CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 560: TREATING HIM LIKE A YOUNGER BROTHER, NOT A MAN

Ye Tiao didn’t know how to respond to such a question for a moment.

Both of them were quite grown-up, and some things just felt natural to progress without any strong need for ceremony.

Yet, having a meal together as a man and a woman felt different from the usual meals with Tang Jingming. Perhaps this could be considered a date?

Ye Tiao didn’t detect the gloominess in Tang Jingming’s words and, after thinking, said, "I guess so."

"What do you mean ’I guess so’?" Tang Jingming suddenly shouted, his voice unsteady with anger, markedly different from usual. Ye Tiao was stunned and heard Tang Jingming roar again through the phone, "Either it is or it isn’t—can’t you just give me a straight answer? What the hell do you take me for!"

Ye Tiao thought he was angry because she hadn’t told him in advance that she wouldn’t be coming home for dinner. Feeling somewhat guilty, she coughed lightly and said, "Why are you so mad? How much have you made? Leave it be. I’ll have some when I get back... later."

Tang Jingming’s rage flared even more, as if about to explode, he yelled, "Who cares, just enjoy your damn date!"

Ye Tiao: "..."

It was the first time Ye Tiao had ever heard Tang Jingming lose his temper so badly, and she had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.

Could it be that something had happened?

Ye Tiao, feeling guilty, looked up at Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan was also looking at her, and upon seeing her gaze, he smiled faintly at her.

Ye Tiao looked at her hung-up phone and then at Lin Yuan, saying, "It seems like my younger brother at home had some trouble. I need to go back and check on him. Sorry, I’ll cover the bill for today."

Lin Yuan seemed disappointed, but he was still graceful, saying to Ye Tiao, "It’s okay, if there’s really something urgent, then go ahead. But if it’s not too pressing, the dishes are here, you could finish your meal first before leaving."

As he spoke, the waiter served the first dish.

Faced with Lin Yuan’s sincere gaze, Ye Tiao hesitated for a moment, but sat down and ate a few bites before saying a hasty goodbye and leaving.

After paying the bill and stepping out, Ye Tiao drove back home with increased speed.

But she couldn’t help the traffic in Imperial City that became congested after just a few hundred meters. Anxious as she was, it still took her half an hour to get home.

When she got home and opened the door, Ye Tiao smelled the scent of food coming from inside.

However, when she turned on the light, the first thing she saw was the chaos all over the floor.

The clay pot for stewing soup was shattered on the ground, and besides that, there were cordyceps flowers and chicken scattered everywhere, with the golden-yellow soup emitting waves of fragrance, very tempting.

Unfortunately, it was all broken on the floor.

Tang Jingming was sitting on the sofa, and when he heard the noise at the door, his gaze turned toward her.

Ye Tiao’s heart skipped a beat, and looking at Tang Jingming on the sofa, she exclaimed, "What are you doing!"

Tang Jingming’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he looked away slightly.

He didn’t say a word, but the sense of grievance was crystal clear, almost tangible, as if written in big letters: I’m angry, come and comfort me.

Ye Tiao walked toward him and had not yet gotten close when she saw his red and slightly swollen hand.

"Did you get scalded?" Ye Tiao hurried over, grabbed his hand and said, "It’s so swollen; why didn’t you apply any medication!"

Her tone was like one might use with a younger brother, not with a man.

Tang Jingming’s face was stern as he suddenly jerked his hand away from hers.