Chapter 161: I Like Li Mohan

"I never expected your culinary skills to be quite this impressive!"

Inside Old Man Qian's courtyard, three people were seated around a table, enjoying a meal. Because of her prolonged recovery, Chu Bing had not cooked for a long time. Today, making a rare exception, she had exerted all her talents. Not only was Old Man Qian thoroughly satisfied, but she herself ate until her lips glistened with savory oils.

With their stomachs full and the wine drained, Chu Bing slumped back against her chair. "You two, show some initiative and go wash the dishes."

Li Yuxi cast a look of utter disgust at the greasy plates and bowls. Just as he was about to grumble, he caught a glimpse of the fatigue lingering in Chu Bing's eyes. He twitched his lips, but stood up of his own accord.

Old Man Qian watched his retreating figure in absolute astonishment. "Did the sun rise from the west today?"

Those ten fingers of Li Yuxi had never once touched menial household chores.

Lying lazily, Chu Bing closed her eyes to catch the breeze. "He's being unusually diligent, so don't you worry about it."

Strokeing his beard cheerfully, Old Man Qian was just about to stroll back to his room to sort through his medicinal herbs when a sharp, urgent pounding sounded at the front gate.

"Is Doctor Qian at home? My mistress has been struck by a sudden, severe illness! Doctor Qian, please come over and take a look at once!"

The young maid outside sounded extremely frantic. Chu Bing glanced over as Old Man Qian opened the courtyard gate in two or three strides. The young girl standing outside had tear-filled eyes and looked utterly pitiful.

"Doctor Qian, everyone says your medical skills are the finest. Please, come and take a look..."

"Ah, don't panic. Let me grab my medicine box, and I'll come right with you."

Old Man Qian hurried back into the courtyard, grabbed his medicine kit, and prepared to leave. Chu Bing immediately stood up, intending to follow. After all, she was currently Old Man Qian's apothecary apprentice; it was entirely improper to let the old man venture out alone in the middle of the night.

"Stay right where you are, obediently, and don't go anywhere," Old Man Qian whispered, lowering his voice to instruct Chu Bing. "With the way you look, I wouldn't dare take you to meet any noble madams or wives!"

Chu Bing was left speechless.

Ever since arriving in this ancient era, she constantly felt that possessing good looks was a terrible mistake.

With Old Man Qian gone with the messenger, Chu Bing was left all alone in the courtyard. Just as she was about to head back inside, Li Yuxi happened to walk out.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sturdy, muscular arms.

He possessed quite a masculine charm.

Disconcerted, Chu Bing averted her gaze. "Ahem, it's getting late. I'll head back to rest."

Before Li Yuxi could say a word, he watched the woman before him trip heavily to the ground in a thoroughly bizarre posture.

His eyebrows twitched as he crossed the distance in a few strides. "Are you alright?"

Supporting Chu Bing by her shoulders and feeling her tremble all over from the pain, he felt both exasperated and amused. "What on earth is wrong with you? You can trip just by walking? Just how many times has this been?"

Grit-toothed and wincing from the pain, Chu Bing had no time to spare for his mockery. "Help me inside quickly! I think I've twisted my ankle."

Her existing wounds had not yet fully healed, and now she had added a fresh injury to the mix. She truly didn't know what to say about herself!

Bending down slightly, Li Yuxi swept her up horizontally into his arms. He strode directly into the bedroom, gently laid her on the bed, and then fetched a basin of cold water on his own initiative, seating himself beside the bed to apply a cold compress to Chu Bing's ankle.

The pain in her ankle was severe, stirring up a small spark of irritation deep within her.

She had certainly had some terrible luck lately. Could it be that the heavens had made her time-travel to this ancient era simply to watch her make a fool of herself?

With a blank expression, she kept silent. Li Yuxi could tell at a glance that she was unhappy.

While gently massaging her ankle with tender care, he spoke with helpless resignation, "Still determined to fight with yourself, are you?"

Chu Bing started. Regaining her senses, she saw the usually arrogant and unyielding Li Yuxi sitting with his head lowered, rubbing her foot.

His movements were cautious and gentle, his expression soft—as if he were handling not a smelly foot, but some rare and priceless treasure!

A subtle ripple stirred in Chu Bing's heart, and her tone softened involuntarily. "Li Yuxi, why are you treating me so well?"

"...Because I like you. Just how much longer are you going to play deaf and dumb?" Li Yuxi raised his head in frustration, assuming Chu Bing was once again feigning ignorance on purpose.

Embarrassment flooded Chu Bing's mind.

For a moment, she simply hadn't reacted in time and had blurted out her inner thoughts. Had she paused to think it through first, she would never have asked such a foolish question.

Now, she could only offer an awkward, self-conscious laugh, pretending to be as dense as a block of wood.

However, Li Yuxi had no intention of letting her off the hook. Fixing his gaze intently on Chu Bing, he said, "Since you know I treat you well, shouldn't you give me some kind of response in return?"

Chu Bing blinked, smiling in a way that looked far worse than crying. "I... I've already told you, I don't like you..."

The topic was undeniably awkward, so she abruptly tried to change the subject. "It's getting late. You should go get some rest."

Seeing her sincere expression, Li Yuxi felt a wave of sullen frustration surge within him, and his expression inevitably turned cold. "Chu Bing, go on then—if you don't like me, who is it that you do like?"

Today, he was determined to find out precisely who it was that Chu Bing kept hidden in her heart!

Why did it have to circle back to this question again?

Chu Bing felt like crying without tears.

She massaged her temples and sighed. After a brief silence, she raised her head to look directly at Li Yuxi, her expression turning solemn and sincere. "Li Yuxi, I admit that I misunderstood you before. But you saved my life, I have deeply recognized my mistake, and I am willing to apologize to you. However... that does not mean I have feelings for you."

Affection and gratitude were two entirely different matters.

Chu Bing knew very well who was truly hidden away in the depths of her heart.

"...The person I like is your eldest brother, Li Mohai."

Chu Bing pronounced every single word clearly and slowly.

The smile on Li Yuxi's face vanished inch by inch. His expression went utterly blank, looking terrifyingly forbidding.

Chu Bing's heart hammered ceaselessly against her ribs. Even though Li Yuxi had saved her, it did nothing to change the fact that he possessed a formidable and unpredictable temper.

She worried that, in a fit of furious rage, Li Yuxi might strike her down right then and there.

Yet, Li Yuxi did nothing of the sort.

He simply stared at her fixedly. Just as Chu Bing felt she could no longer bear the tension, Li Yuxi suddenly stood up and turned away without a word.

Chu Bing slowly lowered her eyelids.

Though it was rather cruel, rather than letting Li Yuxi continue to tangle himself up in this endless pursuit, she believed it was better to give him the unvarnished truth cleanly.

She did not regret it.

Chu Bing pulled the quilt up to cover her face, yet her mind remained a chaotic mess. All she could picture was the look in Li Yuxi's eyes just moments ago.

Cold and profound, as though pregnant with an impending tempest.

It must have been her imagination, right?

Tossing and turning beneath the blankets, she found herself completely unable to fall asleep and could only force her eyes shut, trying to regulate her breathing.

Just as Chu Bing was drifting into a hazy sleep, a figure leaped in through the window.

The silhouette walked slowly to the bedside, standing tall and looking down at Chu Bing from above.

Her entire body grew taut. She caught a familiar scent lingering in the air—it was Li Yuxi.

Why had he come back?

What was he planning to do?

Filled with apprehension and unease, just as she was about to open her eyes to check, she heard the man beside the bed speak in an icy, sinister tone.

"Since you don't like me, then... go die."