I agreed to be a kept man, but I'm still being punished by the system.

Lin Yang tiptoed to the study door, raised his hand, and knocked twice on the warm wooden door frame.

Boom, boom.

The sound wasn't loud, but it had enough penetrating power to instantly sever the barrier constructed by the sound of keyboard typing.

The hurried sounds inside abruptly stopped.

Wearing noise-canceling headphones, Chen Wanjun's body trembled violently, as if she had been forcibly pulled out of deep immersion.

She ripped off her headphones as if electrocuted, the rousing melody of the anime song lingering for a moment before fading back into silence.

She turned around, the pale blue light of the screen outlining her slightly startled face.

When she saw that it was Lin Yang standing at the door, the fear in her eyes quickly faded, replaced by a look of bewildered unease.

"Can you take a break?"

Lin Yang's voice was very gentle.

"Working like this every day will exhaust you; you need to be careful to take proper rest."

Chen Wanjun didn't speak, but picked up the phone on the table, tapped the screen quickly with her slender fingers, and then turned the lit screen towards Lin Yang.

On the WeChat chat window, there is a line of small text.

I've already rested; I got up very late this morning.

"Oh, that's fine then."

Lin Yang nodded, but his gaze unconsciously drifted to the corner of the room.

There, a crumpled cardboard box with a fast food restaurant logo lay forlornly next to a trash can.

"Did you eat well today?" he asked again.

Chen Wanjun stretched out her fair finger and gently pointed to the takeout container.

Lin Yang frowned.

"This is dinner, what about lunch?"

He pressed for details.

"You only eat one meal a day?"

Chen Wanjun's gaze darted away. She picked up her phone again, and another line of text appeared on the screen.

[Eated this afternoon.]

Ok.

Lin Yang sighed inwardly.

One meal a day, and I don't even know what time I eat it in the afternoon.

"I'll make you dinner." He said this and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

He opened the refrigerator door, and a cold, white light poured out, illuminating the scene inside.

Empty.

Aside from a few cans of energy drinks, a few bottles of mineral water, and a few packets of snacks that didn't seem to have much nutritional value, there was nothing else.

This girl survives on these things and one takeout meal a day.

Lin Yang suddenly remembered the days when he was still in a rented room last month, and it seemed that he wasn't much better off than her.

Never mind, he doesn't really have the right to say anything to her.

He took out his phone, skillfully opened a fresh food delivery app, and quickly browsed through it.

Tomatoes, eggs, a few green vegetables, and a small piece of pork tenderloin.

Home-style dishes are simple, yet they can warm your stomach.

Ordering and payment were completed in one smooth process.

Less than 30 minutes later, the deliveryman called to say that the package had been delivered to the entrance of the residential area.

Lin Yang went downstairs to retrieve the ingredients and walked into the kitchen, which had been sitting there for years and was devoid of any signs of cooking.

[Beginner Cooking Skills] Make his movements smooth and precise.

Wash the vegetables, chop them, and blanch them.

The blade struck the cutting board with a rhythmic thud.

Heat the pan, pour in the oil, and let the oil heat up.

The moment the scallions, ginger, and garlic were sautéed, a rich aroma quickly filled the cold room.

Scrambled eggs, stir-fried tomatoes, and bubbling broth.

Add the greens to the wok and stir-fry quickly over high heat until they are a vibrant, juicy green.

Soon, a plate of brightly colored scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a plate of refreshing garlic vegetables, and a bowl of steaming seaweed and egg soup were neatly placed on the table.

Lin Yang took off his apron and walked to the door of the study.

"Let's go out for dinner."

Upon hearing the sound, Chen Wanjun limped out. When her gaze fell upon the three steaming home-style dishes on the dining table, she froze on the spot.

She stopped walking and stood there blankly, motionless.

[Thoughts/Interview]: It's been...so long...since anyone has cooked for me...

These words, like a fine needle, gently pricked Lin Yang.

He showed no extra emotion, simply saying in a commanding tone, "Sit down and eat."

Chen Wanjun, like a puppet being awakened, mechanically pulled out a chair and sat down.

She picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of scrambled egg, and put it in her mouth.

The tenderness of the egg, the sweet and sour taste of the tomato, combined with the warmth of the rice, explodes on the taste buds.

The familiar yet unfamiliar taste instantly shattered her tense defenses.

A tear slid down from the corner of her eye without warning and landed on the white rice.

Then, the second drop, the third drop...

She ate while silently shedding tears, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Lin Yang didn't say anything, but simply took out a tissue and handed it to her.

"Don't cry."

His voice sounded somewhat harsh.

"Tears dripped into the rice, making it salty."

"It's just one meal. I'll cook for you every day when I have time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wanjun raised her head, her eyes, moistened by tears, gazing longingly at Lin Yang.

It was filled with incredulous questions.

really?

Lin Yang understood her gaze.

"Really." He nodded in confirmation, "As long as I have time."

The sadness on Chen Wanjun's face was instantly replaced by immense joy. She nodded vigorously, her lips curving upwards involuntarily.

"You...you...aren't you going to eat?" She finally mustered up the courage to squeeze out a few words.

"I've already eaten."

Lin Yang leaned back in his chair and watched her lower her head again, like a small animal that had been hungry for a long time, focusing intently on the food in her bowl.

"Why have you been so busy these past few days?" he asked casually.

Chen Wanjun instinctively wanted to put down her chopsticks and pick up her phone to type.

"Try to say it," Lin Yang stopped her.

Chen Wanjun's body stiffened for a moment. She took a deep breath, as if organizing her thoughts.

"I just... took on... two projects."

Her voice was soft, broken, and unnatural.

"A very profitable project?"

Chen Wanjun nodded vigorously.

Lin Yang looked at her, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind—a test.

"If I asked you to give me ten million, the kind you don't have to pay back, would you give it to me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Wanjun put down her chopsticks without thinking and reached for her phone on the table.

"Let's eat! Let's eat!"

Lin Yang, both amused and exasperated, pressed down on her hand.

"Just kidding."

His heart was in turmoil.

It became.

The money from being a kept man is now guaranteed.

But looking at the girl in front of him who was willing to transfer money without hesitation because of a single sentence, he suddenly felt that this gigolo was a bit too hot to handle.

This girl is so pitiful, it breaks my heart.

We need to treat her better.

"What if my friends or relatives ask you for money? Would you give it to them?" Lin Yang changed the subject, feeling it necessary to give her a heads-up.

Chen Wanjun shook her head decisively without any hesitation.

"Yes." Lin Yang nodded approvingly. "We can't give it to them."

He leaned forward slightly, staring into her eyes, emphasizing each word carefully.

"Don't give your money to anyone but me, understand?"

Chen Wanjun nodded vigorously, her eyes clear and firm.

In this room filled with the aroma of food, Lin Yang and Chen Wanjun enjoyed a rare moment of cozy conversation.

The entrance to the underground parking lot of Tianyue Huafu residential complex.

A black Mercedes-Benz G-Class, exuding an overbearing aura, attempted to drive in, but was blocked by the parking lot's barrier.