CHAPTER 624: CHAPTER 624: THE FIRST TIME CALLING HIM GREAT DEMON KING TO HIS FACE

"You have your strengths, Duoduo."

Ji Wei hugged her, feeling deeply sorrowful as she watched her cry. "Among the countless people in this world, there will always be someone who is the most suitable for you. I believe he’s out there waiting for you."

Xia Duoduo leaned against her shoulder, nodding repeatedly, her tears cascading down like broken strings of beads.

She thought, having missed Ye Cheng, she might never encounter someone she could love with her entire being again.

Ji Wei shared the news of Zimei’s disappearance with Xia Duoduo.

She listened in silence for a long time, deeply shocked. But more than the shock, what she felt was heartache and sorrow. Someone as proud as Ye Cheng could only spiral into drinking and despair because of Zimei.

Ji Wei invited her to stay for dinner, but she declined: "I still want to go see the Great Demon King."

More than half an hour later.

Xia Duoduo, carrying large bags of groceries, appeared at the doorway of Ye Cheng’s apartment.

She pressed the doorbell several times before the door was finally opened.

Ye Cheng was wearing beige loungewear, unkempt, and his face looked noticeably leaner.

Even though his disheveled appearance carried a different kind of masculine charm, Xia Duoduo couldn’t help but feel her nose sting. Before tears could well up, she lowered her head and quickly squeezed through the crack of the door.

Ye Cheng didn’t have time to stop her.

"I bought lots of ingredients to make you a hearty dinner and treat your stomach tonight." Xia Duoduo carried the bags into the kitchen on her own, placing them on the counter and beginning to take them out one by one.

"Tomatoes, beef, potatoes, ribs..." Xia Duoduo softly murmured as she unpacked item by item, as if intentionally avoiding the coldness in Ye Cheng’s eyes.

"I don’t need you to take care of me. Go back to the production set immediately."

Ye Cheng strode over, grabbed her wrist, and started dragging her toward the door.

Xia Duoduo didn’t resist, her expression calm as she said, "I’ll make you dinner and leave right after, I promise. I mean what I say."

Perhaps her unusually composed response stirred something in Ye Cheng. He paused mid-step and looked back at her.

"You’re sick. I came to see you to thank you for looking after me before," Xia Duoduo explained.

Seeing Ye Cheng purse his pale lips without speaking, she smiled gently at him and asked, "Great Demon King, am I really so annoying that you have to chase me away?"

It was the first time Xia Duoduo addressed him as "Great Demon King," and Ye Cheng’s indifferent expression subtly shifted.

She had actually given him such a nickname...

Taking advantage of Ye Cheng’s moment of distraction, Xia Duoduo withdrew her hand and returned to the kitchen. "Just sit for a while. I’ve only recently started learning how to cook, so it might take some time. If you feel hungry, I can wash some fruit for you first..."

Standing at the counter, she rambled on softly with her back to him.

Ye Cheng gazed at the girl who seemed to have matured overnight, his eyes deepening slightly.

Xia Duoduo emerged from the kitchen with a plate of freshly washed fruit, but Ye Cheng was nowhere to be seen. She walked a few steps forward and spotted light spilling out from the slightly ajar bedroom door.

So she reached out and pushed the door open.

Inside the room, only a desk lamp was lit. Ye Cheng was leaning against the headboard, flipping through the documents in his hand and jotting down notes with a pen now and then.

When the silhouette at the door suddenly caught his attention, he furrowed his brows slightly and looked up.

"Something wrong?" His tone was flat and distant.

"The fruit is washed. Would you like some?" Xia Duoduo held up the plate of fruit.

"No need."

She was about to step inside when Ye Cheng interrupted her coldly.

Xia Duoduo gripped the plate slightly tighter but mustered her courage to walk in and place the fruit plate where Ye Cheng could easily reach it.

"The oranges are very sweet. You should try one," she said, then turned and left the room.

Ye Cheng was momentarily stunned, his gaze shifting from the documents to the plate of fruit.

Under the desk lamp, the oranges emitted a warm, golden glow, softening the coldness in his eyes with a touch of warmth.