By the time they reached Shanyu Pavilion, Ye Yuning’s expression still hadn’t softened. Xiao Linye looked at her sullen appearance and chuckled. "How about I make you paper-wrapped fish for dinner?" As soon as she heard about food, Ye Yuning instantly perked up. Merely watching Xiao Linye enter the kitchen made Ye Yuning’s gaze turn adoring. Now, she kind of understood the old saying, "Food and sex are human nature!" Watching some people simply makes one think of bearing their children. Xiao Linye asked Ye Yuning, "Are you still prone to inflammation? Do you want to add some millet chili?" Lost in his handsome allure, Ye Yuning didn’t hear a word he said. When he didn’t get an answer, Xiao Linye turned around and saw her gazing at him with an infatuated look. The smile on his lips deepened. He sighed, shook his head, and turned back to his task. After an unknown amount of time, Ye Yuning finally snapped back to reality. The housekeeper must not have come today; the living room was still as it had been when they left in the morning. Xiao Linye was busy in the kitchen. For the first time, she didn’t go to bathe first but tidied up the living room instead. Xiao Linye had just put the fish into the frying pan when the phone rang. It was Lai Shuo. Xiao Linye answered, his voice cold as he uttered a single word, "Speak." "Boss, Miss Gui had lunch with people from Manlang today. Furthermore, Simon transferred three million to Manlang’s account. They must have formed a partnership." Simon, cooperating with Manlang? No wonder the young lady of the Ye family dared to challenge the Xiao Conglomerate. So she secured a bigger partner? Xiao Linye asked, "Was the partnership successful?" "Yes, I’ve already sent you the photos. Also, the person she met when she last came to Upper City was from Manlang as well," Lai Shuo replied. Xiao Linye’s breathing hitched slightly. Seeing that the fish in the pan was almost perfectly fried, he hung up the phone. Only after putting the fish into the oven did he pick up his phone again to look at the photos. There were pictures of Ye Yuning and Gui Xingli sitting together at Starbucks from the previous time. And another photo of them having lunch together today! They’re such an important partner, and their representative was even their young vice-chairman. How arrogant could the young lady of the Ye family be to send a mere gofer to receive them? 「Lai Shuo had just hung up with Xiao Linye when his phone flashed with a call from Xiao Shuo.」 He answered. "Hello!" The words were barely out of his mouth when he heard Xiao Shuo wailing from the other end, "Assistant Lai, I want to change departments!" Lai Shuo furrowed his brow. "What’s wrong?" "What kind of psycho is this Yang Jing? Who does things ? I haven’t even been at the company for a week, and she’s already started assigning tasks, hounding me like a dog to complete them! Can I even do this? Does she think I’m some kind of genius?!" "And that damn woman locked me in the company! Tell Uncle Seven I want him to fire that bitch!" Xiao Shuo was seething, rattling off a tirade. Listening to his lengthy complaint, Lai Shuo felt an immense headache coming on. This is supposed to be about work, yet he’s not only failing but also has the audacity to complain so much. And fire Yang Jing? Does he still not realize his own position even now? Lai Shuo asked, "Yang Jing locked you in?" "Yes! There isn’t even a drop of water in this office. Is she trying to starve me to death?!" Food hadn’t seemed that important to him before. But now, alone in a locked room, unable to even order takeout, Xiao Shuo felt like he was going mad. Lai Shuo hadn’t expected Yang Jing to be so ruthless! Anyone else would definitely not dare to treat Xiao Shuo this way. But this was good too; it could help take this rich heir down a notch. "Yang Jing is your direct supervisor now, so you’d better listen to everything she says. That’s all. Hanging up!" With that, Lai Shuo hung up. Xiao Shuo, on the other end, couldn’t believe Lai Shuo still had such an attitude even after hearing he was locked in. Didn’t he even tell that bitch Yang Jing to come back and unlock the door for me? In stark contrast to Xiao Shuo’s current plight... Ye Yuning hadn’t run into Xiao Shuo after work. Now, comforted by Xiao Linye, she quickly forgot the gloom from the phone call in the car. The baked fish was delicious. It was less spicy than before, but because Xiao Linye’s culinary skills were exceptional, she still found it incredibly tasty. Xiao Linye picked out the pieces with fewer bones for her, and Ye Yuning ate more easily than before. "I didn’t realize you knew which parts of the fish are easiest to eat." "Mm, the lower belly has very few bones." Ye Yuning had always focused only on eating, knowing very little about such details. As Xiao Linye poured her some orange juice and set down the glass, he casually asked, "Has your studio partnered with Simon recently?" His sudden question caught Ye Yuning, who was in the middle of spitting out a bone, completely off guard. She choked instantly. The sensation of the bone stuck in her throat made her scalp tingle. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." She began to cough violently, but the painful obstruction in her throat robbed her of the ability to think. She hurriedly grabbed the orange juice before her and gulped down several mouthfuls, but the fishbone wouldn’t budge.