Su Yumian finished her morning run, took a shower, and came out to see a new pink succulent among the rows of green ones on her balcony.

  She gently poked it with her finger, watching the soft, tender pnt, and felt her mood improve.

  On the table, her phone buzzed.

  Seeing "Cheng Zhou" on the screen, she curiously answered.

  "Cheng-zi? Calling me at this hour? What's up?"

  "Yumian-jie, how have you been tely?"

  "Not bad. You?"

  Opportunity struck!

  Cheng Zhou immediately sat up straight. "Me... not so great."

  Su Yumian frowned. "What happened?"

  "Probably too many te nights and drinking. My stomach feels awful. Yumian-jie, I don’t know why, but nothing seems appetizing right now except the stomach-soothing porridge you make. I’ve been craving it so much… Do you think you could make some?"

  He didn’t dare say Jiang Yihuai wanted it—had to take the indirect route.

  Although she had met Cheng Zhou through Jiang Yihuai, over the years, they had built their own friendship.

  He had asked, and his stomach did seem upset…

  Su Yumian gnced at the time. "Sure. I’ll go buy ingredients now. Come pick it up at noon."

  "Hey! Thanks, Yumian-jie! You’re the best! Love you, muah! I’ll call you ter!"

  Su Yumian chuckled.

  —

  At noon, Cheng Zhou followed the address Su Yumian sent him. Navigating through narrow alleyways near B University, he finally arrived.

  After parking, he walked through a tree-lined path, found the right building, and remembered—seventh floor, no elevator…

  Looking up, he instinctively swallowed.

  Five minutes ter, panting at her door, he felt half-dead, sweating buckets.

  Su Yumian opened the door and handed him a gss of water.

  "You okay? Was it that exhausting?"

  Catching his breath, Cheng Zhou waved a hand. "Too exhausting! Yumian-jie, why’d you pick such a… remote pce?"

  He almost said "run-down" but changed his wording st second.

  "It’s quiet, and everything’s convenient."

  She handed over the packed porridge. "Just made this—eat it while it’s hot. There are also a few side dishes. Be careful not to spill."

  Opening the container, Cheng Zhou was hit with the rich aroma. No wonder someone was craving it.

  He nodded. "Got it. Thanks, Yumian-jie. I’ll treat you to a meal soon."

  As he was about to leave, he hesitated and turned back. "Yumian-jie, you…"

  Before he could finish, Su Yumian lit up her phone. "It’s almost 1 PM—I need to go. I’ll walk you downstairs?"

  Swallowing his words, Cheng Zhou nodded. "Okay."

  She watched the sports car drive away, the smile on her lips slowly fading.

  She had a feeling she knew what he wanted to say.

  But now, she doesn't want to hear it anymore.

  —

  Speeding to the hospital, Cheng Zhou pced the thermos on Jiang Yihuai’s bedside table.

  "Guaranteed to satisfy."

  Jiang Yihuai suspiciously opened the lid, took one sip, and his expression softened.

  She acted so cold, left so decisively, yet she still caved?

  Taking another bite, he gnced at the door. "Where is she?"

  "Who?" Cheng Zhou was confused.

  "This was made by her, right? Has she come around? Coming back?"

  Jiang Yihuai raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "What does she think this is? A hotel she can leave and return to whenever she pleases?"

  Sitting on the sofa, Shen Shiyan smirked at Cheng Zhou’s awkward expression. "Then you really don’t need to worry. After all, Cheng Zhou had to lie and say he wanted it for her to make it. She’s not coming back."

  Jiang Yihuai’s face darkened as he coldly gnced at Cheng Zhou. "Did I ask you to do that? Who told you to act on your own?"

  Cheng Zhou shrank back and coughed. "I was just worried about your health. You haven’t been eating these days. If it weren’t for Yumian-jie, you’d still be starving now…"

  Jiang Yihuai remained silent, his face cold.

  "By the way, I saw where she’s living now. Tiny, run-down pce, no elevator—she has to climb seven flights of stairs every day. She looks like she’s struggling." Cheng Zhou observed Jiang Yihuai’s expression.

  Though his words were harsh, a flicker of concern fshed in his eyes.

  Yeah… he’s still not over her.

  Before Cheng Zhou could say more, a sickly sweet voice called from the doorway.

  "Baby~"

  Both Cheng Zhou and Shen Shiyan shuddered.

  Goosebumps everywhere…

  Shi Muxi hadn’t heard from Jiang Yihuai for days. His calls went unanswered. After asking Gu Yizhou, she found out he had been hospitalized with a stomach ulcer.

  Panic hit instantly.

  She skipped css and rushed over. Seeing Jiang Yihuai in a hospital gown, still looking pale, her lips quivered, and tears streamed down.

  "Baby~ I just found out you were in the hospital! Are you still feeling unwell? You look terrible—should I call a doctor?"

  Her nonstop questions were irritating enough, but the crying? Even worse. Jiang Yihuai massaged his temples. "I’m fine. Stop crying." For a moment, he missed the days with Su Yumian. If it were her, no matter how worried she was, she would handle everything calmly and efficiently.

  Shi Muxi was good at reading people. Seeing Jiang Yihuai’s expression shift, she knew she had to tone it down. Sniffling a few times, she stopped crying but kept her eyes red and filled with concern.

  Jiang Yihuai softened slightly.

  "My illness… came suddenly. But it’s not serious. I’m fine now. You should go back to school."

  Shi Muxi bit her lip. "Are you sure? I can make you some porridge…"

  At this, Cheng Zhou couldn’t help but ugh. They’d just gone through all that trouble to get porridge, and now another one was offering it? Too funny.

  Shi Muxi rarely interacted with Cheng Zhou. Hearing him ugh, she was annoyed. What was so funny about making porridge?

  Jiang Yihuai frowned and spoke ftly. "No need. Just go back to school."

  Hearing the impatience in his tone, Shi Muxi didn’t dare argue and obediently left.

  As soon as she was gone, Shen Shiyan finally spoke. "So… are you still eating that porridge?"

  Jiang Yihuai wanted to say no, but looking at the carefully prepared bowl, he coldly muttered, "Who said I wasn’t?"