Chapter 13: An Awkward Silence

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: An Awkward Silence

The moment Huo Jingchen tasted the fish, his movements stopped.

His eyes widened slightly.

The taste was unexpectedly comforting.

It wasn’t overly seasoned.

It wasn’t complicated.

Yet somehow, it carried a warmth that spread through him.

It reminded him of something he couldn’t quite name.

Home.

For someone who had spent most of his adult life surrounded by schedules, meetings, contracts, and responsibilities, the sensation was unfamiliar.

How can a meal make someone feel this warm?

He took another bite.

Then another.

Xi Yunxui stood quietly nearby.

She watched him eat without saying anything.

Huo Jingchen didn’t compliment the food.

He didn’t criticize it either.

He simply continued eating.

Before long, the dishes that had filled the table were completely empty.

Xi Yunxui blinked.

He really finished everything.

She had expected him to eat a little and leave the rest.

Instead, there wasn’t even a grain of rice left in the bowl.

Huo Jingchen placed his chopsticks down.

Only then did he seem to remember that Xi Yunxui was still standing.

"You can sit."

Xi Yunxui looked around.

"Me?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Alright."

She pulled out a chair.

There were several empty seats.

Xi Yunxui deliberately chose the one farthest away from him.

Huo Jingchen glanced at her.

She sat upright with her hands resting neatly in her lap.

He didn’t comment.

After a moment, he spoke.

"I’m impressed."

Xi Yunxui looked up.

"Hmm?"

"Your cooking."

"Oh."

Huo Jingchen leaned back slightly.

"Why are you working as a maid instead of a chef?"

Xi Yunxui blinked.

That was a surprisingly difficult question.

She couldn’t exactly tell him that she had been a chef in another lifetime.

She thought for a moment.

"Because..."

She paused.

"That’s what I want to do."

Huo Jingchen looked at her.

He seemed to be considering her answer.

But he didn’t question her further.

Instead, he simply nodded.

"I see."

Then, after a brief pause—

"Thank you."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"You’re welcome."

---

Time passed quickly.

By the time Huo Jingchen glanced at the clock, it was already getting late.

Most employees had begun leaving the building.

He looked toward Xi Yunxui.

She had delivered his documents.

Then she had prepared his meal.

Considering that they were both heading back to the Huo residence, he thought it would be more convenient to go together.

"I’ll take you back to the residence."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"You’re going back now?"

"Yes."

She hesitated.

"But don’t you still have work?"

Huo Jingchen paused.

He looked at the mountain of documents on his desk.

Then remembered his evening schedule.

He still had work.

And, more importantly, he had a dinner meeting with several business partners that evening.

He should have left already.

Yet for some reason, he didn’t want to.

His eyes unconsciously moved toward Xi Yunxui.

He wanted to spend a little more time with her.

The thought itself confused him.

Why?

Was it because of that strange fragrance?

He remembered how calm he had felt when he encountered her the previous night.

But surely that couldn’t be the reason.

Huo Jingchen couldn’t find an answer.

After a moment, he said,

"Wait for me."

Xi Yunxui tilted her head.

"Hmm?"

"I’ll finish my work quickly. Then we’ll return together."

She nodded.

"Alright. No problem."

Xi Yunxui stood up.

She gathered the empty plates.

Huo Jingchen looked at her.

"What are you doing?"

"I’ll wash these."

"You don’t have to."

"I cooked them. Washing them isn’t difficult."

Before he could respond, she walked into the small kitchen.

A few minutes later, she returned.

Huo Jingchen was already working again.

Xi Yunxui sat quietly.

Then—

[Ding!]

Her eyes shifted.

[Affection Points: 12.]

Xi Yunxui almost jumped.

What?

She looked at the notification again.

12.

She had spent all five earlier.

She had even been at zero.

"How did it become twelve?"

[Huo Jingchen currently has strong positive feelings toward the Host.]

[His positive feelings are continuing to increase.]

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

Huo Jingchen was sitting behind his desk, completely focused on his work.

She looked at him carefully.

Strong positive feelings?

Just then, as if sensing her gaze, Huo Jingchen lifted his head.

Their eyes met.

Silence.

Xi Yunxui’s ears slowly became warm.

The tips turned red.

Huo Jingchen noticed.

His own ears immediately became slightly red as well.

Xi Yunxui quickly looked away.

Huo Jingchen lowered his eyes.

Neither said anything.

The atmosphere became strangely awkward.

The system finally broke the silence.

[Host, why are you both looking away?]

Be quiet.

[The Host’s heart rate has increased.]

I said be quiet.

[Huo Jingchen’s heart rate has also increased.]

System!

Huo Jingchen glanced at her again.

Xi Yunxui happened to glance back.

Their eyes met.

Both immediately looked away.

For two people who had done absolutely nothing wrong, they somehow looked like they had been caught doing something suspicious.

---

Then another notification appeared.

[Affection Points have reached 12.]

[System Store can now be accessed.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

The store is open again.

She glanced at Huo Jingchen.

He was deeply engrossed in his work.

I’ll check it later.

She quietly stood.

She didn’t want to disturb him.

Walking toward the enormous glass windows, she stopped in front of them.

The view made her freeze.

The entire city stretched before her.

Towering skyscrapers stood against the evening sky.

Thousands of lights flickered below.

Cars moved along the roads in endless streams.

From this height, the vehicles looked tiny.

Almost like ants.

Xi Yunxui placed one hand against the glass.

Her eyes widened.

"So this is the modern world..."

She had seen cities before.

She had seen bustling streets in her former life.

But this—

This was completely different.

Buildings that seemed to reach the heavens.

Roads filled with countless moving machines.

Lights that continued shining even after the sun disappeared.

She slowly smiled.

"It’s truly amazing."

Behind her, Huo Jingchen briefly looked up from his documents.

He watched her standing before the glass window.

For some reason, he found the sight strangely peaceful.

He lowered his gaze again.

But this time, the corner of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.