You got your marriage certificate and then abandoned me? I'll feed the richest woman in the wor

boom!

The two frosted glass doors of the CEO's office were slammed shut.

The investors' footsteps pounded down the corridor, carrying with them the resolute determination to completely abandon the Lin Group.

The huge office fell into a deathly silence instantly.

Only the huge quartz clock on the wall emitted a deathly ticking sound.

Lin Qinghan slid down the leather boss's chair to the ground like a limp lump of mud without a skeleton.

The cold marble floor tiles pierced through her thin silk skirt, the chill penetrating to her very bones.

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock...bankruptcy liquidation..."

Her pale lips trembled violently as she murmured those eight words over and over.

The waves of excruciating, meat-grinding pain in her stomach had made it so bad that she couldn't even straighten her back.

Amidst the mess on the floor, she crawled like a madwoman toward the shattered phone lying in the corner.

The shards of glass from the screen were deeply embedded in her well-maintained fingertip, oozing bright red blood.

Ignoring everything else, she shakily tapped on the number etched into her very being.

beep--

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off..."

The cold, mechanical female voice sounded again.

Like a rusty saw, it slowly cut into her eardrum.

"Answer the phone... Chen Yuan, please answer the phone..."

Tears finally broke free, washing away her exquisite makeup and leaving two messy black marks on her face.

She clutched her phone tightly with both hands, buried her face in her knees, and let out a suppressed sob.

The man who was always there for her, the man who would bring her hot porridge when she had a stomachache.

She really drove him away herself.

What she will face is utter doom when the sun rises tomorrow.

The night was as dark as ink, and the cold rain in Jianghai City finally stopped.

The Cloud Top Manor, located dozens of kilometers away, is enveloped in a profound tranquility.

Silvery moonlight streamed through the tall French windows of the corridor, casting cool, frosty patches on the carpet.

Inside the spacious butler suite.

Chen Yuan's steady breathing was broken by a sudden, strange noise.

Gollum-

My stomach rumbled in protest.

He opened his eyes and looked clearly at the luxurious crystal chandelier above him.

2:30 a.m.

I was so busy watching that soaring stock all day that I only ate a couple of bites, and now my stomach is completely rumbling.

Chen Yuan lifted the soft silk quilt and stepped barefoot onto the warm wooden floor.

This feeling of hunger was nothing compared to the stomach aches I often experienced from hunger while living at the Lin family's house.

But now, he no longer has to compromise himself.

Let's get some late-night snacks, maybe make some braised pork belly to tide us over.

He casually draped a pure black bathrobe over his shoulders, the belt loosely tied at the waist.

There was no lighting in the corridor.

He didn't turn on the lights, but by the moonlight, he walked silently down to the kitchen on the first floor.

The manor's security system is world-class; not even an unregistered fly can get in.

So he walked very relaxed, his mind still on the spice ratio for braised pork.

Star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and a handful of rock sugar are stir-fried until they turn a bright red color.

The rich aroma of meat was already beginning to fill his nostrils.

However, just as he turned the corner of the stairs, when he was still a dozen steps away from the kitchen door...

Chen Yuan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

In the darkness, his muscles tensed to their limit instantly, like those of a nimble cheetah.

My ear twitched slightly.

The sound came from the crack in the half-open kitchen door.

Smack... Smack...

The sound of subtle, rapid chewing.

It looked like a hungry little animal, frantically swallowing something.

You can even hear the "gulping" sound of swallowing saliva.

The kitchen was dark, with no lights on, like the gaping maw of a giant monster.

Chen Yuan's pupils contracted slightly in the darkness.

A thief broke in?

The moment the idea popped into his head, he decisively rejected it.

There are dozens of professional retired special forces soldiers patrolling the perimeter day and night.

What kind of thief can sneak into the first-floor kitchen without anyone noticing?

Could it be some dishonest maid?

But Uncle Fu clearly stated that no one was allowed to move around on the first floor after midnight.

The smacking sounds of chewing continued.

Seemingly because they ate too quickly, the person inside coughed twice, suppressing their urge to eat.

Then it let out a faint whimper, similar to a kitten guarding its food.

Chen Yuan's face darkened completely.

No matter who's inside, they dare to sneak into his territory in the middle of the night to steal food.

This is challenging his bottom line as a butler.

He slowly and gently lowered his breathing.

Their bare feet made not a sound on the carpet.

One step, two steps, three steps.

They silently approached the half-closed kitchen door.

The moonlight was blocked by thick clouds, and the corridor fell into complete silence and darkness.

Only the suggestive chewing sound abruptly amplified in the air.

Chen Yuan stopped outside the door.

My right hand firmly touched the cold metal doorknob.

A familiar sweet and sour aroma of aged vinegar and rock sugar wafted from the crack in the door.

It was the leftover plate of sweet and sour pork ribs he made at noon!

Chen Yuan's hand throbbed with a vein.

court death.

I haven't even had time to eat a late-night snack myself, and you've already cleared out my stock?

Without the slightest hesitation.

Chen Yuan violently shoved the handle!

boom!

The heavy kitchen door was violently kicked open and slammed against the wall's crash pad.

The door hinge emitted a piercing screech.

At the same time, Chen Yuan precisely slapped the ceiling light switch on the wall.

Snapped!

The blinding incandescent light, like a sharp lightning bolt, instantly tore through all the darkness in the kitchen.

The sudden burst of bright light made my eyes sting.

Chen Yuan's cold, sharp gaze, like a tangible blade, swept directly towards the source of the sound.

"Who's in there? Get out here!"

A low, authoritative shout.

With that low shout, the chewing sounds in the kitchen came to an eerie halt.

It was as if someone had abruptly pressed the pause button.

Chen Yuan's gaze was fixed on the huge double-door refrigerator.

The refrigerator door was wide open, and cold air was billowing out in white smoke.

In that thick cloud of white smoke.

A petite figure was crouching there.

The figure, with its back to Chen Yuan, trembled violently from the sudden bright light and sharp shout.

Like a little rabbit cornered in a dead end by a fierce hunting dog.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists defensively.

The person was wearing an oversized onesie pajama that was extremely ill-fitting and had a huge SpongeBob SquarePants print on it.

The edges of her pajamas were even dragging on the cold marble floor tiles.

Her slender ankles were exposed, almost transparently white.

That outfit, that figure...

How does he resemble a vicious thief?

They heard Chen Yuan's footsteps slowly approaching.

The figure turned its head stiffly.

Under strong light.

Her long, disheveled black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, partially obscuring a stunning yet extremely pale face.

Her features were exquisitely refined, like a fragile and easily broken piece of white porcelain art.

Just at this moment.

The artwork is staring wide-eyed in terror.

His eyes were filled with the panic and helplessness of a severe social anxiety attack.

Her hands were tightly protecting the white porcelain plate containing sweet and sour pork ribs in front of her chest.

The fair knuckles turned a distinctly pale white from the excessive force.

The most critical thing is...

Her rosy lips were covered with obvious sweet and sour sauce.

He had a half-eaten rib still dangling from his mouth, a comical sight.

Because of excessive fright.

Her lips trembled helplessly.

The half-rib fell back into the porcelain plate with a "plop," splashing a drop of murky sauce.

A gentle breeze blew quietly through the corridor.

The air in the kitchen seemed to freeze completely at that moment.

Chen Yuan's tall figure stopped three steps away from the refrigerator.

He looked at that face.

Looking at that childish SpongeBob SquarePants pajama set.

Watching her bury her head in her chest like an ostrich, it was quite comical.

The image of that pale hand trembling violently under the door during the day flashed through my mind.

And that pink sticky note that smelled of peaches and had his birthday code written on it.

At this moment, their images perfectly overlapped.

Chen Yuan's originally cold and stern gaze was instantly replaced by an absurd astonishment.

The murderous aura emanating from him vanished completely, like a punctured balloon.

Even his breathing stopped for half a second.

She is rumored to be a ruthless and cold-blooded female billionaire.

A mysterious individual with severe social anxiety who is afraid to even leave the house and survives on intravenous nutrition.

He actually sneaked into the kitchen in the middle of the night.

Squatting in front of the refrigerator gnawing on cold leftover ribs?!

The stark contrast overwhelmed Chen Yuan's senses like a tsunami.

The incandescent light instantly switched on, and Chen Yuan stared in disbelief at the figure crouching in front of the refrigerator, half a pork rib dangling from his mouth: "A thief broke in... Wait, boss?"