than usual, thumping wildly against her chest.

Her face, still carrying traces of youthful innocence, was tinged with a red blush as she forced a mature demeanor. Her clumsy attempt at feigned composure drew a chuckle from Ye Xiao.

“Sister Yunchu is just too cute!”

Ye Xiao thought, her gaze softening as she noticed the red-tinted cheeks reminiscent of an unripe fruit. The contrast between the blush and the green undertones made it irresistibly tempting to take a bite ahead of time.

“Xiao Xiao, why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Yunchu asked, noticing Ye Xiao had yet to pick up her chopsticks.

Her voice betrayed her mounting embarrassment as her cheeks grew redder.

“It seems that Sister Yunchu is even more tempting than the food on the table. I might have just thought of something fun to do~” Ye Xiao teased with a grin.

“Xiao Xiao… let’s eat first, okay? It’ll get cold, and that wouldn’t taste as good…”

Shen Yunchu’s voice faltered as Ye Xiao’s unwavering gaze caused her to look away in flustered shyness.

Ye Xiao, however, leaned her chin on one hand, savoring Sister Yunchu’s increasingly frazzled demeanor.

“This,” she thought, “is the Shen Yunchu I know. She couldn’t keep up the act forever.”

“Sister Yunchu, I want you to feed me~” Ye Xiao’s playful tone carried a teasing lilt.

“Goodness… you’re impossible,” Shen Yunchu relented.

The candelabra, initially meant to enhance the romantic ambiance, now felt more like an obstacle. She moved her chair next to Ye Xiao, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, and tasted it herself first—an oversight from earlier due to Ye Xiao’s kitchen antics.

The food was decent—not comparable to the company chef’s culinary expertise, but each bite carried Shen Yunchu’s sincerity and care for Ye Xiao. After confirming the taste, she picked up another bite and held it to Ye Xiao’s lips.

At that moment, the scene resembled an older sister feeding her younger sibling—sweet and harmonious. But Ye Xiao wasn’t satisfied.

Shaking her head gently, she teased, “Sister Yunchu, you’re so boring~ Can’t you figure out what I really meant? You’re such a… small fry! I want you to use this to feed me~”

She lightly tapped Shen Yunchu’s lips, still glistening from tasting the food earlier.

“Ah?”

Shen Yunchu’s voice caught.

“Well, since you went through all this trouble, this little thing should be easy for you to do, right~?”

Ye Xiao’s tone was mischievous.

Realizing what Ye Xiao meant, Shen Yunchu’s face burned brighter than ever, her blush extending from her ears to the nape of her neck. But she had already gone this far—there was no turning back now.

After all, it was just a kiss, something she had shared with Ye Xiao countless times before.

Blushing furiously, Shen Yunchu took a piece of dessert, held it delicately between her lips, closed her eyes, and leaned toward Ye Xiao. She felt Ye Xiao take the dessert, but the soft pressure on her lips soon replaced the sensation of the food. Her eyes fluttered open to meet Ye Xiao’s gaze, which sparkled with playful affection.

Shen Yunchu’s thoughts swirled. “If this continues, we won’t be able to eat dinner properly…”

But wasn’t her goal from the beginning to create beautiful, intimate memories with Ye Xiao?

The soft, lingering citrusy scent that Ye Xiao always carried filled the air, fueling Shen Yunchu’s growing desire. No matter the time, Ye Xiao always smelled so sweet and enticing, like a delicate treat she couldn’t resist devouring.

Just as Ye Xiao began guiding Shen Yunchu toward the nearby sofa, the phone on the coffee table buzzed loudly with a new WeChat message.

The screen lit up, displaying a message from Li Mengyue:

[Ye Xiao! After what you did to me, you’re not even going to come and comfort me?!]

Li Mengyue’s frustration was evident. Though she had stormed off during lunch, it wasn’t her intention for things to end that way. She had hoped Ye Xiao would chase after her to apologize. Instead, Ye Xiao had remained seated with Jiang Mengwei, not even budging.

Unwilling to let it slide, Li Mengyue, who had waited all afternoon for some acknowledgment from Ye Xiao, finally lost patience and took the initiative to message her.