At the dining table.
Xia Yingluo was extremely shy, keeping her head down as she ate.
She loved the atmosphere in Ye Chen's home.
The whole family chatting and laughing around the table.
It was a feeling she'd never had before.
Mother Ye asked with a smile, "Yingluo, what do your parents do?"
Xia Yingluo paused. "I don't have parents. I'm an orphan."
"An orphan?" Mother Ye froze, her eyes full of tenderness.
Ye Chen said, "Mom, Xia Yingluo has always ranked top three in our class. She's brilliant; otherwise why would I ask her to tutor me?"
Tutoring for the sake of study?
They knew their own son too well.
"Hmph!"
Mother Ye and Father Ye exchanged a look of disdain.
Ye Chen: "…"
Seeing Yingluo only eating rice and not touching the dishes, Mother Ye hurriedly said, "Have some ribs, and chicken legs—look how slim you are, you need nourishment."
Ye Chen watched helplessly as his two chicken legs landed in Yingluo's bowl.
"Look at Yingluo—living in an Orphanage yet still top of the class. You should learn from her."
Ye Chen stared longingly at the drumsticks in Yingluo's bowl. "Isn't that why I brought her here to study?"
Mother Ye smiled. "Yingluo, come over often. Auntie will cook delicious food for you. If Ye Chen dares bully you, tell me—I'll sort him out."
Ye Chen was speechless.
His mom sounded exactly like a mother-in-law chatting with her daughter-in-law.
"Mom, we're classmates, not dating."
"I'm talking with Yingluo—why interrupt? Can't all this food shut you up?" Mother Ye rolled her eyes.
At first Xia Yingluo was very reserved.
But hearing Mother Ye scold Ye Chen, she couldn't help giggling.
Xia Yingluo grew up in an Orphanage; she'd always lacked a mother's love.
For some reason, being with Mother Ye felt incredibly warm.
"Yingluo, ignore that boy. Whether or not you're Ye Chen's girlfriend, visit often and treat this as your own home."
"Home!"
Hearing that familiar yet foreign word, Xia Yingluo's heart quivered.
Right then, a system notification rang in Ye Chen's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host: your investment target has received the warmth of love and matured. Reward: Divine Medical Skill."
In an instant, countless medical know-how flooded Ye Chen's brain.
Awesome!
Ye Chen looked at his mom, delighted beyond words.
Mom's unexpected assist was incredible.
He'd never imagined a few caring words from Mother Ye toward Yingluo would earn him such a fantastic reward.
No wonder they say "only mom is good in this world"… After dinner, Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo went to study in his room.
Stepping inside, Xia Yingluo froze for a moment.
She'd assumed a boy's study would be messy, yet Ye Chen's room was neatly organized.
Ye Chen had tidied up yesterday after returning home.
After all, he was an adult who'd lived alone; his self-care was better than most boys'.
The two sat at the desk and began their tutoring session.
Ye Chen noticed Yingluo's pretty face was slightly flushed, looking uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?"
Blushing, Yingluo said, "Probably ate too much meat."
Mother Ye had kept piling food on her; Yingluo couldn't refuse and ended up stuffed.
Ye Chen chuckled. "Let me pour you some water. You must be on your period—warm water coming up."
Yingluo blinked. "How did you know I'm about to get that?"
Actually, Ye Chen had figured it out.
With Divine Medical Skill, he could tell from her complexion and body signs.
"Just guessed," Ye Chen answered awkwardly.
"Guessed?" Yingluo's cheeks flushed pink.
A boy knowing when her period comes—what did that imply?
It meant he'd been quietly paying attention to her.
Could Ye Chen really like me?
Outside the room, Mother Ye and Father Ye were chatting.
"Weren't you clamoring to give Ye Chen and his female classmate a good lecture?"
"They came back to study—what's there to lecture about?"
"Hmph, you just think the girl's too pretty and your son's getting the better end," Father Ye saw right through her.
"Partly. I just feel the child's had it tough—an orphan, so thin, no one to love her, who knows how much she's suffered," Mother Ye sighed.
"Mm, it's nice of her to help our kid with studies. Back then I…"
Old Ye stopped halfway, realizing he'd almost spilled the beans again.
Mother Ye humphed. "What about back then? Keep talking."
Old Ye chuckled awkwardly. "Weren't we talking about little Ye? D'you think they're dating?"
"Definitely. Yesterday the kid even cleaned his room himself—knew something was up. Next day he brings a girl home; if that's not dating, what is?"
Mother Ye's voice carried; the conversation outside was crystal clear inside the study.
The more Yingluo heard, the redder her face became.
Could Ye Chen really want to date me? What should I do?
…Ye Chen gave an awkward smile. "That's just how my parents are—don't mind their nonsense."
Blushing, Yingluo nodded gently.
Since she'd eaten their food, she had to work.
First, Yingluo explained the key points the teacher had covered today.
Then she picked up today's math test. "You try it first; I'll explain anything you can't do."
The two started on the paper together.
But soon Yingluo realized something was off.
Ye Chen rested his chin on his hand, not writing—just staring at her.
"Why aren't you writing?" Yingluo asked.
Ye Chen grinned. "I'm already done!"
"Done?" Yingluo was stunned.
She picked up his paper.
Instantly, Yingluo was dumbfounded.
She'd only finished a third, yet Ye Chen's paper was complete—and everything looked correct.
How was that possible?
Especially the final big question—she couldn't solve it, yet Ye Chen had.
"How did you solve the last problem?" Yingluo asked curiously.
Ye Chen smiled. "It's beyond the syllabus; you can't use conventional thinking. Do it like this."
He scribbled a long string of formulas on paper.
"Got it?" Ye Chen asked.
Yingluo nodded earnestly. "I got it. Ye Chen, you're amazing."
Suddenly she felt something was wrong.
"Wasn't it supposed to be: you treat me to dinner, and I tutor you? How did it turn into you tutoring me?"
Yingluo pouted.
"Ye Chen, you're bullying me."
Looking at her aggrieved expression, Ye Chen said, "Where did I bully you?"
Yingluo replied, "You clearly know everything—better than me—and still made me tutor you."
"Actually, no! You taught so well just now that I learned it all."
Yingluo was taken aback.
Was it really because I taught well?