Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

Looking at the piece of braised pork in the bowl that exuded a deadly temptation, He Yushui could no longer resist. Forgetting all about being reserved, she picked up the bowl, took the chopsticks, and carefully took a small bite.

Instantly, the rich aroma of meat, the savory and slightly sweet sauce, and the melt-in-your-mouth fat combined with the slightly chewy lean meat create a wonderful flavor.

It exploded in her mouth like a bomb!

It was so delicious that she almost swallowed her tongue!

How long has it been since she's eaten such delicious and hearty meat?

The leftovers that Sha Zhu occasionally brought back from the cafeteria were oily, but bland. Compared to the carefully prepared braised pork in front of him, they were worlds apart!

Only then did she belatedly realize that He Yuanchao's cooking skills were probably no worse than her brother's, who was known as the "steel mill chef"!

She no longer cared about her image, nor did she remember saying she would only eat a little bit. She buried her head in her food and started shoveling it into her mouth.

The aroma of rice mixed with the fragrance of meat and the freshness of green vegetables finally soothed her empty stomach, and a warm current rose from her stomach and spread to her limbs.

Just then, a cold glass bottle was pushed to her side.

He Yushui looked up in surprise. It was another unopened bottle of Arctic Ocean soda that He Yuanchao pushed over. The bottle was also covered with fine water droplets.

"Here you go. Have some smoothie."

He Yuanchao picked up the half-empty bottle on the table, took a sip from the bottle, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

He Yushui's eyes lit up instantly as she looked at the brand-new bottle of Arctic Ocean water, its orange-yellow liquid bubbling with tiny bubbles. She was filled with unbelievable surprise.

She carefully reached out her hand, her fingertips touching the cold bottle. The chill made her shiver slightly, but she couldn't bear to let go.

"This...this is too valuable..."

She whispered that Arctic Ocean soda was an absolute luxury for her.

"It's just soda; drinking too much of it will make you fat."

He Yuanchao waved his hand dismissively, his tone slightly teasing, "If you don't want to drink it, just leave it there."

"I'll drink it!"

He Yushui blurted it out almost without thinking, as if afraid he would change his mind, and quickly hugged the bottle of ice-cold soda to her chest.

Finally, a genuine, slightly shy smile appeared on her face—the first one she'd shown since entering—her eyes sparkling.

"Thank you, Brother Yuanchao! I...I've been craving this for so long..."

The second half of the sentence was spoken softly, with a hint of grievance in it.

Yes, I've been craving it for so long, but my dear brother Shazhu would rather buy three bottles to please those ungrateful wretches in the Jia family than even think of bringing one bottle for his own sister.

He Yuanchao didn't reply, but simply pointed to the television: "What do you want to watch? Change it yourself."

He stood up and made room for the television knobs.

He Yushui quickly shook her head, clutching the soda bottle, somewhat at a loss: "I...I don't know how to do it...Brother Yuanchao, I'll just look at whatever you're looking at..."

She felt a sense of awe and unfamiliarity with operating the television.

He Yuanchao didn't insist and sat back down. In those days, televisions mostly had knobs, so he reached out to turn the row of shiny silver channel knobs.

With a slight hum and crackling sound, the screen lit up again, and the static flickered a few times.

Once things calmed down, a scene of a local opera performance appeared, with lively drumming and gonging.

"Watching a play?"

He Yuanchao asked casually.

He Yushui looked at the colorful figures on the screen and listened to the sung voice, shaking her head in confusion.

She didn't have much interest in traditional opera.

He Yuanchao turned the knob again.

The scene shifts to a documentary about the construction of a reservoir, with workers busily working on the construction site.

"this?"

He Yuanchao asked.

He Yushui shook her head again, her eyes filled with curiosity, but mostly with confusion.

He Yuanchao patiently plucked the pins a few more times.

Finally, the screen flashed, and an animated scene appeared!

Although the image quality was rough and the colors were simple, the lively and cute animal characters instantly attracted He Yushui's full attention!

Her eyes widened suddenly, she forgot to move the hand holding the soda bottle, her mouth opened slightly, and a childlike smile of pure surprise appeared on her face.

"This is great! Brother Yuanchao, look at this!"

Her voice was filled with joy, as if the awkwardness and grievances she had felt earlier had been instantly dispelled by the magical cartoon.

Seeing her expression, He Yuanchao's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile, but he didn't change the channel.

The only sounds in the room were the cheerful background music and dialogue from the cartoon playing on the television.

And the subtle "hissing" sounds He Yushui made as she sipped the cool, sweet Arctic Ocean soda.

And there were also the occasional suppressed giggles she let out when she found something interesting in an animated film.

She ate her food in small bites, but her eyes were glued to the television screen as if drawn by a magnet, absorbing the rich aroma of braised pork and the sweet, refreshing taste of Arctic Ocean soda.

And then there's this magical, moving "theater box" in front of her. All of this together feels like a beautiful dream to her.

She secretly glanced up and quickly looked at He Yuanchao, who was sitting quietly eating next to her.

Under the light, his profile was clearly defined, with a straight nose. He ate slowly and deliberately, exuding a calmness and... good looks that seemed out of place in this dilapidated courtyard.

He Yushui's heart skipped a beat for no reason. She quickly lowered her head and pretended to focus on eating her rice, but her cheeks quietly became hotter.

Just then, a series of heavy and hurried footsteps came from outside, carrying an uncontrollable anger, and thudded on the bluestone slab!

Immediately following was Sha Zhu's signature loud voice, filled with irritation and questioning, which exploded in the quiet courtyard:

"Rain! He Yushui! Where did that brat run off to?"

"See my sister? She was just in the yard a moment ago!"

"What? He Yuanchao is in the house?!"

The last sound suddenly rose in pitch, filled with unbelievable shock and anger!

The warm atmosphere inside the room was instantly shattered.

Like a startled rabbit, He Yushui suddenly raised her head, the color draining from her face in an instant. Her hand holding the soda bottle tightened abruptly, her knuckles turning white again, and her eyes filled with fear and panic.

She subconsciously looked at He Yuanchao.

He Yuanchao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, then relaxed again, as if he had only heard a little noise.

He put down his chopsticks, his movements still composed, picked up the half-empty bottle of soda on the table, slowly took another sip, and calmly turned his gaze toward the door.

Almost at the same moment he put down the soda bottle, there was a loud crash!

He Yuanchao's wooden door, which was not particularly sturdy to begin with, was kicked open by a large foot wearing worn-out work boots!

The door slammed against the wall behind it with a painful groan, shaking dust off the door frame.

Sha Zhu's face, twisted with rage, appeared in the doorway. His eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged bull, and his chest heaved violently.

His gaze, like a searchlight, instantly locked onto He Yushui, who was sitting in the room, holding a bowl and a soda, looking terrified.

And the conspicuous plate of braised pork and the bowl of white rice on the table in front of her!

A surge of evil fire, mixed with the fury of betrayal and a trace of inexplicable jealousy towards He Yuanchao's composed demeanor, shot straight to Shazhu's head!

"He Yushui!"

Sha Zhu's roar shook the dust off the roof. "You fucking get out here! Who let you come here?! Who let you eat his food?!"

He charged in like a raging bull, creating a gust of wind as he aimed directly at He Yushui. His large, fan-like hand, accompanied by the whooshing sound of the wind, grabbed her arm fiercely!

The way he looked at her made it seem like he was going to tear her off the stool!

"Brother! What are you doing!"

He Yushui screamed in fright, instinctively shrinking back, almost dropping the bowl in her hand.

Just before Sha Zhu's hand was about to touch He Yushui's arm, a hand with distinct knuckles, steady and powerful, like an iron clamp, accurately and swiftly grabbed Sha Zhu's wrist!

The movements were as fast as lightning, carrying an undeniable power!

Sha Zhu's momentum suddenly halted! He turned his head in astonishment and met He Yuanchao's cold, icy eyes.

"He Yuzhu,"

He Yuanchao's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a cold metal blade scraping against the eardrum, clearly drowning out Sha Zhu's heavy breathing and the sound of the television.

"You're causing trouble in my house? Who gave you the nerve to kick down my door?"

He suddenly increased the pressure on his hand!

"hiss--!"

Sha Zhu felt as if his wrist was being clamped by red-hot iron clamps. A piercing pain shot through him, causing him to gasp and break out in a cold sweat.

He tried to struggle, but was horrified to find that the other person's strength was astonishing; that hand was like cast iron and did not move an inch!

"You...you let me go!"

Sha Zhu was both shocked and furious, and he raised his other hand to throw a punch.

He Yuanchao's eyes flashed with anger, and he twisted the hand holding his wrist again with force!

"what!"

Sha Zhu cried out in pain, his body involuntarily staggered by the force, and his punch missed its mark.

He steadied himself awkwardly, staring at He Yuanchao with a mixture of shock and fear. The sharp pain in his wrist made him hesitant to make any further moves.

"To lay hands on my guests in my own home?"

He Yuanchao looked at him coldly, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt. "He Yuzhu, has your brain really been ruined by the cafeteria's swill buckets?"

"Guests? Pshaw!"

Although Sha Zhu's wrist was in excruciating pain and his momentum was suppressed, he remained defiant. He pointed at He Yushui and cursed at He Yuanchao, his spittle almost hitting He Yuanchao's face.

He Yuanchao! You bastard!

Stop pretending to be a good guy! Don't think I don't know what dirty tricks you're up to! You just think Yushui is young and naive, and you're trying to trick her into coming here with some food and drinks!

You hypocritical scoundrel! You beast in human form! Let go of my sister!

His insults grew increasingly vile, filled with foul language, as he attempted to cover up his incompetence and guilty conscience with the most malicious speculations.

"Brother! What nonsense are you talking about!"

He Yushui couldn't listen anymore and suddenly stood up, her body trembling slightly with excitement and anger.

Looking at her brother's face, contorted with anger and resentment, and listening to the vile words he uttered that slandered He Yuanchao and insulted her, she felt the pent-up resentment, disappointment, and anger that had been building up inside her for so long.

Like a powder keg that has been ignited, it exploded with a roar!

"He Yuzhu! You bastard!"

He Yushui's voice was shrill with emotion, tinged with sobs, and tears streamed down her pale face like a burst dam.

"What's wrong with Brother Yuanchao kindly giving me a meal?! How dare you talk about him like that?! How dare you insult me ​​like that?! You're my brother! But do you even care about your sister?!"

She pointed to the bottle of Arctic Ocean soda she was holding in her arms on the table, her voice choked with emotion and filled with accusation:

"Look! Look what this is?! Arctic Ocean soda! You bought it for Bang Geng! Three bottles in one go! Without even blinking an eye!"

But what about you? Did you even give me a bottle?! I was standing at the door just now, my stomach was growling with hunger, and I wanted a bottle of soda. What did you say?!

"What are you drinking! This is for Bang Geng and the others! How old are you that you're still craving soda? Go back inside! Don't get in the way!" He Yuzhu! This is your own sister!

In your eyes, am I not even as good as that petty thief from the Jia family?!

Sha Zhu was caught off guard by his sister's sudden outburst and public exposure of his shortcomings. His face turned pale and then red. He opened his mouth to refute, but couldn't find the words.

He Yushui's words were like sharp knives, precisely stabbing him in the most vulnerable spot.

He Yushui became more and more agitated as she spoke, tears streaming down her face, yet she stubbornly held her head high, refusing to show weakness.

"Yes! I ate Yuanchao's food! I drank Yuanchao's soda! What's wrong?! I'm hungry! I'm starving! There's not even a hot leftover at home!"

And you, you went out of your way to deliver steamed buns and vegetables with meat to the Jia family! And what happened? Banggeng said it was pig swill! Your dear "Sister Qin" mother-in-law pointed her finger at you and scolded you for being useless!

"I told you you only know how to make do with leftovers! Why are you taking it out on me?! If you're so capable, go and shut up Jia Zhangshi! Why are you yelling at me?!"

She shouted the last sentence almost at the top of her lungs:

"You'll remember to get something to eat for my sister? I'd have starved to death eight hundred times over by now!"

silence!

Deathly silence!

Only the cheerful music from the cartoon on the television continued to play inappropriately, making the atmosphere in the room even more stagnant and eerie.

Sha Zhu froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, his face turning from red to white, and then from white to an ugly purplish-brown.

Every word He Yushui uttered felt like a red-hot iron, searing his face and his heart!

Bang Geng's disdain, Jia Zhangshi's harsh ridicule, and my own embarrassing anger at the time...

These recent, humiliating scenes were so clearly and mercilessly revealed by his own sister.

He was exposed to He Yuanchao, the "enemy" he hated most!

Overwhelmed by immense shame and the utter humiliation of being exposed, he was instantly engulfed like a tsunami.

His lips trembled, and strange "hoarse" sounds came from his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He wanted to refute, to yell, to prove that he wasn't like what his sister said, but those words were like fish bones stuck in his throat, choking him to the point of almost suffocation.