"You take a seat, I'll serve the dishes."

Xia Mu Zhu called out to Lin Yu, then headed to the kitchen.

Lin Yu nodded and approached the dining table, about to sit down when he suddenly felt a chill.

He looked around and saw Xia Yue Shan standing at the other side of the table with a gloomy face, his dark eyes filled with resentment and wariness.

What's up with this kid now?

A big question mark popped up in Lin Yu's mind.

Xia Yue Shan glanced at Xia Mu Zhu busy in the kitchen, making sure she wasn't looking, before he approached Lin Yu with three bottles of drinks, his tone carrying a hint of anger from being deceived, whispering:

"You lied!"

"I asked my sister, and you're definitely not the tough guy she hired to stand up for me!"

"Tell me!"

"Are you being so helpful just because you like my sister?"

Seeing Xia Yue Shan's angry look, Lin Yu was quite disdainful. He took a bottle of drink from his embrace, then flicked his forehead and whispered:

"I'm not trying to hit on your sister, I'm trying to protect her!"

Xia Yue Shan yelped, quickly placing the other two bottles on the table and vigorously rubbed his forehead. After the pain eased a bit, he looked up at Lin Yu, making a mocking face and said sarcastically:

"I'm not trying to hit on your sister~"

"I'm trying to protect your sister~"

"Just admit it if you like her, stop making excuses!"

Xia Yue Shan pouted, seemingly looking down on Lin Yu for not admitting the truth.

"Xia Yue Shan, I'm serious!"

Lin Yu stared at Xia Yue Shan with a stern expression, word by word:

"Your sister..."

"What about me?"

Xia Mu Zhu walked out of the kitchen slowly with a pot of soup, wearing heat-proof gloves, curious about the two gathered together.

"Nothing."

"Yue Shan here was saying you look very beautiful today."

"I countered by saying you look beautiful every day."

Lin Yu put his hand on Xia Yue Shan's head, his expression earnest, so earnest it seemed he truly believed his own words.

Seeing Lin Yu's sincere look, Xia Mu Zhu's milky white skin flushed with a touch of rosiness. She stood there somewhat awkwardly, then slightly lowered her head, softly saying:

"Thank you."

Xia Yue Shan, witnessing this scene, glared at Lin Yu angrily.

Lin Yu! And you said you weren’t trying to hit on my sister?

Lin Yu patted Xia Yue Shan's head, putting on a look of disdain as if to say, "What would you know, kid?"

A lavish meal was served one after another. During the meal, Lin Yu went all out, risking being attacked by Xia Yue Shan at any moment, making Xia Mu Zhu tremble with laughter.

He also indirectly obtained the information he wanted.

Xia Mu Zhu indeed had no boyfriend, nor a childhood friend like Yu Kai, not even someone slightly ambiguous. Her life was very simple and routine.

Every day was about buying groceries, cooking, occasionally going shopping with friends, and when bored, reading romance novels or doing yoga-like home activities...

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Why does it feel like her current life is as leisurely as that of a housewife who doesn't work?

Should I say, 'as expected of the innate housewife physique'?

She's just a marriage away from being the textbook perfect wife!

This information was what Lin Yu gathered through indirect inquiries, but some details remained elusive.

For instance, the young man from the erotic manga who peeked through a tiny crack in the bedroom door.

Xia Mu Zhu revealed not a hint about him.

Lin Yu could tell she wasn't deliberately hiding anything.

Rather, topics like love and childhood friends didn't bring to mind even the slightest association with that young man.

This left Lin Yu feeling puzzled.

As the male lead matched with Xia Mu Zhu, shouldn't she have some impression or fondness of him?

I need to find a way to meet him.

Lin Yu rubbed his temples with his thumb.

Meeting him might help recall more scenes from the erotic manga, possibly remembering the male lead of the second erotic storyline, thereby preventing a tragedy.

After dinner, Lin Yu got up to leave, subtly signaling Xia Yue Shan to follow him downstairs with a secret glance.

Sitting on a bench downstairs, Lin Yu lit a cigarette and took a drag, quietly waiting for Xia Yue Shan.

After much contemplation, Lin Yu decided it was time to let Xia Yue Shan know some of the truth.

After all, he spent more time by Xia Mu Zhu's side.

If any unexpected or dangerous situation arose, perhaps he could help.

With that thought, Xia Yue Shan appeared in the corridor, approaching Lin Yu with a grumpy tone:

"Spit it out if you have something to say!"

Lin Yu looked up at Xia Yue Shan's displeased demeanor, suddenly stood up, grabbed Xia Yue Shan's ear, and twisted it hard while scolding:

"Who allowed you to talk to me like that, you little brat?"

"Let go of me!"

Xia Yue Shan, in pain but not wanting to back down, threatened:

"Otherwise, I'll tell my sister!"

"Say you bullied me!"

"Talk bad about you behind your back!"

"Make my sister hate you and never want to see you again!"

"Huh."

Hearing Xia Yue Shan's threat, Lin Yu smirked, twisting his ear again and asked:

"Do you really think I'm trying to pursue your sister?"

Saying that, Lin Yu let go of Xia Yue Shan's ear.

He stepped back, arms wide open, showcasing himself in front of Xia Yue Shan, coldly asking:

"See?"

"See what?"

Xia Yue Shan, holding his ear, asked through clenched teeth.

"Don't you see this aura?"

"This aura of a social youth buried deep in the mud!"

Lin Yu proudly proclaimed, hands on his hips.

Unconvinced, Xia Yue Shan glared at Lin Yu and huffed:

"I'm not blind. Anyone can see you're up to no good."

Hearing that, Lin Yu nodded in satisfaction, smiling at Xia Yue Shan, and slowly asked:

"So, do you think someone like me, if interested in your sister, would choose this stupid and laborious method to pursue her?"