Chapter 9: Dual Personality

“Are you sure you won’t move out?” Yu Yihan’s eyes turned colder again, her lips curling into a proud smirk. If looks could kill, Xiao Yufan would have died hundreds of times already.

“I won’t move out!” Xiao Yufan’s reply was firm and resolute. He deliberately avoided meeting Yu Yihan’s angry gaze and began humming a tune to himself. It was already very late, and he had no money on him—was he supposed to sleep on the street?

Awkwardness filled the air… A stalemate…

Xiao Yufan fully demonstrated his scoundrel and rogue nature, unmoved no matter how fiercely Yu Yihan glared at him. Still, he felt a bit uneasy—if Yu Yihan really called the police, he would have no choice but to leave whether he wanted to or not.

“Are you sure you’re not moving out?” Yu Yihan’s eyes turned icy once more, her lips curling into a haughty arc. If looks could kill, Xiao Yufan would have been dead hundreds of times over by now.

“I’m not moving!” Xiao Yufan’s reply was resolute. He deliberately avoided Yu Yihan’s furious gaze and hummed a tune to himself. It was already late, and he had no money. Did she expect him to sleep on the streets?

Awkwardness… Stalemate…

Xiao Yufan fully embraced his rogue nature, standing firm despite the storm. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. If Yu Yihan really called the police, he’d have no choice but to leave.

“So, when do you plan to move out? Don’t tell me you intend to stay forever. This isn’t a shelter; I have no obligation to house you!” Yu Yihan’s tone softened slightly. She knew arguing with a scoundrel like him would get her nowhere.

“What…” Xiao Yufan was taken aback by her question, but inwardly, he was pleased. This was exactly the answer he wanted. Staying here for a while would be ideal.

Afraid she might change her mind, Xiao Yufan quickly added, “I’ll move out as soon as I find a suitable job!”

“And if you never find a job, are you planning to stay forever? Old Li told me you haven’t had a job in three years. I have no intention of housing you for another three. Remember, this place is mine now!”

“I will find a job…” Stung by her words, Xiao Yufan leapt up from the couch, cursing Old Li in his heart for revealing his past.

“Hmph, I hope you’re not just talking big. I’ll give you one more month, as compensation for not informing you earlier.” Yu Yihan snorted, making a reluctant compromise. She then walked into her bedroom and locked the door, clearly treating Xiao Yufan as a potential threat.

Xiao Yufan stared at the closed door, feeling a surreal sense of happiness. Had this woman really changed her nature, allowing him to stay? Yet, her haughty demeanor left him with no fondness for her.

Closing the door, Hao Xuan returned to his own bedroom and lay down comfortably. He had slept here for three years, and suddenly having a beautiful tenant next door felt strange, even though their bedrooms were separated by a kitchen.

The next morning, Xiao Yufan woke up early, the earliest he had risen in three years. Even though he didn’t like Yu Yihan, she hadn’t driven him out, so he felt he should make some effort.

Opening the fridge, he saw a lot of frozen food. It seemed this woman was a workaholic, relying on these barely nutritious meals just to stave off hunger.

Sounds of activity came from the kitchen, and soon, Xiao Yufan had prepared a lavish breakfast. Cooking was one thing he excelled at, having spent three years at home honing his culinary skills.

Admiring the breakfast, Xiao Yufan felt a surge of pride. Just then, Yu Yihan’s bedroom door slowly opened. Their eyes met, and Xiao Yufan gulped hard while Yu Yihan let out a scream and retreated back into her room.

“Damn, isn’t this blatant temptation?” Xiao Yufan struggled to suppress his rising desire. Yu Yihan had been wearing only a nightgown, her alluring figure clearly visible beneath.

Back in her room, Yu Yihan’s face flushed red. She was used to living alone and, still half-asleep, had forgotten about Xiao Yufan’s presence, leading to that embarrassing moment.

Changing out of her nightgown, Yu Yihan put on formal attire, tidied her makeup, and stepped out again. The blush on her face showed she wasn’t entirely calm. Proud as she was, no man had ever stirred her heart before, and Xiao Yufan was the first to see her in her nightgown.

Xiao Yufan looked up and met her icy gaze, forcing a bitter smile. This wasn’t his fault, yet he felt like he was being blamed again.

“I made breakfast as an apology for my earlier attitude,” Xiao Yufan said, his eyes darting away, unable to meet hers.

“I’m not hungry, and I don’t usually eat breakfast…” Yu Yihan paused, then spoke with a hint of disdain, though her heart felt warm. It had been so long since anyone had cared for her like this.

“Damn, I worked hard all morning for this!” Xiao Yufan felt the urge to curse but kept it to himself. His efforts had been completely ignored.

“Gurgle…” A faint sound reached their ears. Yu Yihan’s face turned red as the enticing aroma of the food made her stomach growl.

Hearing this, Xiao Yufan smirked mischievously, licking his lips with satisfaction. Yu Yihan snorted but didn’t resist, walking over to the dining table.

Watching Yu Yihan eat, Xiao Yufan found her less disagreeable. However, it irked him that she didn’t even say thank you after finishing. She simply touched up her makeup and left the apartment, leaving behind a cold warning, “Don’t enter my room, or you can move out immediately!”

Xiao Yufan pouted at the door. This woman was truly a chameleon. He wondered if Yu Yihan had a split personality. Her decision to let him stay suggested she wasn’t entirely cold-hearted, but her icy exterior was unmistakable…

“What…?” Xiao Yufan hadn’t expected Yu Yihan to ask this question. His heart leapt with joy—he wanted exactly this response. It would be great to stay here for a while.

Afraid Yu Yihan might change her mind, Xiao Yufan quickly added, “I’ll definitely move out once I find a suitable job!”

“If you never find a job, does that mean you’ll never leave? Old Li told me you haven’t found work in three years. I certainly don’t plan to house you for another three years. Remember, this place now belongs to me!”

“I will definitely find work…” Xiao Yufan’s sore spot had been hit. He abruptly stood up from the sofa, secretly cursing in his heart—Old Li had spilled all his secrets.

“Hmph, I hope you’re not just bragging. I’ll give you one more month, as a kind of compensation for you not telling me beforehand.” Yu Yihan gave a cold snort, making a compromise. After speaking, she immediately went into her bedroom and locked the door behind her, clearly treating Xiao Yufan like a potential pervert.

Watching the tightly closed door, Xiao Yufan felt a strange sense of unreality. Happiness seemed to have come too suddenly. Had this woman really changed her nature and decided to let him stay? Yet seeing her proud demeanor, Xiao Yufan couldn’t summon any genuine liking for her.

After closing the bedroom door, Yu Yihan returned to her room and lay down comfortably. Having lived here for three years, suddenly having a beautiful new roommate felt somewhat unfamiliar, even though there was still a kitchen separating their bedrooms.

The next morning, Xiao Yufan got up early—earlier than he had in the past three years. Although he didn’t particularly like Yu Yihan, since she hadn’t completely driven him away, he felt he should show a little gratitude.

Opening the refrigerator, Xiao Yufan saw many frozen food items. It seemed this woman really was a workaholic—these foods were practically devoid of nutrition, serving merely to fill the stomach.

A series of sizzling sounds came from the kitchen. Soon, Xiao Yufan had prepared a sumptuous breakfast. While he might not be good at other things, cooking was definitely his strong suit. During the past three years of staying at home, he had spent a lot of time studying culinary arts.

Looking at the abundant breakfast, Xiao Yufan gave himself a little self-congratulatory pat on the back. At that moment, Yu Yihan’s bedroom door slowly opened. Their eyes met, Xiao Yufan swallowed hard, and Yu Yihan immediately shrieked and retreated back into her room.

“Damn it, that’s blatant temptation!” Xiao Yufan forcefully suppressed the rising heat within him. Just now, Yu Yihan had been wearing only a nightgown, and it was clear she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. Her stunning figure had been completely exposed.

Back in her bedroom, Yu Yihan’s face flushed red. She had gotten used to living alone, and upon waking up, her mind hadn’t fully cleared, causing her to forget Xiao Yufan’s presence—hence the embarrassing moment.

Changing out of her nightgown into formal attire and applying light makeup, Yu Yihan walked out of her bedroom again. The lingering blush on her face revealed that her heart hadn’t completely calmed. Proud as she was, no man had ever made her feel this way before—Xiao Yufan was the first to see her in her nightwear.

When Xiao Yufan looked up to meet those icy eyes, he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. This wasn’t really his fault, was it? It seemed he had become the scapegoat again.

“I’ve prepared breakfast as an apology. My attitude before might not have been very good,” Xiao Yufan’s eyes shifted evasively, avoiding direct eye contact with Yu Yihan.

“I’m not hungry, and I don’t usually eat breakfast…” Yu Yihan hesitated, then replied somewhat disdainfully. However, her heart felt warm—she couldn’t even remember how long it had been since someone last cared for her like this.

“Tsk, I worked hard preparing breakfast all morning!” A surge of frustration welled up inside Xiao Yufan, but he naturally couldn’t say that out loud. He could only grumble silently to himself—his painstakingly prepared breakfast had been completely ignored.

“Gurgle…” A faint sound reached both their ears. Yu Yihan’s face turned red. The delicious aroma of the food had already caused her stomach to betray her.

Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Yufan, feeling rather disgruntled, gave a sly smile and smacked his lips as if deeply satisfied. Yu Yihan gave a cold snort but didn’t insist further, instead walking toward the dining table.

Watching Yu Yihan eat, Xiao Yufan found she wasn’t that unpleasant after all. What annoyed him, however, was that after finishing her meal, she didn’t even say a simple “thank you.” After quickly applying a light layer of makeup, she left the apartment, not forgetting to coldly throw over her shoulder, “Don’t enter my room, or you can move out immediately!”

Xiao Yufan gave a disdainful look toward the closed door. What a truly mercurial witch this woman was! He even began to suspect whether Yu Yihan suffered from multiple personality disorder. Judging from her willingness to let him stay, her heart didn’t seem entirely cold. Yet externally, that intimidating chill was so clearly evident…