chapter 2

I froze for a second, but quickly composed myself so Xie Ji wouldn’t notice anything off.

The System was still chattering away.

[Stop pretending. I know you can hear me.]

[The male lead doesn’t love you at all. He has a severe emotional-cognitive disorder. Only the female lead can teach him what truly healthy love is. I don’t know where this control-freak extra came from, but I hope you leave the male lead soon!]

I stayed silent, convinced I was having hallucinations.

After all, my mind really wasn’t all that stable.

Seeing that I wouldn’t respond no matter what, the System lost it.

[I’ll be straight with you. The male lead and the female lead have already connected. Within just a few months, he’s started unconsciously paying attention to her every move. Don’t believe me? Look up and see what the male lead is doing right now.]

I instinctively looked up.

That was when I noticed Xie Ji frowning at something.

I followed his gaze. The mall was holding an event, and the crowd was noisy—I honestly couldn’t tell who he was looking at.

I pursed my lips, displeased, and waved my hand in front of his face.

“Xie Ji, what are you spacing out about!”

He snapped back to himself, kissed my hand deftly, then cupped my cheeks and kissed both sides of my face.

He bought me ice cream and candied hawthorn, and only then was I grudgingly soothed.

“Baby, my stomach feels a bit off. I’m going to the restroom. Stay here and wait for me, okay?”

The System let out a smug snort.

[See? The male lead already cares about the female lead this much. He couldn’t help following her the moment he spotted a back that looked like hers heading into the restroom.]

My blood boiled.

I pretended to agree, then quietly trailed after him.

But I waited until he came back out and still hadn’t spotted anyone suspicious.

Xie Ji seemed to have expected me to follow. Without a hint of surprise, he ruffled my hair and took me home.

The moment we got back, he handed over his phone, as he always did.

This time, I set my face and went through it thoroughly for a long time.

I checked everything—from his chat apps to his food-delivery apps, from the study app to the shared documents.

I didn’t even spare his shopping app or short-video feed.

By the time I was done, it was dark outside. I’d found nothing.

His necessary communication with classmates all happened in group chats anyway. He never even got the chance to chat with anyone privately.

Xie Ji happened to have just set all the dishes on the table.

He untied his apron and glanced at me.

“All done? Come eat.”

I wrapped my arms around his firm, narrow waist from behind, clinging to him in a needy, wronged sort of way.

“Baby, you’ll never fall for anyone else, and you’ll never leave me. Right?”

“I won’t.”

His expression was faint, but he turned and pulled me into his arms, giving me all the security I needed.

It took a while for my emotions to settle, but my hands were still restlessly teasing him.

The muscles of Xie Ji’s abdomen tightened inch by inch, his breathing growing heavier, his voice going husky.

“Not hungry yet?”

He looked at me, his sharply defined face cut into light and shadow by the warm lamp—irresistibly tempting.

I looped my arms around his neck and breathed warm air against his ear.

“I’m hungry. Feed me, baby.”

The System shrieked in fury.

[If you’re hungry, then eat! There’s a whole table of food right there! What are you two going back to the bedroom for!]