Chapter 181 Steps to Reconciliation

Chapter 181: A Way to Make Up

Sure enough, the moment the food was on the table, the guy couldn't hold back.

"Take these dishes over to the opposite door," he said, frowning like he was annoyed. "If someone eats junk and gets a stomachache, this nobody neighbor of yours won't have time to take her to the hospital."

The nanny swiftly cleared away the dishes without even asking if Ling Jue would eat. "Got it, I'll deliver them right away."

After all, if Master Jue went hungry, it was just his stomach; if Miss Qin went hungry, he'd be worried sick too. She knew what mattered more.

The nanny briskly walked over with the food container to knock on the opposite door.

Ling Jue unconsciously pricked up his ears, edging closer to the end of the sofa by the door, trying to hear what was going on across the hall.

Unfortunately, the soundproofing was too good; he only heard the door open and close.

Pretty soon, the nanny returned with the food container exactly as she'd taken it. Ling Jue snapped back to his original spot.

The nanny reported, looking pained, "Master Jue, Miss Qin said she wouldn't eat."

She gave him a look that said, "What did you do to piss off such a sweet girl like Miss Qin?"

Ling Jue: "..."

He stood up, furious. "Why won't she eat?"

The chef made all her favorite dishes with the freshest ingredients; there was no way she could resist.

"Didn't you tell her what was inside?"

"I did. Miss Qin said she doesn't take handouts."

Ling Jue huffed angrily. "Handouts? She's quite the smart mouth. Forget her, let her starve."

"Master Jue, Miss Qin's eating takeout." She's not gonna starve.

Ling Jue slumped back, defeated.

He was the one who was really frustrated and had no appetite.

He sat back on the sofa and waved his hand. "Forget it, leave the food. Go home."

The nanny said, "Okay."

Before she left, she reminded him, "Ms. Qi keeps saying you should bring Miss Qin over for dinner sometime."

Hinting he shouldn't screw up and lose his girlfriend.

Ling Jue sneered.

He'd love to bring her, but would she even come?

Her eyes were probably already on some other guy.

...

At Qin Shuyi's apartment.

She sat at the dining table, slowly unpacking her takeout.

He wouldn't come himself, just sent someone, and talked all weird. "Insignificant neighbor"—he might as well just stay a neighbor.

Qin Shuyi poked the big turtle on the chair next to her.

Her thing with Chi Yu was ages ago, and he still used it to piss her off—what a jerk.

If he had the balls, he shouldn't have broken up with her back then.

If they hadn't broken up, would she have gone on blind dates while they were together?

He had no right to yell at her over a random run-in.

Ling Jue, the jerk.

...

Both were fuming, but one went about her day, while the other paced around the living room, occasionally glaring at the front door.

Ling Jue checked his watch again, annoyed.

Didn't she say they'd talk more tonight? Why wasn't she coming to see him?

He looked at the time again—almost nine.

He'd wait another half hour, he told himself.

If she didn't knock in half an hour, he was going to bed!

Let that spoiled brat have no one to cuddle or comfort her—see if she can sleep.

...

Nine-thirty.

The doorbell rang.

The door opened, and Qin Shuyi looked at the man outside, bare-chested, with only a towel precariously wrapped around his waist.

He must have been showering before coming over.

His black hair was wet and tousled with a hint of careless charm, paired with his sharply handsome features, it looked a bit sexy.

Water droplets still clung to his body, clearly visible as they rolled over his firm chest, slid down his solid abs, and disappeared into the dangerous wilderness below.

So provocative—if they weren't fighting, Qin Shuyi would have already pounced on him and had her way.

He knew his own allure well, muscles tensed, voice low, but his handsome head still held up arrogantly. "Borrow your bathroom."

Qin Shuyi snapped, "Don't you have one at your place?"

Ling Jue said matter-of-factly, "It's broken."

They stared at each other from inside and out.

The temperature had dropped recently; if he kept standing there like that, he'd definitely catch a cold.

Qin Shuyi snorted coldly and stepped aside.

Ling Jue curled the corner of his mouth subtly.

"Thanks, good neighbor," he whispered in her ear.

His bare shoulder brushed against her suggestively, splashing water onto her pajamas.

If Qin Shuyi hadn't kept her cool, her hands would've already pinched that peacock-annoying man's chest.

"Get lost."

"Fine, I'll go." The man swaggered off to the bathroom.

Caesar, following behind him, wagged his tail and played around freely in the living room, just like his master.

The bathroom light turned on. Qin Shuyi sat on the living room sofa for a while, her eyes drifted to the small, unopened cake on the coffee table.

Thinking about the original plan for tonight, her eyes flickered with thought.

Ling Jue had come to knock on her door voluntarily. Qin Shuyi knew this was his way of offering an olive branch.

If she wasn't ready to break up over something this trivial, the best move was for them to have a proper talk.

She stood up, put one of the cakes in a bag, hung it on the inside doorknob of her door, and then turned to go into her room.

When Ling Jue finished showering and was about to go home, he would find the small cake hanging on the door when he opened it.

Just like letting him in, this was her signal of goodwill.

Their little unspoken understanding would be enough for him to understand.

She left her bedroom door ajar.

If he wanted to make up, he could come find her in the room himself.

Hmph, he was getting off too easy.

...

Qin Shuyi had already pictured herself pouncing on him and hugging him when he pushed the door open.

She would wrap her legs and arms around him, then twist those unruly ears.

He was so hung up on Chi Yu, so she'd explain it all over again.

It seemed she had never told him the real reason she and Chi Yu broke up?

Silly, liking someone and being right for each other are different.

Thinking this, her anger cooled a bit.

Actually, it wasn't a big deal. They were just getting more childish with age, arguing over stupid reasons.

Qin Shuyi sat on the bed, swinging her legs.

But ten minutes went by.

Fifteen minutes went by.

The bedroom door still hadn't opened.

Was Ling Jue tricking her into coming out of the room?

She got up and quietly peeked her head out of the room.

The living room was dead silent.

No one popped out to scare her.

She realized something and opened the door to step out.

The bathroom light was already off, leaving only warm, steamy air behind.

The cake she'd hung on the doorknob was gone, and the door had been shut from the outside.

She opened the front door again and saw the closed door of the apartment across from hers.

He'd taken the small cake she gave him but hadn't taken a single step toward the room she left ajar.

He had rejected her olive branch.

Qin Shuyi, who had always found joy in their relationship, felt a rare pang of sadness.

Did he not want to make up anymore?

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