CHAPTER 113: CHAPTER 112: MANMAN, LOOK AT ME

On this New Year’s Eve, He Chen barely slept at all.

Receiving Ye Manman’s approval and orders, he dared not disobey, and was so excited that he couldn’t stop practicing until dawn when he finally managed to clean up and get some sleep.

So on the first day of the new year, it was the first time that Ye Manman woke up to find He Chen still lying beside her.

He never sleeps in.

So Ye Manman was a bit confused, wondering if he was sick, quickly touching his forehead to make sure he wasn’t running a fever before she felt relieved.

But then she realized her own head was throbbing painfully, the kind of hangover headache with a pulsating ache at the temples, making her feel awful.

She wanted to get up and get dressed, only to find her pajamas had been changed to a different set.

It didn’t seem to be the set she wore before bed last night.

Sitting on the bed, Ye Manman began to recall everything that happened last night.

She, emboldened by alcohol, pushed He Chen to get closer to her, but He Chen seemed not to be much use...

Then, what happened afterward?

Ye Manman patted her head, and some fragmented memories started coming back to her.

He Chen was indeed very obedient; when she asked him to practice well, he genuinely practiced hard.

But he was too foolish, busy all night without even finding the entrance; it’s hard to understand what he was busy with, so much that it’s infuriating!

Previously cowardly, now foolish.

Ye Manman was speechless; her grand plan, she even got herself drunk for him, and now has a headache, yet he was so foolish and disappointing.

She decided not to pay attention to this big fool for the entire day.

It’s enough to make one want to kick him a couple of times out of anger when thinking about it.

And then Ye Manman did exactly that, kicking him a few times viciously under the blanket before getting dressed and getting up to wash up.

He Chen was perhaps too tired; even with her kicking, he didn’t wake up, and there was still a satisfied smile on his face, which was infuriating to look at.

Ye Manman had no intention of acknowledging him today, so she didn’t bother waking him up, opting to wash up herself and then snacking for breakfast.

As per custom here, on the first day of the year, they are meant to visit the man’s relatives, but since He Chen had severed ties with Li Hongmei’s family, they had some free time today.

Tomorrow, on the second day, they still had to visit the Ye Family, as their relationship was still maintained on the surface, and Ye Guoqiang was still her biological father, so they had no reason not to make a visit.

Thinking about seeing those annoying people Ye Xiaotong and Xie Fengmian again tomorrow, Ye Manman was even more unhappy, maintaining a sour expression throughout.

He Chen didn’t wake up late.

When he found that Ye Manman was no longer in bed, he was immediately startled into wakefulness, almost rolling and crawling out to find her.

Seeing Ye Manman intact, reading and snacking in the living room, He Chen’s heart was finally at ease.

Ye Manman glanced at him, then went back to reading without acknowledging him.

But He Chen hadn’t realized she was upset, thinking instead that she was just feeling shy.

He belatedly felt a bit awkward, especially since he ran out without properly dressing, so he quickly returned to the room to dress properly.

During this time, He Chen’s face was constantly lit up with a smile, his lips upturned, unable to suppress it, feeling as if he was floating on clouds, in a very good mood.

Perhaps because he truly had won over the girl he loved, He Chen felt as if the air today was sweet.

He cheerfully went to make breakfast, diligently serving it to Ye Manman, but Ye Manman didn’t even lift her head, her tone cold.

"Take it away, I’m not eating."

The smile on He Chen’s face froze, feeling like his heart had been hammered; he suddenly panicked.

"Wha, what’s wrong? Manman."

"Did I do something wrong... Don’t be upset, tell me, and I’ll definitely make it right."

He was extremely anxious, thinking maybe it was his sleeping in and not making her breakfast that angered Ye Manman.

But Ye Manman merely glanced at him indifferently, then resumed reading.

"You’re too foolish, so I don’t want to pay attention to you today."

"I"

He Chen wanted to explain why he slept in, but he was stuck after just a word.

He looked bewildered, not quite understanding where her comment came from.

Hadn’t she always praised him for being smart?

Praising his business acumen, praising his math skills, praising his strength, praising his cleverness in handling matters, so why suddenly call him foolish...

He Chen scratched his head, anxiously feeling clueless about what to do, crouching in front of Ye Manman like a big, forlorn dog with its tail between its legs, looking quite pitiful.

Ye Manman’s mood seemed visibly foul, and He Chen, pondering intensely, still couldn’t figure out what had upset her, so he simply found the washboard at home and "plopped" down on his knees in front of her.

"Manman, don’t be upset, just punish me if you’re angry, whatever the punishment, just don’t brood by yourself okay? It pains me."

"I’m sorry for being so foolish, but please punish me first, then guide me, okay? I’m a quick learner, I’ll...I’ll strive to become smarter soon, don’t look down on me..."

Being tall and long-legged, with a heavy build, kneeling on the washboard brought intense pain to his knees, which made him wince in pain uncomfortably.

Yet He Chen didn’t care about the pain in his knees, just some inconvenience; his greater concern was Ye Manman working herself up into a state that might affect her wellbeing.

"Manman...can you take a look at me, please?"

Such a big man, yet with such a pitiful expression looking at her, sounding almost tearful.

Ye Manman was a bit softened too, her slender fingers gripping the book pages unable to turn over to the next one.

Upon careful consideration, she reckoned last night’s situation wasn’t entirely his fault; the main issue might be that no one had ever taught him, leading to this excessive innocence at over twenty years of age, knowing nothing.

Realizing this, the discontented feeling in her heart dissipated significantly.

Ye Manman turned to look, seeing this foolish man kneeling so straight, his knees on the hard washboard as if feeling no pain.

Though her heart ached and softened, her tone remained a bit prideful.

"Enough, get up, why are you kneeling? Don’t you know a man must uphold his dignity? No more random kneeling."

He Chen was still dumbfounded, so Ye Manman simply walked up to him and tapped his forehead.

"Besides, if you injure your knees, who’ll fetch water, cook, or boil water for me? You’re not trying to get hurt so I have to do it, are you?"

Feigning annoyance, she startled He Chen enough to quickly stand up straight.

"No, no! I’m standing up, I’m not kneeling anymore!"

After speaking, he cautiously watched her expression again.

"Please don’t be upset, alright? What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you."

He Chen still didn’t know how to cheer Ye Manman up, and most importantly, he still wasn’t clear on why she deemed him foolish.

He’s genuinely unsure of what could make her happy, with the only thing he currently felt confident about being his ability to cook, at least she often praised his cooking skills.

Ye Manman glanced at him, unable to resist any longer, she jumped up and flicked his forehead.

"Humph!"

"You big fool, you’re hopeless!"

"I want smashed green chilies with century eggs! With extra spicy chilies."