Chapter 12: Because You’re Good-Looking

Chapter 12 Because You're Good-Looking

He stopped what he was doing and raised an eyebrow with a flourish. "You're back? Still good to go?"

Su Zhiyu replied calmly, "Yes."

"Then don't rush off to hide in your room. Sit down and keep me company while I practice guitar."

"?"

"What, can't I even boss you around anymore?" Qin Yan continued to be deliberately unreasonable.

Su Zhiyu silently turned and sat down on the small sofa beside him.

"That's more like it. Watch this—I'll play you a song."

Qin Yan tuned the strings, strummed a few casual notes, and then launched into a piece that flowed effortlessly.

The style was refined and lyrical, a world apart from his usual cocky, reckless attitude.

The piece ended.

Su Zhiyu was still stunned.

"Well, how was it? Did you like it?"

Qin Yan stared straight at him with a hint of expectation in his eyes, making Su Zhiyu squirm in his seat. He pressed his legs together tightly and nodded. "Mm, it was good."

It really was good.

He had no idea this spoiled rich kid had such a stunning skill.

Even more smug after the praise, Qin Yan waved his hand grandly and started making grand promises: "I'll write you a song someday, play and sing it myself—it'll be a massive hit!"

For the first time ever, Su Zhiyu found himself infected by his enthusiasm. A rare trace of a smile appeared in his cold eyes.

"Alright."

"You smiled?" Qin Yan stared at Su Zhiyu like he'd just discovered something incredible.

Su Zhiyu sat up straight and returned to his usual aloof demeanor. "No, you saw wrong."

"Really?"

"Really."

Qin Yan stared at him for a long while. The young man's delicate face showed not a trace of a smile. That brief smile had vanished in an instant, so fast it might as well have been an illusion.

"Fine." Qin Yan sighed with a hint of disappointment. "Smile more—a smile makes you ten years younger, you know."

Qin Yan was so pleased that he momentarily forgot Su Zhiyu was still recovering from an injury and insisted on keeping him there for two full hours.

When Su Zhiyu went upstairs, his lips were pale, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

He still hadn't appeared by dinner time. Qin Yan sent someone up to get him, and the servant said he seemed to have passed out?

"Damn."

Qin Yan slapped down his chopsticks and took the stairs two at a time up to the second floor. Pushing the door open, he found Su Zhiyu lying face-down on the quilt.

His complexion was indeed somewhat pale.

Qin Yan rushed over in a few steps and had just touched his forehead when Su Zhiyu opened his eyes, staring blankly at him. "Why are you here?"

His voice had lost some of its usual coldness, replaced by a weary, lazy hoarseness.

Like he'd just woken up.

"Uh." Qin Yan awkwardly withdrew his hand and said with a stern face. "You didn't come out all day. I was afraid you'd die on me, so I came to check."

Su Zhiyu blinked. "I'm fine."

"If you're fine, get up and eat. I want you to keep me company today. Butler, bring the food up here. I'm eating upstairs."

The butler: "Huh? Bring it up?"

"Cut the crap and go."

"Oh, alright, alright." The butler turned and went to instruct the servants.

Su Zhiyu was slightly surprised. He propped himself up with his hands and sat up as the dishes were brought in.

"Eat."

Qin Yan's stern face was quite intimidating, but for some reason, Su Zhiyu felt he wasn't as scary as before.

In the past, Qin Yan hated the smell of food on the second floor. No one was allowed upstairs within half an hour of eating, and anyone going up had to change clothes—himself included.

Bringing food upstairs was a first.

So, was he doing this to take care of him?

Su Zhiyu took a small bite of rice and stole a glance at Qin Yan from the corner of his eye, feeling a bit conflicted.

Qin Yan sensed the gaze from across the table and looked up, but Su Zhiyu was already eating with his head down, not looking at him at all.

Must have been his imagination.

After dinner, Qin Yan got ready to head back to his room.

Just as the door was about to close, Su Zhiyu spoke in a low voice. "Thank you."

"?"

Qin Yan heard it clearly. He stared at Su Zhiyu, both surprised and delighted, but quickly caught himself and switched back to a tsundere, arrogant expression. "What are you thanking me for?"

Su Zhiyu said seriously, "For what happened yesterday. Thank you."

"Tsk, fine. But it wasn't for you—that bastard just didn't know what he was messing with. Besides, I'd step in for anyone being bullied. Don't flatter yourself."

"It's not just that."

Qin Yan: "Then what else?"

"And..." Su Zhiyu lowered his head, his ears burning slightly, his voice dropping a notch. "In the car, thank you for helping me."

"..."

Qin Yan immediately replayed the ambiguous scene in the car in his head. His face flushed hot, and he even started stuttering.

"Oh, this, this too, is doing the right thing."

"Mm."

Huh?

That's all?

Su Zhiyu looked up again, his face going back to its usual cold look. "It's getting late. I'm going to rest."

"Oh."

Qin Yan wandered back to his room in a daze, flopping onto the big bed and giggling to himself.

Over the next few days, the villa was surprisingly peaceful.

Maybe because he'd saved Su Zhiyu once and hadn't caused him any more trouble, he seemed less scared of Qin Yan now, no longer hiding the moment he saw him.

But...

Qin Yan frowned, looking upstairs, and asked the servant, "Why isn't he coming down for dinner again? Did you call him?"

The servants exchanged glances, looking puzzled. "Young master, should we call Mr. Su to eat with you today?"

"?" Qin Yan retorted, "What else would it be? If he doesn't eat with me, does he get his own special meals?"

One servant replied softly, "Young master, you used to not let him sit at the same table as you, saying he'd be an eyesore."

"Pfft..."

Qin Yan almost spat out his milk.

He'd been having it too easy these past few days, forgetting the original owner was a scumbag.

So how did Su Zhiyu normally eat?

No wonder he's so skinny.

Qin Yan cleared his throat, putting on a stern, annoyed look. "From now on, call him down for every meal. He's as thin as a rail. What if he dies on me?"

Su Zhiyu just happened to be walking by the dining room entrance. When he heard Qin Yan's words, he paused for a moment, then walked in calmly.

"I'm here now."

"Su, Su Zhiyu." Qin Yan felt a twinge of guilt, like he'd been caught talking behind someone's back. He pointed awkwardly at the chair across from him. "Come on, stop dragging your feet. The food's getting cold."

"Okay."

Su Zhiyu sat down across from him.

His movements were as slow and graceful as ever, like a spoiled little prince. Even just sipping soup, he made it look like a gourmet meal.

Watching a beautiful person eat was a real treat.

He really didn't get what the original owner had been thinking.

Qin Yan was enjoying the view.

Su Zhiyu felt uncomfortable under the intense stare, suddenly hit with a bad feeling. Was the food drugged? Is that why Qin Yan wanted to watch him eat it?

He stared at the spoonful of chicken soup, not sure whether to drink it or not.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Su Zhiyu set down his spoon. "Why do you keep staring at me?"

"Because you're beautiful."

Qin Yan blurted out without thinking.

The second those words left his mouth, the dining room went dead silent.

The three servants nearby all turned to look at Qin Yan at the same time, and Su Zhiyu looked shocked.

Did he just say that?

Su Zhiyu's hand tightened around the spoon, his calm eyes looking away.

Qin Yan: ?