[Workshop · Noisy Afternoon]
Ever since that rainy night, Lin Lie had begun to search for Ding Yuxuan's figure without realizing it.
Even when his head was lowered over blueprints, the moment her light footsteps sounded nearby, he would sense her presence at once.
That day, just as he was about to tidy the parts on his table, a familiar silhouette slipped into his peripheral vision.
Ding Yuxuan hurried through the workshop corridor with a roll of drawings in her arms. Her long hair lifted slightly as she ran, her whole person as brisk and lively as a gust of wind.
At the corner—
"Oof!"
She crashed straight into a young man coming the other way.
The drawings nearly slipped from her grasp. The young man reacted quickly, one hand steadying her by the waist and pulling her back into balance.
"Dingding, are you alright?" he asked with concern.
Ding Yuxuan instinctively opened her mouth to scold him, but the words stuck in her throat when she recognized the familiar voice.
"Ah Tang? Oh—it's you… I've been busy lately, haven't even had time to eat with you guys."
The two remained in that intimate posture, smiling and chatting as if nothing were amiss.
Lin Lie stood not far away, his brow knitting sharply.
"Dingding… Ah Tang…?"
The way those names rolled so naturally off their tongues sounded intimate—too intimate—as if there were an unspoken understanding between them.
Even more jarring was the fact that the boy's hand was still resting on her waist, while she seemed completely unaware of it, smiling brightly all the while.
Lin Lie's fingers tightened unconsciously around the gear in his hand, the joints whitening.
An indescribable irritation churned in his chest.
—She was always noisy and argumentative in front of him, forever chattering back and forth.
—Yet in someone else's arms, she smiled so easily?
—How could she allow someone to call her by that name, in that tone?
He knew he had no right to interfere, yet the chill in his eyes was impossible to suppress.
Ding Yuxuan was still laughing, deep in conversation with Ah Tang, the drawings not yet secured, his hand still at her waist.
Lin Lie's gaze darkened. His fingertip scraped lightly over the gear, and his cold, level voice cut through the air.
"Ding Yuxuan."
She jolted, instinctively stepping back half a pace. Only then did she realize Lin Lie was standing at the other end of the corridor.
The voice wasn't loud, but the surrounding clamor seemed to be smothered into silence.
Lin Lie stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, yet heavy with pressure.
"If you have time to idle away chatting here, you might as well hand in the designs you failed to finish this morning."
Ding Yuxuan froze, opening her mouth to protest—but under his detached, unmistakably commanding gaze, she could only clutch the drawings tighter and bid a hasty farewell.
"Ah Tang, let's talk another day! I've got to go!"
Tang Jun hesitated, about to speak, but Lin Lie flicked a cold sideways glance at him. The words died in his throat.
Ding Yuxuan jogged after Lin Lie, unable to stop herself from muttering under her breath,
"What's your problem? I wasn't slacking off—I just happened to run into a friend…"
Lin Lie halted and turned, looking down at her from above. His voice was cool.
"Do you even realize where his hand was just now?"
She startled, finally recalling the posture from moments earlier. Her cheeks flushed crimson at once. Flustered and indignant, she snapped back,
"You—what business is it of yours? He's my friend!"
Lin Lie's gaze was deep and unreadable. After a long silence, his voice dropped low.
"Friends shouldn't act like that."
With that, he turned and continued on.
Ding Yuxuan stood rooted to the spot, her heart pounding, unable to tell whether she was more angry or more unsettled.
Ahead of her, Lin Lie's back remained straight, but his hands clenched tightly within his sleeves.
—No matter how much he restrained himself, he couldn't pretend he didn't care.
[Workshop Canteen · Lunchtime]
The canteen was bustling with noise, yet the instant Lin Lie pushed open the door, the air seemed to be muted.
Whispers rippled through the room.
"Is this for real? Lord Lin is eating in the canteen?"
Someone nearly spilled their soup in panic; others shoveled food into their mouths as if lingering even a moment longer might get them noticed.
Lin Lie looked as composed as ever. Uncharacteristically, he did not return to his quarters for lunch. He took a serving of food and walked straight to a table near Ding Yuxuan.
Tang Jun's eyes lit up. He nudged Ding Yuxuan with his elbow, lowering his voice smugly.
"See, Dingding? I told you it'd work! Lord Lin actually came to the canteen—and he even sat near you! You were just using the wrong approach before."
Ding Yuxuan blinked, then beamed, nodding vigorously.
"Men really do understand men!"
[Flashback · Corridor]
One day after the rainy night, Ding Yuxuan had been squatting in the workshop corridor, gloomily fiddling with a Luban lock in her hands, twisting it back and forth in irritation.
Tang Jun walked over and took one look.
"Dingding, what's with that face? Who upset you?"
"Hmph, who else could it be…" she muttered, then poured out the whole story.
She had proudly shown off her folding stool and folding umbrella, hoping Lin Lie would finally acknowledge her skill and keep her by his side to teach her. Yet he still wore a cold face, sending her off to menial tasks and refusing to instruct her. It left her disheartened, even doubting whether she truly had the ability to learn more intricate mechanics.
Tang Jun thought for a moment, then leaned closer.
"I'll teach you a trick—playing hard to get. You know?"
"Huh?"
"Stop acting like you're desperate to learn the moment you see him, like a wolf spotting meat. Just act indifferent. Whatever he tells you to do, you do it—no fuss, no arguing. He'll start finding it strange, and maybe he'll even turn around and want to teach you himself."
Ding Yuxuan looked half-confused, half-skeptical.
"Does that… really work?"
"Try it and see!" Tang Jun thumped his chest in assurance.
[Back to the Canteen · Present]
Now that Lin Lie had not only broken his routine to eat in the canteen but also chosen a seat close to her, Tang Jun wore a triumphant told-you-so expression.
Ding Yuxuan was so excited she nearly slapped the table, whispering,
"It really does seem to work!"
Lin Lie ate calmly with his head lowered, though the tips of his ears warmed slightly.
—Why isn't she clinging to him all of a sudden?
—Had he given her too many tasks?
His chopsticks paused for a brief moment. Without drawing attention, he lifted his gaze—only to find it drawn once more to that brightly smiling face.
Tang Jun leaned in and whispered,
"So before long, he'll probably let you stay by his side and learn properly."
Ding Yuxuan's eyes sparkled. She nodded eagerly, her heart practically bursting with joy.
She had no idea that, not far away, a gaze colder than ice was fixed upon her.
Lin Lie's chopsticks halted midair, his eyes darkening.
Tang Jun, still riding high, even picked up a piece of meat from his own plate and dropped it into Ding Yuxuan's bowl.
"Here, eat more. Feed your brain so you've got energy for new ideas."
Ding Yuxuan laughed without a second thought and casually lifted the meat toward her mouth.
The next instant—
Smack!
Lin Lie's chopsticks slammed down onto the table, the sound exploding through the sudden silence.
Ding Yuxuan jumped, her hand shaking so badly the meat nearly slipped from her chopsticks. She looked up blankly—straight into Lin Lie's terrifyingly dark expression.
Everyone around them froze, heads lowered, shoveling food as fast as possible, even breathing with caution.
Lin Lie shot her a cold glance, then rose to his feet. His back was rigid, radiating a barely restrained sharpness as he strode out of the canteen without a backward glance.
His figure vanished through the doorway, leaving the canteen locked in stiff silence.
Ding Yuxuan, however, seemed unfazed. She shoved the almost-dropped piece of meat into her mouth, cheeks puffed as she mumbled,
"Ah Tang… why do I feel like… Master Lin is even angrier now?"
Her eating was bold and unrefined, utterly lacking any ladylike restraint.
Tang Jun forced a smile, his eyes darting.
"Is he? I didn't really notice…"
Inside, he was wailing: That look just now could freeze someone to death!
Ding Yuxuan chewed and tilted her head, muttering to herself,
"How strange… what exactly is he angry about? I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
Tang Jun laughed dryly, hurriedly shoveling the last few bites into his mouth.
"Dingding, I just remembered—I've got work to rush! I'll head off first!"
With that, he fled in disgrace.
Ding Yuxuan was left sitting there alone, utterly baffled.