41. Chapter 41: I Only Made a Two-Person Portion

She knew that at this moment only Lin Yan could save her from embarrassment, so instead of asking Leng Mohan, she turned directly to Lin Yan.

"Whatever you like, I don't mind." Lin Yan smiled faintly. That was simply her way—she would never go out of her way to make things difficult for others, but she wouldn't actively help people she didn't care for, either.

Delighted, Ye Ye went to the kitchen to fetch another set of cutlery and sat down beside Lin Yan.

"I'm sorry, but this was portioned for two. If we add a third person, none of us might get enough to eat. How about I order some takeout for you?" Leng Mohan curved his lips into a smile that was deep and bewitching.

"Uh..." Ye Ye's face instantly turned pale, a wave of distress washing over her heart. She remembered how wonderfully Brother Mohan had treated her back at the Qin Garden; why had things changed so drastically now?

Lin Yan had never enjoyed such occasions. She detested veiled remarks and political maneuvering. The very reason she chose to stay home and write novels for a living instead of going out to work was because she was terrible at navigating interpersonal relationships and worldly sophistication.

Seeing the tears welling up in Ye Ye's eyes, Lin Yan stood up and said, "I have things to attend to later anyway and planned to eat out. Since there's only food for two, you two take your time."

Lin Yan turned and headed upstairs. Leng Mohan did not call out to her; instead, he stood up and followed her upstairs without leaving a word behind.

The meal, which should have been pleasant, was ruined for everyone, leaving no one with an appetite.

Lin Yan went upstairs to change. As she emerged from the dressing room, she saw Leng Mohan taking casual wear out of the wardrobe.

"Are you really going out?" Leng Mohan asked, holding the clothes in his hands.

"Yes, I have some matters to attend to," Lin Yan replied, casually tidying her hair.

"Then wait for me a moment. I'll take a quick shower, and we can go out to grab a bite together afterward," Leng Mohan said.

"Um..." Lin Yan hesitated slightly. Her actual plan was to go shopping; she needed to attend the romance novel competition event in a few days and urgently needed a couple of decent outfits. Since she rarely went out, she hardly had any clothes suitable for the occasion.

"Did you make plans with someone else?" Leng Mohan looked at her and asked calmly.

Actually, Lin Yan had intended to call Li Ran once she went out and ask her for advice, so she could only tell the truth: "I was planning to call Li Ran and go shopping for some clothes."

"Don't bother calling. She went out of town with Liu Yang." Leng Mohan glanced at her and turned toward the bathroom. "I happen to need a few new clothes myself. I'll accompany you later."

"Ah? How is that possible? I was just on the phone with her right before dinner." Lin Yan stared blankly at Leng Mohan, genuinely doubting the truth of his words.

"You said it yourself—you were only on the phone, you didn't see her in person." Standing at the bathroom door, Leng Mohan finished his sentence and shut the door with a loud thud.

Lin Yan tossed the handbag she was holding onto the sofa and curled up into the soft cushions, finding herself with nothing to do. Her gaze fell upon the fruit platter on the coffee table, reminding her of the exquisite apple-peeling skills Ye Ye had just displayed.

She picked up a fruit knife, selected an apple that looked pleasing to the eye, and began to peel it with utmost concentration. She tried her best not to let the long strip of apple peel break, making every single cut with painstaking care.

When Leng Mohan emerged from the bathroom, he was greeted by a desk covered in apple peels and an apple still gripped in her hand, reduced to little more than its core. The peel had indeed remained unbroken, but she had managed to pare away almost all the actual fruit as if it were the skin.