"Great job, Xu Yao!"

Zhou Yang gave a thumbs up without hesitation, his tone filled with surprise, "The taste is really good, quite impressive! It's just as good as those ordinary home-style restaurants!"

Receiving Zhou Yang's praise, Xu Yao finally relaxed and revealed a sweet smile, her eyes curving into crescent shapes.

"Boss Zhou, please don't flatter me. Compared to your skills, mine is nowhere near as good! I'm glad you like it."

Her smile was clean and pure, carrying a kind of resilience that remained bright despite the hardships of life.

Even in this slightly dilapidated old-fashioned residential building, her elegant and refined appearance and captivating charm at this moment could not be concealed.

Looking at her, Zhou Yang couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion once again.

This girl is such a beautiful and kind girl, and she's also so capable and independent, not spoiled at all.

The meal ended in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

After the meal, Xu Yao began clearing away the dishes quickly and efficiently before Zhou Yang could even speak.

"Hey, let me do it..."

Zhou Yang was about to get up.

"No way! Boss Zhou, you rest! This is such a small thing as washing dishes, I have to do it!"

Xu Yao's attitude was unusually firm; she picked up her bowl and chopsticks and headed to the kitchen.

Zhou Yang watched her retreating figure, smiled helplessly, and didn't try to take it from her anymore.

While Xu Yao was washing the dishes in the kitchen, Zhou Yang looked around the living room.

We can't really make that girl sleep on the sofa, can we?

This old sofa is hard and narrow; sleeping on it for one night would probably cause back pain.

Zhou Yang muttered to himself, stood up, and walked towards the corner room where miscellaneous items were piled up—a small storage room left behind by the original owner.

He rummaged through the drawers and cabinets for a long time and actually found a dusty folding wire bed.

Zhou Yang struggled to drag the folding bed out, wiped it clean with a cloth, and then unfolded it in a relatively spacious corner of the living room.

The bed wasn't big, but it was big enough for one person to lie down in.

He then rummaged through the wardrobe and found a clean but long-unused old bed sheet. He also found two clotheslines and simply pulled up a makeshift curtain next to the folding bed, barely creating a small private space.

Then, he found clean bedding and pillows and carefully laid them on the folding bed.

After a flurry of activity, a makeshift bed, simple yet fully functional, appeared in the corner of the living room.

"Splash..."

The sound of water running in the kitchen stopped.

Xu Yao wiped her hands as she walked out of the kitchen and immediately noticed the changes in the corner of the living room, as well as Zhou Yang patting the blankets and tidying up the pillows.

She paused, stunned, and stood there.

Looking at the simple bed, the old sheet that served as a curtain, and Zhou Yang's busy figure as he cared for her...

An indescribable warmth surged into her heart, instantly shattering the strength she had been trying to maintain.

Her eyes suddenly reddened, and moisture quickly gathered in her eyes, blurring her vision.

From childhood to adulthood, because her family favored boys over girls, she received very little care, not to mention "relatives" like Zheng Qiang, who only brought her nightmares.

She thought she had gotten used to facing life's storms alone, and used to not being treated kindly.

But at this moment, Zhou Yang's meticulous, understated thoughtfulness and care were like a gentle light that suddenly shone into the softest corner of her heart.

How could he... how could he be so good to me...?

Xu Yao's nose tingled, and she could no longer hold back her hot tears, which slid down her cheeks.

Even my parents have never been this good to me...

A feeling she had never experienced before, called "moved" and "heart-fluttering," quietly grew and spread in her heart.

At this moment, the young girl's heart quietly blossomed.

Zhou Yang spread out the quilt and clapped his hands in satisfaction.

He turned around, intending to call Xu Yao over to see if it was appropriate, but he was met with her tear-streaked face.

He was taken aback, his brows furrowed slightly, and his tone carried a hint of doubt and confusion.

"Huh? Xu Yao? What's wrong? Why are you crying? Is it... is it something I did wrong?"

"No, it's nothing, Mr. Zhou!"

Xu Yao hurriedly waved her hand, hastily wiping away the tears on her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her movements were somewhat flustered, and her cheeks flushed with a charming blush of embarrassment.

"I'm just so touched, it's a bit pathetic of me, please don't mind."

She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look Zhou Yang in the eye, her voice barely audible, thick with a nasal tone: "You're so good to me, I... I couldn't help myself..."

Her voice was a mixture of gratitude, grievance, and a hint of excitement that she herself was unaware of.

Looking at her red eyes and slightly trembling shoulders, Zhou Yang's doubts vanished instantly, leaving only a sense of helplessness and understanding.

Sigh, this girl probably suffered too much in the past; she can't handle being treated even slightly kindly.

He softened his tone, "It's no big deal, just a small favor! You're a girl, I can't really make you sleep on the sofa, can I?"

Xu Yao sniffed hard, trying to calm her turbulent emotions. She took a deep breath, as if finally mustering her courage, and looked up at Zhou Yang. Her eyes were still moist, but now they held a serious expression.

"Mr. Zhou, thank you so much for taking me in. I will definitely repay you!"

"Actually... I also have a part-time job, which is online voice-over work."

She paused, seemingly considering her words, and carefully observed Zhou Yang's expression.

“Lately… I’m too afraid to go out and set up a stall anymore, for fear that Zheng Qiang will come looking for trouble again… So, I was thinking, could I… take on more voice-over jobs here to earn some living expenses?”

"I'm just wondering if recording this on my phone will disturb your rest?"

"Voice acting?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang's curiosity was piqued, and his surprise was undisguised.

"Wow, Xu Yao! You're a hidden gem! You can even do voice acting!"

He looked Xu Yao up and down with great interest, as if he were meeting her for the first time.

"Disturbing? Not at all! I'm all alone here. I'm either out setting up my stall or playing games at home. How much noise can you make? No problem at all!"

Zhou Yang secretly praised Xu Yao, thinking to himself, "She's a real gem!"

She's beautiful, a great cook, has a strong personality, and now she even has voice acting skills!

He took a step closer with great interest, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"This part-time job sounds pretty cool. Is it convenient for you now? How about I see it for myself now? I've never seen a real voice actor before!"

Stared at by Zhou Yang, Xu Yao's already flushed cheeks burned even hotter.

She tugged at her clothes a little shyly, her voice softening slightly: "Um, yes, that's fine, but..."

"I take all the orders on my phone using an app. They're all small jobs, so I don't make much money."