As those words fell, Ji Yanzhi seemed to freeze, staring at him for a long time without blinking.
"What's wrong?"
Ji Yanzhi looked at him earnestly. "Why don't you think it over again? Are you really sure you don't like me?"
The question caught Ji Ting off guard. He froze for a moment, then asked in puzzlement, "Books say that when someone has an unrequited crush, they tend to worry about losing the other person, and sometimes even feel inferior. Why do you never feel any of that?"
"With you being so obvious about favoring me, why would I feel inferior?" Ji Yanzhi said with complete confidence.
Ji Ting's gaze flickered, and he turned his face slightly away. "This isn't favoritism. You funded all the equipment in the Laboratory, so you have the right to monitor the experiments' progress."
Seeing him deny it again, Ji Yanzhi immediately said, "But you just said you let me come and go from the Laboratory whenever I want so I could see you."
"I'm the person in charge. I have a duty to report our progress to you."
Ji Yanzhi watched him for two seconds, then suddenly laughed. "Ji Ear, so even you bend the rules sometimes."
"I'm not bending the rules. Those are the facts." With that, Ji Ting stood up, ready to gather the dishes and wash them in the kitchen.
Just then, Ji Yanzhi caught his wrist. "Do you really not want to answer my question?"
Ji Ting fell silent for a moment before looking at him. "Are you sure you want to hear my answer?"
The implication was enough to chill his heart. Ji Yanzhi said nothing. He simply let go of Ji Ting's hand and carried the dishes into the kitchen himself.
A little while later, Ji Ting came