Ye Ruan did not refuse. Instead, he nodded, his lashes lowered, looking obedient as he continued putting meat in Gu Cheng's bowl.
Before Ye Ruan could say anything, Gu Cheng already regretted it.
Maybe Little Bunny had not been putting on an act for him?
Maybe he had simply wanted to get closer and have a hug?
Had he been too harsh, too cold?
With a single expression, Ye Ruan successfully plunged Gu Cheng into self-doubt.
And right then, Ye Ruan spoke, his voice soft and sweet, with a nasal note that made him sound terribly pitiful.
"Maybe I should go instead. The room was yours to begin with. If anyone should move out, it's me."
As he spoke, Ye Ruan tilted his wrist, finding just the right angle to put the scalded patch on the back of his hand directly in Gu Cheng's line of sight.
"What happened to your hand?!"
Gu Cheng grabbed Ye Ruan's wrist. His voice was so loud that everyone else looked over.
Sitting across from them, Yu Jingjing had seen the trap Ye Ruan was laying perfectly clearly, and she played along beautifully.
"Little Ye Ruan, you're way too good to Captain. Did you burn your hand just now? Why didn't you say anything... If this isn't treated properly, it could leave a scar."
"What a shame. Such beautiful hands, too. Ah..."
A flicker of panic appeared in Ye Ruan's eyes. He pulled free of Gu Cheng's grip and whispered, "I'm fine, Gu Cheng."
Yu Jingjing was getting hooked on the act and added:
"That pot is seriously hot. Burns can blister, you know. Does it hurt, Little Ye Ruan?"
Everyone else watched in a daze.
The two of them made quite the double act.
Ye Ruan curled his fingers and rubbed his nose,