This response was completely unexpected for Rong Yi.

He was so shocked that he blurted out, “Other than you?”

Liu Yuan’s tone was slightly awkward: “…Including me.”

Rong Yi was stunned.

“But that was a long time ago,” Liu Yuan continued, “He’s just like that—if he finds someone pleasing to the eye, he’ll try to flirt. But if you’re not interested, he’ll back off and won’t push it. Plus, I’ve told him you’re an Omega, so he probably won’t have any ideas about you… Wait, don’t tell me you’re interested in him?”

“I’m not!” Rong Yi denied it immediately.

“Ah… but now that I think about it, maybe an Omega like you would suit him well. He’s into your type, after all. There’s no reason why it has to be an Alpha, right?” Liu Yuan suddenly sounded excited. “Didn’t you just break up recently? Why not dive into a new relationship…”

“Get lost!” Rong Yi yelled. “I’m not a recycling bin for broken hearts!”

After hanging up, Rong Yi was still fuming.

Flirting with anyone he finds attractive? So, back then, he just found me somewhat decent-looking and casually went for it?

No wonder the moment I said something wrong, he immediately backed off.

And Chen Keyao even liked the same person as me before. Although Rong Yi no longer had any feelings for Liu Yuan, the thought still made him feel irritated.

How thick-skinned is Liu Yuan? Whether it’s an Alpha or Omega, he can still be best buddies with someone who confessed to him without any awkwardness?

Rong Yi sulked for a long time before an even worse thought hit him.

What if Chen Keyao asked Liu Yuan about their relationship? Would that idiot spill the beans and tell him that I once pursued him? How would Chen Keyao react?

Terrified, Rong Yi quickly called Liu Yuan again, warning him not to mention anything about their history in front of Chen Keyao. Although Liu Yuan didn’t fully understand, he still agreed wholeheartedly.

Then Liu Yuan asked, “By the way, I just heard that you and that bald guy’s nephew are into each other?”

Rong Yi had, in the end, agreed to pretend to be Zhou Li’s boyfriend.

He originally thought it wouldn’t affect his daily life, but that bald guy spread the news throughout the company so quickly. Thankfully, no one besides Liu Yuan knew his real gender.

“I can’t believe it! That bald guy said his nephew is an Omega. Have you finally decided to take that path?” Liu Yuan sounded conflicted. “I’ve only been confessed to twice in my life, and both times… Is there something wrong with me?”

Rong Yi thought it was more likely that there was something wrong with Liu Yuan’s brain, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.

On the way home from work, Zhou Li called him to check on how he was doing.

After that hasty call the other day, Rong Yi had explained the situation. Zhou Li was worried, but since he lived with his family, he couldn’t take Rong Yi in. He had been helping Rong Yi look for a suitable place to stay.

Hearing that Rong Yi had found a temporary place to stay, Zhou Li was happy and asked if he could visit on a day off.

Rong Yi, feeling slightly paranoid, thought Zhou Li’s enthusiasm seemed a bit excessive. So he said he’d have to ask his landlord first before making any promises.

As he ended the call, he happened to pass by a large supermarket.

Originally planning to grab a quick meal from a convenience store, Rong Yi hesitated for a moment and then walked into the supermarket.

When he got home, both hands were full, each carrying a bag brimming with fresh vegetables and meat.

Chen Keyao, who happened to walk out of his room, was surprised when he saw this.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Rong Yi glanced at him. “Obviously, I’m cooking.”

With that, he confidently walked into the kitchen, carrying the bags and placing them on the countertop.

Chen Keyao followed him into the kitchen.

“You’re really going to use the kitchen?”

“Didn’t you say I could?” Rong Yi glanced back at him. “Or is that not allowed?”

Chen Keyao hesitated, looking conflicted.

A few days ago, Rong Yi had posted pictures of his completely charred kitchen on his social media. Chen Keyao had seen it earlier that day and had responded with a series of ellipses.

Now, seeing the look on Chen Keyao’s face, it was clear that he was nervous.

Under Rong Yi’s disapproving gaze, Chen Keyao hesitated for a moment before asking, “Mind if I watch?”

Rong Yi shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

He was definitely doing it on purpose.

Rong Yi didn’t have many hobbies, but cooking was something he had spent a lot of time learning and really enjoyed. He was also quite confident in his skills. After being doubted by Chen Keyao yesterday, he felt the need to prove himself.

However, having someone stare at him from behind was making him a bit nervous.

Determined to show off, Rong Yi grabbed the knife and quickly sliced the tofu into threads as fine as hair. When he plated the tofu, he deliberately angled himself so Chen Keyao could see clearly.

“What are you making that needs such fine cuts?” Chen Keyao asked.

It’s none of your business. I just like cutting it this way. Do I need to report to you?

Rong Yi glanced at the bowl of tofu threads and hesitated for a moment. “…Cold salad.”

“Won’t it break apart if you toss it like this?” Chen Keyao asked again.

How come I never noticed how annoying this guy was before? Rong Yi, irritated, slammed the bowl down on the counter. “Not if I’m the one tossing it.”

He grabbed the celery he had just washed, placed it on the cutting board, and turned to ask, “Are you going to keep watching?”

“…Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something,” Chen Keyao said.

“Then just say it.”

“I’m afraid if I say it now, it’ll ruin your mood,” Chen Keyao pointed at the cutting board. “You go ahead and cut first.”

Rong Yi picked up the knife, glanced at him, then turned back and chopped the celery with a heavy hand.

With a loud thud, the celery split in two.

He regretted it. If he had known Chen Keyao was going to watch the whole time, he wouldn’t have bought minced meat. It would have been better to buy a chunk of pork and chop it into ground meat right in front of him.

After finishing the chopping, Chen Keyao was still leaning against the door frame.

“How long are you going to keep watching?” Rong Yi asked.

“You’re really good at this,” Chen Keyao said earnestly. “Did Liu Yuan ever tell you I’ve been looking for someone to cook with?”

Caught off guard, Rong Yi’s face flushed, and he was momentarily at a loss for words. His eyes darted around before he turned away.

“…He mentioned it.”

“You made so much food; you probably won’t be able to finish it all, right?” Chen Keyao continued. “How about I cover the cost, and you handle the cooking? We can eat together from now on.”

“…We’ll see.” Rong Yi, still facing away from him, replied, “So what was it you wanted to tell me?”

For some reason, Chen Keyao cleared his throat.

“A while ago, there were several burglaries in this area,” he said.

“…Oh,” Rong Yi replied, focusing on mixing the salad. “And?”

“I didn’t feel safe, so I bought two cameras and installed them in the house.”

Rong Yi turned to look at him. “Huh?”

“Don’t worry, there’s nothing in your room or the bathroom,” Chen Keyao said as he stepped out of the kitchen, pointing to the corner of the ceiling in the living room. “One’s by the door, and the other’s over there.”

Rong Yi froze.

“I turn them on at night,” Chen Keyao continued. “Sorry for not telling you earlier.”

“…”

“Whenever you go through the living room at night, you’ll be on camera, so just keep that in mind.”

Rong Yi nearly died on the spot.

So, last night when he sneaked out to peek at Chen Keyao’s door, and this morning when he pressed his ear to the door, all of that was caught on camera?

No wonder this guy waited until after he finished cutting the vegetables to say something!

Seeing Rong Yi’s ears turning red, Chen Keyao cleared his throat again. “I see you bought a lot… Is there enough for me tonight? If there is, I won’t order takeout and just wait here.”

“…Just get out already.” Rong Yi, head down, responded weakly.

.

There really wasn’t a need to slice the tofu so finely for a cold salad.

But facing this slightly awkward dish, Chen Keyao didn’t criticize it. He seemed genuinely tired of takeout and eager to share meals, praising everything on the table enthusiastically.

Rong Yi kept a calm exterior but couldn’t help feeling a bit proud inside.

Midway through the meal, Rong Yi received a message from Zhou Li, asking if he had talked to his landlord yet and whether he could come over this weekend.

Though Rong Yi was still uneasy about Zhou Li’s excessive enthusiasm, he casually asked.

“Can I bring a friend over?”

Chen Keyao, who was chewing on a rib, paused for a moment. After swallowing and drinking some soup, he frowned and asked, “Are they staying overnight?”

Of course not.

But looking at his expression, for some reason, Rong Yi found himself saying, “…Maybe.”

Chen Keyao thought for a moment. “I’d prefer if they didn’t.”

Seeing Rong Yi remain silent, he looked up and thought for a while longer.

“Well, as long as it doesn’t disturb me, it’s probably fine.”

Rong Yi felt conflicted once again.

He thought his mindset might really be starting to get twisted. He shouldn’t care about Chen Keyao anymore, yet no matter what the guy said or did, it annoyed him.

When Chen Keyao said no overnight guests, it annoyed him. When Chen Keyao changed his mind and said it was fine as long as it didn’t bother him, it annoyed him even more.

Maybe it was just Chen Keyao himself who was the problem.

Rong Yi’s second night sleeping in this bed was even more restless than the first.

Because of the camera in the living room, he couldn’t even sneak a peek at Chen Keyao’s room across the hall.

Late at night, bundled up under the covers, he imagined the scene of Chen Keyao reviewing the footage and seeing him sneaking to his door early in the morning, pressing his ear against it to eavesdrop. The more he thought about it, the more ashamed and mortified he felt, wanting to just disappear on the spot.

Rong Yi tossed and turned in bed, and after finally falling asleep, he kept waking up due to his chaotic thoughts.

He didn’t know how long this went on, but in a state of half-sleep, he suddenly realized there was someone in the room.

At first, when he heard the noise, he was still drowsy. He vaguely sensed that his door had opened and then closed again. As his mind gradually cleared, he slowly opened his eyes. In the faint moonlight coming through the window, he saw a silhouette.

The person was standing by the bed, leaning slightly forward, clearly staring at Rong Yi.

Suddenly, Rong Yi was wide awake.

In this house, aside from him, who else could it be?