What had gotten into him!

"Shen Zhiyi, so this is what you do. You look pretty professional."

He really talks a lot, Shen Zhiyi thought. But she did not want to bother with him. She ate slowly, only taking food from the dishes in front of her and leaving the farther ones untouched.

Seeing this, Chi Ye picked up the serving chopsticks and helped her to some food from the dishes farther away. From what he had observed, Shen Zhiyi was easy to feed. She ate whatever there was. As for scallions, ginger, and garlic, she would not deliberately pick them out, but she would not eat them either.

"Shen Zhiyi, have you gotten so lazy that you won't even eat food just ten centimeters away?" His words were disparaging, but his hands never stopped moving.

Shen Zhiyi thought, He talks so much. It's exhausting.

Chi Ye's eyes widened, clearly indignant. Shen Zhiyi actually thought he talked too much!

Whose fault was that? If she did not speak and neither did he, how were they supposed to discuss anything? She wore that cold expression all day long. If Chi Ye did not dare speak either, the air itself would dry up in the silence.

And now she was complaining that he talked too much!

"Shen Zhiyi, you really have no conscience," Chi Ye said coldly.

Shen Zhiyi thought, He finally realized.

She merely gave him an indifferent glance before lowering her head to drink her soup again. Chi Ye was so annoyed that the meat he had been about to give her went straight into his own bowl instead.

Chi Ye stopped talking for the rest of the meal, and the two finished eating in silence. Chi Ye finished first. He was a grown man, and healthy, with nothing wrong with his body. He did not chew his food at a snail's pace.

But Shen Zhiyi was different. She always ate slowly, chewing each mouthful many times, her gaze always empty as she unconsciously zoned out.

After finishing, Shen Zhiyi reached to gather up the food containers. Chi Ye had just returned from taking a call and hurriedly spoke.

"Put those down. Don't touch them. Go do your work. I'll clean up."

Shen Zhiyi did not understand. Wasn't it just a matter of gathering them up? Chi Ye frowned again, placed both hands on her shoulders, and turned her around.

"Go work. Come on, the Chi Family doesn't let women do the cleaning."

It had nothing to do with anything else. Madam Ye had taught Chi Ye this from childhood, though he rarely showed it. Besides, he did not want Shen Zhiyi to ignore him once she finished cleaning up.

As long as he did a little more, Shen Zhiyi would notice at least some of it. If her heart softened and she agreed to cooperate with him, doing a little more work now would be perfectly acceptable.

With that thought in mind, he quickly gathered up all the containers, went out of the courtyard, and tossed them straight into a trash can outside the gate.

Boss Yao called him. She had been so busy all afternoon, either running around outside or meeting other business owners.

Only now had she remembered that she had forgotten to arrange for someone to bring the two of them food.

Fortunately, Chi Ye did not mind at all. He simply told her there was no need for her assistant to deliver any more meals, as he had already ordered them himself.

Relieved, Boss Yao then asked whether he needed anything else. Her assistant could bring it over.

Chi Ye did not ask for anything else. He only asked which hotel Boss Yao had booked for Shen Zhiyi, saying he wanted to stay there tonight too.

Surprised, Boss Yao hurriedly replied.

"Mr. Chi, Miss Shen is staying at a guesthouse. It isn't very spacious. You might not be comfortable there. How about I book you a suite in the city instead?"

Chi Ye glanced at Shen Zhiyi. She was already working. His gaze remained fixed on her as he answered absently.

"It's fine. I'll stay wherever she's staying. Thanks for your trouble, Boss Yao."

Boss Yao had no choice. Given Chi Ye's status, she could not afford to offend him. She could only have her assistant book him a room at the guesthouse and arrange some everyday necessities for him.

As dusk approached, Shen Zhiyi stretched. Her busy workday was over, and now she was free to do as she pleased.

She did not know where Chi Ye had gone, but he had not disturbed her all afternoon. After taking a few photos for Boss Yao, she returned her tools to the tool room and planned to walk back to the guesthouse.

The place was nestled near mountains and water, with great banyan trees spreading out and roads swept clean. In the early evening, many elderly people and children were already chatting beneath the trees, enjoying the cool air.

Along the stone-paved road were little stalls selling flowers and handicrafts. She glanced at a few as she strolled, then continued on.

A river ran through the village, with willow trees along both banks, their branches hanging over the lake's surface. She climbed the steps. Once she crossed this bridge, the guesthouse would be in sight.

"Hey, Shen Zhiyi! You actually left without waiting for me!"

At the end of the stone-paved road, Chi Ye had taken off his jacket and draped it over his arm. He shouted his accusation at her. His steps quickened, and a breeze lifted the hair over his brow, revealing his full forehead.

He seemed to smile, turning his head to answer questions from the elderly people beneath the trees. The sun was setting behind the western hills, and lovely sunset clouds colored the horizon.

He turned back, the smile still lingering on his face. Looking at Shen Zhiyi, he pointed at her and said,

"I was calling her. Sir, ma'am, if she leaves early next time, make sure you let me know."

The old man chuckled. "Young fellow, don't keep the girl waiting too long."

"I won't." After saying that, he seemed to break into a run.

His moods change so quickly, Shen Zhiyi thought as she stood on the bridge. Chi Ye reached her in just a few strides, and only then did she notice he was carrying something else.

Seeing her looking at what he held, Chi Ye lifted it irritably.

"I only went to buy dinner, and you disappeared. Come on, let's hurry back and eat."

Shen Zhiyi did not ask where he was staying. He could find somewhere to stay, after all. But how did he know where she was staying? He even walked ahead and went straight into her guesthouse.

"Curious where I'm staying? Curious how I know you're staying here? Shen Zhiyi, aren't you going to ask?" Chi Ye turned back and kept looking at her, his eyes full of smugness.

But when it came to patience, he still fell a little short, because Shen Zhiyi truly was not curious. She walked past him, about to head upstairs.

He grabbed her. "Keep pretending you're not interested. Hmph."

With that, he turned sideways and went upstairs first. Shen Zhiyi was speechless. There seemed to be something wrong with the villain's brain.

Rounding the corner, she saw Chi Ye waiting outside her door. He turned to look at her, pointed at the door, and said,

"Shen Zhiyi, you walk way too slowly. The food's going to get cold."

"Mr. Chi, I'm under no obligation to open my room for you. How much was lunch? I'll transfer you the money."

She knew she was only cannon fodder. Protecting herself was the right choice. Chi Ye's offer was generous, but she would never get involved in the struggle between the main characters because of it.

So she knew the female lead would be cornered by people in an alley, and she also knew the male lead would appear to save her.

But even knowing that, Shen Zhiyi would not change any part of it. Everything had already been set, though she did not know what had gone wrong with Chi Ye that made him keep pestering her and acting crazy.

But she would avoid all of this and avoid any further contact with Chi Ye.