Cloud Shu Nian, however, was overjoyed to hear Mu Qi's reply, her heart soaring. She shyly buried her head in Mu Qi's embrace, nuzzling him with all her might.
Whispering in his ear, she responded, "That would be great. I'll look at you more often from now on." Cloud Shu Nian didn't voice how much she had already fallen for Mu Qi.
Cloud Shu Nian knew that Mu Qi wouldn't easily believe she had suddenly fallen for him.
But at this moment, blinded by Mu Qi's acceptance, Cloud Shu Nian forgot to ask about Yun Rong and the nurse at the hospital, and what their connection was with Mu Qi.
Mu Qi hadn't expected this outcome. He tentatively raised his hand to touch Cloud Shu Nian's fluffy head. His hand hovered nervously over her head, but Cloud Shu Nian, who had been nestled comfortably by his ear, suddenly shifted.
Mu Qi immediately withdrew his hand.
He cherished Cloud Shu Nian too much. Now that he had finally seen a glimmer of hope, Mu Qi became even more cautious.
Cloud Shu Nian remembered her Coke chicken wings and soon got up from Mu Qi's lap. "Mu Qi, I made Coke chicken wings. Shall we eat together?"
"You cooked?" Mu Qi immediately examined Cloud Shu Nian from head to toe, ensuring she wasn't injured.
"Mhm, I made them with Aunt Ning," Cloud Shu Nian said, her attention split between Mu Qi and the Coke chicken wings on the table.
Unexpectedly, in her daze, Cloud Shu Nian bumped the edge of the plate on the table. In an instant, the sauce from the Coke chicken wings splattered all over Mu Qi's desk.
With a clatter, the plate fell to the floor.
Fortunately, the plate was made of imitation porcelain, so it didn't break. Only the chicken wings scattered across the floor.
Seeing that many of Mu Qi's important materials were stained with the dark sauce, Cloud Shu Nian quickly grabbed tissues from the table to wipe them, but it only made things blurrier.
Cloud Shu Nian's mind was elsewhere. She looked up at Mu Qi cautiously.
She saw that Mu Qi had already used his chopsticks to pick up all the scattered Coke chicken wings and place them back onto the plate.
"Mu Qi, what do we do?" Cloud Shu Nian looked at the messy desk and instinctively took a few steps back.
Mu Qi followed the direction of Cloud Shu Nian's gaze, then his eyes gently returned to her.
"It's fine. Let's go downstairs to eat."
Eat? Eat what? Cloud Shu Nian was stunned, unable to process.
Seeing her reaction, Mu Qi walked over, took Cloud Shu Nian's hand, and led her downstairs.
Cloud Shu Nian followed Mu Qi dazedly.
It wasn't until Mu Qi led her to the dining table and picked up his chopsticks, reaching for a chicken wing on the plate, that Cloud Shu Nian understood what he meant.
Cloud Shu Nian immediately reached out and grasped Mu Qi's wrist, stopping his movement.
Mu Qi looked up. "Hmm? Aren't they for me?" he asked, his voice cold.
"Of course, but they're dirty now. I'll make you a new batch." Cloud Shu Nian reached out with her other hand to take the plate.
But Mu Qi held her hand. "No need. Don't go into the kitchen anymore." The knives and other tools were too dangerous.
"Mu Qi!" Cloud Shu Nian watched as Mu Qi lowered his head and ate the chicken wing from his chopsticks, unsure what to do.
"They're delicious." Mu Qi finished the chicken wings on the plate without blinking.
Cloud Shu Nian looked at the empty plate, feeling quite helpless.
"Mu Qi, next time you want something, I'll make it for you," Cloud Shu Nian said, resting her chin in her hands and looking at Mu Qi with a sense of accomplishment.
Mu Qi, however, frowned slightly. "There won't be a next time."
Cloud Shu Nian was displeased. "Why? Weren't they delicious?" Was he lying to her?
"The kitchen is too dangerous. If you want something, you can tell Aunt Ning," Mu Qi said, wiping the corner of his mouth.
As soon as they reached the kitchen door and were about to report to Aunt Ning, the "Nine-Person Kitchen Team" that had been prepared thoughtfully mused: So they were on the front lines every day, standing shoulder to shoulder with danger!
"Then if you don't get angry with me anymore, I won't go into the kitchen." So he was just worried about her. Cloud Shu Nian's brow unfurrowed, her heart filled with sweetness.
"After all, it was all to coax you," Cloud Shu Nian added, widening her eyes.
"To coax me?" Mu Qi was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting that Cloud Shu Nian had made Coke chicken wings for him.
Cloud Shu Nian winked at Mu Qi. "That's right. Aunt Ning told me the secret."
Mu Qi looked at Cloud Shu Nian's expression, a mixture of bewilderment and yearning. In this moment, Cloud Shu Nian seemed to genuinely like him, making Mu Qi doubt if he was hallucinating.
"Mu Qi?" Cloud Shu Nian waved her hand in front of him.
"Mm," Mu Qi replied, snapping back to attention.
Cloud Shu Nian could feel that Mu Qi's expression had softened considerably.
Cloud Shu Nian tilted her head. "Mr. Mu, aren't you happy?"
"We're not that formal. After so many interactions with Cloud Shu Nian, Mu Qi's guard had lowered unconsciously. Normally, Mu Qi wouldn't have so easily revealed his feelings.
After saying this, Mu Qi regretted it. He didn't want to hear Cloud Shu Nian's denial.
Seeing Mu Qi turn to go upstairs, Cloud Shu Nian playfully pulled him back. "Mu Qi, do you know about something called 'flirtatiousness'?"
"Flirtatiousness?"
Seeing Mu Qi's confused expression, Cloud Shu Nian found him so innocent that she felt a sudden pang of guilt.
"That's right, this kind of flirtatiousness." Cloud Shu Nian stood on her tiptoes and pecked Mu Qi on the corner of his mouth.
Mu Qi looked at Cloud Shu Nian's smiling eyes and remembered how she had leaned into him in the study. Only now did he belatedly realize that perhaps Cloud Shu Nian didn't dislike being intimate with him.
Then, how far could it go?
Mu Qi suddenly leaned closer to Cloud Shu Nian.
Because it was so sudden, Cloud Shu Nian reflexively took a step back.
Seeing this, Mu Qi dared not move forward.
"What's wrong? Mu Qi?" Cloud Shu Nian regained her senses and moved forward, returning to stand before Mu Qi.
Mu Qi turned his head away, intending to go upstairs, but Cloud Shu Nian blocked his path.
"Mu Qi, do you still want me to go into the kitchen?" Cloud Shu Nian stood with her hands on her hips, blocking Mu Qi's way.