Jiangg Yao gathered up all the clothes that had been sitting in the walk-in closet since before the New Year.

There was no need to sort out which belonged to her sister and which were hers. After all, aside from underwear, they shared most of their clothes.

Some of the clothes had been stored for so long that they definitely needed a wash.

She was always a delicate, cute girl in front of Chen Yuan, but there was no need to keep up the act at home. Cradling a mountain of clothes, she headed for the balcony. Thankfully, she knew the layout of the apartment by heart, because with her vision completely blocked, she would have most likely taken a nasty tumble.

After roughly sorting the clothes and forcefully stuffing the white dresses and shirts into the washer, Jiangg Yao let out a breath and stood up.

CLICK—

The sudden sound of the door opening made Jiangg Yao jump.

Jiangg Ning was back. She walked in, expressionless, and headed straight for the kitchen, picking up an apron without saying a word.

"What are you doing back?"

Jiangg Yao asked, puzzled, as she walked over to lean against the kitchen doorframe.

"I felt like coming back, so I did."

For some reason, Yaoyao sensed something was off. Her sister's expression was incredibly sour, and she didn't even look up when she spoke.

Her eyes were completely devoid of emotion.

She was like one of those "three-no" girls from a manga—the kind who could casually kill a powerful enemy without a ripple of emotion. It was as if the artist had forgotten to draw the highlights in her eyes.

"What do you want to eat? I can make it for you now," Jiangg Ning asked.

"Wait, aren't you supposed to be next door eating with the Young Master? Why come home just to cook for me? Is it the apocalypse or something...? Don't tell me you have cancer, or maybe I have cancer, and this is our last moment together as sisters?"

"Are you going to keep running your mouth, or are you going to eat?" Jiangg Ning snapped coldly.

"I'll eat..."

"Then I'll make braised pig's trotters and stir-fry a couple of vegetable dishes." With that, Jiangg Ning moved past Yaoyao, took the pig's trotters from the fridge, placed them on the cutting board, and raised a sharp cleaver.

THWACK!

The loud noise made Jiangg Yao flinch, and she instinctively took a few steps back.

THWACK!

THWACK!

The whole pig's trotter was split and chopped into small chunks.

'Something's wrong!'

'Something is very wrong.'

Jiangg Yao watched her for a long time, her eyes never leaving her sister. After a moment, she realized Jiangg Ning had genuinely come back just to cook for her. She had even prepared all the spices and was about to start braising the meat.

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Her sister was voluntarily wasting such precious time with him. They had argued more than once about how to split their time with Chen Yuan.

Jiangg Yao mustered her courage and asked, "If you don't want this time with him, I'm not giving it back to you later. When it's my turn with the Young Master, I won't give you a single minute."

"Oh," Jiangg Ning replied noncommittally.

'Huh???'

No reaction whatsoever.

Jiangg Yao's mind was reeling with questions. She completely forgot to start the washing machine, just standing there stunned for a long moment.

After a moment, she announced loudly, "Since you don't want the time, I'm going over, okay!?"

This time, Jiangg Ning reacted, though only by glancing up at her.

"Do whatever you want."

"For real?"

There was no reply.

Jiangg Yao couldn't believe her luck. 'This feels too good to be true.'

"I'm really going, then! I'm not kidding."

"I'm going to change right now, and then I'm heading over!"

"Hee hee, bye!"

Perhaps afraid Ningning would change her mind, she fired off the three remarks, dashed to her bedroom to change, and immediately bolted out the door to the apartment next door.

After closing the door, she lingered outside for a moment.

She half-expected Jiangg Ning to chase after her and angrily drag her back, but the apartment remained deathly silent.

There wasn't a single sound.

A wave of secret delight washed over Jiangg Yao.

She had been resigned to spending the night alone, but just when she thought all was lost, a silver lining appeared. The surprise was so sudden.

"Young Master, I'm he~re~"

Jiangg Yao skipped happily over to find Chen Yuan.

...

'Where is he?'

Jiangg Yao searched for any sign of Chen Yuan. When she saw that the only light on was in the study, she opened the door to find the Young Master hunched over his desk, studying. She didn't dare make a sound.

'Still, she was inwardly delighted.'

After observing him in secret for a moment, Jiangg Yao let out a cute "Meow, meow, meow."

At the sound, Chen Yuan turned to glance at her.

It was an indescribable look. Yaoyao didn't know what to make of it. It was filled with a cold indifference that kept her at a distance...

A sudden chill ran through her, and she straightened her posture.

"Are you studying?"

"Yeah."

"Oh... okay. I won't disturb you. You go on with your work."

"Got it."

Chen Yuan actually turned his head away and ignored her, lowering his gaze back to the book he was writing and sketching in. He looked completely absorbed.

Jiangg Yao froze.

She tiptoed over and wrapped her arms around the seated Chen Yuan from behind. Her soft chest pressed against his shoulders as she asked in a syrupy-sweet voice, "What book are you reading?"

"Don't hug me. It's hot."

"??? Fine."

...

"I'll go get you some fruit, then."

It was so awkward that Jiangg Yao's face flushed red, and she quickly fled the study.

She didn't know what had happened, but based on Jiangg Ning's and Chen Yuan's behavior, she had a pretty good guess.

She went to the kitchen, sliced some dragon fruit, arranged it on a plate with some strawberries, and topped it with a layer of yogurt. "That damn sister of mine," she muttered. "How did she get the Young Master this angry? He's usually so good-tempered."

...

Back in the study, Jiangg Yao didn't even dare to breathe too loudly. She tiptoed inside and nudged the door mostly shut with her foot.

Carrying the plate of fruit, she pulled up a chair and sat down.

TAP—

She set the plate down on the desk. Chen Yuan didn't even glance at it.

"Let me feed you, okay? Say ahh—"

Yaoyao waited expectantly for Chen Yuan to open his mouth, but his only response was a cold, "I'm not hungry."

She pouted and popped the fruit into her own mouth instead.

"Wow, this is so sweet! Young Master, are you sure you don't want to try a bite?"

Her words were muffled, as her mouth was half-full of strawberry.

"No."

...

The cringeworthy awkwardness dragged on, making her skin crawl.

Even though she was right there beside him, Chen Yuan acted as if she didn't exist.

Nothing she did could elicit the slightest emotional response from the Young Master.

In the end, Jiangg Yao just couldn't take it anymore.

The silent treatment was brutal.

She closed the study door and hurried back to her and her sister's apartment next door.

The moment she got inside, Jiangg Yao stormed into the kitchen.

"Jiangg Ning, why did you fight with my husband!?"

"Oh? Back so soon?"

Ningning acted as if nothing was wrong, blowing on a spoonful of hot broth. Her braised pig's trotters had only been simmering for a little while.

"I'm asking you a question! You damn sister, what did you do?"

"We had a fight... This soup is a little bland. The seasoning is off."

"Why are you so frustrating? You made him angry, so go make up with him! What's the point of hiding out here?"

"I'm not going. I didn't do anything wrong. If you want to appease him, you go right ahead."