“So that’s how it is.”
Quick as a flash, Zhu Liuyue stuck out her chopsticks and snatched back the other untouched chicken leg from his plate.
She took a bite and smiled, her eyes curving with amusement. “Mm. Things really do taste better when you steal them.”
Ye Yunche puffed out his cheeks, brimming with indignation. He was just about to say something when the phone in Zhu Liuyue’s pocket rang.
The caller ID read: Ye Yunjin.
She was about to answer when an unfriendly glint flashed in the amber eyes across from her.
A hand reached over and jabbed the red decline button on the screen. His fingertip brushed hers, carrying a faint, dry warmth.
The call was disconnected.
“What are you doing?” Zhu Liuyue looked up at him.
Ye Yunche withdrew his hand without changing expression. As he did, his fingertip seemingly grazed the back of the hand holding her phone.
He said matter-of-factly, “Who calls someone while they’re having dinner? A man that clingy isn’t worth keeping.”
A smile played at the corner of Zhu Liuyue’s lips. “That man is your brother.”
Ye Yunche nodded solemnly. “Exactly. I’m putting family first.”
As he spoke, the phone rang again.
This time, afraid Ye Yunche would interfere again, Zhu Liuyue tapped the answer button first.
Ye Yunjin’s warm, gentle voice came through. “Liuyue, have you eaten?”
Zhu Liuyue glanced at Ye Yunche across from her. He was sitting there with his ears practically perked up, pretending to casually gnaw on a chicken leg while his gaze kept drifting toward her phone.
So she deliberately made her voice sound a little more relaxed.
“Mm, I just got to the cafeteria. What about you?”
“I’m working late at the office, but I’ve already had my assistant order takeout. I’m calling you during my break.”
“Don’t work too hard. There’s always more work to do, but your health comes first.”
“Mm. Actually…” His voice softened. “I miss you.”
His volume was neither loud nor quiet, but Ye Yunche, sitting right across from her, heard every word.
The amber in his eyes darkened.
Goosebumps rose all over him. Was this really his workaholic older brother? The man sounded disgustingly mushy whenever he said something romantic.
A smile curved Zhu Liuyue’s lips, and she replied openly, “I miss you too. I’ll be back in a week.”
Ye Yunche’s face turned livid, and a muffled snort escaped his throat.
After that, whatever mushy things Zhu Liuyue and Ye Yunjin said, he didn’t hear a word. He gnawed viciously at his chicken leg as if taking out his frustration on it.
One wasn’t enough. His gaze landed on the chicken leg Zhu Liuyue had already bitten into. His chopsticks darted out and snatched it back.
He silently finished the entire thing.
By the time Zhu Liuyue ended the call, she looked at the two clean chicken bones on his tray.
She fell silent.
“…That was my chicken leg.”
Ye Yunche wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth. “I know.”
“I’d already bitten into it.” Zhu Liuyue frowned slightly, looking troubled.
Ye Yunche glanced up at her. A glint flashed through his amber eyes—whether it was provocation or something else, she couldn’t tell.
“I don’t mind your saliva.”
Zhu Liuyue cut him off. “Ye Yunche, watch what you say. That’s very easy to misunderstand.”
He leaned slightly toward her. Under the cafeteria lights, his sharply defined features looked especially clear, and his voice was light and cheerful.
“If you misunderstand me, then that’s even better.”
With that, he picked up both trays and turned toward the collection counter.
Zhu Liuyue hurried to her feet. “What are you doing? I haven’t finished eating!”
Ye Yunche didn’t even look back.
“It wasn’t good. I’m taking you somewhere better. Come on.”
When he turned around, he took hold of her wrist without giving her a chance to object.
The pad of his finger pressed lightly against the inside of her wrist, where the skin was thin and soft enough for her to clearly feel the warmth of his palm.
His grip was just firm enough to keep her from pulling free, but not so tight that it hurt.
Zhu Liuyue was forced to follow him for several steps. The heat at her wrist spread all the way up her forearm.
She struggled a little. “You brat, what are you doing? I’m your—”
Ye Yunche turned his head to look at her. His lips came close to her ear, near enough that his breath brushed the wisps of hair at her temple.
“Even if you were my great-grandmother, it wouldn’t matter tonight. You’re coming with me.”
The two of them crossed the grounds in the fading light, passed around the teaching buildings, and followed the path toward the back hill, step by step.
The evening breeze swept through the woods, carrying the scent of earth and greenery.
Ye Yunche walked ahead, never once releasing her wrist.
When they reached a somewhat steep slope, he slowed and looked back at her with a hint of pride. Then he pointed ahead.
The setting sun had tinted the horizon a romantic pale pink. The formerly bare branches on either side of the path were wrapped in tiny glowing fairy lights, their warm yellow radiance flickering through the dusk.
In the clearing at the center stood a white camping table with two matching chairs. Fruit and desserts were arranged neatly across the tabletop.
Beside them was a barbecue grill still giving off steam, filling the air with the fragrance of cumin and chili powder.
Ye Yunche released her hand.
He took half a step back, planted his hands on his hips, and lifted his chin proudly. “Late-night snacks.”
Zhu Liuyue glanced at the table laden with food. “I haven’t even finished dinner, and you dragged me here for a midnight snack?”
Despite what she said, she still pulled out a camping chair and sat down.
Ye Yunche took the chair diagonally across from her and pointed to the steaming skewers.
“Eat up. I had them sent up from the foot of the hill especially for you.”
Zhu Liuyue picked up a beef skewer and took a bite.
Ye Yunche leaned slightly forward, both hands braced on his knees. The glow of the fairy lights reflected in his amber eyes.
His gaze remained fixed on her chewing, never looking away.
“Well? It’s good, right?”
“It is good, but the setup, the fairy lights…” Zhu Liuyue pointed toward the flickering lights on the nearby trees. “What’s all this for?”
Ye Yunche’s back stiffened unconsciously.
His gaze drifted from her face to the box of neatly cut mangoes on the table. A faint blush quietly spread across the tips of his ears.
His fingers rubbed absently at the edge of the tablecloth. He rubbed it, released it, then rubbed it again.
“When I talked to you in the infirmary last time, did you hear me?”
Zhu Liuyue pretended not to understand. “I didn’t hear anything.”
Ye Yunche tugged at his cheeks in frustration. “How could you not? You obviously knew what I was talking about.”
Zhu Liuyue’s eyes curved as she took her time chewing a piece of fruit. With her mouth still full, she asked, “What were you talking about?”
She was deliberately teasing him.
She wanted him to say it again.
Ye Yunche drew a deep breath, his chest rising and falling several times.
Then he abruptly rose from his chair, walked around the camping table, and stopped less than half a step in front of her.
His shadow fell over her from above, enveloping her completely in darkness.
