Chapter 18: Playing Dumb

Yun Buran couldn’t even feel embarrassed anymore—she only felt a deep sense of defeat. Her figure wasn’t bad; everything was just right: curves in all the right places, moderate and forming a graceful silhouette. But maybe against Su Nian’s cool, flawless face, no figure mattered at all.

Yun Buran shifted her perspective. ‘He clearly cares about me, that’s why he told me to change before going out. Win!’

She changed into a little white dress with subtle patterns. Looking at Su Nian waiting at the door, she felt enveloped by happiness.

He was in her home, waiting for her to change clothes, then going out to buy groceries with her. It almost felt like he belonged to her.

Su Nian and Yun Buran left together, and it was Su Nian who led her to the vegetable market near her house. This made Yun Buran extremely awkward.

“I just need mapo tofu.”

Having bought the tofu and basic seasonings, the dazed girl was ready to leave.

“Aren’t I eating too? How can I only cook one dish?”

Su Nian felt a forehead full of black lines, especially since there was a panting cat beside him constantly reciting dish names.

“Hmm? Su Nian, it’s your deskmate’s scent.”

Xiali suddenly said.

“Is she close?”

“We’ll meet soon.”

Su Nian glanced at the cheerful Yun Buran beside him and thought for a moment.

He decided not to send Yun Buran away. An Hexi would definitely come over to greet them. Last time they met, he’d brushed off both sides casually. This time, An Hexi would surely figure out their relationship, and Yun Buran would likely explode.

But Su Nian had always hated the approach of running away.

“Su Nian, do you want some blueberries?”

“Su Nian? And senior?”

Just as Yun Buran was about to buy fruit and show off the bargaining skills she’d learned from Su Nian, An Hexi appeared carrying a canvas bag.

“Oh, what a coincidence. We’re buying groceries too.”

Su Nian spoke calmly first. After all, this wasn’t quite a love battlefield.

“Oh, okay. Then I won’t disturb you two.”

An Hexi forced a smile. She didn’t ask anything more and prepared to turn and leave.

“Want to join us?”

Su Nian knew she must have misunderstood. An Hexi was a kind, good girl. Even if she misunderstood, she wouldn’t gossip. So she planned to leave just like that. That would be most beneficial for his approach and would keep Yun Buran settled for a while.

But there was no need to make this little deskmate suffer such grievances.

“Huh?”

An Hexi was a slightly clever girl. She knew that if Su Nian said that, she must have misunderstood their relationship.

But Yun Buran, who had been silent, moved. Seizing the moment, she stepped forward and tightly hugged Su Nian’s arm.

“But you promised to stay with me.”

Yun Buran said pitifully.

She knew her feelings were an open book, so she gambled.

“Yun Buran.”

Su Nian only called her full name for the first time, but his tone wasn’t what she wanted.

She bit her lip, reluctantly and reluctantly, slowly letting go.

She had to gamble. This small act of impulsive jealousy wouldn’t make Su Nian pursue it too much.

But she had already gotten what she wanted. She read his mind fiercely.

Su Nian didn’t like the cute girl in front of him named An Hexi, but he didn’t like her either.

“Su Nian, forget it. I’m done shopping. Let’s go together another time.”

An Hexi said understandingly. Though she was completely confused, she didn’t want to cause trouble for Su Nian.

“Okay.”

Su Nian watched An Hexi leave, then turned to Yun Buran with a cold face. “If there’s a next time, we’re done.”

“Is she that important to you?”

Yun Buran said as tears kept flowing, drawing the attention of people around them. Half of it was indeed jealousy and disappointment, but half was an act.

“I just really don’t like others having close physical contact with me. It has nothing to do with her.”

Su Nian’s tone softened.

“Why?”

“If I didn’t care about that, guess what my life would be like?”

Su Nian said as he pulled out a tissue for her. It’s best not to say too much when lying; let the other person fill in the blanks themselves.

“Let’s go, little crybaby.”

Su Nian grabbed the edge of Yun Buran’s sleeve and quickly left.

“She definitely did that on purpose.”

Xiali said confidently in the kitchen.

“Oh? So you’re not stupid?”

“Huh? I’m the demon who understands love best now!”

Xiali was very confident in her high-intensity internet surfing.

“Need any help?”

Yun Buran changed back into her little spaghetti strap top and bounced happily into the kitchen. This time she was wearing a white kitten apron, and she had bought a black one for Su Nian too.

This was the reward for her tears just now. Though thinking about crying in front of a junior was embarrassing now, discovering that he couldn’t resist a girl’s tears was another big gain.

“I’ll teach you the basics: washing vegetables, cutting them, and rinsing the rice.”

Cooking for the first time with the opposite sex could become a very happy and unforgettable memory.

But she had already been kicked out for not being able to help.

Her kitchen had a sliding door design, so she leaned against the sofa backwards, contentedly staring at Su Nian’s back—a figure busy for her.

If her future could always be like this, she felt she could swallow all the bitterness in the world.

Long hours of sneaky watching didn’t make her space out. As soon as he finished, she ran in to help serve the dishes and rice.

Su Nian still didn’t want to bother too much, so he casually made a few home-style dishes: mapo tofu, shredded pork with sauce, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and cabbage and tofu soup.

But Yun Buran felt this was more appetizing than any high-end restaurant she’d been to with her mother.

Who wouldn’t want to sit in front of Su Nian, look at his face, and wolf down a meal he made for you?

After the meal, Yun Buran took the initiative to clear the table and wash the dishes, determined to show she wasn’t a useless rich girl.

Su Nian just quietly scrolled through videos on the sofa. Yun Buran found it rare—this was the first time she’d seen Su Nian relaxing. But what she didn’t know was that the one swiping to the next video was a smelly cat in Su Nian’s arms.

After washing up, Yun Buran quickly washed some fruit and brought it out.

Before Su Nian could speak, she added that she still had a few problems she didn’t understand.

But unfortunately, the boy disappointed her again.

“I have to go.”

If Su Nian hadn’t waited politely for her to finish the dishes, he would have left long ago. It was already dark. Besides saving the world, he had his own life.

“Can’t you stay…”

Yun Buran looked at Su Nian with a pitiful expression, trying to squeeze out a few tears.

“You only have one bedroom!”

Su Nian rolled his eyes. Guys really have to protect themselves at all times.

“If you do well on next week’s Joint Examination, I’ll grant you one small wish.”

“Okay!”

Yun Buran nodded contentedly.

Su Nian felt helpless. He had wanted the girl to use jealousy as motivation, but he hadn’t expected her to fall so fast, completely making him the motivation instead.

But Su Nian was still satisfied. He could roughly guess why the original Yun Buran had struggled and been jealous of others. He hoped Yun Buran could live a little happier.

Su Nian refused Yun Buran’s offer to see him off. So Yun Buran could only stand on the balcony, using the moon in the sky to search for the moon in her heart.

Actually, after confirming that Su Nian didn’t like her one bit, she had doubted. Based on Su Nian’s words, she couldn’t see the logic behind his actions.

But she wouldn’t ask. Even if it harmed her, she would do it willingly.

Just like she wouldn’t ask what that dark figure on Su Nian was when she cried today.

Because Yun Buran liked Su Nian.