Tao Yu took a deep breath, maintaining her lovestruck facade. Lifting her head, she asked brightly, "Have you eaten? I had them prepare a late-night snack."

She paused, looking over Yue Linze's shoulder at the housekeeper. "You should join us, housekeeper. You've worked hard today."

The butler's lips twitched. He forced a smile. "No thank you, Miss Tao. I'm getting on in years and shouldn't eat too much at night. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

Seeing no objections, he turned and left. He'd finally caught on. This was clearly a little game between the two of them. He shouldn't have interfered.

Once the housekeeper was gone, Tao Yu led Yue Linze to the table and sat him down. She picked up a small cookie and held it to his lips. "These are delicious. Try one."

Yue Linze didn't have a sweet tooth, but at her insistence, he opened his mouth slightly. Tao Yu quickly popped the cookie in, watching him expectantly. "Well? How is it?"

"Not bad."

Hearing this, Tao Yu immediately fed him another. While he ate, she surveyed the food on the table, finally pushing the congee towards him. "It's almost time for bed. Something easily digestible is best."

"Alright," Yue Linze agreed, but made no move to eat.

Tao Yu blinked, then, after a moment, she seemed to understand. She scooted her chair closer to Yue Linze and reached for the bowl. As if to lay the groundwork for what was to come, she fumbled with the bowl for a moment before finally managing to pick it up.

Having adequately demonstrated the inconvenience caused by the chain, she scooped up some congee and held the spoon to Yue Linze's lips. He ate without comment, seemingly oblivious to her struggles.

Tao Yu hadn't expected him to figure it out on his own, so she continued feeding him without complaint. They ate in silence, one feeding, the other receiving, until the bowl was empty.

"Finished?" Tao Yu asked. Yue Linze nodded. She set down the bowl and spoon, looking at him expectantly. "Now that we're done, how about a walk?"

Yue Linze glanced at her and stood up silently. Tao Yu rose with him, about to offer her right hand, when he sat back down and picked up a book.

Tao Yu's excitement deflated. She knelt beside him, resting her hand on his leg, and pleaded, "If we're not going for a walk, could you at least take this off? It's so uncomfortable. Please?"

Hoping to guess Yue Linze's thoughts and regain her freedom was clearly futile. The chain might never come off that way. Seduction it was, then.

If it worked.

Yue Linze ignored her, continuing to read. But Tao Yu wasn't easily deterred. She gently swayed his leg, whining about how miserable her day had been.

Even Yue Linze, with his ability to multitask, couldn't focus on his book any longer.

Slam!

He closed the book with a sharp snap. Tao Yu immediately sat up innocently, as if she hadn't been the one disturbing him.

"Go ahead and read. I'll be quiet…" She gave a sheepish smile and moved a little further away, worried that instead of getting the chain removed, she might worsen his mood.

Yue Linze set the book aside and leaned towards her. Tao Yu looked at him, puzzled. The next second, a gentle warmth brushed her lips. The sensation was fleeting. By the time she realized what had happened, Yue Linze had already straightened up. She instinctively touched her lips.

"Wait for me."

Tao Yu stared at him, bewildered. Wait for what?

As she pondered this, Yue Linze headed towards the bathroom. Tao Yu's eyes widened. Did he mean he would remove the chain after his shower?

She hurried to the closet, grabbed a clean set of pajamas, and waited by the bathroom door.

Ten minutes later, Yue Linze emerged, water still clinging to his skin. He'd barely stepped out of the doorway when the towel in his hand was snatched away.

Tao Yu diligently dried his hair with one hand, holding out his pajamas with the other. "After I dry your hair, you can take this off for me."

"When did I say I would take it off?" Yue Linze narrowed his eyes.

Tao Yu froze. "But you just told me to wait for you…" Yue Linze's expression was so matter-of-fact that her attempt at a rebuttal came out sounding strangely unsure.

Yue Linze thought for a moment. "I told you to wait so we could go to bed together after I showered."

"...Oh." Tao Yu's lips twitched. She handed him back the towel and turned to leave.

Yue Linze's expression cooled. "Come back."

Tao Yu paused, then turned back to face him, holding back a sigh of frustration.

"Dry my hair," Yue Linze said, retrieving the hairdryer from the bathroom and tossing it to her.

Tao Yu seethed silently. This was unbearable!