Yan Qingdou stared at her quietly for three seconds.
His gaze was deep and lingering.
Suddenly, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and magnetic.
"What if I said I didn't?"
Chu Liuyue looked at him in silence.
Her eyes were filled with scrutiny and suspicion.
Seeing her remain silent, Yan Qingdou continued,
"That day, I had a very important project with an imminent deadline. My mind was completely consumed by experimental data and results; I couldn't focus on anything else."
"I was rushing to the lab and didn't notice anyone passing by."
"Let alone see you handing over a love letter."
"I just thought I accidentally bumped into someone. I said 'sorry' and left. I really didn't realize you were confessing your feelings to me."
The pressure from Chu Liuyue's foot suddenly increased, the heel of her black leather boot grinding ruthlessly into his chest.
"Liar!"
Yan Qingdou nodded in agreement, smiling bitterly.
"Yes, I'm lying."
"But after you dropped out, I've been searching for any trace of you."
"I feel very guilty."
Chu Liuyue narrowed her eyes.
A dangerous glint flashed in her gaze.
"Slap—"
Another slap landed on his face.
At the same time, the sound of knocking came from the door. "Knock, knock, knock."
Followed closely by Zhou Yu'an's concerned voice.
"Liuyue, are you alright?"
"I heard a noise from outside. You're not in any danger, are you?"
Pinned under her foot, Yan Qingdou suddenly laughed.
There was a hint of wickedness in his smile.
He tugged at the corners of his lips, his eyes silently saying, 'What would happen if I spoke right now?'
Chu Liuyue glared at him fiercely.
Yan Qingdou only smiled more brazenly.
His eyes were filled with a doting smile.
As if his entire attention was genuinely and completely focused on her.
"I'm fine," she replied to the door, forcing herself to sound calm, and added, "I just got up to use the bathroom and accidentally bumped my head on the cabinet. It hurts a little, but it's nothing serious."
Outside the door, Zhou Yu'an sounded tense:
"Do you need me to help you apply some medicine?"
"The medical kit Lao Zhong and the others brought for the team is very comprehensive."
Chu Liuyue said vaguely, "No need, it's not a major injury. It won't hurt after I rub it a bit, don't worry."
Just as she thought Zhou Yu'an would leave it at that.
Suddenly, the gentle male voice spoke up again.
"Then... let me help you rub it."
"I've specially learned massage techniques before, I'm very professional. It will make you feel better," he said softly.
The two people in the room froze.
Yan Qingdou's expression turned particularly displeased.
Just as he was about to speak.
Chu Liuyue moved swiftly, covering his mouth with her hand. Regardless of whether he wanted to or not, she grabbed a pillowcase, shoved it over his head,
And kicked him under the bed.
"Bang—" The sound of a body hitting the bed frame echoed clearly in the room.
Outside, Zhou Yu'an asked worriedly,
"Liuyue, did you accidentally bump into something again?"
"Ah, yes."
Chu Liuyue replied while giving Yan Qingdou another kick further under the bed.
Purely to vent her anger.
She muttered under her breath, "That's for causing trouble."
She lowered her voice and threatened fiercely, "If you dare to make a sound."
"Senior Yan, I promise to make you wish you were dead. Don't blame me for being ruthless then."
After delivering her threat,
She turned around, her face instantly adopting the pitiful, innocent smile of a delicate flower, and walked quickly to open the door.
Outside the door.
Zhou Yu'an looked at her smooth forehead.
There were no bruises or bumps from a collision, making him a bit puzzled.
However, he didn't expose her lie.
He asked softly,
"Is it convenient for me to come in now?"
He lifted the medical kit in his hand as he spoke.
Chu Liuyue's expression remained normal, a gentle smile blooming on her lips.
She stepped aside to make room.
"Come in, An'an."
There was a faint smell of blood in the room, though very slight.
But as a doctor, Zhou Yu'an was exceptionally sensitive to such smells and noticed it immediately.
His gaze quickly swept across the room, finally landing on the large 1.8-meter-wide bed in the center.
The standard rooms in this hotel were big bed rooms.
The bed frame was quite high.
More than enough to hide a person.
Wait!
Zhou Yu'an quickly stopped his wild thoughts. How could that be?
Why would Liuyue hide a man in her room in the middle of the night, and who would she hide?
Perhaps the bloody smell was just wafting up from the zombie black cat on the first floor. He was just being too sensitive.
He quickly shifted his gaze.
Landing on Chu Liuyue's innocent, harmless little face, he said with concern,
"Sit down, I'll apply some ointment for the bruising."
"Okay."
Chu Liuyue sat obediently on the edge of the bed, looking well-behaved.
Suddenly, a soft, muffled groan escaped her throat, and she frowned slightly.
That guy Yan Qingdou!
Even with a pillowcase over his head, he wouldn't behave. He actually reached out from under the bed and grabbed her ankle.
The grip was neither too light nor too heavy, but it made her feel flustered.
Zhou Yu'an looked up in surprise and glanced at her.
"What's wrong?"
Chu Liuyue smiled.
Looking left and right to cover it up.
"N-nothing."
"Maybe the place I just bumped hurts a little."
Zhou Yu'an's suspicious gaze swept under the bed again.
He vaguely felt something was wrong.
But eventually, he opened the medical kit, took out a clean cotton swab and ointment, and dipped it.
He strode towards her.
"Close your eyes, I'll help you apply the medicine. That way it won't hurt as much."
"Ah... okay."
Chu Liuyue's reaction was a bit exaggerated, her body trembling slightly.
Zhou Yu'an asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Chu Liuyue rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little sleepy. My mind might be wandering."
Under the bed, Yan Qingdou's restless hand actually squeezed the prominent bone of her ankle again.
He even rubbed it slowly, as if deliberately provoking her.
After Chu Liuyue finished speaking, she kicked back hard towards the spot under the bed.
Thinking to herself: See if you dare push your luck.
After hearing a very faint, muffled male groan.
She tilted her head back in satisfaction.
Slowly closing her eyes.
"An'an, sorry to trouble you."
"Help me apply the medicine."
Zhou Yu'an suddenly put down the cotton swab and ointment in his hand.
He pointed to the edge of the bed where she was sitting.
"Before applying the medicine, I'll give you a massage to promote blood circulation, the effect will be better."
"Scoot over a bit, I'll sit next to you."
Chu Liuyue didn't suspect anything.
Or perhaps she knew that even if Zhou Yu'an was doing it on purpose, she was happy to see it happen.
She voluntarily moved over to the side.
Just as Zhou Yu'an sat down.
He felt as if something had grabbed his calf.
He froze.
Chu Liuyue looked at him, "What's wrong?"
A subtle expression appeared on Zhou Yu'an's face.
"Wait a moment."
As soon as he finished speaking, he swiftly wrapped his arm around Chu Liuyue's waist and dodged to the side.
With his other hand, he lifted the solid bedside table.
Using all his strength, he smashed it down heavily onto the bed.
He said with absolute certainty:
"Under the bed."
"There's a zombie rat."
