Su Ye placed the food on the dining table, and Qiao Ci sat obediently in her chair, waiting to be fed.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Su Ye, with a scowl, walked over and opened it.
"Hello, Su Ye! I smelled food from your place, so I let myself in. You don't mind, do you?" An Ran greeted playfully. Although everything tasted like chewing on wood for her, the ability to smell it up close was a form of satisfaction.
"I do," Su Ye said coldly, looking at the cutesy An Ran. She wasn't as pretty as A Ci, yet she acted as if she possessed boundless charm. He wondered who gave her such confidence.
Unexpectedly, he was so direct. An Ran made a face and stuck out her tongue. "I came to see Qiao Ci, hmph."
With that, she walked past Su Ye and into the room.
Qiao Ci was just picking up a piece of scrambled eggs with green pepper and putting it into her mouth. Seeing An Ran, she raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is something wrong?"
An Ran walked forward familiarly, smiling. "I didn't see you in the cafeteria, so I came to check. I didn't expect you to be eating alone here. Haha, I wasn't full earlier, so I came to freeload. You're not going to welcome me like that straight-laced Su Ye, are you?"
Before Qiao Ci could reply, she had already taken a seat at the dining table.
Knowing she was a zombie and had no sense of taste, Qiao Ci didn't drive her away.
In the plot, she was a total foodie. Now, unable to eat, she must find the feeling of not being able to taste very peculiar.
It was fine if she wanted to stay.
Although Su Ye was unhappy, he didn't say much. He didn't bother with whether the other two had utensils and picked up the remaining pair of chopsticks, eating elegantly.
Neither of them felt awkward. They hadn't really intended to freeload anyway and just sat there watching them eat.
Looking at the visually appealing braised pork ribs, An Ran's mouth involuntarily watered.
Seeing that Qiao Ci was ignoring her, An Ran's displeasure flashed in her eyes. She spoke up. "I remember Qiao Ci can't cook, so are these all made by Su Ye?"
"Mm," Qiao Ci replied briefly.
"Haha, he's truly virtuous. Good-looking and can cook. Qiao Ci, you're truly blessed." An Ran said half-jokingly, subtly implying Su Ye was a gigolo.
To her surprise, Su Ye wasn't angry at all. He glanced meaningfully at Qiao Ci, his beautiful thin lips parting slightly. "As long as A Ci likes it."
Not only did she fail to provoke Su Ye, but she was also force-fed dog food. An Ran pouted angrily, puffing out her cheeks. Then, she pulled her brother, Xu Wei, over and said to Qiao Ci, "This is my brother, An Xu Wei. Hehe, isn't he quite handsome? Full of boyfriend material, and absolutely safe and secure."
"Your biological brother?" Su Ye, who could see An Ran was trying to introduce a man to Qiao Ci, asked with a somber gaze.
"Of course! I was going to introduce my brother to Qiao Ci when we were studying together, but my brother was always busy and didn't have the chance. Now, I can finally formally introduce my brother to her!" An Ran lifted her chin slightly, looking very proud.
"But you don't look alike at all. It's highly unlikely you're siblings," Su Ye said. Seeing her like that, the rice in his bowl suddenly lost its flavor, and he felt an urge to vomit.
When they first met, this An Ran and Xu Wei didn't seem like siblings. Their interactions were intimate, more like a couple.
An Ran smiled and explained, "Maybe I look more like Dad, and my brother looks more like Mom."
Qiao Ci had almost finished eating. Hearing that, she chimed in, "But he doesn't look like your mother at all."
After being ignored, questioned, and contradicted multiple times, even the scheming An Ran felt a little embarrassed.
"Hello, I am An Xu Wei. You can call me Xu Wei. I'll be officially joining the base construction from now on. If there's anything I don't understand, I'll have to trouble Miss Qiao for your guidance." Xu Wei stood up, his tall physique exuding a strong sense of pressure.
His handsome features and outstretched hand added a hint of temptation.
It had to be said, Xu Wei's looks were quite impressive.
In the plot, he used these innate advantages to be hot and cold towards the original owner, gradually making her fall hopelessly in love and eventually leading to tragedy.
Su Ye immediately felt a strong sense of challenge. He walked over and took Xu Wei's hand reaching for Qiao Ci, his grip firm and irresistible.
"A Ci is still eating, so it's not convenient for her to shake hands. I'll do it on her behalf. From now on, if you have any questions, you can come to me. Don't trouble her, as she's very busy."
The man before him was exceedingly beautiful. Xu Wei used all his strength but couldn't resist his force.
Although shocked inwardly, he showed no outward reaction and smiled politely. "Then I'll trouble you."
Only after Xu Wei released his grip did he retract his hand. He looked at Qiao Ci, then at Su Ye, and asked, "Since you said you could act on her behalf, what is your relationship...?"
"We live together, so what else could our relationship be?" Su Ye said, his body stiffening slightly, wondering if Qiao Ci would resent him for acting presumptuously.
"Heh heh," Xu Wei nodded like a gentleman, then looked at Qiao Ci. "But you're not married yet, so I still have a chance, right?"
Beside him, An Ran, although she knew it was an act, couldn't help but feel jealous. She bit her lower lip, suppressing her emotions.
"You'd better guard her well, guard her," he whispered in a voice only they could hear, moving closer to Su Ye. Then, with a glance, he indicated a corner of the bed visible from the storage room where he lived.
Qiao Ci's face was full of question marks. Did this Xu Wei have a serious problem?
Why was he suddenly confessing to her?
And whispering to her "cub"!
Qiao Ci's face was tense.
Seeing Qiao Ci's tense expression, Xu Wei assumed she was embarrassed because Su Ye was present. He smiled and said, "Miss Qiao, there's no need to be nervous. I was just joking. Excuse us, my sister and I will go back to rest."
Damn him!
Qiao Ci's half-spoken refusal was swallowed back down.
He confessed just now, and now he says it was a joke? What nonsense!
Seeing Qiao Ci looking crestfallen, Xu Wei felt his strategy had paid off. Indeed, with women, you had to keep them guessing to make them willingly walk into your trap step by step…
Thinking their objective was achieved, the two bid farewell. Qiao Ci watched Su Ye obediently clearing the bowls and chopsticks and asked, "What did he whisper to you just now?"
Fearing that Qiao Ci would hold him accountable for twisting their relationship by acting on his own, Su Ye immediately gathered his emotions and decided to strike first.
With a look of grief and grievance, as if he had suffered great humiliation, he said, "Are you very curious?"
"Mm, after they left, you looked quite unwell," Qiao Ci nodded sincerely.
"It's not curiosity born from concern for him?" Hearing this, the grievance on Su Ye's face eased somewhat.
Qiao Ci replied with an innocent face, "Why would I be concerned about him? I only care about you."
With Qiao Ci's explanation, Su Ye's expression completely cleared.
He looked intently at Qiao Ci, his face filled with obvious apprehension. "A Ci, do you... do you like me?"
"Mm!" Qiao Ci replied without hesitation.