Chapter 28: Selective Cleanliness

The only sounds in the private dining room were their voices.

Qi Shenzhi scooped up a bowl of soup. “Here, drink some to warm your stomach before eating.”

“Daddy Qi” was worried that Su Bailing might get a stomachache from the ice cream she had sneakily eaten earlier.

Su Bailing took the bowl with a bright smile, completely enjoying Qi Shenzhi’s attentive care.

“Brother, I want that shrimp~”

Upon hearing this, Qi Shenzhi immediately placed the shrimp in front of him and started peeling them one by one.

His slender fingers, with well-defined knuckles, were soon covered in shrimp juices. But at this moment, his usual obsession with cleanliness seemed to vanish completely. Even though his hands were a mess, his focus remained unwavering as he carefully peeled each shrimp.

From Su Bailing’s angle, this scene was particularly pleasing to the eye.

Her heart felt as if it were soaking in honey, sweet and warm.

See? Qin Zihe just didn’t get it. What was wrong with a doting boyfriend?

Clearly, he had never experienced this level of treatment~

“?”

Qi Shenzhi noticed that Su Bailing had been staring at him and looked at her in confusion. “Impatient?”

After saying that, he placed the peeled shrimp onto her plate. “Eat first, I’ll keep peeling.”

Su Bailing ate with an elegant manner, and since she was in a good mood, her enjoyment was even more apparent. Seeing this, Qi Shenzhi felt an immense sense of satisfaction—this was the joy of being a caregiver.

Just as he was fully engrossed in peeling shrimp, he suddenly felt something touch his lips.

Looking down, he saw Su Bailing holding a piece of tender, juicy beef with her chopsticks, offering it to him.

Qi Shenzhi’s mood instantly lifted as he took the bite. In that moment, all the stress from the past week seemed to melt away.

Love was about mutual care. While Qi Shenzhi devoted himself to taking care of Su Bailing, his little pear also showed her affection by looking after him in return.

And she could even pick out the dish that suited his taste best among all the options.

The two of them, caught up in their affectionate interaction, turned an ordinary meal into something brimming with pink, romantic bubbles.

Good thing Qin Zihe wasn’t here—otherwise, the sheer amount of “dog food” would have completely ruined his appetite.

Su Bailing’s appetite wasn’t large, and after a short while, she was already full. Seeing this, Qi Shenzhi stopped feeding her.

They started chatting casually.

Since Su Bailing planned to visit the Wang family tomorrow, the conversation naturally shifted in that direction.

Afraid that Qi Shenzhi might be unhappy about it, she tugged on his sleeve and acted coquettishly. “I’ll just go for dinner and then head back to school. But during the day, I’ll be with you.”

Qi Shenzhi could tell from her cautious tone that she must have noticed his uneasiness last week and was now trying to tread carefully to avoid upsetting him.

That wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want his emotions to affect Su Bailing’s happiness.

His little pear should be able to live freely and joyfully.

So, with a gentle expression, he said, “Alright, go if you want to. That’s your home. Just let me know before you go.”

Su Bailing tilted her head, studying his face carefully, but she didn’t find anything unusual.

Finally, she could relax. Had she successfully pacified him?

Was he now okay with her family?

That was great.

Su Bailing beamed up at him with a sweet smile. “Okay~ But you have to take me there!”

Qi Shenzhi was very pleased with her reliance on him. “Alright, I’ll take you there. Do you need me to bring gifts for your parents?”

After all, they were Li Li’s biological parents, and proper etiquette should not be neglected.

Su Bailing’s eyes widened. She knew he had misunderstood and quickly waved her hands. “No, no! I didn’t mean to introduce you to them yet. I just meant for you to drop me off downstairs.”

Qi Shenzhi: “?”

The more Su Bailing tried to explain, the more it sounded like she was being a heartless player—like she didn’t want to acknowledge Qi Shenzhi in front of her parents.

But Qi Shenzhi didn’t overthink it. If Li Li was saying this, she must have her reasons.

Sure enough, her next words made him feel incredibly satisfied.

“I’ve only known them for, like, a week! I’m not about to introduce them to you yet. Who knows what kind of people they really are? What if everything they’re showing me now is just an act? If they find out who you are and start scheming, what then? No way, I need to finish my observation period first before making any introductions.”

Qi Shenzhi’s mood instantly lifted—no, soared.

He let out a low chuckle. “I didn’t realize I was this important to my Li Li. Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

Su Bailing proudly put her hands on her hips, grinning smugly. “Of course! I’m not stupid. I know exactly who matters most to me.”

Qi Shenzhi couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. “Good girl.”

Somehow, all the frustration and tension that had weighed on him for the past week had completely disappeared.

Looking at the handsome face right in front of her, even though she had seen it countless times, Su Bailing still couldn’t help but blush.

But—they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend now. Could she afford to back down?

Absolutely not!

Brave Li Li never admits defeat.

Despite the heat in her cheeks, the bold and fearless Su Bailing refused to be outdone. She leaned in and gave him a loud, exaggerated kiss.

A crisp “smooch~” echoed in the quiet private dining room. As she pulled away, a thin, glistening thread stretched between them.

In the enclosed space, the sound and sight heightened the entire experience.

Qi Shenzhi’s pupils slightly contracted, but the corners of his lips lifted in a nearly imperceptible smirk.

“You’ve got some nerve, huh?”

He slid his fingers through her hair, gently but firmly pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.

There was no way Su Bailing could outmatch Qi Shenzhi in this. In the end, she went completely limp in his arms, breathless like a fish out of water.

Panting, she weakly patted his shoulder. “You win.”

Qi Shenzhi: “?”

Where was Li Li’s train of thought going now?

It was as if they had just competed in some kind of mysterious battle.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Qin Zihe had just finished eating with the little trainee and decided to come up to check on these two troublemakers.

And that was when he bumped into them—just as they were walking out.