Chapter 240 - 156: Give Him a Box

Chapter 240: Chapter 156: Give Him a Box

Yan Xici glanced at it, then placed her phone face-down on the table and continued to eat with her head lowered.

Xiao Ran didn’t say anything. He just pulled out a chair, sat down beside her, and started eating his dumplings.

They were filled with pork and celery, and they tasted pretty good.

"These dumplings are pretty good, don’t you think?" Xiao Ran asked as he ate.

Right now, Yan Xici’s mind was completely occupied with the matter of this Wang Kai. She heard Xiao Ran speaking but didn’t quite catch what he said.

She subconsciously let out a, "Huh?"

Her gaze was a little vacant.

Xiao Ran chuckled. "You seem a little distracted."

He then picked up another dumpling and placed it in her bowl. "Eat up. A lot has been going on recently. It’s been hard on you."

The girl blinked, her face filled with guilt. "Actually, you’re the one who’s had it the hardest."

’It all started because of me, but Xiao Ran was the one who had to deal with the aftermath.’

’Honestly, he was the one who worked the hardest and sacrificed the most.’

At this thought, an inexplicable mix of heartache and guilt washed over the girl.

"Thank you, Brother Xiao Ran." She looked into his eyes, speaking each word with sincere gravity.

Unfortunately, before the tender moment could even begin, the phone on the table vibrated again.

Yan Xici’s expression froze.

The next second, she hurriedly flipped her phone over. To her dismay, it was Wang Kai again.

Wang Kai: Why aren’t you replying? Are you busy?

Yan Xici felt a surge of inexplicable anger.

’This damned guy!’

’He’s seriously messed up!’

The girl held her phone, her anger making her fingers fly across the screen, as if she wanted to smash it to pieces.

Yan Xici: I told you, don’t contact me!

Yan Xici: I don’t like you!

After sending the messages, she immediately blocked him.

The entire process was done in one smooth motion.

She didn’t need other guys trying to win her over. These kinds of advances were nothing but a burden on her life.

That’s just how people are. They’d rather stay up all night watching a game with someone they like than say a single extra word to someone they don’t.

It’s not a matter of right or wrong; it’s simply human nature.

Seeing the serious expression on Yan Xici’s small face, Xiao Ran clearly sensed that something was amiss.

He asked with a concerned look, "What’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing."

"You’re lying."

"I am not."

"There’s something in your eyes."

Having lived together for so many years, Xiao Ran knew Yan Xici inside and out. The anxiety in her eyes told him she was lying.

"It’s... it’s just some guy. But I’ve already made it clear to him. I really don’t like him!"

Probably because she was afraid Xiao Ran would get angry, a faint sheen of moisture appeared in the girl’s eyes as she spoke, making her look pitifully wronged.

’I’ve said everything I could. He still insists on harassing me. I’m at my wit’s end, too.’

Xiao Ran paused for a moment. "Oh."

Then he lowered his head and went back to eating his dumplings.

’Yan Xici is so beautiful and so accomplished now. Honestly, the number of people who like her is only going to grow.’

Xiao Ran understood this perfectly.

When he didn’t say anything, she couldn’t help but grow nervous.

"A-Are you angry, Brother Xiao Ran? I’m sorry."

"No, why would I be angry?" Xiao Ran’s tone was innocent, and he meant every word.

’What is there for me to be angry about?’

At this, Yan Xici pursed her lips. Her intuition told her that he had to be angry.

’If I were in his shoes, I’d be angry too.’

Putting herself in his shoes, the more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became.

She finally just stood up and looked at Xiao Ran with an earnest expression.

"There’s really nothing between us, you have to believe me! I... I’ve already blocked him."

Yan Xici’s explanation was incredibly earnest.

’I’d already rejected him, so clearly.’

’Who knew he’d be so dense as to keep messaging me!’

Xiao Ran reached out and clasped her hand in his. Her hand was as soft and smooth as ever, like a peeled egg, and felt wonderful to the touch.

His tone was gentle. "It’s alright, I’m not angry. It’s perfectly normal for people to like you."

Seeing his sincere expression, Yan Xici finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But for some reason, she also felt a tiny bit of disappointment.

’But... but whenever something like this happens, even though I know it’s not Brother Xiao Ran’s fault, I can’t help but get jealous.’

’Why isn’t he the least bit jealous?’

She looked at Xiao Ran, puzzled. "You’re really not angry?"

Xiao Ran smiled. "The fact that they all like you, doesn’t that just prove how outstanding you are?"

"But you only like me. Doesn’t that prove that I’m more important to you than any of them?"

"Since that’s the case, why should I be angry?"

Xiao Ran countered.

Yan Xici blinked, looking as though she’d just been taught a valuable lesson.

’Comparing myself to him...’

She felt that her own perspective was so much smaller than Xiao Ran’s. Alongside her admiration, she felt a pang of inadequacy.

"Brother Xiao Ran," she murmured, her voice soft and tender.

An indescribable sense of security and of being trusted washed over her.

’Being with him is probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my life!’

"You’re the best."

As she spoke, the girl started to snuggle up against Xiao Ran.

Whenever she was near Xiao Ran, it was as if her bones turned to jelly, and she couldn’t help but want to melt into him.

A pair of soft arms then wrapped around his neck.

Her small face pressed against his.

She always carried a pleasant, sweet scent.

She rubbed her smooth forehead against Xiao Ran’s again and again, like a kitten nuzzling its owner.

Xiao Ran reached out and gently booped her on the nose. "Alright now, eat up. The dumplings will get cold, and they won’t taste as good!"

His eyes were filled with doting affection.

It was a kind of affection that left Yan Xici feeling utterly captivated.

"Okay," the girl said, reluctantly returning to her seat to continue eating her dumplings.