The Chaste Boss's Heartwarming Care

After sleeping, she opened her eyes to find it was already bright outside.

Shao Xichen was on the phone in the living room, speaking in a low voice, as if discussing something important.

Noticing the footsteps behind him, he quickly wrapped up the call.

"That will do for today."

"Why are you still here?" Cen Yao was curious. Why hadn't he left last night? Had he stayed specifically to take care of her?

"Does your stomach still hurt?"

Cen Yao was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously shook her head.

"There's not much food in the fridge, so I made something simple."

Cen Yao had little appetite, but she ate a few bites out of politeness. As for last night's events, both chose to remain silent.

For the entire day off, Shao Xichen stayed there.

He seemed very busy, constantly on the phone. Apart from meals, there was little interaction between them.

Cen Yao looked around; the floor had been swept clean, and even the clothes she had changed out of the day before had been washed and hung out to dry on the balcony.

Every time Shao Xichen visited, he not only prepared three meals a day but also took the initiative to clean and even took care of laundry.

If they didn't have this unsavory relationship, he would be the perfect candidate for her ideal boyfriend.

Cen Yao was lost in her own thoughts, unaware of when Shao Xichen sat down beside her.

"Go change, let's go out together."

Cen Yao lazily moved her body, "Where to?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

Unwillingly, she couldn't resist him and was dragged out the door.

From these two visits to Cen Yao's place, Shao Xichen realized how careless her lifestyle was, especially regarding meals.

A person who doesn't take eating seriously wouldn't take good care of themselves.

"Do you have any favorite foods?" Shao Xichen pushed the shopping cart with one hand, holding Cen Yao's hand tightly with the other, as if afraid she would get lost.

Looking at the dazzling array of fresh ingredients, Cen Yao broke free from Shao Xichen's hand and walked towards the ready-made food section.

She grabbed a few bags of frozen dumplings and some canned goods, casually tossing them into the cart.

Turning back to look at Shao Xichen, her expression seemed to say she had finished choosing.

"These are enough."

Eating was just a step to maintain her energy, so what she ate didn't matter.

Shao Xichen was dissatisfied and immediately put the items Cen Yao had chosen back where they belonged.

"Eating these often, how can your body get proper nutrition?" No wonder she felt so light when he touched her.

She had resorted to eating these, so she had no time to consider whether they were good for her health.

She was usually very busy with work, and on rest days, she just wanted to lie in bed and rest, or go to the sanatorium to take care of Ningning.

Cooking was purely a luxury for her.

"I only know how to make ready-made food."

Shao Xichen sighed, rubbing her head forcefully, deliberately messing up her hair.

Cen Yao turned her head away, glaring at him.

Anyone watching would think they were a couple in the throes of romance.

Shao Xichen was skilled at selecting ingredients, and in no time, the shopping cart was piled high like a small mountain.

Cen Yao followed behind, unable to contribute.

"Do you know how to cook all these dishes?" Cen Yao asked curiously, looking at the strange ingredients in the cart.

"Mhm."

His appearance didn't suggest he could cook; it was hard to associate him with a kitchen full of cooking smells.

Moreover, with his family background, there should be plenty of servants and chefs at home, so why would he need to cook himself?

Could it be a personal hobby?

"When I was on missions abroad, if conditions allowed, everyone would gather to cook together," he explained.

Cen Yao suddenly remembered this; perhaps helping her clean and wash clothes was also due to habits formed in the past.

When it was time to pay, Cen Yao offered to pay, but Shao Xichen stopped her.

"I don't have the habit of letting a woman pay."

Moreover, Cen Yao couldn't even help carry the groceries; for the first time, she felt like a mere decoration.

A few hundred yuan wasn't a big deal, so Cen Yao didn't dwell on it.

However, this feeling was strangely pleasant.

Back home, Shao Xichen went straight to the kitchen with the groceries.

But he soon emerged with wet hands.

"Help me roll up my sleeves."

Cen Yao was indifferent.

Looking up at Shao Xichen, she reluctantly stepped forward to roll up his sleeves.

She remembered her mother used to like her father to roll up his sleeves when cooking...

The happiness she once thought she had was actually a disguise.

Even loving someone could be faked; what else could be real?

"What do you want to eat?"

Meeting those obsidian-like eyes again, a fleeting sense of loss flashed in Cen Yao's eyes, and she shook her head, "I'm not hungry."

She curled up on the sofa to watch TV, her eyes fixed on the screen, but her mind was elsewhere. She didn't pay attention to what was playing on TV.

Shao Xichen didn't mind, assuming she was being polite.

Soon, a table full of delicious-looking dishes was served.

"Come and eat."

"I said I'm not hungry."

Shao Xichen frowned and, without further ado, forced her onto a stool.

"I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. During the days I'm away, you must eat on time. I've prepared meals for you in the fridge. You must finish them within three days, or throw them away if you don't."

Cen Yao looked up and nonchalantly replied with an "Oh."

They had no relationship, so he didn't need to report everything to her. As for whether she ate on time, that was none of his business.

"Don't flirt with anyone at work."

Flirt? When had she ever flirted with anyone?

She found it somewhat inexplicable but didn't argue.

His mature tone was reminiscent of her parents' earnest advice against early dating.

She really wasn't hungry, but the aroma made her suddenly hungry, and she finished the rice in her bowl.

After eating, she took the initiative to clear the dishes, after all, this was her home, yet she felt like a guest.

She didn't like this passive feeling, as if she was always being led by this man.

"I'll wash the dishes," she emphasized.