The Entanglement Between Cen Yao and Shao Xichen

He held her waist firmly with one hand and cupped the back of her head with the other, kissing her deeply...

When she woke up the next day, a wave of pain struck her brain, and Cen Yao felt as if her body had fallen apart.

Shao Xichen had woken up at some point, acting as if nothing had happened, and had even prepared breakfast.

He was always so unpredictable, making it hard to figure him out.

However, regarding last night's events, Cen Yao felt it necessary to express her feelings.

"I didn't like it last night."

"I won't do it again." He agreed readily.

"In the future, you don't need to do things like cooking. I don't like owing others, nor do I like being indebted to them. If either party is dissatisfied in this relationship, we both have the right to stop it at any time, do you understand?"

She wondered what she should do to compensate, considering someone else was doing her laundry and cooking. Irrespective of emotions, it was just a physical need, and she didn't want to complicate matters that were originally simple.

Shao Xichen subtly frowned; he remembered her as someone who wouldn't say such things.

"Is that really how you think?"

"Yes."

Wasn't he the same? She had just said what he wanted to express.

"Cen Yao, I'm not like this with anyone else."

"Oh." Did she have to feel grateful that Shao Xichen even looked at her?

Shao Xichen wanted to continue the argument, but seeing Cen Yao's indifferent expression, he dismissed the thought. He feared that even if he explained himself thoroughly, she wouldn't listen now.

In her heart, she had already labeled him as someone who was casual with his affections.

Cen Yao skipped breakfast and went back to bed for a nap.

She thought that after waking up, Shao Xichen would have left, but when she woke up again, she found him standing by the balcony on the phone.

He was communicating fluently in English, seemingly discussing work matters.

The setting sun's glow filtered through the glass window, blending perfectly with his flawless profile; this man had enough charm to drive the opposite sex wild.

Cen Yao was somewhat absent-minded, not realizing until he hung up that he had been watching her.

"I thought you'd sleep until afternoon, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" His long fingers gently tousled her messy hair.

"Why haven't you left yet?" He didn't seem like someone with nothing to do. If he had work, he should go and attend to it; what was he doing lingering here?

"What would you like to eat? I'll make it." After getting to know Cen Yao through these interactions, he had figured out her temperament; she was a typical person who was soft-hearted but not easily pushed around.

Some things couldn't be communicated, so he decided to bypass them.

"No need," Cen Yao started to say, "I'm not..." before she could finish the word "hungry," her stomach protested uncooperatively.

Shao Xichen's lips curled slightly, "I see there's some curry sauce left in the fridge, how about making some curry chicken rice?"

Without waiting for Cen Yao's response, he had rolled up his sleeves and gone into the kitchen.

Cen Yao swore she didn't want to be bought over so quickly, but the stakes he offered were too high.

After devouring a full plate of curry chicken rice, she nodded contentedly.

It was rare to see such an adorable side of her.

Adhering to the principle of reciprocity, after the meal, Cen Yao took the initiative to clean the dishes and even swept the floor, silently declaring herself the mistress of the house.

Satisfied after eating and drinking, Shao Xichen had an impromptu video conference to attend, so he closed the door and went to the bedroom.

Cen Yao, on the other hand, cuddled up on the sofa with her tablet, drawing. She turned on the TV without watching the screen, just listening to the sound.

She always felt conflicted; she liked being alone but was afraid of being too quiet around her.

When she finished a drawing, Shao Xichen also came out of the bedroom.

Although he didn't understand painting, anything that looked pleasing to the eye should be good, and Cen Yao's drawings were very pleasing to look at.

"I remember you liked these things in high school, why didn't you apply to art schools later on?"

Cen Yao's brush suddenly stopped, clutched tightly.

Because that year her family fell apart, because she didn't have the ability to support herself to study what she loved, because she needed to survive.

Such a realistic issue, the cruelty of fate had left her defeated.

"Not all likes will necessarily be fulfilled."

Cen Yao's eyes were clear as she slowly raised her head to look directly into the man's obsidian-like eyes, her stubborn little face was heartbreakingly endearing.

Some things can only be understood by experiencing them firsthand; they are indescribable to others. If even basic needs are a problem, what's the point of talking about dreams.

"Even if the final result is not satisfactory, you should still try, right?" He suddenly threw her onto the sofa, his deep voice revealing an undeniable heat.

"Don't look at anyone else with that kind of gaze in the future, understand?" Not just men, but women either.

"You..." Cen Yao instinctively dodged, clearly knowing what this meant.

Her beautiful eyes fluttered, as if frightened, obviously still wary of last night's events.

"Be good..."

On Monday morning, while Shao Xichen was still asleep, Cen Yao opened her eyes first. She tiptoed out of bed to brush her teeth, put her hair up, and applied some makeup.

When she came out of the bathroom, Shao Xichen was putting on his clothes with his upper body bare.

She immediately turned around, but then thought it was somewhat redundant; they had already slept together, so there was no need to pretend now.

Then she changed into her clothes as if he weren't there, and even asked him to help her zip up her dress.

"Are you going to work today too?"

"Mhm, is there a problem?"

Cen Yao thought he was busy with other work and wouldn't go back to his job.

"What? Don't you want me to go."

"No." She really didn't want Shao Xichen to go, as it would save her from the awkwardness of seeing him again, but of course, she wouldn't admit such thoughts.

Shao Xichen had an expression as if he knew everything, and there was no intention of exposing her.

He took out a new tie and handed it directly to Cen Yao.

"As a thank-you for helping me zip up."

Cen Yao really didn't know how to tie a tie well; after struggling for half a day and straining her arm, she still hadn't tied it properly.

"Can you bend down a bit?"

Shao Xichen was obedient and lowered his head a bit. Instantly, their eyes met, and their lips were less than a centimeter apart, with a warm breath hitting her face.

Shao Xichen frowned, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his arms. He pinned one of her wrists behind her back and leaned down to kiss her, inch by inch, devouring her beauty.

Twenty minutes later, Cen Yao finally managed to tie his tie for him. It was crooked and ugly, but since Shao Xichen himself was satisfied, she didn't say much.

They left home a bit late and didn't have time to prepare breakfast, so Shao Xichen bought some sandwiches and hot milk from a convenience store they passed by.