The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

Is this man taking advantage of the chaos?

Unfortunately, Si Yimian wasn't buying it at all.

"Then I'll just go out like this."

"If my mom asks why I'm wearing your shirt, I'll say it's because you tore my skirt."

As she spoke, she turned to rush towards the entrance.

He Sichen's forehead veins throbbed.

This woman.

Those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who wear shoes.

She dared to gamble, but he didn't dare to follow.

"return."

He Sichen grabbed her wrist.

Si Yimian tilted her head back, her eyes full of a sly smile.

Si Yimian: "Beg me."

He Sichen: "..."

He could only accept his fate; there was nothing he could do about it.

"Please."

He unfolded the black windbreaker and pulled it over her head.

The clothes were too big, covering her mid-thigh.

Once the zipper is pulled up, it's completely sealed.

Si Yimian poked her head out from her collar, her hair disheveled.

"Thank you, Dr. He."

He raised his hand and pulled her hair out from her collar.

He brushed his fingertips across the back of her neck and pinched it, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Be good."

"Otherwise, I'll hand you over."

Si Yimian shrank back: "Do you dare?"

He Sichen: "Want to give it a try?"

"Try it and you'll die."

He Sichen's lips curved into a smile for a moment, then quickly suppressed it.

He turned and walked to the entrance hall, pressing the doorknob.

Si Yimian wrapped her trench coat tighter and followed behind.

The door opened, and Ruan Qiutang stood at the door carrying three insulated bags, with the driver behind her carrying two boxes of cherries.

She saw that it was He Sichen who opened the door, and her gaze lingered on his slightly damp hair for a moment.

Then, looking over his shoulder, he saw Si Yimian peeking out from around the corner of the entrance hall.

He was wearing a men's windbreaker, the zipper pulled up to his chin, and the sleeves rolled up three times and still a bit too long.

Her hair was half-dry, and her cheeks were rosy.

Ruan Qiutang's gaze swept between the two young men.

I didn't say anything, but I thought about everything.

"Si Chen, I'm sorry to bother you."

He Sichen stepped aside to make way, his expression unchanged.

"Aunt Ruan, please come in."

Ruan Qiutang stepped inside, and the driver, having placed his belongings on the island platform, tactfully withdrew and closed the door behind him.

Si Yimian sidled closer, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

"Mom, why did you bring so much food?"

"Did you move the refrigerator over?"

"The internet says you bullied your classmates, and the hospital says you were almost stabbed."

Ruan Qiutang placed the insulated bag on the island platform, turned around, cupped her face in her hands, and looked her over from left to right.

"Let Mom see where you're hurt."

Si Yimian let her cup her face and obediently shook her head.

"Not a single piece is missing."

"What happened to your hand?"

"It was just a small scrape, and Dr. He bandaged it up for me."

Ruan Qiutang looked down to check the gauze in her palm and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was nothing seriously wrong.

"By the way, why are you wearing Si Chen's clothes?"

Si Yimian briefly explained what would happen tonight.

They were blocked at the alley entrance, and ice water, paint, and egg yolk were splashed all over them.

When I got back, I found that the combination lock was out of power, so I could only borrow his bathroom and clothes.

Ruan Qiutang's eyes were already red after hearing this.

She turned around and solemnly said something to He Sichen.

"Si Chen, thank you for protecting Mianmian."

He Sichen did not accept this courtesy.

"Of course."

Ruan Qiutang turned back and reached out to touch her hair, her voice tense.

"Are you hurt? Were you hit by anything?"

"No, Dr. He completely blocked my way."

Si Yimian rubbed against her palm, like a fledgling bird returning to its nest, speaking softly and sweetly.

"I was just a little frightened and need my mom to hold me to feel better."

Ruan Qiutang's heart softened, and she pulled the person into her arms.

"Mom, you smell so good."

Si Yimian obediently let her hold her, burying her face in the crook of her neck and whining sweetly.

Ruan Qiutang was amused by her, let go of her hand, and tucked the stray hairs on her forehead behind her ear.

"Alright, let's eat first."

She turned around and walked to the island counter, taking out the food containers one by one from the insulated bag.

Sweet and sour pork ribs, crab roe noodles, braised pork and bamboo shoots, cold rabbit, and a bowl of fish maw and chicken soup.

The lid was unscrewed, and hot air burst out.

"Your favorite crab roe noodles, made with crabs that Auntie just opened this afternoon."

"And there's also pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup; I had the kitchen simmer it all afternoon."

"Your dad asked the aunt to make the chicken soup, saying you've lost weight from working so hard in the clinical department."

Si Yimian leaned closer and took a deep breath.

I've been eating takeout for the past two weeks to the point of being completely out of my mind, and seeing this table full of food right now almost brought tears to my eyes.

"Si Chen, let's eat together."

Ruan Qiutang pulled Si Yimian to sit down in front of the island platform and turned to greet him.

He Sichen: "No, I..."

"Dr. He must have been busy all day and hasn't eaten."

Ruan Qiutang took out a pair of chopsticks and handed them over.

"That's perfect, let's have something to eat together."

He Sichen took the chopsticks and sat down next to Si Yimian.

As they got closer, her peach scent wafted over again, mixed with the minty laundry detergent smell of his shirt.

Si Yimian picked up a piece of pork rib and stuffed it into her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction.

"tasty."

He Sichen held his chopsticks, catching a glimpse of her satisfied expression out of the corner of his eye.

A gentle tickle touched a corner of my heart.

She's easy to coax.

A single piece of pork rib can make me smile as if I own the whole world.

He suddenly felt that his house had a sense of warmth and life for the first time.

Si Yimian: "It's 800 times better than the pig feed at Yu'an Canteen."

He Sichen: "..."

He couldn't respond to that.

The nutritional balance in the Yu'an Hospital cafeteria is indeed on the bland side.

Judging from the barbecue she had the night she moved in and the dishes tonight, she prefers strong flavors, no wonder she can't get used to it.

Ask the administration department to arrange a separate staff meal for her tomorrow.

This will save her from going around crying to people about how Yu'an abused her business partners.

He put down his chopsticks and felt that he was sick.

When others criticized his hospital cafeteria, he changed the menu for them.

What kind of logic is that?

Ruan Qiutang smiled and ladled out a bowl of soup, pushing it towards him.

"Si Chen, drink too. Don't just watch her eat."

He Sichen nodded, took the drink, and said nothing.

Si Yimian glanced at his bowl again.

"Dr. He, could you share some of Bei Zhu with me?"

"Don't you have any in your own bowl?"

"Not enough, I love to eat."

Without saying a word, He Sichen put all the scallops from his bowl into hers.

As Ruan Qiutang watched the two of them go back and forth, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.

The atmosphere.

Something's not right.

But I can't quite put my finger on it.

Without thinking much, she added another spoonful of pickled bamboo shoots and pork to Si Yimian's bowl.

"Mianmian, what's going on online?"

Ruan Qiutang put down the soup spoon, her tone becoming somber.

"Qin Enyu cried her heart out on a variety show, saying that you bullied her in high school."

"Your dad received several calls from the board of directors and was furious. The public relations department worked overtime all night."

"Chenxi's stock price is expected to be under pressure tomorrow."

Si Yimian picked up the bowl, took another sip of soup, put the bowl down, and looked up.

"Mom, do you believe I would bully people?"

Ruan Qiutang answered without hesitation, "Of course I don't believe it."

Si Yimian narrowed her eyes, but didn't say anything more.

"As long as Mom believes I won't bully anyone, that's enough."

"I'll handle the rest myself."