Volume One, Chapter Two: Why Didn’t You Tie Me Up Sooner?

Half an hour had passed since Fu Yunshen came out of the bathroom.

Seizing the moment, I swiftly slipped a pill into Fu Yunshen’s mouth. “Try this new candy I bought.”

Fu Yunshen was about to spit it out but paused when he heard me and began to chew carefully.

“Lu Xiaoyu, what kind of candy is this? It tastes like medicine, a bit bitter.”

I looked puzzled. “It’s supposed to be sweet. Try crushing it and swallowing it.”

He chewed thoroughly and swallowed, frowning. “Not sweet at all, really awful. Don’t buy this again.”

When I saw he swallowed it, I smiled triumphantly. “Surprise! Congratulations, you’re poisoned.”

Fu Yunshen’s face turned alarmed as he tried to spit it out.

I laughed happily. “Don’t bother. The moment you swallowed it, it took effect. As long as you obey me, I’ll give you the antidote.”

“Otherwise, in a day or so, you’ll start bleeding from all your orifices and die.”

“Fine, I’ll listen. What do you want me to do?”

Fu Yunshen lay back on the sofa, his demeanor completely changed—relaxed, no trace of the earlier tension.

“Transfer two million to me.”

“Alright.”

Staring dumbfounded at the notification on my phone, I realized Fu Yunshen had transferred three million to me.

“Take this money and buy more meat to nourish yourself. You don’t look like a grown woman at all.”

Fu Yunshen kicked off his shoes and lay leisurely on the sofa, glancing sideways at me.

Following his gaze, I realized he was mocking my slender figure.

“Go buy the groceries quickly! I don’t want instant noodles tonight. I’m too sleepy to talk.”

Fu Yunshen yawned, his legs dangling off the short sofa. He shifted a few times before finding a comfortable position.

“You wouldn’t run off while I’m out shopping, would you?”

I asked uncertainly.

Fu Yunshen opened his eyes. “Lu Xiaoyu, are you out of your mind? I’m poisoned now. Without your antidote, I’ll die. Besides, you’re locking the door when you leave, right? I wouldn’t be stupid enough to jump off the building!”

His words woke me up. I nodded quickly and threatened him, “Fu Yunshen, the poison is deadly. Only I have the antidote. If you run away, you’re as good as dead!”

After that, I left and locked the door firmly behind me.

[Host, where did you get such a potent poison?]

A soft, cute voice echoed in my mind—that was the system I was bound to.

“I’m not telling you.”

I smiled, in high spirits. Finally, I could do what I’d been yearning for. I was going back home tomorrow, so tonight I’d make a proper meal for Fu Yunshen.

The entire living room fell silent.

Fu Yunshen sat up from the sofa, his expression cold and composed, eyes filled with icy resolve. He expertly dialed a number.

The call connected immediately.

The other party’s voice was excited. “Boss, you finally contacted me. If you hadn’t told me, I was about to come rescue you. Who tied you up? Have you found out? Do you need the guys to come now?”

“No need. It was your future sister-in-law who tied me up. Call me if anything happens.”

Fang Yanzhou was puzzled. When did a sister-in-law appear? He was about to ask more when the call abruptly ended.

When I returned from shopping, Fu Yunshen was still lying on the sofa. His skin was fair, his eyelashes long and thick, his nose high and straight. But looking further down… his lips were swollen and red—truly pitiful!

I felt a pang of guilt. Next time, I’d be gentler with my bites.

“Am I handsome?”

Fu Yunshen opened his eyes, his gaze playful, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re handsome—the most handsome man in the world.”

I answered seriously.

---

Fu Yunshen coughed twice and sat up on the sofa, his earlobes flushed red. His gaze landed on the pile of groceries on the tea table. “Wow, you bought so much. Can you cook?”

“Of course. Why else would I buy it? I even got some seafood. Come help me in the kitchen now.”

As I finished speaking, I turned to see two warm streams of blood flowing from Fu Yunshen’s nostrils.

He felt the oddity, touched the blood on his hand, and instantly turned pale. He hurriedly tilted his head back. “Lu Xiaoyu, paper, quick, paper…”

I scrambled for some tissue. After some fuss, I managed to stop the nosebleed with paper.

Fu Yunshen looked quite comical with tissues stuffed in both nostrils. Feeling a bit guilty, I still straightened my tone. “This is the first sign of the poison acting up. Take this antidote; it will help ease the symptoms. If you want to live, you have to take it regularly. So, you understand.”

Fu Yunshen’s expression darkened as he swallowed the pill. “Got it.”

Satisfied, I took the groceries into the kitchen.

I had thought a princeling like Fu Yunshen wouldn’t help me, but just as I stepped in, he brought the rest of the groceries inside.

I looked at him. “If you’re not feeling well, you don’t have to help.”

Fu Yunshen snorted coldly. “A little nosebleed won’t stop me.”

I was renting an old one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen was cramped, and with both of us in there, it felt even smaller.

I felt apologetic. “Sorry, it’s a bit tight. I just graduated and don’t have much saved, so I can only afford this place. Please bear with me.”

Fu Yunshen looked at me—shorter by a head, with a small face and bright, big eyes. His gaze flickered away, and he shifted his head. “No problem. Just tell me what you need.”

Hearing this, I smiled and started giving orders. “Then wash these vegetables for me!”

Fu Yunshen rolled up his sleeves and stood by the sink. His broad shoulders and narrow waist made him look every bit the devoted husband.

A scene from a dream flashed through my mind, stirring a feeling. “Fu Yunshen, I’ve always wanted to cook a meal with you.”

Fu Yunshen glanced at me as I seriously chopped vegetables, his eyes deepening. “Why do you want to cook with me?”

I smiled, recalling secret memories.

“Because cooking with someone you like is happiness.”

“You don’t know—I used to have a crush on you. But you were always surrounded by so many girls, I didn’t dare get close. Still, I often fantasized about us living together, cooking and cleaning side by side, decorating the house the way we liked. Maybe even having a cute baby, buying them beautiful clothes, taking them to amusement parks…”

Now that Fu Yunshen was forced to be my boyfriend, cooking together was a small wish fulfilled.

Sharing these hidden feelings made me feel surprisingly lighthearted.

Who would’ve thought that because of cancer, Fu Yunshen would actually become my boyfriend?

I spoke eagerly, unaware that as I talked, Fu Yunshen was staring at me intently.

“Lu Xiaoyu, when did you start liking me?”

My train of thought was interrupted. I was a bit annoyed. “You just learned my name, and you say it so naturally.”

“Who else would I call you by? It’s such a smooth name.”

Fu Yunshen replied without mentioning that he had already said it many times before.

“Tell me, when did you like me?”

“Maybe sophomore year?”

I answered uncertainly.

“What do you mean maybe? Are you really into me? How come I never knew?”

Fu Yunshen frowned, displeased. Everyone knows when they start liking someone.

I confessed openly. “Honestly, I’m not even sure if I really liked you. I’ve never been in love before, so I don’t know what liking someone truly feels like! I thought you looked good—best-looking in school—and you were excellent academically, always top of the grade. You played guitar, violin… had so many talents. I admired you; you were my idol. But I also had other feelings. I’d find myself thinking about you, secretly watching you in class or playing sports. When you scored, I was genuinely happy. When other girls got close to you, I got jealous. I think those feelings are liking you, so I probably liked you starting sophomore year.”

Fu Yunshen’s eyes darkened. “Why didn’t you tell me then?”

I laughed bitterly and kept chopping. “How could I tell you? You’re a princeling of the capital, surrounded by so many girls. I’m just a toad hoping to eat swan meat. If I told anyone, who knows what those girls would do to me.”

“Lu Xiaoyu!”

“Hmm?” I looked up and met Fu Yunshen’s gaze. His lips moved as he said,

“You’re a toad who’s not bad-looking…”

Me???

Fu Yunshen continued, “And a toad bold enough to kidnap a swan—what audacity!”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Thanks, Your Highness, for repeatedly calling me a toad.”

Fu Yunshen said, “I’m complimenting you!”

I replied, “Great compliment. Don’t do it again.”

With Fu Yunshen helping, the meal was ready quickly—four dishes and a soup, perfect!

Fu Yunshen reached out to sneak a taste, but I slapped his hand away. “Not yet. Let me set the table and take a photo.”

“Women are such a hassle.”

Though he said that, Fu Yunshen obediently moved away from the table.

I pulled out two wine glasses from the drawer, poured the expensive red wine I bought today, and placed two candles. A perfect candlelit dinner.

After taking the pictures, I said, “You can eat now. Dig in!”

Fu Yunshen eagerly picked up food. During the three days he’d been tied up, the first two days had been instant noodles, and he was starved.

“Damn, Lu Xiaoyu, your cooking skills are impressive!”

He devoured the food. It tasted better than the home chef’s.

“Why didn’t you tie me up sooner?”

Me: ???

If it weren’t for my cancer diagnosis, with only three months to live, needing a princeling to fall in love with me to survive, no matter how bold I was, I wouldn’t dare kidnap the capital’s princeling!

Besides, if I knew one meal could win over Fu Yunshen, I’d have done it long ago.

“You keep eating. I’m going to change.”

Fu Yunshen: ??? Halfway through the meal, and you want to change clothes?

“Fu Yunshen, look, do I look good?”

I twirled in the skirt I bought for a college club party. It cost nearly three hundred yuan and was one of my favorites.

The white hem was covered with tulle, the top a butterfly strap, clean and fresh. Many people complimented me at that party.

“Fu Yunshen, what are you thinking? Tell me, does it look good?”

Seeing Fu Yunshen silent, I urged him.

He averted his gaze and downed his wine. “Looks good.”

“Have you eaten enough? If so, dance with me.”

“Okay.”

Seeing him agree, I smiled brightly and hurried to find the music I had saved earlier.

Music started playing. Fu Yunshen lifted his eyes, puzzled.

I smiled broadly. “Familiar, right? It’s the piece you played at the sophomore art night. I recorded it.”

Ignoring his surprise, I said, “Come on, give me your hand, and put your other hand on my waist.”

I couldn’t really dance but had seen people do this on TV. Clumsily, we stepped this way and that.

The violin’s melody lingered. Fu Yunshen lowered his gaze. “Look at me, follow my steps. Wherever I tell you to go, you go.”

His eyes were mesmerizing. Under the dim light, following his lead, I actually danced quite well.

I set the music to loop and grew more confident. After an unknown time, I finally stopped the music.

Sitting back at the table, I drained my wine. “Fu Yunshen, tomorrow I’m going back to the countryside. Before you die, I’ll come back with the antidote. Wait for me.”

That afternoon, while shopping, I called my eldest uncle and learned that Grandma had sprained her leg days ago. No one told me. If it weren’t for my uncle accidentally letting it slip, I’d still be in the dark. I must go see her tomorrow.