Chapter 98: A Sweet Reward

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: A Sweet Reward

Shen Songyao’s favorite dish was sweet and sour pork ribs.

The other day at dinner, she’d sighed while staring at a plate of pork ribs.

"If only these were sweet and sour, that would be perfect."

Li Hanchen’s hearing was sharp. He made a mental note and later wrestled with the recipe in the kitchen until he finally figured it out.

When Shen Songyao heard this, she immediately threw her arms around his.

"Honey, you’re an absolute ray of sunshine!"

Li Hanchen glanced at the people coming and going and gently pulled his arm away.

"It’s broad daylight! Mind our image!"

Though that’s what he said, his hand was a beat slow in pulling away.

He couldn’t hide his little bit of smugness.

Shen Songyao was long used to his act. She hopped twice and skipped ahead.

"Go, go, go! Time to go home!"

To Li Hanchen’s ears, it sounded like she was calling him "dog, dog, dog."

His steps faltered, and he clenched his jaw.

The moment the words left her mouth, a sudden realization struck Shen Songyao.

’Uh oh, that didn’t sound right!’

She stopped dead in her tracks and snuck a glance back at Li Hanchen.

Li Hanchen waved his hand, his smile perfectly composed.

"Go ahead and say it. It’s fine. I’m really not mad."

’Not mad. Really, not mad at all.’

’So what if she called me ’dog’ three times...’

’It’s not like she shouted it in front of everyone. Who could have heard?’

...

Li Hanchen shot off to the cafeteria before the sun was fully up.

Buns, fried dough sticks, soy milk, eggs...

He stuffed them all into a cloth bag and carried them back to their room.

’Yaoyao went through a lot last night. She needs to build her strength back up!’

Unlike Li Hanchen, who had forced himself to stay strong, Shen Songyao was sleeping soundly.

When Li Hanchen walked in with breakfast, she was sprawled out on the bed.

In the end, he had to stand by the bed, gently tapping her shoulder and calling her name.

"Yaoyao... Yaoyao?"

She groggily opened her eyes to the sight of a handsome face looming over her and blurted out instinctively.

"Honey~"

Li Hanchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. GULP.

But the deadliest part was yet to come.

Too lazy to get up, she simply raised her arms, reaching for him limply.

"Honey, help me sit up!"

Li Hanchen stared at the sight before him and silently swallowed.

’Breakfast? Forget breakfast...’

It was only last night that he’d truly understood that this girl, despite her slender arms and legs, was...

...not only had a shocking appetite, but her tastes were also quite particular!

His rational mind slammed on the brakes. He scooped her up and started pulling a sweater over her head while murmuring.

"Get dressed before you eat. Be good."

He hadn’t even done anything, yet his heart was pounding like he’d just run an 800-meter race.

Shen Songyao raised a hand and brushed her fingertips against his forehead.

"Honey, why are you covered in sweat?"

It wasn’t hot out. He was the one burning up.

When her gaze followed his and drifted downward, she froze, understanding in an instant.

And with that understanding, memories of last night came flooding back.

Although she had been too exhausted to even speak properly, Li Hanchen had indeed taken great care of her, tending to her every need.

But...

She hooked an arm around his neck and tilted her head with a smile.

"Are you afraid that if I go to the hospital with you for a check-up, I won’t let you into bed afterward?"

"Hm?"

Li Hanchen froze, his pupils dilating slightly, failing to follow her train of thought.

Shen Songyao poked him in the chest with a fingertip, twisting the knife with a grin.

"Didn’t you say that after the check-up, you’d let me sleep with you when we got back?"

"And what happened? You went and slept on the floor last night."

"So, you’re avoiding the bed because you’re afraid I’ll weasel my way out of going to the doctor?"

She paused, then flicked her middle finger, poking him gently in the chest.

"So petty!"

With that, she hopped off the bed with a PAT and padded out of the room barefoot.

Li Hanchen looked down at his own wrinkled pajama pants and shook his head with a wry smile.

’Fine, fine, I’m petty. I’m the pettiest man alive, alright?’

’As long as you go to the hospital with me and everything checks out, we can ’eat’ right away!’

’If this keeps dragging on...’

He didn’t dare imagine whether he’d break into a sweat or just get a nosebleed in the next second.

By the time he came out of the room, Shen Songyao was already at the table, her eyes glued to the breakfast.

"Honey, did you buy all this for me?"

Li Hanchen nodded.

"I was afraid your stomach would be growling, so I bought extra."

She rubbed her flat little tummy.

"Honey, how do you know me so well? I’m absolutely famished!"

"Come on, let’s eat together!"

As she spoke, she caught sight of the bedsheet clutched in his hand, and her face instantly turned beet red.

"Honey, put that down! I’ll wash it as soon as I’m done eating!"

"Just fill your stomach first."

Li Hanchen said only that before turning and disappearing into the bathroom.

When he reappeared, he was carrying a freshly washed white bedsheet.

He deftly hung the sheet on the clothesline on the balcony.

The weather was perfect today. The sun was bright, and when the wind blew, the sheet billowed and fluttered.

Shen Songyao swallowed a mouthful of her steamed bun and snuck a peek toward the balcony.

Li Hanchen had bought plenty of breakfast, and he finished off all her leftovers in just a few bites.

The moment they put down their chopsticks, he picked up her things and led her downstairs.

He walked her to the entrance of their building, but then kept on walking.

Shen Songyao hurried to catch up.

"Hey? Aren’t you supposed to be returning to your unit?"

"You really don’t have to walk me! I can handle it myself!"

"I’ll walk you to the bus stop. It’s on my way."

He glanced down at the two items in his hands, his brow furrowing slightly.

"This stuff is heavy. Don’t wear yourself out."

"Well... are you sure it won’t make you late?"

Her gaze fell on the bulging veins on the back of his hand, and her voice softened.

"Late for what? It’ll only take a minute."

When they got to the bus stop, he steadied the display rack in front of him.

"How about you don’t take this with you today? Find a safe place to store it for the morning, and you can pick it up in the afternoon. Lugging it back and forth all the time will make your shoulders sore."

Shen Songyao had already thought this through. The moment he asked, she puffed out her chest proudly.

"Don’t worry! I have a spot!"

"Oh?"

He turned his head to look at her.

"There’s that little green-roofed newsstand by the mall entrance, less than a hundred meters from here."

She raised her right hand and gestured diagonally forward.

"I’ll just take up a tiny bit of space. I’ll talk to the lady in the kiosk, offer her three yuan a month to watch my rack and stool. It’s convenient for her, and it gives me peace of mind. It’s a sure thing!"

Hearing this, Li Hanchen couldn’t resist reaching out to ruffle the top of her head.

"Alright. If she says no, don’t force it. You can just ask any small shop to hold it for you. I’ll sneak out at noon to help you find a place."

Shen Songyao nodded immediately.

"Whatever you say, Honey!"

The words had barely left her lips when she suddenly stood on her tiptoes and threw herself at him, clinging to his body.

"Honey, since I’m being so good, don’t I deserve a little reward?"

His body went stiff, and the tips of his ears instantly turned red. He quickly scanned their surroundings.

It was empty. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he looked down at her slightly parted lips, and in a rush of heat to his head, he leaned down and pressed his own against them.

It was a brief touch, over in the blink of an eye.

But Shen Songyao was already ecstatic.

This was, after all, the same man who would shy away from even holding her hand!

She gave a mischievous grin and, with a restless hand, gave him a sly pinch on his lower back.

"Honey, I’m off! You be good at home and wait for me to come back, okay?"

Li Hanchen opened his mouth to say something, but the bus doors opened, and she zipped aboard.

The bus had just started moving when she slapped her forehead.

"Oh!"

She stuck her head out the window and shouted to him.

"Honey! I have to go to the museum this afternoon to see Director Han, so I won’t be back for lunch! Don’t make my portion!"

Li Hanchen quickly raised a hand and waved.

"Okay! Be careful on your way!"

"I will! You should head back now!"

She gave him a firm nod and quickly pulled herself back inside.