While preparing various ingredients in the kitchen for the upcoming meal, Wang Ma kept peering out, occasionally glancing at the living room. She was observing the dynamics between Xie Yanshang and Su Zhiruan, evaluating the situation in her mind.
When she saw Su Zhiruan sleeping on the couch and Xie Yanshang setting aside his work, watching her intently,
Wang Ma suspected something. Seizing a moment of leisure amidst her busyness, she took out her phone and sent a message to someone else.
Quickly and guiltily, she peeped around and pocketed her phone, then went back to preparing the meal.
All of this went unnoticed by Su Zhiruan and Xie Yanshang.
Xie Yanshang, perhaps conscious that he had been looking at Su Zhiruan for too long, averted his gaze and returned to his work.
Somehow, his work suddenly lost its appeal. While he had been proficient at it, self-doubt about his recent behavior distracted and preoccupied him.
