Chapter 10 Those Three Words
Knock knock.
The door opened softly a few seconds later.
Light poured in and covered me.
“Get up and eat, Su Xiaomian.”
I dragged myself out of the pain, blinking awake.
Chen Yinian stood silhouetted in the doorway—my savior.
Get up and eat, Su Xiaomian.
Six years ago flashed through my mind like a reel.
The ache in my body suddenly eased.
I sat up, still dazed.
My eyes adjusted.
Chen Yinian wore my bathrobe, chin tilted up, looking at me with that inexplicably arrogant little expression.
The robe was comically short on him—like a mini skirt.
…
“Is that my bathrobe?” I croaked.
He lifted his chin higher, completely unbothered.
“Sweated a ton. Used your shower. You don’t mind, right?”
He turned and walked out.
“Why didn’t you shower at your place?” died in my throat.
The table held three dishes and soup, steam rising, smelling incredible.
I couldn’t remember the last time I woke up to a hot meal.
The food was delicious.
The silence was excruciating.
Chen Yinian sat beside me, watching me eat.
Terrified of finishing and having to speak, I kept refilling my bowl even after I was stuffed.
After the fourth, he stole it away.
Part disgust, mostly fondness in his voice: “Love eating this much? I’ll cook again tonight.”
My hands hung empty. My brain went blank.
I stared at my lap and picked at nonexistent lint.
He watched me for a long time.
Then he stood, took my wrist, and pulled me toward the sofa.
His warm fingers sent sparks up my arm.
“We can’t keep avoiding this, Su Mian. We need to talk.”
Anxiety twisted in my chest.
But my gaze dropped to his bare thighs, and somehow it calmed me.
I even wondered, distractedly, if he was wearing anything underneath.
We sat.
He looked ready for a serious conversation.
We stared at each other for almost a full minute.
His throat bobbed.
He finally spoke.
“Just one question. That year, when you said you never liked me—was it fake?”
Of course it was fake.
I didn’t answer right away.
I had said so many vicious things back then, and this was the only one he cared about.
My heart sank heavy, yet something like hope sparked through my nerves.
Chen Yinian didn’t hate me.
He was indulging me beyond reason.
My pulse hammered.
The room spun.
He stared, stubborn.
“True or fake?”
I tilted my head to see him better.
“Fake,” I whispered.
He pressed down a smile and leaned closer.
He coughed a few times.
“Then, for taking care of me all last night—say ‘I love you’ now, and I’ll forgive you.”
“We’ll just call it a six-year long-distance relationship.”
Tears broke free that instant.
I couldn’t stop them.
Chen Yinian pulled me into his arms in a panic.
His voice muffled against my ear.
“Crying again. Doesn’t matter. When you’re done, you’re still saying those three words.”