"You're lying!" Chu Chu grabbed Xiao Jin Yu's ice-cold hands. "You must be in terrible pain—look how your hands are trembling!"
Xiao Jin Yu tried to pull his hands back, but when his gaze met her tear-streaked, kitten-like face, his heart ached and his movement faltered. Before he could collect himself, Chu Chu had already tucked both his hands inside her embrace.
His stiff, frozen hands were pressed tightly against her warm, soft chest beneath her outer garment, separated only by a layer of underwear. He could clearly feel her rabbit-quick heartbeat and furnace-like body heat. Xiao Jin Yu didn't dare move a muscle, not even allowing his hands to tremble.
Yes, he admitted—it was indeed fragrant and jade-soft, a hundred times more comfortable than any heating device in the world. This warmth seemed alive, spreading from his hands throughout his entire body, melting him from the inside out. But... he knew very well that the guards he'd sent to surveil Gathered Fragrance Pavilion were nearby, undoubtedly positioned where they could observe everything clearly.
The reason they hadn't intervened when he was being beaten wasn't because they hadn't seen it, but because of his secret signal.
Xiao Jin Yu flushed crimson from his forehead down to his neck, using every ounce of his composure to steady his voice. "It really doesn't hurt... I'm just... just cold, very cold. Could you go light a brazier for me?"
"Well..." Chu Chu hesitated before carefully releasing his hands. She wiped her tears, smudging her face even more. "Alright, I'll go right now!"
"Thank you..."
Chu Chu soon came running back. After bustling about for quite some time, she placed two blazing charcoal braziers near Xiao Jin Yu's table, boiled a pot of steaming water, and added a brightly burning oil lamp. The previously empty hall suddenly gained some warmth and vitality.
Just as she finished her tasks, Wan Niang emerged from the kitchen carrying Sweet and Sour Ribs.
"It's really just ordinary preparation—the customers have been too kind with their praise... Please enjoy your meal, Wang Ye."
The ribs, glistening with a rich brown-red glaze, were arranged neatly on a blue-and-white porcelain plate. Their aroma wafted along with the steam, relentlessly tempting the cold-faced Xiao Jin Yu.
Xiao Jin Yu had never been one for hearty appetites, but having grown up eating imperial cuisine and with several renowned chefs at Prince An Manor, he was quite qualified to judge the quality of common dishes like Sweet and Sour Ribs.
Compared to the portion Tang Yan had previously presented to him, this one before him was indeed superior.
With such presentation and such fragrance, it could rank among the finest even if served in the imperial kitchens.
Watching Xiao Jin Yu frown slightly and remain motionless for a long while, Wan Niang bowed her head. "My humble skills have embarrassed you, Wang Ye."
Xiao Jin Yu looked at Chu Chu. "What do you think?"
Chu Chu pouted reluctantly but answered honestly, "I think the proprietor made it quite well. It looks better than what Feng Yi makes..." As she spoke, she grabbed a piece from the plate and took a bite. After just a few chews, her eyes suddenly lit up. Before she could even swallow, she waved the half-eaten rib excitedly. "No, no! Feng Yi's is better! Feng Yi's is better!"
Xiao Jin Yu looked slightly puzzled. "Why?"Chu Chu held the half-eaten rib she had been nibbling on up to his lips. "Just try it and you'll see!"
Xiao Jin Yu's expression darkened. No one had ever dared offer him something half-eaten by another person, let alone in such a feeding gesture...
Just as Xiao Jin Yu was about to take the rib from Chu Chu's hand, her other hand pressed down his newly raised arm. Did he not know how to be a patient at all? "Don't move around. I'll feed you. Just open your mouth."
With the limited clues available, Xiao Jin Yu truly couldn't deduce what this girl might do next if he insisted on refusing. After all, there was still an outsider present, plus a subordinate who might be silently observing everything in the room from somewhere. It was better not to rashly challenge the unknown...
Helplessly, Xiao Jin Yu looked at the rib and took a small bite near the row of tiny tooth marks left by Chu Chu. After chewing carefully for a while, the furrow between his brows had smoothed by the time he swallowed.
Chu Chu eagerly asked, "I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded lightly. In terms of appearance and aroma, the rib was indeed top-notch, but for some reason, it didn't taste as fresh and delicious as the ones Feng Yi made.
And so, it was just right.
"Wan Niang... since business is slow, why not take a few days off to rest? Wait until the case goes to court, the truth comes to light, and the rumors dissipate before reopening for business."
Xiao Jin Yu spoke lightly, as if offering casual official consolation, but Wan Niang caught the implication. Delight instantly veiled her refined features. "Has Wang Ye already solved this case?"
Xiao Jin Yu didn't answer. "Thank you for the Sweet and Sour Ribs..."
By the time they returned to the Ji residence, it was already the second watch of the night. Chu Chu had wanted to see how seriously he was injured, but the messenger from the capital delivering urgent documents had been waiting for quite some time, pacing anxiously in circles in the courtyard. Chu Chu could only watch helplessly as Xiao Jin Yu followed him into the room, closed the door, and began discussing important matters.
Xiao Jin Yu might not care about those punches and kicks, but Chu Chu couldn't forget.
His body was so frail, yet so beautiful. Every time she touched him, Chu Chu was extremely careful, very gentle, afraid of hurting him. How dare that villain treat him so harshly? She really wanted to go immediately and tell the Chief Inspector that the villain's backside deserved a thorough thrashing!
Chu Chu waited in her room for a long time before she heard Xiao Jin Yu's door open. Peeking through the crack, she saw the document messenger leave. After watching for a while longer, she noticed the light in Xiao Jin Yu's room dim slightly.
She planned to wait until he blew out the lamp and fell asleep, then sneak in to massage his injured spots with medicated wine. Otherwise, it would surely hurt even more tomorrow. But a faint light remained lit in Xiao Jin Yu's room. Chu Chu waited until she was yawning repeatedly, yet the lamp still hadn't been extinguished.
After waiting another long while, Chu Chu was nearly asleep on her feet, her mind and vision growing hazy, when suddenly she heard a heavy, muffled thud from Xiao Jin Yu's room. Jolted alert, she hurriedly pressed against the door crack to look. The lamplight spilling from Xiao Jin Yu's window onto the corridor floor was still there.
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