Chapter 64: Shen Yan Is Ill

He was quite curious: if he truly couldn’t make it through, what would happen to this woman?
“Aren’t you suspicious of me?” Ye Yao looked directly at Shen Yan.
As soon as something happened, the matriarch of the Shen family and Qin Miao had wasted no time in casting blame on her.
Yet since they’d met, Shen Yan hadn’t mentioned it once.
“Was it you?” Shen Yan asked, almost as a formality.
“Yes,” Ye Yao admitted.
“Oh,” Shen Yan replied, dismissively.
Both of them were clever—naturally, they understood who was really behind it.
Seeing his calm, indifferent demeanor, Ye Yao couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you upset? Poisoned by the one you love?”
“The one I love?”
Who?
Qin Miao?
Ye Yao raised her brows, saying nothing.
“It’s alright. Just a life, after all.”
Shen Yan suddenly thought of something, and blurted out such a remark.
He said it without much thought, but it made Ye Yao’s heart tremble fiercely. She felt she must be ill.
Shen Yan was willing to give his life to Qin Miao—so what right did she, merely an onlooker, have to interfere? Why bother at all?
The situation was clear enough; Ye Yao saw no need to stay any longer.
She walked toward the door, but was stopped, “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Through the door?”
“What, should I leave through the window?”
It was the tenth floor—one misstep, and she’d be done for.
“I was rather interested in seeing your climbing skills,” Shen Yan mocked.
Leaving so soon? Was she only here to check if he was dead or alive?
He couldn’t help but start to believe what she’d said.
Was she really just afraid he’d blame the plate of peppers?
“You won’t see it.”
With that, Ye Yao gave a contemptuous smile and opened the door.
The bodyguards at the door were startled to see her, then exchanged baffled glances.
Even though they all wore sunglasses, Ye Yao could easily imagine their confusion.
She walked away briskly.
The purpose of concealing the news was to make Ye Yao anxious and worried; now that the goal was achieved, Shen Yan had no need to stay hospitalized.
He was discharged, and using the same excuse, had Ye Yao come and cook for him.
Ye Yao agreed.
Although the herbs she had given Shen Yan had neutralized some of the poison, they still caused damage to his body.
His stomach was already weak, and now he’d put it through even more torment—her earlier efforts had essentially been in vain.

For safety’s sake, Ye Yao had grown neurotic; before eating with Shen Yan, she would test the food with a silver needle.
Only after confirming it was safe would she eat.
Shen Yan watched her, barely able to suppress his laughter, increasingly charmed by her inexplicably.
Ye Yao glared at him. “If not for your enemies causing trouble for those around you, would I need to be so cautious?”
“Are you so afraid I’ll die?”
“I’m afraid you’ll drag me down with you.” Ye Yao sat down and began to eat.
“You’ll wash the dishes afterward.”
“What?” Shen Yan frowned.
“Is there a problem? I cook for you every day, care for your health, and I still have to wash the dishes? You really are shameless in enjoying my care,” Ye Yao said sarcastically.
Before, Ye Yao had thought she’d just help him recover for a few days and be done with it, not wanting to bother with all this.
But with Shen Yan’s current condition, it seemed it would take much longer.
If that was the case, they might as well divide the labor.
“We could have the housekeeper wash them.”
“I think so too. Might as well have her cook as well—I’ll teach her thoroughly,” Ye Yao replied with a harmless smile.
When Shen Yan’s stomach first became an issue, she’d suggested having the housekeeper look after him.
He had adamantly refused, claiming he didn’t want strangers in the house.
Now that Shen Yan relented, Ye Yao wouldn’t let the opportunity slip by.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Shen Yan quickly changed his mind, “Alright, I’ll wash.”
“Good.”
Ye Yao gave a gesture, smiling triumphantly without restraint.
After the meal, afraid Shen Yan might go back on his word, she watched as he went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Looking at the dishes in the sink, Shen Yan’s brows furrowed uncontrollably.
Seeing him turn around, Ye Yao immediately spoke up, “Mr. Shen, if you really can’t manage, the housekeeper can do it.”
“She can not only wash the dishes, but cook as well.”
Ye Yao thought the world had gone mad.
Clearly, Shen Yan had threatened her, yet she could use it to strike back.
Seeing Shen Yan so deflated, Ye Yao was delighted.
“I’m just getting the detergent,” Shen Yan said coldly.
“Alright,” Ye Yao replied, unembarrassed.
Shen Yan spent half an hour washing, moving slowly and elegantly.
He was a neat freak; every dish was scrubbed until it gleamed before he set it down.
Ye Yao watched for half an hour, feeling that assigning Shen Yan this chore was a wise decision.
“Not bad. From now on, you’ll do the dishes,” Ye Yao inspected his work.
With that, she headed upstairs. “Your place is close to the Ye Group, so I’ll stay in the guest room for now.”
She wasn’t shy about it.
She was the one running back and forth; why not make the better choice?
Shen Yan was momentarily stunned, not expecting Ye Yao to arrange things this way.
Then, his lips curled up involuntarily.

This was a good sign—it meant things were moving in a positive direction between them.
Ye Yao found her old clothes to change into.
She emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying her hair, and saw Shen Yan.
She didn’t object.
After all, it was pointless—this entire house belonged to Shen Yan, he could enter whenever he pleased.
But next time, she’d lock the door.
“What is it?” Ye Yao sat at her vanity, drying her hair.
“I’m bored. Just taking a walk.”
“A walk?” Ye Yao glanced at him through the mirror, seeing through him but saying nothing.
Shen Yan—utterly absurd.
Ye Yao ignored him, quietly drying her hair.
Suddenly, Shen Yan came over and snatched the hairdryer from her hands.
“Are you having another episode?”
“You’re getting water everywhere drying your hair.”
“So?”
The next moment, Shen Yan turned on the hairdryer and began drying her hair for her.
Ye Yao had given up; since Shen Yan insisted, she let him do it.
It saved her some effort.
Ye Yao looked at the messages in their small group chat.
After things became public, Gu Yancheng had returned to his lively, cheerful self, sharing amusing things in the group every day.
Ye Yao read them, feeling deeply engaged, and her lips unconsciously curved upward.
Suddenly, she let out a shrill scream, “Ah… Shen Yan, what are you doing? Are you trying to burn me?”
Turning her head, she saw Shen Yan’s dark face as he threw the hairdryer onto the bed.
“You still want me to dry your hair?”
He was drying her hair, and she was smiling at another man’s daily anecdotes?
She wasn’t even trying to hide it from him!
With that, Shen Yan turned and left.
Ye Yao truly thought he was sick—changing moods at a moment’s notice.
She ruffled her hair, cursed under her breath, and continued drying her hair while scrolling through the group messages.
She could tell Gu Yancheng genuinely enjoyed his work; everything he shared was thoughtful and earnest.
Ye Yao finished drying her hair, pulled back the covers, and lay down. Before sleep, she couldn’t help but curse Shen Yan for his behavior.
Lunatic!
After venting, she closed her eyes, pulled the covers up, and drifted comfortably to sleep.
In the middle of the night, Ye Yao felt herself pulled into someone’s arms.