Chapter 52: A Buzzkill

Before Lu Hui could push Cen Yueze away, he released her, stopping just short of his embrace.

Lu Hui’s ears inexplicably felt warm, and when the cold wind blew, her ears seemed even redder. On the outside, she still looked calm, but she said, “Can you please be more careful with your words and actions? If the paparazzi take a picture, I’ll get scolded.”

“When haven’t you been scolded?” Cen Yueze replied.

“…”

Lu Hui was really taken aback by his question. Damn him!

Cen Yueze seemed to realize his words were a bit harsh, “The paparazzi aren’t as dedicated as us, they’re still in bed at this time.”

Lu Hui made a cold face.

Cen Yueze felt uncomfortable, “If you get scolded, I’ll argue back for you.”

Lu Hui looked up at him, “Just don’t deny it later.”

“Once a promise is made, it’s hard to take back.” Cen Yueze, who was freezing, pulled her arm and said, “Let’s go upstairs quickly.”

They went into the elevator together, and Cen Yueze casually asked, “What floor do you live on?”

“Fifth floor.”

“Me too.” Cen Yueze’s hands were freezing, almost numb, and he muttered, “Still pretending you’re not into me.”

Lu Hui didn’t hear clearly, “What did you say?”

Cen Yueze coughed a couple of times, “Nothing.”

They arrived at their room, separated by a long hallway. Cen Yueze just wanted to sleep, and as soon as he returned to his room, he jumped onto the bed without even pulling the curtains, falling asleep immediately.

Around ten o’clock, Cen Bao’er, who was staying in the children’s room, woke up. Wearing a bunny pajamas, he rubbed his eyes, got out of bed, put on slippers, and opened his uncle’s room door. He took off his shoes and climbed onto his uncle’s bed, daringly pinching his uncle’s face.

“I’m hungry. I want to eat.”

Cen Yueze frowned. The marks of the pinch were still visible on his handsome face. He opened his eyes just enough to toss the little bunny off him without any mercy.

Cen Bao’er climbed back up, “Uncle, I’m starving.”

Cen Yueze had just fallen asleep and was in a foul mood, “When are you not hungry? Don’t bother me.”

“I want to eat!”

“Wait until I wake up,” Cen Yueze turned over to continue sleeping.

Cen Bao’er couldn’t handle his hunger and, emboldened by it, rebuked, “You’re bullying me again!”

Cen Yueze was really annoyed by this little brat’s noise. “Fine, go chew on your own fingers then.”

Cen Bao’er got angrier, causing chaos on the bed. He worked himself into a frenzy, then collapsed, panting. He sat by the side, still furious, and after throwing a tantrum, began crying.

Cen Yueze wasn’t a heavy sleeper. After being disturbed, his hair was disheveled, and he expressionlessly handed his phone to Cen Bao’er, “Pick whatever you want to eat.”

Cen Bao’er pushed his luck, “Aren’t we going to see Sister Lu Hui today?”

Cen Yueze raised an eyebrow, “So?”

Cen Bao’er swallowed, “I want to eat what she makes.”

Cen Yueze sneered and deliberately crushed his nephew’s excitement, “If I can’t even get some, what makes you think you can?”

Cen Bao’er seriously said, “I’ll pay her.”

Cen Yueze grabbed him and tossed him onto the floor, “Change your clothes first, then I’ll order you takeout.”

“I don’t want takeout! Takeout is not clean! You’re trying to poison me!”

“What do you want to eat?”

“I want meat.”

“Let’s keep it light for breakfast. I’ll get you porridge and fried dough sticks.”

“Then why ask me?”

“It’s just a polite question. Don’t you understand?”

The little boy stomped off in anger and returned to his room, pulling out the clothes his grandmother had prepared for him. After struggling for several minutes, he was finally dressed, exhausted.

Cen Bao’er threw a tantrum again, running out to ask his uncle, “Next time, can I bring a nanny?”

Cen Yueze laughed, “No.”

Cen Bao’er, looking innocent, asked, “Then why are you even here, Uncle? You’re not helping me, and you won’t let me bring a nanny?”

Cen Yueze glared at him, teasing the little boy, “What are you going to do about it?”

He was bored. He had nothing to do. He just felt like it.

Okay, the truth was, he wanted to come, no reason, just wanted to.

The food was delivered right to the room door. Cen Bao’er, being picky, took two bites, then complained, “It’s too salty.”

Cen Yueze’s expression showed he was holding something back. His nephew’s behavior was really frustrating. He had inherited the worst traits.

“Didn’t your teacher teach you not to waste food?”

“So, I decided to leave all of it for you to eat.”

“I’ve already eaten,” Cen Yueze said. However, he still tasted the porridge. It was indeed bad—too salty, thick, and with a weird smell.

He expressionlessly put the food in a bag, throwing it in the trash, muttering curses.

Seeing the child, he suddenly felt a little sorry for him. Then, an idea popped into his head. “Want to eat what your Sister Lu Hui makes?”

Cen Bao’er nodded honestly.

Cen Yueze smirked, “Just last week, you were saying she’s bad, and now you’re calling her sister?”

Kids have their pride too, so the little one shyly mumbled, “You coax me.”

“You want to eat?”

What bad intentions could a little kid possibly have? He nodded obediently.

“Then be good and do as I say.”

“Okay.”

Cen Yueze was wearing a black cashmere coat that made his figure look tall and lean. He led Cen Bao’er to the door of Lu Hui’s room. “Be a little more sweet with your words. Calling her ‘big sister’ isn’t as intimate as calling her ‘auntie.’ Got it?”

Cen Bao’er shook his head, confused. “But she’s not my auntie.”

Cen Yueze let out a cold chuckle and said, “She isn’t now, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be in the future. Understand?”

Cen Bao’er half-understood. “Oh.”

As long as there was something tasty, he’d call her anything.

“Speak sweetly and give her a pitiful look. You can do that, right?”

“Uh-huh, I think so.”

After giving his instructions, Cen Yueze gestured for him to ring the doorbell. Cen Bao’er stretched out his chubby little hand and rang it.

Lu Hui had just finished a face mask and was going over the script the director’s team had sent when she heard the doorbell and went to open it.

A tall man and a little kid were standing at the door.

Cen Bao’er tried hard to squeeze out tears but failed. “Auntie, I want to eat.”

Lu Hui: “…”

Her brain buzzed. “I’m not your auntie.”

Cen Bao’er was just about to sell out Cen Yueze. “My little uncle said…” You are.

Cen Yueze quickly covered his mouth and slipped through the door in the gap. “The kid’s hungry. Got anything to eat?”

Lu Hui looked at him with an expression that said I can’t even begin to explain this. “I’ll order you guys takeout.”

Cen Yueze replied, “Already did. Tastes awful.”

Lu Hui put down her phone. “So?”

Cen Yueze shamelessly said, “He just wants to eat something you made.”

Lu Hui looked at his unapologetic face, then at the pitiful child who looked like he was about to cry. “I don’t have any ingredients.”

Cen Yueze said, “The fridge has stuff.”

It was a five-star suite, and the fridge came stocked with some ready-to-make foods.

Cen Yueze hadn’t meant to make her do everything. He added, “I’ll help you cook.”

Lu Hui was skeptical. “You’re not going to burn the whole kitchen down?”

“That’s a bit dramatic,” Cen Yueze boasted. “I did cook for myself back when I was studying abroad.”

Granted, it was only once.

But still—he had cooked.

Lu Hui rummaged through the fridge and found a box of pasta that was still within its shelf life. She sighed and said, “I’ll cook some pasta for him then.”

As she started cooking, Cen Yueze wandered into the kitchen, making Cen Bao’er curious too.

Lu Hui said, “Can you two wait outside?”

Cen Yueze carried Cen Bao’er into the living room and sat him firmly on the sofa to watch Ultraman. “Sit here.”

Then he came back. “Need me to do anything?”

Lu Hui looked slightly awkward and edged away like she was covering her ears to avoid hearing nonsense. “Doing nothing is the biggest help you can give me.”

“That’s kind of hurtful.” The kitchen light wasn’t very bright, casting a warm yellow glow on her profile. Cen Yueze couldn’t help staring at her face for a while, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. He turned his gaze away and tried to sound casual. “I can be useful, you know.”

Lu Hui responded with a noncommittal “oh.” When the water started boiling, she asked, “Do you want some too?”

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll cook it all.”

“Okay.”

Cooking pasta wasn’t difficult, and it should taste fairly standard. But somehow, Cen Yueze felt like he’d been bewitched—the moment she started cooking, even the smell was amazing.

Once it was ready, Cen Bao’er couldn’t sit still any longer. He jumped up from the sofa, clutched a pair of chopsticks tightly in his little hands, and rushed over, eager to eat.

Before digging in, he remembered to be polite. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Cen Yueze couldn’t hold back a laugh—raising this nephew hadn’t been in vain.

Lu Hui was speechless. “I’m big sister.”