Yu Hao left in defeat.
Little Spoon was confused, "Host, Yu Hao was so good to you, why did you refuse him so decisively? Little Spoon could feel how heartbroken he was after your rejection."
"What's the use of him being good to me? I don't feel any joy from his affection."
"Besides, he liked the original host from the start, or has always liked her, yet he couldn't even recognize me, an outsider. How shallow his affection is, it's simply ridiculous!"
Qiao Ci walked in the opposite direction of Yu Hao.
If one day her cub were to be taken over, she would definitely be able to identify it immediately.
Love etched into the bone, how could one fail to recognize the person they loved with all their heart?
Night fell.
Su Ye and Wang Zhi were assigned to a small prison cell to rest, along with two strangers.
As soon as Su Ye lay down on the single bed marked with his name, he felt something hard beneath him. Lifting the quilt, he saw a bright red apple, a loaf of bread, and a box of pure milk.
Su Ye's eyes flickered. He quietly placed the items into his spatial storage.
The bed was very small, making it difficult to stretch his legs fully. He didn't mind, resting his hands behind his head, thinking about the extra food and Qiao Ci.
The light in Su Ye's eyes flickered, a bitter smile on his lips.
With a bang, the prison door was forcefully pushed open. Three men entered, led by Chen Honggang, who had led the mockery of Su Ye earlier. The two behind him were unfamiliar.
The moment they saw them, Wang Zhi knew trouble was brewing. Despite this, under Chen Honggang's menacing threats, he still patted Su Ye, signaling him to be careful.
As Chen Honggang drew out the sack he carried, intending to put it over Su Ye's head, Su Ye suddenly stood up and swept his long legs fiercely, knocking Chen Honggang to the ground.
Seeing the pretty boy's reaction speed and the power of his stance, Chen Honggang realized his mistake. He angrily yelled at the other two, "What are you waiting for? Attack him together!"
He got up and swung a fist towards Su Ye's abdomen, but Su Ye dodged it with ease.
He sidestepped to the cell door. Everyone thought he was trying to escape, but unexpectedly, he simply extended his slender, powerful hand and locked the cell door from the inside.
Confused by his actions, the three men looked at him warily, and even their two new cellmates became nervous.
Su Ye raised an eyebrow, looking impatient, "Always disturbing others, isn't that rather impolite?"
Saying this, he moved his wrists and walked towards the three intruders.
He stared intently at Chen Honggang, delivering a kick to his stomach. He punched and kicked with powerful force, and before Chen Honggang could scream, he quickly covered his mouth and continued his brutal beating.
Chen Honggang's two companions were intimidated by Su Ye's ferocity, and for a moment, no one dared to go to Chen Honggang's rescue. They shivered against the wall, afraid they would be next.
After beating Chen Honggang until he cried out for his mother, Su Ye stopped. His gaze fell upon the other two, who immediately knelt down, begging, "Don't hit me, don't hit me, we'll never bother you again!"
"Scram."
Su Ye's expression was cold. He took a wet wipe from his pocket and slowly wiped his hands, his eyes filled with disdain.
The three scrambled away.
As if seeing Su Ye for the first time, Wang Zhi bowed and said, "Brother, hello."
Su Ye: "..."
Not "big brother"?
Chen Honggang reached the corner of the prison corridor and saw Tian Ruanruan waiting there. Seeing him hunched over, he quickly stepped forward to express concern, "What's wrong, Brother Gang?"
Chen Honggang was too embarrassed to admit he had been beaten, his face flushed and his neck red. He couldn't utter a word and eventually left in shame.
He had failed to avenge the goddess, what face did he have to see her? He gave up!
Tian Ruanruan was bewildered, and the two followers also wore expressions of unspeakable awkwardness. They left without greeting her, following Chen Honggang miserably.
???
What happened?
The next day, Qiao Ci was on her usual rounds. As Su Ye approached, he deliberately exposed the bruises on his hands and wrists and let out a slight hiss when she was close enough, as if in pain.
Qiao Ci glanced at him casually and mentally asked Little Spoon, "What does he mean by this? It feels like he's deliberately trying to get my attention. Didn't he push me away before?"
Having spent so much time with the host, Little Spoon understood that the host had very little romantic experience and quickly offered a suggestion, "He probably regrets it."
Qiao Ci's eyes narrowed. Her tense face instantly softened.
So, a sweet romance?
Since the cub had made the first move, she couldn't be too aloof.
Humbly, she walked up to Su Ye, frowning, "Does it hurt? Where are you injured?"
Unexpectedly, Qiao Ci took the initiative to speak to him. Su Ye knew his feigned weakness had worked. He suppressed his inner joy, lowered his eyelids, and said with forbearance, "It's nothing, I just fell accidentally."
Seeing that he wasn't telling the truth, Qiao Ci pursed her lips, "Are you getting used to staying here?"
Su Ye just kept his head down, and after a long while, he replied with a hint of grievance, "It's good enough to have a place to stay. I'm not too concerned about whether I'm used to it or not."
Qiao Ci couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Isn't it easy for you to find a place to stay?"
Thinking she was referring to his zombie antidote, Su Ye shook his head, feeling a little disappointed, "I just miss the time we spent together. It's all my fault for being too guarded, I'm sorry."
"If you want to, you can now." Qiao Ci understood Su Ye's intention immediately and gave him a way out.
She had been angry when he drove her away then. Thinking about it now, it was a great virtue to recognize and correct one's mistakes. He was her cub, after all, so she chose to forgive him.
Upon hearing this, Su Ye immediately looked up to meet Qiao Ci's eyes, asking uncertainly, "You, what did you say?"
"I said, if you want to, we can interact like we used to." Qiao Ci found her cub increasingly cute and repeated patiently.
Not only Su Ye, but Wang Zhi, who was beside them, was also stunned. So, Brother Su Ye wasn't just being wishful; he truly had a past with Miss Qiao.
Chen Honggang, watching the two from afar, sensed that something was amiss. He was already feeling apprehensive after being beaten by Su Ye. Furthermore, Miss Qiao seemed to treat Su Ye differently. Instantly, any lingering sense of humiliation vanished.
Su Ye felt a strange pang of sadness that Qiao Ci forgave him so easily. Although their time together was brief, she always seemed to... indulge him.
Saving him from 'fire and water,' helping him find food, eating his deliberately made 'dark cuisine'...
Su Ye seemed to understand why he was consciously restraining his sharpness and approaching her cautiously.
Knowing that the base construction was his future father-in-law's business, Su Ye did not leave immediately as Qiao Ci suggested but insisted on finishing his work.
During this time, Tian Ruanruan came to deliver water. She originally didn't intend to give Su Ye water, but seeing Miss Qiao there and their seemingly close relationship, she dared not cause trouble.
However, she felt indignant in her heart. No wonder Su Ye refused to befriend her; he was ambitious and wanted to climb the social ladder!