"Do you need help with that, Zhi?" Ru offered as she heard the clattering sound of a kitchen knife.
Xiao Zhi Ren took a deep breath and repeated the mantra inside his head which went something along the line of, 'Inhale... Exhale... Don't let it get to you. Don't let her see right through you.'
"No, thanks for the offer. But I'm fine," he managed to get back his composure and polite smile as he picked up the kitchen knife from the floor but disregarded the blood oozing out of his foot. He needed that pain on his body to keep his sanity. To forget that he was raging inside. To hide his painful heart. And most importantly, to keep his jealous self at bay.
Ru wasn't really paying attention to his expressions otherwise, she could have easily learned what was going through his mind.
She took another bite of the carrot in her hand and asked, "So, which friends of Little squirrel managed to pull him out of his hole?"
"There is a pretty little instructor that you left by his side," Xiao Zhi Ren pointed out and Ru raised her brows in surprise.
"Lilith?"
"Yup! That's the girl." Ru was taking a moment to digest that fact as Xiao Zhi Ren continued, "Anyway, the idea of movies came from Zhang Han."
Forgetting all about Lilith's condition, Ru said, "You mean Uncle and nephew went together?"
Seeing her sparkling eyes, Xiao Zhi Ren couldn't hold his chuckle and nodded, "Uncle and nephew went together."
"Hmm... That's interesting." She was done with the carrot in her hand and when she decided to pick up another one, Xiao Zhi Ren swatted her hand away. Ru scrunched up her face. "Don't be so mean! I just want to take one more carrot."
"Stop messing around. You can eat all you want after I'm done cooking everything." Xiao Zhi Ren was planning on rebuking her but his voice was way too gentle making it seem like he was coaxing her.
"Whatever!" Ru grumbled and started rummaging through her pockets. "Ahan!" She suddenly exclaimed as she found a leftover candy in her pocket. Her expression said it all. She was like that child whose eyes sparkled at the sight of sugary goods.
"Can't believe you still have your sweet-tooth." Xiao Zhi Ren shook his head in amusement.
Ru didn't mind his words since she was too engrossed in savoring the taste of sugar on her tongue.
Looking at her face, Xiao Zhi Ren was lost for a long while. Pure bliss and happiness on her beautiful face was a clear indication of how lonely she was inside. Was it his fortune that he could see her sadness behind that smile? He didn't think so. Because it felt like torture to him.
"My grandmother wants me to bring you to Ji Family Mansion," Xiao Zhi Ren tried to distract himself from the thoughts that were hurting him.
"I went there just a few days ago. Why is she inviting me again?" Ru questioned absentmindedly since her attention was on the ingredients on the kitchen island. She was trying to figure out what he was making for dinner.
"She didn't get to meet you at the banquet so she wants me to bring you again," Xiao Zhi Ren answered while he added the vegetables in the boiling water on the stove. He turned to see Ru's frown and instantly knew she was thinking of ways to reject. So, he played the other trick, "She'll be preparing a whole feast just for you."
Ru's eyes brightened up as she asked, "She's inviting me over for a meal?" Xiao Zhi Ren nodded his head while trying to stifle his laughter. "Zhi, you should have said so." Clearing her throat, she said, "I mean how can I reject her invite? This young master always listens to elders. Definitely won't let her down."
In all honesty, Ru's mind was wandering off somewhere else. She had promised that woman on the third floor that she'll come back. She had to sneak in the Ji Family Mansion anyway, now she could just walk in without having to hide or jump around.
Although she loved wall climbing, being civil wasn't so bad after all.