Ji Shiyou's head was inside the door, his body outside, watching Mingyue without speaking.
Mingyue turned around, saw it was him, turned back, and continued to look at the ledger.
She was still angry about Ji Shiyou's earlier erratic behavior and really didn't want to talk to him.
Ji Shiyou also remained silent, maintaining his previous posture, staring intently at Mingyue.
"Something wrong?"
After five minutes of stalemate, Mingyue put down the ledger and asked impatiently.
"Yes, yes, it's already noon. I was afraid you'd be hungry.
I came to ask what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you in the kitchen."
Ji Shiyou had a fawning expression, as if he were wagging his tail.
The Ji family members had irregular schedules. They only ate dinner together every day; for breakfast and lunch, whoever was hungry ate.
Ji Shiyou had thrown a tantrum earlier because of Mingyue's words and returned to his bedroom for a deep self-reflection.
Then he worried that Mingyue would be angry with him, so he used lunch as an excuse to find Mingyue to ease the relationship, which was a disguised apology.
"No need. If I'm hungry, I'll tell the kitchen, and they can make whatever I want."
Mingyue turned back and picked up the ledger again, focusing on the accounts.
"I was wrong. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. I apologize!
From now on, I promise I won't yell at you loudly again.
Don't you love sweet and sour pork ribs the most? I'll make them for you right away.
Consider it compensation. Will you forgive me? Please."
Seeing Mingyue like this, Ji Shiyou panicked. She was truly angry with him.
He immediately grabbed Mingyue's arm and, like a grown man, began to act cute and coquettish without regard for his image.
"I'm not angry. You're pretending to be sick now. Would a sick person go to the kitchen to cook?
We only have a contractual relationship. I have no reason to be angry. Mr. Ji, can you let go?
I need to finish reading these ledgers before dinner. Please don't disturb me."
Hearing the first few sentences from Mingyue, Ji Shiyou was secretly pleased, thinking Mingyue was concerned about him.
But as Mingyue said other things, Ji Shiyou's expression became increasingly grim, and he finally let go of Mingyue's hand sheepishly.
He wished he could slap himself. Why couldn't he control himself earlier?
Now, after making some progress, it was back to square one, and he had to start all over again.
It was even worse than when they first met. He could already feel that Mingyue was clearly resisting him.
Ji Shiyou knew he should leave now and not do anything else, or it would be counterproductive.
So he said nothing more, hung his head, and left the study, returning to his room.
Mingyue didn't pay much attention. She spoke her mind, saying whatever she thought.
Besides, what she said was not wrong. Wasn't that the truth of the matter?
Ji Shiyou didn't come downstairs until dinner. Madam Ji sent someone to ask about him. Ji Shiyou said he had no appetite and didn't want to eat.
Madam Ji then had someone send a nourishing soup up to him.
Zhao Xinning and the others looked very pleased to see that Ji Shiyou couldn't even eat.
Mingyue saw this but said nothing. Everyone ate a peaceful dinner with their own thoughts.
Ji Shigong's family also didn't cause any trouble for Mingyue.
After dinner, Mingyue took a walk outside the villa.
After digesting her food, she was about to return to her room when she realized a serious problem awaited her.
That was, there was only one bed in the room. What should she do about sleeping at night? Did she really have to share a bed with Ji Shiyou?
"At worst, I'll sleep on the sofa, or on the floor!"
Mingyue braced herself outside the door, hardened her heart, and opened the door.
Inside, Ji Shiyou was lying on the sofa in the outer room, covered with a blanket, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes.
Seeing Mingyue enter, he proudly turned his head away.
Then he pulled the blanket over his head, like a child throwing a tantrum at his parents.
Mingyue saw that there were pillows and blankets on the sofa. Ji Shiyou was prepared to sleep on the sofa.
Her worries immediately vanished. She went straight into the bedroom and closed the door.
Ji Shiyou, muffled under the blanket on the sofa, waited for a long time, but there was no movement. He lifted the blanket himself.
He didn't see Mingyue's figure and was disappointed, squirming on the sofa in annoyance.
He had racked his brains all afternoon and hadn't even eaten dinner, all to use the same trick again, to play pitiful.
He hoped to salvage his relationship with Mingyue. He thought that since he was so considerate and gave up the bed to sleep on the sofa,
Mingyue would at least be polite to him, and he would decline a few times.
As long as they could communicate, he would act cute again, pretend to be weak as before, and their relationship would be restored.
Who knew that Mingyue completely ignored him, treating him as if he were air.
Ji Shiyou tossed and turned on the sofa, unable to sleep. Suddenly, he heard Mingyue speaking.
He cautiously got up from the sofa, not even daring to put on his slippers, holding his breath.
He tiptoed to the bedroom door and pressed his ear against it.
Ji Shiyou's heart was pounding out of his chest. He had never been so nervous even on a mission.
Mingyue's voice from the room was intermittent, as if she were on the phone.
He heard Mingyue say, "I like you so much," and "See you tomorrow."
Ji Shiyou's head exploded. Mingyue had someone she liked? And she was going to meet him tomorrow.
He returned to the sofa dejectedly, his heart heavy, and didn't sleep all night.
In fact, the person Mingyue was talking to on the phone was Zhe Cheng. He had investigated the backgrounds of Ji Shigong and the others.
This time, he was sensible and didn't dither. Mingyue casually praised him.
She also said she liked people who were efficient and arranged to meet him tomorrow to get the information. Then Mingyue went to sleep.
Mingyue slept soundly. After waking up and having breakfast, she informed Madam Ji and left.
"So exciting. The bride is cheating on the third day of marriage.
Brother, this is the first time I've caught someone cheating in my life. I've always been the one caught before.
I'm very curious, what does the lover look like?
He can make Mingyue give up on you, the dream lover of the capital's young ladies, and be so infatuated with him.
She's cheating right after getting married.
It seems like you're just not good enough. Otherwise, should I give you a thorough check?"
Jun Hui drove, with Ji Shiyou sitting beside him, constantly making sarcastic remarks.
His eyes would occasionally glance at Ji Shiyou's lower body, and he would pout.
"Stop the car!"
Ji Shiyou's face was ashen, and he said through gritted teeth, unable to bear it any longer.
If he weren't pretending to be sick now and couldn't go out without reason,
He wouldn't need Jun Hui to pick him up, using the excuse of going for a follow-up check-up at the hospital to track Mingyue.
He wouldn't have to endure this guy's ridicule and insults. But as Jun Hui became more and more excessive, he decided he couldn't stand it anymore.
"What? Are you going to lose her? What are you going to do? Huh!"
Jun Hui stopped the car as instructed, not yet understanding the situation, when Ji Shiyou kicked him out.
Ji Shiyou got into the driver's seat, closed the door, and sped away.
Leaving the self-inflicted Jun Hui in a daze in the wind.
The place Mingyue arranged to meet Zhe Cheng was a coffee shop with a quiet environment and few customers, suitable for discussing matters.
When Mingyue arrived, Zhe Cheng was already waiting. Seeing Mingyue enter, he immediately stood up to greet her.
Ji Shiyou followed closely and entered the coffee shop, finding a secluded corner to sit down.
He saw the young man help Mingyue with her coat, pull out her chair, and attend to her meticulously.
Even with physical contact, Mingyue didn't resist. The two seemed very familiar.
At this moment, Zhe Cheng sat down in his seat, and Ji Shiyou saw his full face.
"It's him?"
Ji Shiyou, his heart churning with jealousy, was shocked.