Ye Chen was currently sitting alone in the living room, feeling a little awkward. Ever since the incident earlier, Teacher Lin Rouxi hadn't stepped out of her room. In fact, she had locked herself inside without saying a word.
Unknown to Ye Chen, Lin Rouxi felt too embarrassed to face him. Her heart was in turmoil, so she chose to avoid the situation by hiding in her room.
After waiting for over ten minutes with no sign of movement, Ye Chen stood up and walked to the door of Lin Rouxi's room. He knocked gently.
"Teacher Lin, are you alright?" he asked with concern.
There was no response.
Ye Chen furrowed his brows. He didn't want to intrude, but he was worried. So, he activated his spiritual sense to scan the room. To his relief, Lin Rouxi was fine—just deeply embarrassed. She didn't seem to mind him using his spiritual sense either.
Realizing she simply didn't want to see him, Ye Chen sighed and decided to leave. As he approached the front door to exit, the doorknob suddenly turned from the outside.
To his surprise, Zhao Yanyan stepped in with a shopping bag in her hand.
"Yanyan baby? Why are you here?" Ye Chen asked with a smile.
Zhao Yanyan blinked. "Shouldn't I be the one asking that? After all, this is my dormitory. Ye Chen, what are you doing in my room?"
Ye Chen was dumbfounded. He hadn't realized that this was Zhao Yanyan's dormitory. But now that he thought about it, earlier that day Zhao Yanyan had called Lin Rouxi sister Rouxi. Could it be... they were roommates?
"I was invited by Teacher Lin Rouxi. She needed some help... but she locked herself in her room and hasn't come out since," Ye Chen explained honestly.
Zhao Yanyan placed her bag down and immediately walked to the bedroom door with concern in her eyes.
"Sister Rouxi, are you alright?" she called out, knocking gently.
Zhao Yanyan knew about Lin Rouxi's recurring leg problem, especially during cold or damp days. When there was still no reply, her anxiety grew.
"Ye Chen, please break down the door! What if something's happened to her inside?" she urged.
Ye Chen had already confirmed that Lin Rouxi was safe, but seeing Zhao Yanyan so distressed, he prepared to act.
Just then, a soft voice came from behind the door.
"Yanyan, I'm fine. I'm just tired today… I want to rest alone for a while," Lin Rouxi said faintly.
She hadn't planned to respond, but when she heard Zhao Yanyan suggest breaking down the door, she was forced to speak up.
Zhao Yanyan let out a sigh of relief.
"Looks like Teacher Lin is just exhausted. Let's let her rest peacefully," Ye Chen said gently.
Zhao Yanyan nodded. "You're right. But still, Ye Chen, I don't think you've told me everything. What exactly are you doing here?"
Ye Chen then explained the full situation—how he had helped treat Lin Rouxi's illness and how the therapy had gone. Of course, he left out the more intimate and awkward details.
After listening, Zhao Yanyan finally understood. "So you came to help treat her condition… But Ye Chen, have you ever studied medicine before?"
Ye Chen scratched his head. "Just a little."
"And you managed to treat Sister Rouxi? That's amazing! But is she completely healed now?" she asked, curious.
"Not yet. One more session is needed. I forgot to mention it to her… Yanyan, could you please pass that message along?"
"Of course," Zhao Yanyan agreed.
Just as Ye Chen was about to leave, he hugged Zhao Yanyan briefly.
But Zhao Yanyan clung to him tightly. "Why are you in such a hurry? You don't like spending time with me?" she pouted.
Ye Chen chuckled. "It's not that, Yanyan dear. But it's already late. Won't the dorm supervisor scold you for bringing a man into your room?"
"It's only 7 p.m., and visiting hours go until 9. There's still time," Zhao Yanyan said softly, her cheeks slightly flushed. "So… would you like to stay with me for a bit?"
Ye Chen smiled. "How could I refuse if my dear Yanyan personally invites me?"
Zhao Yanyan beamed with joy. "Alright then. Help me carry the groceries to the kitchen—I'll cook you something special!"
Ye Chen helped her bring the groceries into the spacious kitchen. The room was part of a luxurious VIP suite, complete with a private living area, kitchen, and separate bedrooms. The facilities were impressive—only someone like Zhao Yanyan would get a room like this.
Since only the two of them were here, Ye Chen removed his leather mask. Zhao Yanyan had already grown used to his habit of wearing it in public, though she preferred seeing his real, handsome face.
But as his girlfriend, she also understood the dangers of being too handsome—there were always women trying to steal him.
Tying her hair into a ponytail, Zhao Yanyan got to work in the kitchen. Even with simple actions, her beauty shone through. Ye Chen couldn't help but admire her.
He stepped forward to help wash the vegetables and meat. After that, Zhao Yanyan began cutting them with practiced skill. Tonight, she planned to cook stir-fried meat in spicy soy sauce.
As she stood slicing vegetables, Ye Chen moved behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
Zhao Yanyan flinched slightly, then blushed. "Ye Chen… I'm cooking right now…"
But Ye Chen's hands moved mischievously to her soft chest.
"You're still cooking just fine," he teased while giving a gentle squeeze.
He activated the King's Heart Technique quietly. Immediately, Zhao Yanyan let out a soft gasp, her body reacting instinctively to the sudden wave of pleasure.
"Ye Chen, please… I can't concentrate if you keep touching me like that," she said breathlessly.
Ye Chen stopped using the technique, letting her recover. Even so, the afterglow lingered on her cheeks.
He made a mental note: the King's Heart Technique could bring extreme pleasure even from the lightest touch. While his main goal was to manage his Ancient Yang Physique through dual cultivation, now wasn't the right time. He had to be patient.
Zhao Yanyan eventually calmed down but remained confused. "Ye Chen, what did you just do? It felt… different."
"Just touching your chest, Yanyan dear," Ye Chen replied casually.
"I mean… it felt way more intense than usual," she murmured shyly.
"That's because you were touched by the man you love," Ye Chen grinned. "But… I didn't expect you to touch your own chest often enough to make a comparison."
Zhao Yanyan's face turned red like a ripe apple. "Ye Chen, you're horrible! I'm ignoring you!" She turned back to cooking, embarrassed.
Ye Chen laughed lightly and sat down, waiting patiently at the dining table.
A short while later, Zhao Yanyan placed the dishes on the table. "Ye Chen, try my cooking!"
The food looked delicious. Ye Chen took a bite of the stir-fried meat. The flavor was salty, sweet, and a little spicy—perfectly balanced.
"This is great," Ye Chen said honestly, eating more.
Zhao Yanyan beamed with happiness. "I'm glad you like it. I'm still learning. Compared to Sister Rouxi's cooking, this is nothing."
"Maybe. But to me, Yanyan's cooking is already the best."
They smiled at each other and continued eating. After dinner, Ye Chen helped clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes.
Later, they sat on the sofa, chatting and studying together.
When the wall clock showed it was past eight, Ye Chen stood up.
"I should get going," he said. "I've been here for a while, and Teacher Lin still hasn't come out of her room."
"Wait, Ye Chen…" Zhao Yanyan suddenly pulled him close and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.