Chapter 443 I dealt with the minor troubles from before

Cui Xiao's cheeks flushed instantly, as if someone had touched her most secret secret.

She abruptly turned her head away, avoiding his overly intense gaze, her hand on the blanket clenching unconsciously until her knuckles turned white.

The anger she felt earlier was quickly dissipated by embarrassment.

He was telling the truth; the marks from last night were too heavy to hide, and the discomfort between his legs while walking was also impossible to conceal.

Cui Xiao remained silent for a few seconds, then finally gave up and didn't say anything.

Seeing her give in, Zhou Mubin's smile deepened. As he straightened up, he casually tucked the blanket around her, the action as natural as if he had done it a thousand times before. "Lie down obediently, I'll go get something to eat."

Cui Xiao's muffled voice came from under the pillow, tinged with lingering awkwardness, "No need, Zhou Lu, you should go and attend to your own business."

But all she got in response was the sound of slippers scraping the floor and the kitchen door being gently pushed open.

Cui Xiao lifted a corner of the pillow and peeked through the crack in the bedroom door. She saw Zhou Mubin skillfully open the refrigerator and bend down to take out eggs and vegetables.

He even knew that her cooking oil was on the top shelf of the cupboard and the salt shaker was on the spice rack to the left of the stove, his movements so fluid that he didn't seem like a guest at all.

Cui Xiao raised her voice, trying to use a forceful tone to drive him away, "Zhou Mubin, I don't need your care, you can leave now."

The crisp sound of cracking eggs came from the kitchen, followed by Zhou Mubin's voice, which sounded a bit casual, "There are noodles in the fridge, enough for a bowl of plain noodles. The bok choy you bought yesterday is very fresh, it'll be good to nourish you."

Zhou Mubin didn't listen to what she was saying at all; it was like she was talking to a brick wall.

Speechless, Cui Xiao simply turned over and ignored him.

The bedroom was quiet, but the faint sounds coming from the kitchen became all the more distinct.

The sounds of water rinsing the vegetables, the soft clatter of the iron pot preheating, the bubbling of noodles being added to the pot, and the clinking of a spoon stirring the broth.

These subtle sounds, intertwined, strangely dispelled the usual quietness of the apartment, adding a touch of warmth and life.

Not long after, a faint aroma of scallions wafted into the bedroom.

Zhou Mubin walked in carrying a white porcelain bowl. Inside the bowl, a whole poached egg rested on a bowl of plain noodles, and bright green vegetables were scattered among the noodles. The broth was clear and tempting.

He placed the bowl on the bedside table and gently patted Cui Xiao's shoulder. "Get up and eat something. An empty stomach is bad for your stomach."

Cui Xiao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist the aroma and the hunger in her empty stomach, and slowly sat up.

Zhou Mubin had already casually placed a cushion behind her back and handed her a pair of chopsticks, his eyes filled with an undeniable tenderness, "Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Cui Xiao took the chopsticks and looked at the beautifully presented bowl of plain noodles. Suddenly, the awkwardness in her heart faded a little.

She picked up a mouthful of noodles, blew on it, and put it in her mouth, the familiar salty and savory flavor spreading on her tongue.

I never expected that Zhou Mubin, a prodigy, could make such authentic Yangchun noodles.

Zhou Mubin sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, watching her eat noodles with a smile on his lips. "Is it good?"

Cui Xiao paused, then looked up at him.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, falling on his face and softening his usual sharp features, revealing a clear smile in his eyes.

Cui Xiao was momentarily dazed, then said easily, "Yeah, it's alright."

Zhou Mubin didn't say anything more. He just sat quietly on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on her hand holding the chopsticks. He watched her eat the noodles in the bowl in small bites, and even drank half of the clear soup.

During this time, Cui Xiao looked up several times and met his undisguised gaze each time. Each time, she could only blush and quickly lower her head, speeding up her eating.

When she handed him the empty bowl, her ears were still flushed.

Zhou Mubin took the bowl, got up, and went to the kitchen to wash it. When he came back, he had a glass of warm water in his hand, which he placed on the bedside table. "Have some water."

Cui Xiao drank some water and was about to urge him to leave when she saw him sit back down in the bedroom chair, take out his phone from his pocket, unlock it, and gently slide his finger across the screen.

She glanced at it furtively and saw dense text on the screen, which she assumed was related to work. She swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

The bedroom returned to silence, with only the occasional soft sound of Zhou Mubin swiping the screen and the sunlight streaming through the curtains, creating a tranquil atmosphere in the room.

Cui Xiao leaned back against the cushion, looking at his focused profile, and suddenly felt that the scene was somewhat unfamiliar, yet strangely not offensive.

This tranquility of being bathed in sunlight didn't last long; Zhou Mubin's phone, which was in his pocket, suddenly vibrated briefly.

He paused, first glancing at Cui Xiao leaning against the headboard, and seeing her staring blankly out the window, he quietly took out his phone.

The moment the screen lit up, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the curve of his eyes sharpened slightly. He deliberately walked quietly as he got up, only pressing the answer button when he reached the bedroom door. He kept his voice extremely low, simply saying, "Bring it over," before hanging up the phone decisively without any further pleasantries.

Cui Xiao's attention was already drawn to the vibration, and when she heard him hang up the phone, she immediately turned her head, her eyes full of doubt.

The way he avoided her when he answered the phone just now didn't seem like he was handling ordinary work.

Just as she was about to lift the covers and sit up to ask, Zhou Mubin turned around and glanced at her with a reassuring look in his eyes.

He walked back to the bedside, reached out and pulled the blanket back up for her. His tone regained its composure, but the gentleness he had shown her earlier was less pronounced, and he exuded a more authoritative aura. "You get some rest. I'll take care of some minor issues that were left over from before."

About twenty minutes later, the quiet of the apartment was broken by the crisp sound of the doorbell.

Cui Xiao subconsciously sat up straight. The soreness in her waist and abdomen made her groan. She held onto the headboard and tried to get out of bed when she heard Zhou Mubin's footsteps coming from the bedroom door. He walked slowly but steadily, yet with an invisible aura.

The lock on the entryway door clicked open, and the moment the door was opened, two male voices could be heard talking outside.

One was Zhou Mubin's familiar deep voice, while the other was more casual and familiar, sounding like his good friend Xu Chenghao, who had been in the business world for many years. The two exchanged only a few words, and neither of them sounded particularly relaxed.

But the next second, a sharp, tearful female voice suddenly pierced the air, followed by a dull thud, as if someone had knelt heavily on the floor. Then came the woman's heart-wrenching pleas for mercy, "Brother Zhou, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. Please, have mercy on me, forgive me this time for my momentary lapse in judgment, I will never dare to do it again."