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Wen Shijin watched Gu Si’s departing figure, furrowing his brows slightly before lowering his gaze to Ning Qingyan. His drooping eyes and soft voice carried a gentle warmth.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Just the slight frown on his elegant and handsome face made Ning Qingyan imagine him being hurt and at a loss. How could anyone resist that?
Ning Qingyan quickly shook her head, her voice lowering as she comforted him,
“No, no. He’s been like this since this morning—cold and distant. It’s not about you.”
Wen Shijin nodded lightly and asked softly,
“He doesn’t seem to like me very much. Will this affect your relationship with him?”
“What? No way,” Ning Qingyan replied with ease. “He’s like that; you just need to coax him a little.”
Hearing this, Wen Shijin was momentarily stunned. Ning Qingyan had said something similar before—back when she used Gu Si’s plate for him. Gu Si had stormed off in anger, and when Wen Shijin asked if she was okay, she replied with, “Just coax him, and he’ll be fine.”
Despite being the one who had known Ning Qingyan the longest and the first to eat the food she made, it always felt like Gu Si had a closer relationship with her because he could teach her “how to flirt.”
These thoughts passed in a flash.
Wen Shijin reached out to smooth Ning Qingyan’s slightly disheveled chestnut-colored short hair. His voice remained gentle,
“It’s time to eat. You must be hungry. Let’s go to the kitchen, and I’ll help you cook.”
Ning Qingyan was indeed starving, and this declaration made her even hungrier. The thought of food instantly pushed Gu Si out of her mind. She nodded enthusiastically, eager to head to the kitchen with Wen Shijin.
Meanwhile, Gu Si was the first to leave the scene, followed by Huo Qi. As Huo Qi passed Ning Qingyan, his gaze instinctively fell on her slightly swollen lips.
He glanced away quickly, his expression as calm and cold as ever. He murmured a low “I’m going upstairs” before turning away.
Ning Qingyan was used to his reserved demeanor. At least now he talked to her occasionally—an improvement over the time when he hardly spoke to anyone.
Back in the kitchen, the other female guests were either in their rooms taking baths or lounging in the living room watching TV, waiting for Ning Qingyan to prepare a delicious dinner.
In no time, Ning Qingyan and Wen Shijin finished making dinner.
However, Huo Qi and Gu Si didn’t come down to eat. Huo Qi claimed he was busy and would grab something later, while Gu Si seemed to be sulking, throwing her earlier words—”Don’t eat then”—back at her and refusing to eat at all.
Unbothered, Ning Qingyan went downstairs to enjoy her meal alone.
What she didn’t know was that as soon as she closed the door behind her, Gu Si punched the sandbag hanging in his room and continued hitting it with a dark expression.
When everyone else had finished dinner and returned to their rooms, Gu Si was still pummeling the sandbag. Wen Shijin entered the room to find Gu Si, clad in a loose undershirt that couldn’t hide his muscular frame, sweating as he attacked the sandbag.
Noticing Wen Shijin, Gu Si punched the sandbag even harder, as if imagining it were Wen Shijin.
Wen Shijin ignored him completely, taking a book and a stack of papers from his suitcase and starting to write. His calm demeanor was unshaken.
Seeing Wen Shijin’s indifference, Gu Si suddenly felt juvenile, like a middle schooler throwing a tantrum.
He delivered one final, powerful punch to the sandbag before stopping. He used the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his forehead, exposing his toned, sun-kissed abs—rivaling Huo Qi’s.
“Xiao Yan’s a foodie,” Gu Si declared smugly after downing a bottle of water. “If the bottle hadn’t landed on you during Truth or Dare, he wouldn’t have chosen you as his partner. Got it?”
Still scribbling on his papers, Wen Shijin replied in a calm voice,
“In Truth or Dare, he picked me as his favorite guest.”
Gu Si choked on his water, coughing several times before glaring angrily.
“He only chose you because he didn’t want to hurt anyone else’s feelings! You’re just the safe choice!”
Wen Shijin repeated flatly,
“He chose me.”
Fuming, Gu Si stormed into the bathroom, leaving Wen Shijin to his work.
Meanwhile, Ning Qingyan returned to her room and summoned the “Green Tea System.”
“What’s Huo Qi’s financial situation right now?”
Green Tea System:
“Due to Huo Qi’s recent paragliding accident, the Huo Corporation’s new project launch has been delayed, causing a stock decline. However, Huo Qi doesn’t have enough capital to acquire significant Huo Corporation shares. He can only bide his time.”
Ning Qingyan’s eyes brightened. “If I help him and provide enough investment, can he shake up the Huo Corporation?”
Green Tea System:
“Given Huo Qi’s capabilities, it’s possible. It would also accelerate his career growth, enabling him to establish his business empire even faster.”
Her heart racing, Ning Qingyan asked, “What if I let him manage the Ning Corporation? It’s been saved from bankruptcy by over fifty days, which means the crisis has passed, even though risks remain. But the Ning Corporation’s assets should be sufficient for him.”
Green Tea System:
“If Huo Qi becomes the acting CEO behind the scenes, it would significantly expedite his path to success, surpassing his achievements from the previous timeline by two years.”
Excitement swelled in Ning Qingyan. Under Huo Qi’s management, the Ning Corporation could not only survive but thrive.
Downstairs, Ning Qingyan spotted Huo Qi in the darkened kitchen, rummaging through the fridge.
Startled, Huo Qi hastily shoved the bread back into the fridge and slammed the door shut. He leaned against the fridge, his body tense as he regarded her warily.
This reaction stemmed from his childhood. Under the mistreatment of his stepmother, he often went hungry and had to sneak food at night—only to be caught and beaten.
Realizing it was Ning Qingyan, Huo Qi’s guarded demeanor softened, though he struggled to explain his earlier actions.
She smiled warmly,
“Well, what a coincidence! I came down to grab a snack too. How about I make some egg noodles for both of us?”
Green Tea System:
“Huo Qi’s affection +1.”
Huo Qi, caught off guard by her lack of judgment, remained silent.
Ignoring his silence, Ning Qingyan busied herself in the kitchen. As she cooked, her light chatter filled the air, slowly easing Huo Qi’s long-standing tension.
Elsewhere, Gu Si sneaked downstairs and witnessed the scene—Ning Qingyan and Huo Qi cooking together in perfect harmony. He clenched his fists, jealousy flashing in his eyes.