The male lead, a man who refuses to eat (52)

"Hello, Dr. Cheng," Si Jiu greeted Cheng Yiming with a composed expression.

Cheng Yiming felt inexplicably awkward and offered a stiff smile. "Hello, hello."

"Come in and sit. No need to change your shoes."

Xie Yu carried Si Jiu inside, with Cheng Yiming trailing behind. Mantou ran over, tongue lolling, but screeched to a halt in front of Xie Yu. It sniffed his pant leg with a mix of fear and curiosity.

Xie Yu spared the dog a glance, nudged it aside with his foot to clear the path, and carried Si Jiu to the sofa, where he set her down.

"Your Highness has delicate skin; you mustn't walk around without shoes." He picked up the slippers Si Jiu had left by the sofa, knelt on one knee before her, removed his gloves, and held her ankle, solemnly sliding the slippers onto her feet.

Cheng Yiming: "..."

With one foot still resting on his knee, Si Jiu propped her chin on her hand and tilted her head to look at him. "Charles?"

Xie Yu looked up, his eyes seeming to shimmer. "Your Highness."

Cheng Yiming: "...Ahem, well, Xu, is it? Forgive me, let me introduce myself properly. I am Xie Yu's uncle, Cheng Yiming. I hope you don't mind this abrupt visit."

Si Jiu turned to Cheng Yiming. "Uncle, you are too polite. We are all family; there is no need for such formalities."

As she spoke, she reached out and ruffled Xie Yu's hair. "Go wash your hands, then get your uncle something to drink. It's in the refrigerator."

Xie Yu rubbed his cheek against her palm with attachment, nodded, and headed toward the kitchen.

Cheng Yiming: "..."

"Did you accompany A-Yu to see Dr. Wen today? What did Dr. Wen say?"

Cheng Yiming was startled. "You know? He even told you about that?"

*I know much more than you do,* she thought.

For instance, you have no idea that the nephew standing before you is no longer the nephew you once knew.

"Well, there was... an accident of sorts."

"Ah..." Seeing her slightly flushed face, Cheng Yiming had a sudden realization. "Was it that incident? ...Yu is not actually a casual person. I was quite worried you might misunderstand him. But that's wonderful. Thank you for being so understanding. And thank you for not blaming him for his past offenses against you."

As they spoke, Xie Yu returned. He placed a juice box in front of Cheng Yiming, then stood beside Si Jiu with his hands at his sides in a standard, formal posture. He looked like a dutiful bodyguard.

Cheng Yiming: "?"

*Though... when is this role-playing game going to end?* As an observer, he found it incredibly embarrassing.

Cheng Yiming stayed for a short while before taking his leave. The atmosphere was simply giving him indigestion. The sight of his nephew, who usually kept people at a distance, acting so clingy toward Si Jiu was too much for him to stomach; he couldn't handle it.

Once Cheng Yiming left, the living room fell into a brief silence.

"Charles" watched Si Jiu with intense focus and fervor, yet he restrained himself from drawing closer due to her cold expression.

After a long while, she finally beckoned him over.

Granted permission, "Charles's" eyes lit up. He immediately sat beside Si Jiu and took her hand.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

He kissed the back of her hand, her palm, and her fingers, watching her without blinking. Gazing into her eyes made his heart ache, bringing to mind a pair of eyes that were equally beautiful but hollow, lifeless, and devoid of any spark.

Now, those eyes were bright once more. This joy of regaining what was lost made him nearly weep.

Si Jiu sighed, gripped his chin, and stopped his movements.

"Charles, where is A-Yu?"

"And you and Xiu—what is going on there?"

Her expression was nearly cold.

Charles’s breath hitched, his face filled with hurt.

"Your Highness... do you not wish to see me?"

"Does Your Highness prefer Xiu or that man named Xie Yu over me? Why is it always like this!"

Although he seemed to have forgotten many of his past memories, he felt no stranger to this painful, sour sensation. It was as if, a long, long time ago, it had always been this way: whenever he was around, she would always divide her attention among others, often giving them even more.

"Can you not just look at me?"

He caught Si Jiu's hand and leaned in close, bracing one arm against the back of the sofa, trapping her between the furniture and himself.

"Just look at me alone, will you?"

His eyes swirled with strange, shifting light, occasionally flashing a brilliant blue, his expression dangerous and on the verge of losing control.