Su Yue's face flickered with surprise and embarrassment.
For a moment, she even suspected Chen Ziming could read minds, otherwise how would he know her fleeting thought from last night?
Seeing him still staring at her, she lowered her eyes in a fluster, took a sip of tea to calm her racing heart, and organized her thoughts.
After a moment, she finally looked at him again, patiently answering his question, "I admit, I did have that thought you mentioned."
She saw his expression darken at her words.
"But," she deliberately raised her tone and continued, "that thought is just a habit."
He raised an eyebrow, offering no comment, waiting for her to continue.
Su Yue felt truly helpless. After much deliberation, she decided to be a less polite and more sensible person, and voice her true feelings.
"Alright, I really dislike Chi Yiran's clinging behavior towards you, but I just didn't know what to do, and the only thing I could do was remain silent."
"I thought about escaping, but that would be the worst-case scenario. Before that, I'd rather believe you could handle all of this."
"Because you said, as long as I'm with you, I don't have to fear anything."
Chen Ziming was a police officer; he liked to deal with evidence and logic in everything. Su Yue presented him with evidence and logic.
It was fortunate she had so many years of debate experience; achieving this wasn't difficult.
Especially using his promise as an argument, the effect was doubled.
As expected, he showed a moment of surprise, then actually laughed, reaching out to her across the tea table, "Come sit on my lap."
Chen Ziming found himself liking her more and more.
She was so intelligent and rational, yet she could also act coy, being both in the right and emotionally adept.
With just a few words, his tense nerves completely relaxed, and his voice became somewhat languid.
Su Yue quietly breathed a sigh of relief, obediently walked around to his side, and sat on his lap.
But as he leaned in to kiss her, she dodged him, then put on a stern face and began to counterattack, "Can I say a few words to you now?"
He blinked in surprise, then his smile deepened as he touched her cheek with his finger, "Okay, baby, speak your mind."
She crossed her arms and began to list his offenses one by one:
"First, Chi Yiran has been ambiguous towards you for a long time, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Second, if you wanted to see me angry, you could have just said so. Why did you sulk and wait for me to guess?"
"Also, last night you acted crazy with me again. Was it because you were afraid I would run away? You always tell me to trust you, why can't you trust me more?"
"Finally," she deliberately emphasized, "I still find it incredible. You were clearly in the wrong, yet why am I the one who has to appease you?"
"Is there any logic left at all?"
Su Yue was no longer holding back, clearly venting her anger.
She was truly at her wit's end.
Chen Ziming listened as she dissected her accusations, not only did he not get angry, but a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.
"You're still smiling?" Su Yue frowned, asking displeased.
"Yes, baby, you're too cute, I can't help it." He smiled, revealing shallow dimples, and the next second, he kissed her directly.
Su Yue was startled, wanting to push him away, but he cupped the back of her head with his hand, deepening the kiss.
She instinctively bit his tongue, and he let out a muffled groan of pain, giving her the chance to break free.
"Chen Ziming! You wanted me to be angry, and when I got angry, you wouldn't explain. Do you find playing with me like this enjoyable?" Su Yue was genuinely unhappy.
Chen Ziming had been smiling, but hearing her words, he realized his behavior was indeed not good. He then put away his smile and sincerely apologized,
"What baby says is all right, it was my fault, I'm sorry."
"Just 'sorry'?" she persisted.
Since he wanted to see her angry, she might as well indulge his peculiar request and stay angry to the end.
He didn't answer immediately but stared at her for a while longer, pursed his lips, and suddenly said,
"I shouldn't have been unreasonable. Baby, tell me what I need to do to make you feel better, and I'll do it."
His eyes were bright, and his attitude was sincere.
And this "unreasonable" behavior, coming from his mouth, truly formed a stark contrast with his image and status.
Su Yue's composure finally broke for a second. Even though she tried to hold it back, she couldn't help but smile.