"I could never forget you. I’ve just been running back and forth between the company and school these past two days. I was actually wondering why you hadn’t contacted me." Chen Yuan shifted slightly in his chair, a complete change from the cold demeanor he had with his employees. Just from saying those few words, his eyes came alive with a boundless energy.

This was the difference between wearing a mask and taking it off.

Only in front of the people he cared about would he let his guard down and show his true self.

Having grown accustomed to the companionship of the two sisters, Jiangg Yao and Jiangg Ning, just two or three days without contact felt like a great distance. He soon developed a kind of "separation syndrome," his mind filled with nothing but fond memories of her.

Scene after scene flashed through his mind.

All the unhappy moments they had shared were selectively forgotten.

Humans are such strange creatures. That’s why so many couples can bicker for a lifetime and still end up together, walking down a narrow lane leaning on their canes, still complaining that the other is just as slow as when they were young.

"I didn’t contact you because I was afraid I’d annoy you. You looked so grumpy back when I was clinging to you all the time," Jiangg Yao’s voice grew softer, tinged with a pouting complaint. "I felt like you were sick of me."

"I’m not sick of you."

"So you’re not sick of me, but that doesn’t mean I’m important to you, huh."

"I never said you weren’t important," Chen Yuan blinked. He knew Jiangg Yao was just pouting, so he played along. "Don’t you dare accuse me. I never said that."

"Liar. That’s what you really think. That’s why you didn’t call me once in two days. Do you know how much I was hoping you’d call? I waited until I was completely heartbroken. So I thought, ’Fine, if he’s not going to call, he’s not going to call. Maybe he should never call again. I’ll just disappear and see if he panics then.’"

"Then I’d be scared to death. How could I possibly live without you?"

The moment he said it, a clear, bell-like laugh rang out from the other end of the line. That one simple sentence was all it took to make Jiangg Yao’s heart flutter with joy.

She huffed playfully. "Even then, I wouldn’t take pity on you. I’d just let you search the whole world for me."

"You’re that cruel, huh?"

"Of course. Scared now, aren’t you~"

"I am. So, what must I do to warm up that cold heart of yours and avoid this terrible punishment?"

"Hmm, let me think about that—"

The two went on, trading playful remarks. They didn’t seem at all like a couple who had recently broken up; their intimacy was just as strong as it had been before the secret of the twins was out. Chen Yuan would soon have to face the fact that he was in love with two women at the same time, and sinking deeper with every passing day.

The relationship between the three of them was a confusing, tangled mess. Like a ball of yarn played with by a cat for too long, it had gradually tightened into a dead knot that could never be undone.

"Where are you right now?" Jiangg Yao suddenly asked.

"At the office."

"Is anyone else there?"

"Not at the moment."

"If no one’s there, then this is simple. Just shout, ’Dearest Yaoyao, I was wrong! Please, oh please, forgive me! I’ll never neglect you again!’ and I won’t be mad anymore." Jiangg Yao said this in a deliberately exaggerated tone, especially dragging out the word "dearest."

Forget shouting it—Chen Yuan cringed just hearing it.

He lowered his head, repeating the phrase in his mind. ’Nope.’ He then said decisively, "Impossible. I can’t say that."

"What about not shouting it?"

"Doesn’t matter. I’d rather you kill me than make me say that."

"You really care about your pride, don’t you?"

"No, I’m afraid you’re recording me."

"???" On the other end of the line, Jiangg Yao was stunned for a moment. "I hadn’t even thought of that."

"If you recorded that, I’d never be able to live it down."

"Fine, I won’t force you. I knew you wouldn’t agree," Jiangg Yao changed tactics, complaining with a pout, "You still haven’t added me back on Green Bubble. I had to call you about something. Were you just going to wait for me to be the one to add you?"

"Now *that* I can agree to."

"Okay, let’s hang up for now. Add me. I have something to tell you." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Chen Yuan agreed. After hanging up, he quickly opened Green Bubble, searched for Jiangg Yao, and sent a request. She accepted instantly.

Half a second after the "Friend request accepted" notification popped up, Jiangg Yao sent him a sticker. It said: "Hello, the only reason I’m online is to wait for you."

The image on the screen was a small cat holding a bouquet of flowers, with that text written underneath.

Amused by her childishness, Chen Yuan asked what was so important.

Only then did Jiangg Yao excitedly spill the details of the surprise she had painstakingly prepared for two days. She had worked on it all yesterday afternoon and evening, and had been busy with it all day today. She had finally finished setting up the gaming room.

If Chen Yuan hadn’t called her, Jiangg Yao was planning to call him that evening anyway, so it was quite a coincidence.

When his call came in, Jiangg Yao had been filled with glee. She’d wanted to answer immediately and pour out everything she had to say, but just as she was about to press the accept button, she hesitated. She paused for a few seconds before answering so she wouldn’t seem too eager.

This was what it was like to love cautiously. She realized that if he saw through her completely, she would have nowhere left to hide.

"’You want me to go to the house in Fengting District?’ Chen Yuan’s expression was a bit odd as his fingers flew across the keyboard. ’You haven’t prepared some kind of nasty surprise to get back at me for not contacting you, have you?’"

"You’ll know when you get here," Jiangg Yao replied.

"Alright, I’ll head over in a bit."

Chen Yuan put his phone in his pocket, stretched, and stood up. He figured the company’s employees had probably all left for the day, which meant he’d also reached his so-called "quitting time."

’Being your own supervisor is exhausting.’ In truth, Chen Yuan had wanted to leave for a while.

He set off down the empty hallway with a spring in his step, on his way to see the adorable Jiangg Yao.

...

"Phew~"

Inside the now fully-equipped gaming room, Jiangg Yao let out a long sigh of relief. She had been considering adding some decorations, like arranging some flowers, before telling Chen Yuan to come over. That would have given it more of a ceremonial feel.

’But Chen Yuan probably isn’t a fan of anything too ornate. That’s the kind of stuff girls like. It’s a good thing he’s coming over now, so I don’t have to bother with all that.’

She sat in one of the gaming chairs, spinning around to survey her work. All the equipment was brand new, exuding a minimalist yet sophisticated, high-tech feel. The space wasn’t cramped; everything was arranged perfectly.

Two expensive PC towers glowed with a faint white light. Inside one of the glass-paneled cases, two acrylic standees, one large and one small, were displayed. They depicted a young master in a suit, and beside him, a little lolita maid whimpering as she mopped the floor.

It was incredibly cute.

Jiangg Yao loved this sort of thing. She wasn’t sure if it was some kind of strange quirk, but she always enjoyed putting Chen Yuan on a pedestal while lowering herself. There was a certain thrill she got from the feeling of being "bullied" by him.

Any man who walked into this gaming room would be blown away by the stunningly detailed setup.

A girl who would go to such lengths to prepare "the things he likes" for the man she loved deserved the best and most unique blessings the world had to offer.

Jiangg Yao couldn’t wait to see the look on Chen Yuan’s face, to see his reaction when he saw all of this.

Lost in thought, she tilted her head, her eyes curving into happy crescents as she clenched her little fists in excitement.

"Oh, right," Jiangg Yao clapped her hands. ’I haven’t prepared any fruit for the Young Master. What if he wants to play games later and doesn’t have anything to snack on?’

She quickly got up, ready to hurry downstairs to buy some chilled, pre-cut watermelon.