Chapter 46: Yes.

“Uh… it’s past five. Aren’t you… gonna cook?” Yu Baowei’s voice was timid.

Lu Zhao stared, incredulous. After all this, she had the nerve to say that?

Shameless doesn’t even begin to cover it!

Yu Baowei swallowed, knowing her request was a bit much, but… she was hungry.

Clutching her black-stockinged legs, she slumped aside, using her weakest tone to deliver the harshest line. “If you don’t, I’ll dock your pay.”

“…”

Lu Zhao nearly choked, pointing at her, trembling, speechless.

Finally, he stood, gritting his teeth. “Wait there!”

“Hehe.” Yu Baowei smirked inwardly. Such a kind kid.

She knew his patience was purely for Yan Qingxin’s sake.

Otherwise, he could’ve stormed out earlier, and she’d have been helpless.

Tell Yan Qingxin the truth? No way. She disliked Yan Ruyue, but she genuinely liked Qingxin.

Unlike her, Lu Zhao’s mood was far from pleasant.

Nobody likes being blackmailed, and he was certain Zhao Rong had spilled.

But then, doubt crept in. Though they hadn’t interacted much, he didn’t peg her as a gossip.

Know the face, not the heart? She hid it well, then—fitting for someone running a nightclub.

Pots and pans clattered for a while before he brought out the food.

As Yu Baowei moved to sit and eat, he snapped, “Wash your hands. You just touched your feet—don’t you care about hygiene?”

“I didn’t! And…” She curled her stockinged toes, mumbling, “They’re not dirty.”

He didn’t bother arguing, just fixed her with a cold stare.

“Fine, fine, I’ll wash!” Outmatched, she relented.

At the table, Lu Zhao sighed. “What a mess.”

Dinner was quiet. Yu Baowei stole glances at his face.

He’d agreed earlier, even asked for details, but she wanted to hear it again.

“Um…”

He cut her off. “How’re you explaining this to Qingxin? Really hiding it?”

She caught his subtext, her face lighting up. “I… haven’t figured it out. Got heated and… here we are.”

Her irresponsible words made her avoid his gaze, focusing on her rice.

He paused his chopsticks, exhaling heavily. Knew it.

“I suggest you tell Qingxin straight.”

“No way!” She shot up, rejecting it instantly.

Tell her? And lose face?

How would that even go? Hey, Qingxin, lend me your boyfriend for a couple days?

Sounds weird no matter how you slice it.

Lu Zhao got why it was tough. “But if you don’t, how do you explain us disappearing for days?”

“Well… I…”

“I don’t want unnecessary misunderstandings. That’s my condition for helping, Miss Yu.”

His tone left no room for debate, eyes locked on hers.

She lost the stare-down, looking away. “Then… call her over?”

“Only option.”

“What if she says no?”

He wondered that too—what would Yu Baowei do?

But Yan Qingxin didn’t give them the chance.

“Sure.”

She frowned briefly, then said those three simple words.

Lu Zhao was floored—she agreed that easily?

Yu Baowei was equally stunned, her prepared arguments choked back.

“Qingxin, you… I… her?” Lu Zhao stammered, thrown off.

Yan Qingxin sat between them, holding his hand in one, Yu Baowei’s in the other.

“You’re both important to me. If Baby can help, of course I’m okay with it. Plus…” She turned to Yu Baowei, eyes glinting oddly. “Auntie Yu, you wouldn’t have any thoughts about my Baby, right?”

She didn’t look like Yan Ruyue, but in that moment, Yu Baowei saw a hint of her—maybe even sharper.

“Of course! I swear to you, Qingxin, I’ll bring him back safe and sound.”

“Deal, then.”

Lu Zhao sat there, dumbfounded. Just like that? What about my say?

This world’s men can never stand up!

He clenched his fist, but considering the strength gap—Yan Qingxin could pin him with one hand—standing was a pipe dream.

“I’ll head back, then. When are you back?” Yan Qingxin asked.

Yu Baowei stood to see her out. “Two or three days. I’ll take leave from school.”

“Great. Looking forward to good news.” Yan Qingxin smiled as usual.

The door closed, leaving an awkward silence.

Yu Baowei felt it most. If she’d known Yan Qingxin would be so chill, she wouldn’t have threatened Lu Zhao.

Now it was just mutual discomfort.

“Um, Lu Zhao, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… used that thing…” She trailed off.

He didn’t look at her, elbows on knees, chin in hand. “Miss Yu, one question: who told you? Zhao Rong?”

Sensing his irritation, she hurried to explain. “Don’t misunderstand! Little Rong just told me to keep my distance, said your thing with Yan Ruyue was complicated—for my sake. I pieced it together myself.”

Your brain doesn’t match your actions.

“Ha, she’s real concerned for you,” he scoffed.

“She’s good to friends, just… doesn’t always think things through.”

His gaze dropped.

So I’m not her friend. Figures. Why would I be?

Just a toy for these women to toss around.

He knew his place in this world and never expected fairness.

But this? It stung, reminding him how hard it was to find peace here.

“Next time we meet, I’ll make her apologize, okay?”

“No need. She did it for you. Why apologize to me?”

He stood, not glancing at her, and walked out.