Zhou Yi woke up groggily.
"Did I really fall asleep?"
"Yes, it's time for dinner."
Zhou Yi rubbed his temples and got up, heading toward the dining table.
Four dishes were laid out on the table, each emitting an irresistible aroma. They looked as appetizing as they smelled.
"Xiao Xi's cooking always looks amazing. It's late now—you must be hungry too. Want to join me for dinner?"
"No, I usually don't eat at night. Watching you enjoy your meal is enough for me."
Qiao Xi rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Zhou Yi with anticipation in her eyes.
Zhou Yi picked up a piece of braised shrimp with his chopsticks, his face lighting up after taking a bite.
It seemed that Qiao Xi hadn't been boasting about her culinary skills—her food genuinely tasted exquisite.
He praised sincerely, "This is incredible. Even better than what I've had at restaurants!"
Qiao Xi smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "I'm glad you like it, Yi-Gege."
As she watched him savor every bite of the meal she prepared, a warm sense of happiness swelled within her. Zhou Yi sampled all four dishes carefully, but there was simply too much food for one person to finish alone. In the end, half the dishes remained untouched.
"Are you full? Should I serve you another bowl of rice?"
"No need—I'm stuffed. Let's store the leftovers in the fridge; we can eat them tomorrow."
Zhou Yi set down his utensils and wiped his mouth. "It's getting late. I'll go take a shower first."
When he returned to his bedroom to grab his towel and change of clothes, he noticed that the bed sheets had already been neatly made. On closer inspection, even the dust on the floor was gone—the room sparkled as if new. He marveled inwardly: despite being a young lady of privilege, Xiao Xi possessed such a thoughtful and diligent nature.
Entering the bathroom, he found the toiletries arranged neatly in rows. He couldn't help but admire her attentiveness. After finishing his shower, however, Zhou Yi suddenly remembered something—Xiao Xi hadn't brought any spare clothes with her...
Drying his hair with a towel, he walked into the living room. There sat Qiao Xi on the couch, engrossed in watching TV while munching on snacks. Her cheeks bulged adorably with potato chips, making her resemble a little hamster enjoying its stash.
Approaching her, Zhou Yi said,
"Xiao Xi, would it be alright if you wore one of my shirts after your shower? I forgot to remind you to buy pajamas when we were at the supermarket earlier."
Qiao Xi turned around, still holding her chips. When she saw Zhou Yi standing shirtless with damp hair, the chips slipped from her hands and landed on her school uniform.
He's so handsome...!
Her heart raced. The allure of male leads in TV dramas paled in comparison to this man before her.
For a moment, the idol drama she'd been watching felt utterly dull. Her dazed expression led Zhou Yi to misunderstand—he thought perhaps she disliked the idea of wearing his clothes.
"Of course, if you're uncomfortable with it, I can—"
"No, no, no, I'm fine with it! Absolutely fine!" Qiao Xi waved her hands frantically. How could she possibly object? It was his shirt, after all!
Zhou Yi chuckled softly. "Alright then, I'll fetch the shirt for you."
He escorted Qiao Xi to the bathroom door and handed her a pristine white shirt. It was an expensive garment he'd purchased during his last shopping trip, crafted from high-quality fabric that ensured comfort even while sleeping.
Taking the shirt, Qiao Xi's palms began to sweat nervously.
"Thank you, Yi-Gege. I'll go take my shower now."
"Sure thing. Let me know if you need anything."
Once inside the bathroom, Qiao Xi pressed the shirt against her face, inhaling deeply.
"It's Yi-Gege's shirt..."
The very same white shirt that countless girls referred to as belonging to the "White Shirt God" was now in her hands—and soon, she'd be wearing it.
Reflecting on how fate had brought her together with Zhou Yi, Qiao Xi felt an overwhelming sense of fortune. Though only a freshman, many girls in her class had tried adding Zhou Yi on WeChat, only to be rejected. Everyone knew he was aloof and difficult to approach, yet here she was—the lucky exception.
His gentleness wasn't something he showed everyone, but Qiao Xi had felt it keenly. Few women could resist falling for such a man. To receive kindness from someone who treated others coldly was intoxicating.
Unfortunately, this charm masked a deeper truth—Zhou Yi's demeanor was meticulously crafted, far from his authentic self. Beneath the surface lay a player skilled at charming young women.
Qiao Xi held up the clothes and pressed them against her body, checking how they would fit.
A large mirror hung above the sink just outside the bathroom.
She carefully draped the outfit over a nearby hanger before slowly peeling off her school uniform.
Turning toward the mirror, she caught sight of a dark bruise sprawling across her back, standing out starkly against her pale skin—it was alarming.