Oh! That doesn't matter; she doesn't have any option.
For real, at this time, he seems like a private doctor on duty for his patient.
Such a fortunate patient, with extraordinary care.
Before the night claimed the sky, he headed again through his bedchamber and brought some food for Yu Xiao.
He caught her sitting on his bed, hugging her knees, her figure small and withdrawn in the dim lantern light.
Then his voice came out in a query, low and careful, "What was wrong?"
Yu Xiao snapped her head towards him, eyes widening slightly as she saw him carrying a tray laden with food.
The concern etched in his features made her heart skip unexpectedly.
Easily, she settled herself and let him close the distance, watching as he sat beside her with practiced grace.
"You didn't eat yet, come fill your stomach."
He said in a gentle tone, his movements now becoming busy as he filled her plate with food, selecting each item with deliberate care.
After arranging everything just so, he handed it to her carefully, as though she were something precious that might break.
Yu Xiao accepted his offering, her fingers brushing against his for the briefest moment, and she sensed a bit of shyness creeping up her neck, warming her cheeks.
She lowered her gaze to the plate, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.
"Tomorrow, I'll send a word to Qingjue. To buy some ingredients, so I can prepare the dish that is best for you. If you eat well and take your medicine thoroughly, your recovery will speed up."
His voice carried such earnest thoughtfulness, each word wrapped in genuine concern.
Such thoughtful words.
Yu Xiao paused mid-bite, her chopsticks freezing in the air, and glanced at him from beneath her lashes.
Is this how a powerful being acts?
She studied his profile—the strong jaw, the focused expression as he watched her eat.
He might be scary for his physical form, intimidating in his reputation and strength, but who would have expected that this man is so gentle, so attentive it was almost unreal?
Over the moon gentle. Is he real?
The question echoed in her mind as warmth bloomed in her chest.
"Why are you… staring at me?"
His voice broke through her thoughts, tinged with curiosity and perhaps a hint of self-consciousness.
Yu Xiao almost choked on his words, her eyes going wide as a piece of food lodged in her throat.
She coughed, her face flushing crimson with embarrassment.
Immediately, Long Jianyu's expression shifted to alarm.
He poured water into a cup with swift efficiency and handed it to her, his other hand already moving to support her shoulder.
"Here, be careful."
He said, his voice softening with worry as he tapped her back gently, rhythmically, until her breathing eased.
His touch was firm yet tender, the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric of her robes, anchoring her back to composure.
When everything was fine, Yu Xiao consumed her feast, her chopsticks moving with deliberate precision.
She kept her head down, her gaze fixed firmly on her plate, desperate to avoid any further embarrassment.
Obviously, she could feel the weight of his gaze on her—he was watching her eat, his attention unwavering and strangely intimate.
The silence stretched between them, comfortable yet charged with an unspoken awareness.
Unable to bear it any longer, she spoke up, her voice soft but determined as she offered him some food, her chopsticks hovering over several dishes as she tried to select something for him.
"Sir, why don't you give it a try?"
She glanced at him sideways, a tentative invitation in her eyes.
"Eating that much isn't in my description. I sometimes only fill my stomach when necessary."
He paused, and then his lips curved into a reassuring smile, gentle and warm like the first light of dawn.
"Don't think about it, just fill yourself first. Later, I will prepare your medicine."
His voice carried a protective quality, as though her well-being was the only thing that mattered in this moment.
Yu Xiao, who was taking another bite, paused and stared at him, truly witnessing his expressions for the first time.
The softness in his eyes, the way his smile reached them, the complete absence of the fearsome reputation that preceded him—it was all so disarming, so unexpectedly tender.
Her heart did a strange little flip in her chest.
Can't help herself, she ducked her head quickly, hiding the smile that bloomed across her face despite her best efforts.
Her lips pressed together, trembling slightly with suppressed amusement and something warmer, something that made her pulse quicken.
The dampened smile lingered at the corners of her mouth, betraying her emotions even as she tried to conceal them.
Long Jianyu noticed it immediately.
His eyes sharpened with curiosity, and he leaned slightly forward, peering at her with an intensity that was both gentle and probing.
The corner of his own mouth twitched upward as he observed her failed attempt at composure, finding something endearing in her shy reaction.
He said nothing, but his gaze remained fixed on her, quietly pleased by whatever had brought that hidden smile to her face.
As soon as he spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of playful concern, "Shall I think you aren't satisfied with the food?"
Suddenly, Yu Xiao raised her head with wide eyes, her reaction immediate and almost comical.
Her cheeks were bulging like a little squirrel's, stuffed with food she'd been in the middle of chewing.
The sight was utterly endearing—her eyes round with alarm, her expression a mix of panic and innocence.
She shook her head quickly, swallowing hard before managing to speak, her words tumbling out in a rush.
"No, I like it. It's true."
Her voice came out slightly muffled, earnest and sincere, as if the very suggestion that she didn't enjoy his offering had genuinely distressed her.
Her eyes remained fixed on his, wide and honest, wanting him to believe her completely.
"Really?"
The single word rolled off his tongue like silk, low and smooth, carrying an undertone that made her breath hitch.
Why are his expressions so seductive?
The slight tilt of his head, the way his lips curved with subtle amusement, the knowing glint that danced in his dark eyes as he watched her reaction.
His eyes—oh no!
They were too intense, too penetrating, seeing right through her flustered defenses and reading every thought she desperately tried to hide.
Crazy thoughts flooded her mind, unbidden and dangerous, making her heart race wildly against her ribs.
Panicking internally, she quickly changed her sights, tearing her gaze away from his face to focus somewhere else—anywhere else.
She stared determinedly at the edge of the tray, at the flickering shadows on the wall, at nothing in particular, as long as it meant not meeting those eyes that seemed to unravel her composure with a single glance.
For some reason, she paused mid-bite and stared at Long Jianyu courageously, her chopsticks hovering in the air.
She cleared her throat, the sound soft but deliberate, and began to ask.
"By the way, we haven't really introduced ourselves yet. My name is Yu Xiao. How about you, sir?"
Her voice carried a hopeful lilt, her eyes searching his face for any sign of openness.
"There's no need."
His response came swift and final, like a door closing.
"Oh!.."
Her expression fell slightly, disappointment flickering across her features before she rallied.
"If that's so… then can I call you another name?"
She leaned forward just a fraction, her curiosity undeterred.
"Why?"
He tilted his head, genuine confusion creasing his brow as he studied her.
"Sir, it's really hard to socialize with others if you don't know who they are, so knowing their names is truly important."
She gestured with her free hand, emphasizing her point with earnest determination, her eyes wide and imploring.
"Go ahead."
He waved his hand dismissively, though something in his posture relaxed, as if amused by her persistence.
"Then, in that case, I have to think."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, her gaze drifting upward as she pondered, her expression becoming adorably serious.
"Hmn…"
He watched her with quiet patience, arms crossing over his chest as he waited, the faintest hint of interest sparking in his eyes.
"Petal-Heart."
She announced it with a bright smile, clearly pleased with her creativity.
"I don't like."
His rejection was immediate and blunt, his face impassive.
"Why?"
She blinked at him, genuinely surprised by his swift dismissal.
"It's girly, not good."
He shook his head firmly, his jaw set with stubborn resolve.
"Oh!.. Then, how about Stone-Honey?"
She tried again, her voice lilting with renewed hope, her eyes sparkling with determination.
Long Jianyu's expression froze, a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief crossing his features.
His eyebrows drew together as if he couldn't quite process what he'd just heard.
"You still don't like it?"
She asked tentatively, reading his confused expression, her confidence wavering slightly as she bit her lower lip.
"Why should I? For what reason?"
His voice carried a note of exasperation, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity about her reasoning.
"Stone-Honey… It reflects your personality—hard and unmoving on the outside, but in reality… You are a purely sweet and warm person."
Her voice softened with sincerity, her gaze meeting his directly, vulnerable and honest.
A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she spoke, her fingers fidgeting with her chopsticks as she awaited his response.
"It's so cheesy, some kind of flattery. Humans use these tricks to manipulate themselves. Sweet words certainly can lower their guards."
His voice was flat and analytical, as if he were dissecting a specimen rather than receiving a compliment.
He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing with suspicion, walls rising even higher around him.
"Ey, don't be insensitive! I'm doing this for your sake."
She waved her hand dismissively at his cynicism, her tone taking on a playful scolding quality.
"You saved me, so from now on, you'll be my benefactor. What do you think?"
Her eyes shone with genuine warmth and gratitude, her smile widening as she spoke, completely unfazed by his cold assessment.
Long Jianyu felt speechless.
He could only stare at Yu Xiao's delighted expression, watching as her face lit up with pure, uncomplicated joy.
There was something disarming about her sincerity, something that made his carefully constructed arguments crumble into dust.
His lips parted as if to protest, but no words came out.
"Stone-Honey, ah."
She tested the name again, this time with a satisfied nod and a soft, almost affectionate tone, as if savoring the sound of it.
Her eyes crinkled at the corners, and she looked at him expectantly, waiting for his inevitable surrender to her persistence.
"Fine. I won't argue."
He exhaled slowly, a sound caught somewhere between resignation and reluctant acceptance.
His shoulders dropped ever so slightly, the tension easing from his frame as he finally surrendered to her relentless cheerfulness.
There was the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth—not quite a smile, but perhaps the ghost of one, betraying that he wasn't entirely displeased by her victory.