Chapter 042: The King Falls as Autumn Chills

Huangfu Lie stared at the food on the dining table, now so heavily pixelated it was impossible to recognize its original form. He was speechless.

“What is this?” he asked.

The butler and the cook beside him wore grim expressions. “Young Master Shang said from now on, he’ll be cooking.”

“Brother, you’re up! Come try the breakfast I made!” At that moment, Huangfu Shang, wearing a pink apron, emerged from the kitchen holding a basin of mysterious liquid. His eyes lit up as he saw Huangfu Lie standing before the table.

“You... what is that?” Huangfu Lie’s gaze lingered on the basin for a long time before he managed to speak.

“This? It’s your favorite seafood porridge. I simmered it for ages.” Huangfu Shang set the basin on the table with a clang, picked up a spoon and bowl, and said, “Brother, let me serve you a bowl—try it... Brother, where are you going?”

“I suddenly remembered I have something urgent at the company. I’ll head to work first.” Before he finished speaking, Huangfu Lie was already at the front door.

Huangfu Shang regretfully withdrew his gaze, looking at the food on the table, and then at the butler and cook.

The two exchanged glances.

“Oh, I should check if the kitchen gas is turned off.”

“I better see if Xiao Chen and the others are slacking off with the cleaning.”

Soon, Huangfu Shang was left alone in the dining room. He looked at the breakfast, now unrecognizable, thought for a moment, took out his phone, snapped a few photos, and sent them to his beloved.

“Xiaoya, look, I made breakfast today [image][image][image]”

“...”

“You made it?”

“Yeah, wagging tail.gif. Would you like to try it? I can bring it to you.”

“No need, you have it. I’m at work.”

At work again. Huangfu Shang felt deeply disappointed.

Staring at the table full of food, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

—

“I just don’t get it—why is it that every time I ask you all to eat, you always find excuses to go to work? Turns out it’s because it’s too awful.” Huangfu Shang’s curly hair was a mess, his face full of grievance.

Honestly, with such an expression on a grown man, it should have been rather repulsive.

But Huangfu Shang’s fair and handsome features, paired with those little curls and slightly pursed lips, made him look just like a pitiful puppy.

Le Yixian quietly covered her warming nose, then thought to ask, “How old are you this year?”

A double PhD—could he possibly be older than her this lifetime?

To act so aggrieved at his age was just too much.

“I’m nineteen.”

Le Yixian: “How much?”

“Twenty?” Noticing her expression was off, Huangfu Shang cautiously corrected himself.

His behavior made Le Yixian laugh. She glanced at him and said, “I’m twenty-four this year. You’re much younger than me.”

“Not really. In two years I’ll be old enough to get a marriage certificate.” Huangfu Shang hurried to explain.

Le Yixian was even more amused, “Who are you getting a marriage certificate with?”

“You, of course.” No hesitation, direct answer.

He truly was much more proactive in this life.

Le Yixian pondered for a moment, then decided to tease him, “Call me ‘sister’.”

“Xiaoya-jie,” Huangfu Shang called out, paused, then called again, “Xiaoya-jie, Xiaoya-jie... I really like you, be my girlfriend—no, my fiancée. In two years, we’ll go get married.”

This child—could it be that with a new world, his character traits were updated? Le Yixian started to reflect.

After Gou Sheng had finished helping her sort out the main storyline of this world, he had automatically exited her consciousness, claiming he wouldn’t disturb the lady and master while they pursued romance.

“I’ll learn to cook properly too,” Le Yixian heard Huangfu Shang say as she returned to herself.

She was puzzled, only to see him, full of excitement and determination, declare, “Once I master cooking, Xiaoya-jie, you won’t need to work in the kitchen anymore. I’ll handle things with Father-in-law, too. I promise I’ll get along with him.”

Le Yixian was both touched and amused.

She didn’t speak, just reached out to pat his messy curls.

In this world, her beloved was a few centimeters taller than her. As she looked up, Huangfu Shang bent his knees so she could reach his head.

The two, laughing and joking, didn’t notice the black car parked by the roadside.

Huangfu Lie watched the pair at the entrance of the Alice Hotel with a cold expression. He turned to his secretary, “Find out how Wang Xiaoya met Shang.”

The secretary nodded.

At that moment, on the other side, Ouyang Zining, having changed out of her chef’s uniform, emerged.

Huangfu Lie’s eyes flickered. He said to the driver, “Follow her.”

The black car started up, slowly trailing behind Ouyang Zining.

Walking ahead, Ouyang Zining quickly noticed the black car shadowing her, furrowing her brows and quickening her pace.

Her figure soon disappeared into a narrow alley cluttered with all sorts of items. The driver glanced at the alley, then turned to Huangfu Lie, “Sir, the car can’t go in.”

“Wait here,” Huangfu Lie instructed, then got out and followed.

At the corner, a grimy broom suddenly swung at him. “You rogue, how dare you follow me! Looking for trouble, are you?!”

“Damn—” Huangfu Lie was caught off guard, getting hit several times.

He shielded his head, but the woman showed no sign of stopping. He reached up and grabbed the broom, “Enough!”

Ouyang Zining: Damn, it’s this guy.

“Why is it you?” she glared.

“Why can’t it be me?” Huangfu Lie sneered. “You did something wrong and now you want to run?”

“I... What did I do wrong?” Ouyang Zining’s heart raced; she still remembered vividly what had happened a few nights ago—she’d forced this guy.

Could he be here to demand responsibility? She certainly wasn’t ready to support a family.

“Too scared to admit it?” Huangfu Lie noted her panic, his expression growing colder. So it was deliberate.

“What do you mean, scared to admit it?” Ouyang Zining squared her shoulders. “Anyway, didn’t you enjoy yourself that night? Why are you chasing me, asking me to take responsibility? I have no time to support you.”

“...”

Sensing the tension thickening, Ouyang Zining gritted her teeth. “Anyway, I won’t take responsibility.”

“Who’s asking you to?” Huangfu Lie was furious, veins popping on his forehead. “That night you said, stay with you for one night, split a thousand yuan with me. Where’s my five hundred?”

Ouyang Zining: This man is probably insane.

A dignified CEO, yet obsessed over five hundred yuan?

“You’re here just for the five hundred?” Ouyang Zining couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t here for her charm?

“What else? Did you think sleeping with you would make me fall in love with you? Have you read too many CEO romance novels?” Huangfu Lie rolled his eyes at her and held out his hand, “Five hundred, hand it over.”