Chapter 33: The Emotionally Unstable Little Cat

Page 1 of 3

Seeing him remain silent, Chen Xingmiao’s heart rose into her throat.

She swallowed and timidly edged closer to him.

Han Xu slowly set down his chopsticks and stood. “Second Young Master Xiao, it has been several years. Long time no see.”

Han Xu raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips curving in smug satisfaction.

Chen Xingmiao came to Xiao Ziyu’s side and cautiously slipped her arm through his. Her eyes quickly swept over him.

“H-Husband?” she asked, her voice trembling with caution.

Chen Xingmiao was filled with regret. The food she had just eaten suddenly tasted like nothing at all.

She should never have picked a fight with him out of spite. If his favorability had decreased, she could still coax him into raising it again. But if his corruption value had increased, she truly had no idea what to do.

Xiao Ziyu turned his head toward her and reached out to take her hand.

“Are you going home, my wife?”

His voice was as calm as still water, utterly different from the dark expression he had worn moments earlier.

Chen Xingmiao could not tell whether he was angry or not, so she could only nod blankly.

“I already settled the bill downstairs. Thank you for today, Your Highness. I’ll take my wife home now.”

Leaving those words behind, Xiao Ziyu pulled her around and walked away. Chuntao shot Han Xu an irritated look before hurrying after them.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Xingmiao would have thought he had gone mad. Their life was already difficult enough, yet he had silently paid for such a lavish table of food.

But now, as she looked at Xiao Ziyu walking ahead without a word, complicated emotions welled up inside her.

His wife had just quarreled with him, yet she had gone to a restaurant and laughed and chatted with another man. Anyone else would probably have lost their temper long ago. But Xiao Ziyu could not. He did not dare express what he was feeling.

She sighed inwardly. The two of them did not speak again during the journey.

When they returned home, she saw that the meal on the table had already gone cold. It could not compare with the dishes at the restaurant, but every one of them was something she loved.

Chen Xingmiao glanced at Chuntao in confusion.

Chuntao hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands, indicating that she had not made it.

Xiao Ziyu released her hand and walked over to the table, beginning to clear everything away on his own.

Chuntao was just about to help when Chen Xingmiao quickly caught her.

“Chuntao, you can go out for now. I won’t need you here.”

Chuntao nodded, closed the door behind her, and left.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

Chen Xingmiao stepped forward, seized Xiao Ziyu’s hand, and looked up at him with a smile.

“Husband, did you make all of this? I’m still hungry. Let’s eat together.”

Xiao Ziyu’s movements abruptly halted. He lowered his head without saying a word.

Chen Xingmiao picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of the nearest dish, and chewed with evident enjoyment as she nodded.

“It’s delicious. As expected of my husband.”

“It’s cold. Don’t eat it.”

At last, Xiao Ziyu spoke. He took the chopsticks from her hand and continued what he had been doing.

Chen Xingmiao caught him again, the two small dimples at the corners of her mouth deepening.

“It’s not cold. It’s just right. Will you eat with me?”

Xiao Ziyu tilted his head slightly as he looked at her. A thin mist seemed to gather in his deep eyes, like a spring whose depths could not be seen.

His hand lifted, then finally came to rest on top of her head.

“Did you smile like that when you were facing Han Xu?”

His throat moved as he spoke, as though he was waiting for the answer while also wishing he did not have to hear it.

His brows drew together slightly, his lips turned down in displeasure, and his eyes were full of wounded grievance.

Chen Xingmiao’s smile froze on her face. She was actually charmed by the sight of him.

Charmed? This little villain?

The moment the thought arose, she decided that something must have gone wrong with her mind. The man before her would one day become a demon with blood covering both hands, a merciless killer.

“What am I to you? Someone you tease when you’re happy, then cast aside to seek out some other stray cat or dog when you’re unhappy?”

When she failed to answer, Xiao Ziyu seized her hand and forced her against the wall. With one hand, he pinned both her wrists above her head.

He bent over her, his eyes fixed fiercely upon her.

He wanted to know what this woman, whose mouth was full of lies, was truly thinking.

“I’m not a bad person, but I’m not a good one either. I gave you the chance to divorce me. You were the one who chose to stay.”

Xiao Ziyu leaned toward her ear and bit down on her earlobe in reluctant anger.

Chen Xingmiao let out a muffled groan, her brows furrowing with pain.

Damn it, was this little villain part dog? Why was he biting people?

She instinctively tried to push him away, only to discover that she could not move at all.

“Can’t answer me? Is it so difficult?”

His voice was low and cold, yet it trembled faintly.

Chen Xingmiao pressed her lips together. After hesitating for a long while, she slowly said, “Husband, calm down first.”

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“I am calm. I only want to know what sort of lie my wife plans to make up this time to coax me into a good mood.”

Chen Xingmiao met his gaze and saw that his eyes were faintly red. There even seemed to be a trace of moisture in them.

The forceful words she had intended to say were instantly caught in her throat.

“Let me go first, all right? You’re hurting me.” Her tone softened.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Xiao Ziyu’s face. Then he slowly released her, turned his face away, and lowered his eyes once more.

“Husband, have some candy.”

Chen Xingmiao took a milk candy from her sleeve, unwrapped it, and placed it in his mouth.

Xiao Ziyu obediently opened his mouth. He glanced at her, then turned his head away again.

“I’m sorry. I only wanted so badly to recover your mother’s ashes for you. I promise I’ll never make decisions on my own again.”

At her words, Xiao Ziyu’s body trembled. He lowered his head even further.

“I’ve never smiled at Han Xu like that. I’ve only met him twice, and we aren’t close.”

“Even if you become close, you still can’t!”

Xiao Ziyu abruptly turned his head toward her, his brows knitted tightly. After speaking, he pressed his lips together, then turned away again.

Why did he look like such an emotionally unstable yet proud little cat?

Unable to resist, Chen Xingmiao rose onto her toes and ruffled his hair.

“All right. I’ll listen to everything my husband says.”

“Then… then you’re not allowed to argue with me anymore. And you’re not allowed to run off by yourself and make me unable to find you. Even more importantly, you mustn’t leave me all alone… and cast me aside.”

His voice grew softer and softer, but Chen Xingmiao still heard him.

She smiled instinctively, cupped his face in both hands, and touched the tip of her nose to his. Slowly, she rubbed against him.

“All right. I promise. I’ll never cast you aside again.”

Xiao Ziyu held his breath. His hands rose with a tremor and pulled her into his arms, his chin brushing against her shoulder.

“You’re a woman whose mouth is always full of lies, but… if you’re going to deceive me, then stay by my side and deceive me for the rest of your life. Otherwise…”

He paused, then leaned close to her ear and breathed against it.

His arms slowly tightened, and his voice turned cold.

“I’ll lock you away, and you’ll never leave again.”