175: Boiling a frog in lukewarm water

Yu Heng smiled and didn't say anything more; the two of them picked vegetables in silence for a while.

"Does she know about us?" Shen Yueling asked.

"You could say that," Yu Heng said. "Everyone has an idea of what's going on."

Shen Yueling nodded. Was this the tacit understanding of adults?

She tossed the last green vegetable into the basket and brushed the scraps off her hands.

"Be careful," she said, looking up at Yu Heng. "Don't wear yourself out."

Yu Heng was amused. "Worried about me?"

"Who's worried about you?" Shen Yueling turned her face away. "I'm just afraid that if you can't perform when the time comes, the rest of us will be living like widows!"

Yu Heng leaned in from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Don't worry," he whispered in her ear, "my body is still in very good shape."

Shen Yueling's hand trembled slightly, splashing water onto her apron.

She nudged Yu Heng's stomach with her elbow. "Get off me, I'm washing vegetables."

Yu Heng let go and took a step back.

This reaction of hers meant she had accepted it.

Shen Yueling scooped out the washed vegetables to drain, placed them on the cutting board, and picked up a knife to start chopping.

What does it mean to be "good at it"?

She actually knew she wasn't particularly uninhibited in that regard; Yu Heng usually took the lead.

But she thought Yu Heng liked it this way—the push and pull, the way she looked shy yet unable to escape.

Now that she heard Yu Heng praising another woman for being good at it, she felt a bit competitive.

Should she be more proactive next time?

Learn some new tricks?

But as soon as the thought occurred to her, she felt a bit ashamed, as if she were desperate or something.

Her chopping slowed down. Yu Heng glanced at her and noticed she was a bit distracted.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Shen Yueling snapped out of it and sped up her movements. "Nothing."

—

The meal was served, and the five of them sat around the table.

Zhou Mengqi picked up a piece of rib, put it in her bowl, and looked up at Yu Heng.

"Master," she spoke.

Yu Heng was busy eating and gave a grunt of acknowledgment.

"I want to move over here too," Zhou Mengqi said.

Yu Heng swallowed his food and took a sip from his soup bowl.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Wang Luyu heard us last time," Zhou Mengqi said. "It feels a bit inconvenient."

She didn't say what was heard, but Yu Heng surely understood.

"Stay over there for now; you two can look out for each other during your livestreams." Yu Heng smiled and added, "Just come over here whenever you miss me."

Zhou Mengqi gave an "oh," pouted, and didn't say anything else.

Another one?

Ning Yutong glanced at Zhou Mengqi out of the corner of her eye.

Her too?

When did this happen?

She pursed her lips. Yu Heng was doing this on purpose, wasn't he?

Popping them out one by one, constantly shattering her understanding.

So that she would eventually accept it?

She couldn't go on like this; she couldn't let herself be boiled like a frog in warm water.

Once this meal was over, she would find a chance to make things clear with him.

If she didn't accept it, she didn't accept it.

If this continued, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends.

Shen Yueling glanced at Ning Yutong, then at Zhou Mengqi.

She was a bit annoyed by Zhou Mengqi's direct way of making demands.

Bai Xinran wasn't like this, and neither was Ning Yutong.

She wasn't used to someone so lively suddenly appearing.

Shen Yueling frowned inwardly, but her face remained expressionless.

After gnawing on the rib, Zhou Mengqi spat the bone onto the plate. Her eyes darted around before landing on the largest piece of braised pork in Yu Heng's bowl.

Just as Yu Heng picked it up, Zhou Mengqi's chopsticks reached out and gave it a light tap.

The two pairs of chopsticks collided, and the braised pork shook.

Yu Heng looked up. Zhou Mengqi winked at him, not letting go with her chopsticks.

Shen Yueling knitted her brows.

What was this?

Fighting over food?

She looked at Yu Heng, wanting to see his reaction.

Bai Xinran also looked over. She thought Zhou Mengqi was quite bold to act up like this.

Ning Yutong looked at the two pairs of touching chopsticks. Was this flirting? Right in front of her.

Yu Heng didn't let go, nor did he speak; he just stared at Zhou Mengqi.

Zhou Mengqi didn't let go either, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

After two or three seconds, Yu Heng flicked his wrist, and his chopsticks carried the braised pork in a small arc, bypassing Zhou Mengqi's chopsticks and steadily delivering it into his own mouth.

He chewed twice and swallowed. "Just eat your food!"

Zhou Mengqi curled her lip, withdrew her chopsticks, and began picking at the food in her own bowl.

Shen Yueling lowered her gaze and continued eating.

She didn't really like Zhou Mengqi being like this; she was a bit too flighty.

After finishing the meal, Bai Xinran stood up to clear the dishes, and Zhou Mengqi helped as well.

"I'll do it," Shen Yueling said. "You guys rest."

"It's fine," Zhou Mengqi said. "Let's do it together."

The three of them carried the plates into the kitchen.

Yu Heng walked to the living room, sat on the sofa, and checked his phone.

Ning Yutong stood by the sofa. Yu Heng looked up at her. "What's wrong?"

Ning Yutong took a deep breath. "Yu Heng, let's talk."

—

The balcony door closed, shutting out the sounds from the living room.

"Yu Heng," Ning Yutong said nervously, "don't... don't do that anymore."

Yu Heng leaned against the glass door. "Do what?"

"Just..." Ning Yutong turned away. "Today over there... and last time..."

"I like you, yes, I've said that." She took a breath. "But you rejected me too. I said I wouldn't bother you, so we should just be ordinary friends. Those kinds of things... aren't what friends do."

"You said you wouldn't bother me," Yu Heng spoke, "but I never said I wouldn't bother you."

Ning Yutong was stunned.

"That's still not okay." Her voice rose slightly. "Yu Heng, I..."

Before she could finish, Yu Heng walked toward her.

Ning Yutong instinctively backed away until her back hit the floor-to-ceiling window.

The glass was cold, the chill seeping through her sweater.

Yu Heng stopped in front of her, very close.

"Yu Heng..." Ning Yutong's voice softened, tinged with pleading. "I really can't. Don't be like that anymore. I won't agree to it. I can't be like those other women. I just can't."

Yu Heng looked into her eyes. "Really?"

Ning Yutong nodded vigorously.

"But your body's reaction," Yu Heng reached out, "is just like theirs."

"Don't..." Her voice trembled. "I'm begging you, I really can't."

"You say no every time," he said, "but you never push me away."

"This time is different," she said. "I really..."

"See," he said, "you're not hiding again. Every time, you just wait there obediently."

"I..." Her voice carried a hint of a sob. "Yu Heng... don't... someone will see..."

"Don't worry, there's no one," Yu Heng said. "You can't see in from outside."

—

On the way back, Ning Yutong scolded herself the whole way.

She really was just like Yu Heng said; she was clearly resisting.

But as soon as Yu Heng touched her, she became completely obedient.

Why was she like this!

How pathetic!