In extreme nervousness and confusion, Yun Ting even burped. The sound made the atmosphere even more awkward.

The man by the second-floor railing seemed to have reacted to the burp, and with a big smile and affectionate tone, he said, “Hello, Jie!”

His smile was pure and innocent, like a white lotus enduring illness and hardship. Yun Ting’s heart sank immediately.

Si Xuanyang frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on Yu Sen, and quickly went upstairs two steps at a time, “Why are you out in the cold? Be careful not to faint from the wind later.”

Yun Ting shivered. Was this really her usually irritable cousin?

She remembered when they were younger, during a Christmas party, Si Nan had complained about the cold, and Si Xuanyang nearly threw him into the fireplace to be burned to ashes.

And now… How the tables have turned!

“Hehe… Yang Yang, aren’t you going to introduce me?” Yun Ting forced a smile.

Si Xuanyang frowned, “He’s not feeling well and can’t meet guests right now. Maybe next time.”

With that, he supported Yu Sen back into the room.

“I haven’t even talked to Jie yet! Jie! Let’s chat next time—!” Yu Sen’s voice came from upstairs.

“She’s not deaf, don’t shout so loud. It will make you dizzy.”

Yun Ting: “…”

She would rather be deaf right now.

---

Leaving Si Xuanyang’s house in a daze, Yun Ting felt very dissatisfied. Back home, she pondered and suddenly remembered that Xiao Chen had delivered meals to Si Xuanyang a few times recently. She had thought it was for Si Xuanyang himself, but now it seemed there was another person.

“Xiao Chen! Come here, I need to ask you something!”

Xiao Chen hurried over at her call. Seeing her expression and eyes, he felt a pang of unease.

Sure enough, Yun Ting went straight to the point, “Where did you deliver the meals to before?”

“Sent it, sent it over to the Second Young Master.”

“Don’t play dumb with me; I already know,” Yun Ting said with a stern face. “Did you send it to that sickly person?”

Xiao Chen swallowed hard and said with a bitter smile, “Ting Jie, it’s not like he was born sick. The Second Young Master was drunk and accidentally injured him badly.”

“Seriously? What kind of injury requires millions in medical expenses? Or does my little cousin become a lunatic who thinks minor injuries are terminal illnesses?” Yun Ting muttered in confusion.

“Do you know how they met?” Yun Ting asked casually, not expecting Xiao Chen to know such private details. However, as soon as the question left her lips, Xiao Chen’s expression changed repeatedly, looking incredibly strange.

There must be something fishy!

Yun Ting stared at him intently: “Tell me the truth!”

Under her burning gaze, Xiao Chen gradually gave in and sighed in resignation, “I heard… I heard that Mr. Yu is… he is the first young master’s ex-boyfriend!”

“!!!”

Yun Ting’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her mouth twitched uncontrollably: “Si Nan’s ex-boyfriend? He’s Yang Yang’s current partner!?”

This was even more shocking than finding out that Si Xuanyang was also gay.

“So, when he… when he was in a relationship with Si Nan… no! Did he break up with Si Nan before getting involved with Yang Yang?” Yun Ting anxiously clutched the armrest of the sofa.

Xiao Chen carefully recalled the details from that night at the bar and silently prayed for Yu Sen, not daring to lie: “I don’t think… I don’t think so.”

“Besides, the first young master is in the same situation!” he quickly added, indicating that both were at fault, not just one-sided betrayal.

However, Yun Ting was already in a daze, lying back on the sofa and almost losing her breath: “…This fox spirit! White lotus! Little bitch! Does he think he’s playing cards? Collecting all the high cards?”

Xiao Chen shivered and took two steps back, deciding to separate himself from the situation after spilling the beans.

---

The Si family was now in chaos because of Si Xuanyang’s WeChat messages. Although Yun Ting was impatient, she didn’t dare to expose Yu Sen at this moment, fearing that her uncle and aunt might faint from the shock.

Moreover, even though this little fox seemed to have questionable character, from her observation that day, his illness seemed real, and Si Xuanyang cherished him, which was genuine. She had never seen her cousin treasure someone so much in all these years. If things got out of hand and hurt that fragile person, Si Xuanyang might turn the family upside down.

If things ended badly, she would be the villain!

This matter should be handled slowly after the person recovers, by appealing to emotions and reason, and if that fails, by using money as an incentive—more simply put, by throwing money at the problem.

She didn’t believe that that cunning guy wouldn’t like money.

---

As for Yu Sen, he had been enjoying his time these days. Since Si Xuanyang’s cousin had only visited once and hadn’t been seen again, he felt leisurely but somewhat bored.

Perhaps due to the nature of the clock world, injuries caused there healed faster. His intracranial hemorrhage symptoms, under Si Xuanyang’s nearly strict care, were no longer a major issue.

The wound on the back of his head also healed well. His dizziness gradually lessened, and overall, things were improving.

However, because Si Xuanyang kept giving him nourishing Chinese herbal medicine, Yu Sen had no appetite at all. Even though a professional nutritionist prepared three meals a day, he still visibly lost weight.

After weighing himself that day, Si Xuanyang’s face darkened quickly. The room was silent. The nutritionist was nervously silent, while Yu Sen, lazy and drowsy, slumped on the sofa.

Si Xuanyang rubbed his temples, irritably waved his hand, and the nutritionist, relieved, quickly left and closed the door behind them.

Yu Sen, eyes closed, heard Si Xuanyang’s commanding voice: “You must finish all the food tonight.”

“…My mouth tastes bitter, and I’m sleepy. I can’t finish it.”

“If you don’t eat properly, your wound won’t heal.”

“I’m already better!” Yu Sen snapped, opening his eyes. “Don’t make me take more medicine; I’m about to turn into a ginseng doll!”

Si Xuanyang chuckled, bent down to sit on the carpet beside the sofa, and rubbed Yu Sen’s face: “Really? Have you become a plant? Then it’s just right. I’ll have Auntie cook you for me.”

Yu Sen was very sensitive during this time and immediately became alert, his eyes widening: “What are you planning to do?”

Si Xuanyang calmly looked at him: “I’m not planning anything. Why are you so nervous?”

Denying so quickly meant there was a problem!

Yu Sen stared into his eyes, slowly leaned in, and, like a cat, gently nipped at Si Xuanyang’s rosy lips, smiling: ““Just like jelly, I don’t want to eat, I want to eat you.”

Si Xuanyang’s ears turned red subtly, and his eyes narrowed: “Don’t try to seduce me; I’m not falling for it.”

“Really?”

Yu Sen lay back on the sofa, staring at him. After a moment, he suddenly hooked Si Xuanyang’s neck with his hand and pulled him closer.

Si Xuanyang, caught off guard, bent forward under Yu Sen’s pressure, their lips touching at the corner of Yu Sen’s mouth.

While caressing the warm flesh of Si Xuanyang’s neck, Yu Sen patiently worked on his lips, gently prying them open with his tongue. The kiss transitioned from gentle sucking to more aggressive and passionate, their breaths growing heavier and producing soft, tender sounds.

The flesh under his palm became hot and softer, his waist encircled by a strong arm, carefully tightening.

Time flowed like water.

With some lack of oxygen in his brain, Yu Sen’s grip loosened, and Si Xuanyang, who had perfectly matched his movements, slowed down, his deep, fiery gaze softening as he gradually withdrew, gently wiping Yu Sen’s mouth corner with his fingertip, his fingers lingering on the reddened cheek.

Yu Sen opened his eyes and looked at the misty haze in Si Xuanyang’s eyes, curling the corners of his mouth. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t fall for this?”

Si Xuanyang lowered his eyes. “Hmm, after tasting it, I found it quite good.”

“Then can I eat you tonight?” Yu Sen, propped up on his elbows and with a hint of blush at the corner of his eyes from the recent kiss, gazed at Si Xuanyang with eyes like dew-kissed peach blossoms in the morning.

He directly asked, “I mean that kind of eating… you understand, right?”

Si Xuanyang looked at him calmly, one hand supporting his back to save him some effort, while displaying a thoughtful expression.

Yu Sen held his breath.

Si Xuanyang asked seriously and confusedly, like a diligent student asking a math teacher about a linear algebra problem, with a tone of mutual exploration.

He asked, “With your current condition, you get out of breath and dizzy after just seven minutes of kissing. Will you really be able to perform when the time comes?”

“……”

The air suddenly became stagnant.

Yu Sen swore he had never encountered such a blatant humiliation and defamation in his life.

Blatant slander!

He was ready to send a lawyer’s letter!

Yu Sen took a deep breath, glaring at the trace of mockery and tenderness hidden in Si Xuanyang’s eyes, pointed to the door, and turned into a streetwise shrew, using all his strength.

“Get out—!!!”

Yun Ting, who had just entered gracefully through the main door, was stunned by this roar from upstairs, glanced at the familiar faces around, and awkwardly took a step forward.

Then with a ‘crack’, her high heels snapped.