CHAPTER 5

Asking Shen Jingyan for help getting dressed was just something Shi Li said in jest. She knew he wouldn’t actually help… It would already be a miracle if he didn’t just leave her to suffocate under the blankets, let alone assist her in getting dressed.

Sure enough, Shen Jingyan didn’t move. He stood at the bedside, looking as if a storm was brewing.

Shi Li was afraid she’d push him over the edge and also worried that the hatred value, which had finally gone down, would spike again. So, she came up with a compromise. “How about this? I’ll dress myself, but you have to promise me that from now on, I’ll be in charge of your meals.”

“You’re threatening me?” Shen Jingyan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Shi Li’s fever had left her cheeks flushed. Hearing his response, she forced a weak chuckle. “I just want to take better care of you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell into silence. Shi Li cautiously glanced at him and, seeing that the hatred value remained unchanged, let out a quiet sigh of relief. Previously, every time she tried the gentle approach, his hatred value would spike. But today, despite saying so much, it hadn’t increased. That was progress.

Her eyelids grew heavier, and her grip on the blanket loosened. The covers slipped down slightly, barely concealing the rise and fall of her chest. Yet, she remained oblivious, her dwindling consciousness entirely focused on the supporting male lead.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she heard Shen Jingyan’s indifferent voice. “I’ll agree.”

Shi Li sluggishly raised her head.

“Don’t overthink it. I just don’t want someone dying in my house.” Shen Jingyan shot her a dangerous look before turning to leave.

“Jingyan,” Shi Li called after him.

Shen Jingyan turned back impatiently. “What now?”

“…Can you hand me my clothes? I don’t have the strength.” Shi Li looked at him expectantly.

Shen Jingyan: “…”

Ten seconds later, the dormitory door slammed with a deafening bang. Left alone in the room, Shi Li stared at the clothes that had been unceremoniously tossed onto the bed and let out a long sigh.

By the time the doctor arrived, Shen Jingyan was nowhere to be seen. Knowing she had probably driven him to the brink, Shi Li considerately refrained from seeking him out again. Instead, she obediently took her medicine and rested, recovering completely after two days.

Shen Jingyan enjoyed two days of peace before Shi Li came knocking again on the third day. This time, she brought stir-fried beef with green peppers and tomato scrambled eggs. Seeing the familiar dishes, Shen Jingyan’s expression flickered slightly, but his hatred value didn’t increase.

Strictly speaking, it hadn’t just remained stable—it had even dropped. Now, it was down to 130%.

“Jingyan, time to eat.” Shi Li, now fully recovered, spoke gently.

The butler was also present. When he saw her carrying the tray over, his expression showed a hint of surprise. He instinctively wanted to send her away but hesitated when he caught a glimpse of Shen Jingyan’s reaction.

Shen Jingyan ignored her, but Shi Li wasn’t discouraged. She simply placed the two dishes and porridge on a separate table and spoke as she arranged them. “The kitchen made a really good porridge today. You should drink a little before eating to warm your stomach. But don’t drink too much—focus on solid food so your body stays strong.”

After finishing, she straightened up and looked at Shen Jingyan with a smile.

“Get out.” Shen Jingyan’s voice was calm.

Shi Li: “…Oh.”

She walked toward the door, turning back every few steps. When she reached the doorway, she couldn’t resist adding, “Remember to eat. You need to eat more.”

Shen Jingyan looked at her calmly.

Shi Li gave an awkward smile and quickly left.

Once she was gone, the study fell silent again. Shen Jingyan resumed reading his documents, occasionally coughing.

The butler hesitated for a moment before carefully asking, “Mr. Shen, would you like me to bring you a new breakfast?”

“No need.” Shen Jingyan didn’t even look up.

The butler understood and said nothing more.

After finishing the last page of his documents and signing his name, Shen Jingyan finally glanced at the two dishes and soup on the table.

Meanwhile, Shi Li had been waiting outside the entire time. As soon as the butler came out with the tray, she eagerly approached. “How much did he eat?”

“Quite a bit.” The butler’s expression was complicated.

Shi Li looked at the tray—there was still a lot left, but compared to his usual appetite, this was progress. She finally relaxed a little. “As long as he ate. I thought he was going to throw it all away.”

“…Shi Li, while these dishes are good, Mr. Shen shouldn’t eat too much of them. The Shen family has a professional nutritionist who prepares meals tailored to his needs.” The butler hesitated before tactfully reminding her.

Shi Li smiled. “I know. I’ll try to make things lighter in the future.”

The butler frowned slightly, unconvinced, but since Mr. Shen hadn’t objected, he couldn’t say much more.

Seeing his concern, Shi Li reassured him, “I’ll also refer to the nutritionist’s meal plans to make sure he stays healthy. Don’t worry.”

“I still think you shouldn’t be cooking for him,” the butler said after checking the time. “It’s getting late. You should eat too.”

Shi Li nodded. After bidding the butler farewell, she headed to the cafeteria. After spending the whole morning cooking, she was starving and needed to replenish her energy.

Thinking this, she arrived at the cafeteria and grabbed a tray to get her meal. But as soon as the cafeteria lady saw her, she frowned. “You’re back again?”

“…I’m here to eat.” Shi Li looked at her innocently.

The cafeteria lady shook her head. “Didn’t you already cook for yourself earlier? According to the rules, you can’t eat here for this meal.”

Shi Li: “?”

There were still people waiting in line behind her. The cafeteria lady waved her away. “Go read the cafeteria rules posted on the wall. It’s not me targeting you.”

Confused, Shi Li went to check and saw a rule stating that to prevent people from taking advantage, anyone who used the fridge’s ingredients to cook their own meal couldn’t eat in the cafeteria for that meal.

…No wonder the fridge was always stocked, yet so few people used it.

She was silent for a moment, then returned to the serving window and sincerely said, “Auntie, the food I made earlier wasn’t for me—it was for Mr. Shen… Do you believe me?”

“No.” The cafeteria lady was decisive.

Shi Li: “…Then what would make you believe me?”

“Unless someone vouches for you.” The cafeteria lady scooped a large spoonful of sweet and sour pork onto another person’s tray as she spoke.

Shi Li swallowed hard and silently went to find the butler.

“The butler? He’s on leave,” said a gardener who was on good terms with him.

Shi Li was stunned. “When did he leave?”

“Just now. He packed up and left in a hurry,” the gardener replied.

Recalling how the butler had rushed off earlier, Shi Li suddenly felt a sense of doom.

Now, the only person who could vouch for her… was Shen Jingyan.

She fell silent for a moment before a new idea formed in her mind—one that might bring her closer to Shen Jingyan.

That afternoon, she cooked for him again, this time making extra portions. She also made sure to pack the rice tightly until the bowl couldn’t hold any more. Then, she carried the meal to find Shen Jingyan.

Shen Jingyan was already waiting in the dining room. When he saw her, his expression remained indifferent. He started eating as soon as she set the food down.

After just a few bites, a loud grumbling sound echoed through the room.

Shi Li rubbed her stomach and pretended nothing had happened.

Shen Jingyan glanced at her and resumed eating. But soon, another grumbling sound rang out—this time, a whole string of them.

Shen Jingyan set his chopsticks down, expressionless. “Get out.”

“…Oh.”

Shi Li touched her nose and obediently left.

She only returned when he called her back. Seeing how much food was left, she tried to keep from smiling. “Why did you leave so much? Did it not suit your taste?”

Shen Jingyan gave her a pointed look. “What do you think?”

Of course, she thought it suited his taste perfectly.

Shi Li coughed lightly. “I’ll keep improving.”

“Water the garden this afternoon,” Shen Jingyan ordered without looking up.

Shi Li glanced at the blazing sun outside. “…Alright.”

Shi Li saw that Shen Jingyan had no further instructions, so she carried the tray and left the dining room. After walking for a bit, she turned into a quiet spot and began eating. Once she finished all the food on the tray, she let out a satisfied burp before heading toward the cafeteria.

Just like before, she placed the tray at the return station, rubbed her full stomach, and lined up again for another meal.

“You again?” The cafeteria auntie frowned.

Shi Li smiled ingratiatingly. “I’m here for a meal.”

The auntie was speechless. “The kitchen said you’ve already cooked. Why are you still coming to the cafeteria to eat?”

“…That meal was for Mr. Shen. I didn’t eat,” Shi Li replied, unable to hold back another burp.

The auntie nearly rolled her eyes. “No, no. According to the rules, you either use the cafeteria’s ingredients or cook for yourself. If you feel that cooking isn’t enough, then come to the cafeteria at night, but stop using the kitchen’s supplies.”

Shi Li pretended to be troubled, hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.

However, that evening, she still cooked for herself.

After an entire afternoon of work, the large meal at noon had long been digested. Adding to that, Shen Jingyan had a last-minute meeting and didn’t eat until past 8 PM. Shi Li stood beside him, and her stomach rumbled once again.

Shen Jingyan frowned in irritation. “Is there no food in the cafeteria?”

“There… there is,” Shi Li quickly responded.

Shen Jingyan was displeased. “You didn’t eat?”

“I did,” Shi Li laughed awkwardly.

Shen Jingyan’s expression darkened slightly. “Then who are you putting on a show for right now?”

Shi Li: “…”

After a brief silence, Shen Jingyan impatiently spoke. “Get out.”

Shi Li immediately turned and left. Once he finished eating, she went to collect the tray, found a quiet place to eat her own meal, and then returned the dishes to the cafeteria.

This repeated for two days. When Shen Jingyan assigned her farm work again, Shi Li decided it was time to showcase her real skills.

To make her act more convincing, she skipped dinner the night before and went hungry all morning the next day. She even deliberately avoided drinking water. By the time she started transplanting flowers, she was both starving and parched. Under the scorching sun, she felt like a serf from the old times.

Her face turned pale, her lips started to crack, and her vision occasionally went dark. But no matter how uncomfortable she felt, she didn’t faint. Shi Li was inwardly miserable. After enduring hunger and thirst for a while, she stole a glance at the second-floor window of the villa where Shen Jingyan, the supervisor, stood watching. Without hesitation, she abandoned her tools and squatted down to bury soil around the flowers.

She stayed in that squatting position for a long time, until her legs nearly went numb. Then, suddenly standing up, she finally let low blood sugar take its course and collapsed.

As she fell to the ground, her eyes weren’t fully closed yet. Through the haze, she caught a glimpse of Shen Jingyan’s changed expression. Only then did she feel reassured enough to lose consciousness completely.

…He didn’t remain indifferent. That meant half her plan had already succeeded.

Shi Li felt as if she were floating in a dark sea. The surface was calm, and the water was pleasantly warm. Though there was a slight feeling of seasickness, a deep sense of comfort and relaxation spread through her body.

This sensation lasted a long time before the water receded, and she finally landed on a soft bed. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as consciousness gradually returned. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes.

She was in Shen Jingyan’s room.

“You’re awake?” A middle-aged man in a white coat smiled kindly. “It’s nothing serious. Move around a bit, eat something, and rest for a few days, and you’ll be fine.”

Shi Li blinked and recognized him as the doctor who had examined her before.

“Since you’re awake, I’ll take my leave. Let me know if anything comes up.” The doctor directed this to Shen Jingyan before walking out, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Shi Li struggled to sit up, only to realize she still had an IV in her hand. She immediately stopped moving too much. Looking at Shen Jingyan, who was sitting beside her reading a book with his side facing her, she softly asked, “Why am I here?”

“You fainted.” Shen Jingyan didn’t look up, continuing to read, though he hadn’t turned a page in a while.

Shi Li quietly moved her body, adjusting to a more comfortable sitting position, and didn’t respond.

The room fell into an inexplicable silence until Shen Jingyan finally put down the book, his face cold as he looked at her. “Why didn’t you eat?”

Male Lead Hatred Value: 110%

So, he did find out. Shi Li straightened her posture slightly and awkwardly explained, “I used the ingredients from the fridge, so I wasn’t allowed to eat in the cafeteria.”

“You knew those ingredients were for me.” Shen Jingyan’s gaze grew even colder. “Did you think doing this would make me feel guilty?”

Here he goes again, jumping to conclusions!

Shi Li had already expected this reaction, but she still put on a flustered expression. “I didn’t think that! I even went to the cafeteria and explained that the food was for you, but no one believed me…”

She was sure that, while she had been unconscious, he had already confirmed this with the kitchen staff and the cafeteria auntie. They could all prove she was telling the truth.

As expected, Shen Jingyan’s expression shifted slightly. Hatred Value dropped by five points.

Shi Li cheered inwardly but outwardly looked embarrassed. “I originally wanted to ask the butler to vouch for me, but he was on leave… so I thought I’d just endure until he came back.”

“He won’t be back for five days. Were you planning to starve that long?” Shen Jingyan asked coldly.

Shi Li lowered her head. After a long silence, she murmured, “I could endure it…”

“You’re putting on this pitiful act for who exactly?” Shen Jingyan was clearly running out of patience.

Shi Li let out a bitter laugh. When she looked up again, her eyes were already red, tears welling up but not falling. She embodied “pitiful” to the fullest. “You promised me. You said I could cook for you. You can’t go back on your word just because I fainted.”

Shen Jingyan: “…”

Male Lead Hatred Value: 100%

Shi Li’s tears began to fall. “I didn’t faint on purpose. Maybe I just didn’t drink enough water today. I’ll drink more tomorrow, I promise I won’t bother you again. Please, let me keep cooking for you.”

“…I’ve already informed the cafeteria. They won’t stop you from eating there anymore,” Shen Jingyan said expressionlessly.

Shi Li paused for a moment, then shook her head. “I thought it over these past few days. Even if the butler comes back to vouch for me, I still can’t take ingredients from the kitchen and then go eat in the cafeteria. The cafeteria has its own rules. If I break them, it will make others uncomfortable. I don’t want to cause you trouble.”

“The ingredients were for me. It doesn’t count as breaking the rules.”

Shi Li spoke seriously. “It does. No matter who ate it, I was the one who took it. The rule is that whoever takes it is responsible.”

“What, do you want me to go get the ingredients myself?” Shen Jingyan squinted slightly, his slightly reddened eyes lifting ever so faintly.

Shi Li quickly shook her head. “No, no, I’ll still go. I’ve already thought it through. From now on, I’ll just wait at the cafeteria early. If someone doesn’t finish their meal, I’ll ask for it before they throw it away—”

Halfway through her sentence, Shi Li realized it was going too far and her voice trailed off in embarrassment.

She lifted her head awkwardly, only to see—

Male Lead Hatred Value: 95%

Shi Li: “…Huh?”

“If you like eating leftovers so much, then eat leftovers,” Shen Jingyan remarked indifferently, glancing at her. “I have a small appetite and always leave a lot. Having a garbage disposal isn’t a bad idea.”

Male Lead Hatred Value: 92%

Shi Li: “…Huh?! Huh?!”