Chapter 55: Shen Yan Is Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill

He didn’t even have the strength to reach for the milk.

Seeing this, Ye Yao understood that the situation was far more serious than she had imagined.

She immediately called an ambulance and took Shen Yan to the hospital.

Shen Yan was having a bout of gastritis.

It was an old ailment of his, brought on by years of poor eating habits due to overwork.

When his stomach hurt, Shen Yan would choose to eat something light.

Tonight, he’d acted out of a fit of anger.

Ye Yao sat at his bedside, feeling a pang of guilt for a fleeting moment.

After all, she hadn’t agreed to let Shen Yan stay for dinner—it was his own doing, really, nothing to do with her.

Yet, seeing Shen Yan in such misery from his stomach pain, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything indifferent.

“Are you… alright?” After much inner struggle, Ye Yao finally asked.

“No,” Shen Yan replied bluntly. “Ye Yao, it’s your fault I had a stomach attack. You have to take responsibility.”

Ye Yao: ?

If that’s how he wanted to shift the blame, she certainly wasn’t going to let it slide.

“Shen Yan, do you have any shame? I told you, I only cook according to my own taste. You know you can’t eat spicy food with your stomach problem—am I supposed to monitor you?”

Ye Yao was indignant.

Self-reproach was one thing; having mud slung at her was another entirely.

She could feel guilty if she chose, but she wouldn’t accept Shen Yan’s accusations.

“But my gastritis flared up because I ate your cooking, didn’t it?” Shen Yan retorted calmly. “So you’re responsible.”

“Even if we took this to court, it would be the same.”

Ye Yao was so exasperated her words got stuck in her throat. She was speechless.

Once again, this incident proved the saying: Don’t get close to men, or you’ll end up miserable.

What a jerk!

“Fine, I’ll take responsibility,” Ye Yao forced out a smile. “I’ll find a housekeeper to look after your meals and daily needs, alright?”

As she spoke, Ye Yao rolled her eyes at Shen Yan right in front of him.

Shameless!

Shen Yan nearly laughed at her antics, but managed to hold it in.

Though Ye Yao seemed to care less about him since their separation, she now displayed little expressions he’d never seen before—rather endearing, in fact.

The Ye Yao of before was like a perfectly programmed robot.

Now, she was truly alive.

Ye Yao stood up. “I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

Shen Yan stared at her in disbelief. “What did you say? You’re leaving before the housekeeper arrives?”

“It’s late now. At the very least, I’ll arrange it for you tomorrow, right?” Ye Yao showed him her locked phone, wishing she could smash it in his face.

“So, there won’t be a housekeeper tonight?”

Ye Yao did not deny it.

“Then you’ll take care of me tonight,” Shen Yan decided.

Ye Yao’s lips moved, but she couldn’t get a word of refusal out.

Truly, there’s no reasoning with an unreasonable person.

And Shen Yan was exactly that.

Despite her simmering resentment, Ye Yao still took care of him as best she could.

Considering Shen Yan hadn’t eaten much all night, she ordered some plain congee.

“Eat this, it’ll soothe your stomach.”

“You feed me.”

“Didn’t you grow hands yourself?” Ye Yao placed the congee on his bedside table. “Don’t push your luck.”

“My stomach hurts and I have no strength in my hands,” Shen Yan said weakly.

Ye Yao made a point of opening the lid with exaggerated noise to show her displeasure.

She scooped up a spoonful and held it to Shen Yan’s lips.

Just as he leaned forward to take a sip, she pulled it back.

“It’s still too hot. If something else happens to you, you’ll blame me again, won’t you?”

After blowing it cool and testing the temperature with her lips, she handed it to him once more.

“Here, drink.”

Shen Yan hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth and swallowed.

Ye Yao was surprised—she’d thought he’d find fault again.

In that instant, the atmosphere grew thick with unspoken ambiguity.

Ye Yao felt as if time was crawling. She wished she could seize Shen Yan’s mouth and pour the whole bowl down in a second, just to be done with it.

After the congee, Ye Yao made up the folding bed, preparing to lie down. Suddenly, she thought of something and fixed her gaze on Shen Yan, her tone all business.

“Do you still not have your strength back?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Just answer me,” Ye Yao demanded.

“No.”

“Then I’ll help you to the bathroom now so you don’t wake me up in the middle of the night.”

Shen Yan didn’t need to go, but let her help him up and lead him to the bathroom anyway.

Ye Yao scrubbed the toilet until it was spotless. “If you don’t have the strength to stand, just sit.”

Before Shen Yan could protest, she’d already pressed him down onto the seat.

“You can manage your pants yourself, can’t you? I’ll wait outside.”

With that, Ye Yao fled, not wanting to witness such an awkward scene.

Shen Yan gave a helpless smile, stood up, and unbuttoned his pants.

“I’m done.”

Ye Yao opened the door, helped him out, and only after all the fuss did she finally get to lie down.

Thank goodness she didn’t have to work the next day, or she’d have been exhausted.

The folding bed was far from comfortable.

In the middle of the night, Ye Yao felt herself lifted off the bed and then set down again.

When she opened her eyes in the morning, she was greeted by Shen Yan’s handsome face, magnified before her.

Ye Yao’s eyes were clouded with confusion as she woke up.

What was going on?

She remembered falling asleep on the folding bed—how did she end up here?

Fortunately, Shen Yan was still asleep. Ye Yao carefully tried to slip back to the folding bed.

But as soon as she moved, Shen Yan’s large hand pulled her back.

Their bodies were pressed close together; the heat of it sent a shiver through Ye Yao.

The next second, Shen Yan opened his eyes. Their gazes locked, and an awkward atmosphere filled the space.

Ye Yao pointed at the folding bed. “I remember sleeping there last night.”

“Then why are you here now?”

Shen Yan’s voice was still tinged with sleep, low and magnetic, making it especially pleasant to the ear.

Ye Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

“Ye Yao, did you climb into my bed while I was asleep?” Shen Yan pressed his forehead to hers. “What are you up to?”

Ye Yao’s pulse quickened. In a flash, she reached out to push him away, but he only held her tighter.

“Feeling guilty?”

“I don’t have a habit of sleepwalking,” Ye Yao protested. “Maybe it was you last night…”

“And what about me?” Shen Yan, certain she wouldn’t finish her sentence, teased her on purpose.

Watching Ye Yao’s face gradually turn red, Shen Yan felt a wave of nostalgia.

He remembered, when he first met her, she’d looked just like this.

After all these years, he found that he missed it.

“Fine, let’s just say I was sleepwalking,” Ye Yao said, putting her arm between them in an effort to create distance. “To save you from further fright, the housekeeper can sleep with you tonight.”

At that, Shen Yan’s face darkened further.

This woman really knew how to strike a nerve.

Taking advantage of his silence, Ye Yao pushed him away and nimbly got out of bed.

As his arms were left empty, Shen Yan felt a hollow echo in his heart.

Ye Yao ordered two breakfasts: plain congee for Shen Yan, rice noodles for herself.

After eating, she started arranging for the housekeeper.

In truth, Shen Yan could have been discharged that day, but he insisted on making a fuss and staying in the hospital a few more days.