Chapter 17

Lin Yuxi was halfway through her meal when Zhou Yanjing returned. 

Zhou Yanjing had deep and handsome features. Compared to his elder brother Zhou Shengan’s calm demeanor, Zhou Yanjing exuded a kind of debonair charm typical of a wealthy young man. 

The temperature today was lower than in the past few days. He wore a gray suit under a black coat; the deep tones tempered his casualness, giving him a more mature masculine allure. 

Lin Yuxi didn’t expect him to return suddenly. She was stunned for a few seconds before Zhou Yanjing walked in, taking off his coat and casually draping it over the back of a dining chair. 

He glanced at the dishes on the table and raised the corners of his lips: “Aunt Chen is back; the quality of the food is different now.” 

His words made Aunt Chen burst with joy. 

“I thought you wouldn’t be back for dinner today; Mrs. Zhou almost finished eating. I’ll go make a couple more dishes!”  

Lin Yuxi could understand Aunt Chen’s joy. She had experienced similar moments before, feeling dizzy from Zhou Yanjing’s charming words, not knowing what to do. 

Aunt Chen served Zhou Yanjing a bowl of rice, and he didn’t mention that he had already eaten out. He sat down and picked up his chopsticks. 

Lin Yuxi looked down at the cat on her lap; the dining table concealed it, and Zhou Yanjing hadn’t noticed yet. 

She thought about whether to immediately pick up the cat and take it back to the room, out of Zhou Yanjing’s sight, or to continue hiding it, hoping he wouldn’t cause trouble if he didn’t see it. 

But she didn’t expect Zhou Yanjing to have sharp ears. Hearing the cat purring, he lifted his gaze. 

“Aunt Chen’s cooking has improved so much that even a tractor can turn into a dish.” 

Lin Yuxi:  

Before she could respond, the tabby cat shook its ears and jumped onto the dining table, looking at Zhou Yanjing with curiosity and wariness in its eyes. 

The smile that Zhou Yanjing had been wearing just moments before faded. His brows knitted slightly: “Why is this thing still here? Didn’t I tell you to get rid of it?” 

Animals have a sense of human emotions, and the cat shrank back. 

“You eat; I’ll take the cat back to that room.” Lin Yuxi picked up the cat and left the dining room, sitting in the living room with a book while waiting for him to finish eating. 

Zhou Yanjing felt annoyed. Aunt Chen had finished preparing the dishes, but he had already put down his chopsticks. 

“Have you eaten already?”  

Zhou Yanjing wiped his mouth with a napkin, implying something: “I was filled with anger from Mrs. Zhou.” 

“I didn’t intend to make you angry.” 

It was clearly him who said he wouldn’t be back. Lin Yuxi felt wronged: “I didn’t know you would suddenly come back.” 

Zhou Yanjing chuckled lightly: “So you mean I shouldn’t have come back?” 

Lin Yuxi didn’t want to continue this meaningless argument. After a few seconds of silence, she put down her book: “Are you free now?” 

“I’m not free.” Zhou Yanjing replied lazily, “I’m digesting the anger in my stomach.” 

Lin Yuxi said, “I have something to discuss with you. You’re always too busy; can we talk now?” 

Zhou Yanjing stared at her for a few seconds, leaning back in his chair and crossing his long legs, his expression cold and distant. 

“Go ahead.” 

Lin Yuxi glanced at Aunt Chen, who was still standing by: “Let’s talk in the room.” 

She got up and walked upstairs. Zhou Yanjing sat in his chair, watching her slender figure disappear up the spiral staircase. 

He took out a cigarette, tapping his finger on the end of the cigarette box, pulled out a stick, and bit it between his lips before taking out a lighter. 

The purple-blue flame ignited the cigarette. 

He set the lighter down on the table, took a deep puff, and removed the cigarette with two fingers, resting his hand on the table edge. 

The grayish smoke swirled upwards, obscuring half of his face. 

Aunt Chen couldn’t discern his expression and was puzzled why the atmosphere between the two suddenly turned tense, causing them to stop eating. 

Zhou Yanjing glanced at the steaming dishes on the table: “Why did you make eggplant and bamboo shoots?” 

Aunt Chen was startled and felt a bit wronged: “Ah? Don’t you love eating these? I made your favorites!” 

Zhou Yanjing raised an eyebrow: “When did I ever say I love eggplant?” 

“Last time I made grandma’s stuffed eggplant, you praised it as delicious. And the pickled bamboo shoots didn’t you used to love them?” 

Zhou Yanjing couldn’t recall when that had happened. 

“Do you make this often?” 

Aunt Chen’s expression became awkward: “Uh.” 

“No wonder she’s getting thinner and thinner every year.” 

Zhou Yanjing raised his eyebrows. 

He often had a smile on his face, exuding a kind of carefree charm that made people think he had a good temper and was approachable. 

But when he wasn’t smiling, the innate aura that kept people at a distance became evident, intimidating. 

“She’s picky and doesn’t eat eggplant or bamboo shoots. Didn’t you know that?” 

“I thought you loved them…” 

“How many meals do I eat here in a year?” 

Zhou Yanjing’s casual retort carried a sharp pressure that was hard to ignore. 

Aunt Chen was a bit startled, anxiously wringing her hands, her voice dropping: “Then I… I won’t make them anymore?” 

Zhou Yanjing didn’t answer. He wanted to extinguish the cigarette but realized there was no ashtray at home. 

He ended up sticking the half-burned cigarette into the stuffed eggplant. 

Without replying, he got up and headed upstairs. 

The master bedroom on the second floor was a large suite. Upon entering, there was a living room, and Lin Yuxi was sitting on a grape purple velvet sofa, leaning back against the headrest, staring blankly. 

She had been waiting for a while when she finally heard footsteps coming upstairs. 

Zhou Yanjing walked in, his gaze dropping on her. 

Lin Yuxi tilted her head back, her neck exposed under the bright lights, white and slender, like flawless white jade, perfectly complemented by the green jade pendant beside her. 

Zhou Yanjing still remembered the smooth, fragile feeling of her skin when he had touched it. 

Lin Yuxi had been dazed, staring at the light, her eyes slightly hurting from the brightness. It took her a moment to realize Zhou Yanjing was there. 

She came to her senses, straightening her posture, but Zhou Yanjing’s gaze had already moved away from her. 

“You…” 

Lin Yuxi was about to bring up the serious matter when Zhou Yanjing’s attention shifted past her, over the wooden screen, landing on the double bed in the room. 

“What are you hiding under the covers?” 

“I’m not hiding anything…” Lin Yuxi instinctively turned to peek inside. 

But in the neatly arranged blankets, there was indeed a lump in the middle. She hadn’t noticed it when she got home and changed clothes, and now that she had come upstairs, she hadn’t realized the change. 

Zhou Yanjing walked over and lifted the blanket, revealing several colorful kittens sleeping together. 

Lin Yuxi had no idea when the tabby cat had stealthily brought her kittens and hidden them in her bed. 

She was momentarily dumbfounded, a bit amused and frustrated. 

The room downstairs was locked, and could only be opened with a key from the outside; how did they manage to sneak out? 

Zhou Yanjing’s brows furrowed instantly, and he threw down the blanket, stepping back a couple of steps, clearly disgusted. 

Lin Yuxi hurried over, afraid that in a fit of anger he might throw the kittens out the window. 

Zhou Yanjing’s tone was restrained: “Lin Yuxi, even if you dislike me and want to get rid of me, at least use a more clever method.” 

Lin Yuxi was a bit speechless; how could these wobbly little kittens possibly do him any harm? Would they be able to cuteness him to death? 

“A few kittens could kill you? You’re too fragile.” 

“I’m fragile?” Zhou Yanjing laughed angrily, about to say something when he suddenly sneezed. 

He quickly stepped back a couple of paces, covering his nose with his hand, but he couldn’t stop sneezing. 

Lin Yuxi realized: “You’re allergic to cat fur?” 

Zhou Yanjing sneered: “You just figured that out?” 

“You never said it, how would I know?” Lin Yuxi felt a tiny bit guilty. “Believe it or not, I didn’t hide them here.” 

“If you didn’t hide them, then did I?” 

Lin Yuxi had no way to explain how the mother cat had escaped and daringly, with meticulous planning, brought her kittens into the bedroom and hidden them under the blankets, attempting to deal Zhou Yanjing a fatal blow