Chapter 46: The Devil’s Claws Under the Dining Table
Wang Shanshan turned to Zhou Yang. “I’m grabbing water. Want anything?”
He thought for a moment. “Cola.”
She nodded, gave Lin Xiaoxiao a glance, and left.
Left alone with Zhou Yang, Lin Xiaoxiao felt nervous despite her preparation. “What do you want to talk about? Just here to mess with my date? Still hung up on Shanshan?” he asked, suspicious.
Her forehead twitched. “Seriously, you’re still on about that? I just have a question.”
He dropped his playful demeanor, spreading his hands. “Go ahead.”
She scratched her cheek, hesitant. “We’re friends, right?”
“If you’re not plotting revenge for the girlfriend thing, yeah, we’re friends.”
Lin Xiaoxiao: …
Could she say sleeping with his dad wasn’t about revenge? No way he’d believe that…
She coughed. “No way, I’m not that petty.”
“But since we’re friends, if one day your friend told you a small, well-meaning lie, would you forgive them?”
He blinked, squinting, then said firmly, “No.”
She gaped, exasperated. “How am I supposed to continue with that answer?”
He shrugged. “If it’s a well-meaning lie, keep it hidden. Everyone’s happy.”
She was speechless, unable to argue. But a lie like this couldn’t stay buried forever—the truth would surface eventually.
Taking a deep breath to speak, she was interrupted by Wang Shanshan’s return, holding three bottles of water.
“Here’s your cola,” she said, handing it to Zhou Yang, then offering Lin Xiaoxiao a soda water.
Before she could react, Zhou Yang snatched it. “We’re done here. Shanshan and I have a date.”
He led Wang Shanshan away.
Lin Xiaoxiao’s lips twitched. Just his girlfriend’s water, and he’s that jealous?
She didn’t dwell on it. Xin Wan was the real ticking time bomb. But as she turned to leave, Zhou Yang glanced back, his expression complex.
“What’s wrong?” Wang Shanshan asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
The next day, Lin Xiaoxiao, as usual, rubbed her chest, then sulked.
She’d researched after becoming a girl—how could her chest still be growing past puberty? It was nearly past an A cup…
She suspected the system, but it denied everything.
Helpless, she hid her features more carefully.
After washing up, she applied concealer to cover the marks Zhou Ting left on her skin—old ones barely faded before new ones appeared.
He didn’t just enjoy the act; he loved leaving marks. Like a dog…
Grumbling inwardly, she left her room to make breakfast for three.
After days of this, she knew their sandwich and bread preferences—Zhou Ting liked peanut butter, Zhou Yang liked ketchup…
Soon, Zhou Ting emerged, burying his face in her neck, inhaling deeply, his voice lazy. “Smells good…”
Her face warmed, feeling his messy hair like a ruffled wolf. She giggled. “Go wash up. You look like a mess.”
He shrugged. “You’ve seen me worse. This is nothing.”
Still, he tidied up, then helped carry the toasted bread to the table.
“Should I call Zhou Yang?” she offered, noting he wasn’t up.
He shook his head. “Don’t bother. He was up late again—won’t rise before noon.”
She nodded, unsurprised. Despite their distant dynamic, they knew each other’s habits well.
They sat to eat breakfast, at least she did. Zhou Ting watched her savor her bread with such contentment, making his own seem tasteless.
His eyes gleamed with an idea, and his mischievous hand moved.
Lin Xiaoxiao was eating happily when a hand landed on her leg, nearly startling her into a reflex.
She glared, mouth full, mumbling, “L-let go…”
He toyed with her soft foot, calm. “Eat. I’m not doing anything.”
Her gaze grew resentful. Not doing anything? You’re already doing it!*
Thankfully, he kept his word, only playing with her foot, nothing more.
Still, eating breakfast while an “uncle” fondled her foot felt… weird.
Then he spoke. “Oh, it’s that kid’s birthday today, isn’t it?”
She blinked, surprised. “Really?”
He nodded, thinking. “Little one, buy extra groceries tonight. Make dinner special for his birthday.”
But he backtracked. “Or we could eat out to save you the trouble.”
For some reason, she blurted, “Let’s cook at home…”