Chapter 259: The Superior Bows Their Head for Love
Chapter 259: Chapter 259: The Superior Bows Their Head for Love
Yun Sheng gave a noncommittal hum, her voice faint and almost devoid of emotion. Then, she continued adding noodles to the boiling pot. Her movements were unhurried, as if his words had been nothing more than a passing breeze, scattering the moment they brushed past her ears.
Bai Ye stood rooted to the spot, quietly watching her back. He didn’t press the matter, nor did he say anything else.
Once the noodles were done, Yun Sheng turned off the stove, ladled them into bowls, and topped each with a poached egg. Carrying the bowls, she turned around, only to meet Bai Ye’s gaze, which hadn’t left her for a second. She paused.
"Don’t you think my reaction just now was incredibly cold?" she asked, her tone even but tinged with self-mockery. "I didn’t even bother to ask what happened to Lin Hao."
Bai Ye looked at her, his gaze remaining perfectly calm without a trace of surprise or blame.
"You don’t need to explain yourself to me. Yun Sheng, whatever you choose to think or do is your own business. No one has the right to judge you."
Holding the bowls, Yun Sheng met the absolute certainty in his eyes. A sudden, bittersweet ache welled up in her chest, accompanied by a soft feeling she didn’t dare examine too closely. Averting her gaze, she set the bowls on the dining table and muttered, "Let’s eat first."
Bai Ye hummed in agreement, pulled out a chair, and picked up his chopsticks.
The noodles were smooth and satisfying. The savory aroma of the shredded meat perfectly complemented the crisp sweetness of the greens, and the broth was rich without being heavy. It was far more delicious than any bowl of noodles he had ever ordered at a restaurant. He took a bite, and then another. He didn’t eat quickly, but his chopsticks never paused.
Yun Sheng lowered her head to sip her soup. Catching a glimpse of his earnest eating manner from the corner of her eye, the heavy feeling in her chest suddenly lightened a little.
After a few more bites, Bai Ye suddenly stood up and walked over to the refrigerator. He took out a carton of milk, poured it into a glass, and placed it in the heating cabin. A moment later, he gently set the warm milk down by Yun Sheng’s hand, said nothing, and resumed eating his noodles.
Yun Sheng’s fingers curled slightly as she glanced at him. He already had his head down, focused on the noodles in his bowl, as if what he had just done was a casual, everyday gesture. But she knew it hadn’t been an afterthought.
Yun Sheng lowered her eyes. Cradling the glass of warm milk, she took small sips, that indescribable feeling surging up in her heart once more. She had never imagined seeing this side of Bai Ye. The Star Alliance War God who used to stand so high above her, coldly scrutinizing and doubting her at every turn, was actually being so gentle and attentive to her. She suddenly felt a bit dazed, as if all their past misunderstandings and barriers had been melted down by this single glass of warm milk.
Biting her lip, she swallowed back the surging emotions and asked quietly, "Is it good?"
Bai Ye paused for a moment before nodding. His voice was low, carrying a hint of satisfied huskiness. "Yes, it’s very good. You’re an excellent cook."
Yun Sheng curved her lips into a small smile and didn’t speak again.
Morning sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, coating the dining table in a thin layer of gold. Even the steam rising from the bowls seemed tinged with warmth. The dining room was quiet, save for the soft clinking of chopsticks against ceramic and the faint swish of a white porcelain spoon scooping up broth. There were no unnecessary words, but a subtle, warm feeling slowly lingered between the two of them—gentle and enduring, much like the steam curling off the noodles.
...
The faint scent of disinfectant permeated the hospital corridor. Bai Ye walked slightly ahead with steady steps, and Yun Sheng followed by his side. Neither of them spoke. The cold white lighting of the inpatient ward illuminated the walls and floors without a trace of warmth.
Just as they reached the door to Lin Hao’s room, before Bai Ye could even reach for the handle, the door was opened from the inside.
Lin Yueyao walked out. Looking up and bumping right into the two of them, her footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Her gaze first landed on Bai Ye’s face, then slowly shifted to Yun Sheng. Her eyes instantly turned red, as if she couldn’t believe the scene before her.
"Brother Bai..." Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a heavy weight of suppressed grievance and disbelief. "Are you... are you really together with my sister?"
Her eyelashes fluttered. Tears welled in her eyes but didn’t fall, as if she were stubbornly holding them back.
"I know she came back from Zone 10 yesterday, but she didn’t return to the Lin Family," she stammered, her voice growing quieter. "Mom called the Tower to ask, and they said she left right after her security check—and that she left with you. I... I didn’t believe it at first..."
Lin Yueyao’s voice broke off as if she couldn’t bear to continue. Yet, her hesitant tone and tearful expression were far more agonizing to witness than a direct interrogation.
Occasionally, nurses and visiting family members passed by in the corridor. Their gazes swept over the trio before hurriedly darting away, though the curiosity and speculation in their eyes were impossible to hide.
Standing beside Bai Ye, Yun Sheng watched Lin Yueyao’s pitiful performance and sneered inwardly. She knew Lin Yueyao’s words weren’t meant for them; they were meant for the people coming and going in the corridor. The Bai Family had just called off the engagement, and now she was showing up at the hospital with Bai Ye. Regardless of the actual reason, to any onlookers, it appeared as though she had stolen Lin Yueyao’s fiancé. By playing the wronged, pitiful victim while simultaneously slinging mud at Yun Sheng, Lin Yueyao was killing two birds with one stone. It was a move truly worthy of Miss Lin, the masterful manipulator from the original novel.
Bai Ye looked at Lin Yueyao. His expression was ice-cold. When he spoke, his voice was measured—neither too loud nor too soft—but clear enough for everyone in the corridor to hear.
"All Tower personnel who returned from Zone 10 last night were sent to the First Research Institute for a mandatory security check. By the time the results came out, it was already 1:00 a.m. Since it was so late, their accommodations were arranged collectively by the facility. Is there a problem?"
Hearing this, the nurses and family members in the corridor who had been eavesdropping couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
"So the accommodations were just arranged for everyone because it was too late..."
"It was 1:00 a.m. You can’t exactly let a girl go home by herself at that hour, right? It makes perfect sense for General Bai to arrange accommodations for them."
"Exactly. The way Miss Lin spoke just now, I honestly thought there was something scandalous going on between General Bai and her sister. If General Bai hadn’t cleared the air, it really would’ve caused a huge misunderstanding."
Though these whispers were quiet, every single word drifted into Lin Yueyao’s ears, piercing her pitiful facade like sharp nails. The speculative gazes that had originally been aimed at Yun Sheng were quietly withdrawn, replaced by a subtle, judging scrutiny directed at Lin Yueyao.
Lin Yueyao bit her lip, rapidly adjusting her expression. Her voice became even softer, thick with apology and grievance. "So that’s how it is... It was my misunderstanding. I’m sorry, I was just... I was just too worried about Xiao Hao. My mind was in a mess, and seeing my sister and Brother Bai arriving together, I jumped to conclusions..." As she spoke, her tears spilled over, streaming down her pale cheeks. She looked incredibly pitiful, as if she were desperately trying to suppress her emotions but simply couldn’t hold them back.
Seeing the onlookers’ gazes shifting from scrutiny back to sympathy, Yun Sheng suddenly took a step forward and sighed softly.
"Sister Yue Yao, I understand you’re worried about Xiao Hao’s accident. I rushed over as soon as I heard the news, too. But with the things you said just now and the way you’re crying, people who don’t know the truth might think I’m bullying you. I know you’re upset, but some words can truly hurt people and cause unnecessary misunderstandings. I don’t want to be labeled as the other woman who stole someone’s fiancé. Could you please stop speaking so recklessly from now on?"