“Last time, didn’t you say you’d return my clothes to me?”

“Perfect. Now we don’t have to go through all that trouble.”

The man spoke unhurriedly, his dark eyes fixed on the woman’s delicate face, a meaningful glint in his gaze.  

His words completely cut off Xu Xiaoyue’s escape route.  

No matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t find a single reason to refuse.  

At this moment, Xu Xiaoyue deeply understood what it meant to *”lift a rock only to drop it on one’s own foot.”* 

To make matters worse, Yan Ye flicked the bell impatiently and urged, “Get on. If we drag this out any longer, it’ll be dark.”

Xu Xiaoyue had no choice but to climb onto the back seat.  

“Where do you live?” Yan Ye asked.  

“I—I live in the alley east of the state-run supermarket, on Lian Street.”

Yan Ye raised an eyebrow slightly. He was very familiar with that area—two years ago, the alley had undergone demolition, and most residents had moved away.  

As for the few remaining households, he knew them all, yet he had never seen or heard of anyone like Xu Xiaoyue.  

Completely unaware that her little act had already been seen through, Xu Xiaoyue clutched the hem of the man’s shirt and secretly glanced up at his broad back.  

It was only now that she realized—his bad mood in that small room earlier was likely because her answer to his question about their relationship had displeased him.  

But the truth was, they *had* no real relationship. At most, they’d had a few chance encounters, and there was that matter of him saving her life.  

Moreover, just thinking about the events in the novel filled Xu Xiaoyue with an instinctive fear of Yan Ye.  

Yet even someone as slow as Xu Xiaoyue could sense something unusual now.  

In this era, where interactions between men and women were strictly guarded and resources were scarce, who would invite a barely acquainted woman to *two* meals? And who would sit so close to her in that small room?  

Could it be… that he had feelings for her?  

Xu Xiaoyue had some confidence in her own charm.  

She could be considered the epitome of someone who had been beautiful since childhood. Even back in kindergarten, whenever there was a performance, the teacher would always place her front and center.  

Of course, she had encountered plenty of envy. Some had even boldly claimed to her face that *”those who are pretty as children often grow up ugly,”* citing a few celebrity examples as proof.  

But whether in her early years or adolescence, Xu Xiaoyue had *never* gone through an awkward phase—her suitors had never stopped coming.  

Humans were visual creatures, and Xu Xiaoyue saw nothing wrong with appreciating beauty.  

But this was *Yan Ye* she was dealing with. Would he really develop feelings for her just because of her looks?  

Before she could ponder further, the man pressed the brakes, bringing the bike to a smooth stop.  

*”We’re here.”*  

His tone was indifferent, devoid of any extra emotion, as if he were nothing more than the most dutiful chauffeur.  

Xu Xiaoyue released her grip and carefully hopped off the bike.  

“Come on, it’s getting dark. I’ll walk you in.”  

Yan Ye parked the bike with one hand and stood in front of her.  

Xu Xiaoyue quickly shook her head. “N-no, that’s not necessary. I can go back by myself.”

“That won’t do. I’m still waiting for that outfit, remember?” The corner of Yan Ye’s lips lifted slightly. He was smiling, yet Xu Xiaoyue felt a chill run down her spine—as if all her thoughts had been laid bare.  

If she actually gave him her address, Yan Ye might immediately discover that she lived right next door to him, separated by nothing more than a single wall.  

“I’ll bring the clothes to you tomorrow. Today’s… not a good time.” Xu Xiaoyue lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.  

“Comrade Xu, do enlighten me—why exactly is today ‘not a good time’?” His voice was deep and rich, sending a faint prickle through Xu Xiaoyue’s ears.  

But that wasn’t the point.  

**The crucial point was—this man insisted on following her home.**  

Xu Xiaoyue bit her finger, silent for a moment. When she looked up again, her eyes were brimming with tears.  

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Her voice trembled with suppressed sobs, as though she had suffered unbearable injustice.  

Yan Ye stiffened slightly. “What now?” 

“I’m… staying at my aunt’s house as a guest. Her brother-in-law… isn’t very kind to me.”  

“If he finds out a man brought me back this late, who knows what rumors he might spread behind my back?” 

She seemed to have mustered tremendous resolve before confessing these words.  

The moment Yan Ye heard this, his expression turned glacial. His eyes chilled like frost, lips pressed into a thin line—just his demeanor alone was enough to make one’s blood run cold.  

“They wouldn’t dare.”

Xu Xiaoyue covertly studied his reaction. Just from his face alone, he looked ready to explode.  

She moistened her lips and continued without batting an eye:  

“You’ve never experienced what it’s like to live under someone else’s roof. Last time, he publicly scolded me in front of everyone—told me to study harder and strive to be a proper citizen.”

It wasn’t a lie. Hadn’t Yan Ye himself, through that very man, delivered books to her as a public reprimand?  

“Outrageous.”  

The words dripped from his lips like shards of ice, each syllable sharp enough to draw blood. His brows furrowed so deeply they could have crushed a mosquito.  

From their limited interactions, Yan Ye had sensed an innate purity in Xu Xiaoyue—her crescent-moon eyes when she smiled still carried a childlike naivety untouched by the world’s harshness.  

Yet in places beyond his sight, someone actually dared to mistreat her like this?  

Hearing her words, an indescribable discomfort surged through Yan Ye’s chest.  

This was precisely the reaction Xu Xiaoyue wanted. She pressed her advantage:  

“So… if the neighbors see us, the gossip will start all over again.”

“I don’t mind them talking behind my back, but if it reaches that brother-in-law’s ears, he’ll think I’m some sort of loose woman—” 

Her voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.  

“Utterly despicable. Bullying a female comrade—what kind of man does that?” His tone brimmed with disdain.  

“Exactly! He’s not a real man at all—just a petty coward!”

“A shameless worm,” Yan Ye rarely lost composure, yet now he spat the words venomously.  

Xu Xiaoyue pinched her lips hard to stifle a laugh.  

Who would’ve thought she’d one day get to trash-talk the man *to his face*—and receive his wholehearted agreement, no less?  

“So… don’t make this harder for me. If you really follow me home tonight, the rumors tomorrow will be unbearable.” 

“As for the clothes, I’ll find time to return them to you. Alright?”

She blinked up at him, her dewy eyes shimmering with hope.  

Though their acquaintance was brief, she’d already gleaned something about his temperament: opposing him head-on would be futile.  

Only by handling him gently, by coaxing rather than confronting, could she sway him.  

Just as now—Yan Ye agreed almost without hesitation.  

As Xu Xiaoyue’s figure gradually receded into the distance, dusk deepened around them.  

Yan Ye swung his long leg over the bicycle and pedaled after her at a leisurely pace.  

*He was determined to see for himself exactly who this “brother-in-law” daring to bully Xu Xiaoyue might be.*