Chapter 90: Silent Riddles

"Then you are...?" Shu Yue asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Medical unit!" Hua Tianyu replied without hesitation, his gaze falling upon the wounds on Tian Li's hands that he himself had bandaged.

Shu Yue was left speechless.

She would never understand why Hua Tianyu chose not to tell her the truth. In the past, whether in the jungle, in the wilderness, or while pursuing enemies, even with nothing but salt as seasoning, Hua Tianyu could conjure up a delicious meal. Now, in the comfort and tranquility of a well-equipped home with all manner of spices at his disposal, preparing a table full of delicacies was, for him, nothing short of effortless.

Yet, if he were to tell her this, Shu Yue would be even less inclined to believe him, and Hua Tianyu had no wish to disturb this peaceful moment with tales of tension and hardship.

Lin Lin, on the other hand, had some inkling as to why Hua Tianyu was unwilling to speak, but because of her father, she too chose silence on the matter.

Only Tian Li, feeling slightly embarrassed under Hua Tianyu's gaze, set down her chopsticks and began to cling to his arm, her coquettish antics in full display. Her latest strategy was to press close and shake his arm vigorously—a move she considered her ultimate weapon against him.

Another display of affection.

Lin Lin, ever the elder sister, cleared her throat twice, bringing Tian Li back to her seat.

Shu Yue did not press Hua Tianyu further about his evasiveness. Instead, she and Lin Lin, like a pair of sisters, began to comment on Hua Tianyu's culinary skills.

Watching the two of them get along so harmoniously, Hua Tianyu suddenly realized that his role as Lin Lin's biology tutor—once a powerful deterrent—seemed to be losing its effect. Perhaps it was time to find a new means of keeping her in line. If one day Lin Lin mastered Tian Li's ultimate weapon, Hua Tianyu would have no say at all in her studies and assignments!

Glancing between Lin Lin and Shu Yue, Hua Tianyu felt this possibility growing more and more real.

Wait. Something was off about Shu Yue's complexion.

Earlier, when asking if he was in the kitchen staff, her expression had been perfectly normal, but now, as she spoke with Lin Lin, her face was turning pale. Her speech slowed, and her voice gradually diminished.

"Shu Yue?" Hua Tianyu called her name softly. "Are you alright?"

What was wrong with Shu Yue?

At that moment, Shu Yue was suffering in silence. A self-professed foodie, she had happily come over to Hua Tianyu's place to enjoy his cooking after hearing Lin Lin praise his skills. After all, it was just next door, and she felt no guilt at all.

In fact, she took a little secret pleasure in causing Hua Tianyu some trouble.

However, after only a few bites, Shu Yue realized something was wrong. Her period was coming—her lower abdomen had started to ache. That familiar pain, recurring every month, had returned.

As a highly educated expert in biology, how did she manage to keep up regular workouts every week and three meals a day, without fail? It was precisely because the monthly pain was so memorable that she had consulted specialists, hoping for a solution. The experts told her it was a gradual process, that pain relief began with good habits: no skipping breakfast, regular dinners, and consistent exercise.

So now, she had developed the good habit of three meals at fixed times and weekly workouts. She even felt her overall state was much improved, at least mentally.

But the monthly pain had not lessened in the slightest.

This, however, was an intensely private matter for a woman, and Shu Yue had never spoken of it to anyone—especially not with Lin Lin, who was technically her student, or Hua Tianyu, a man. How could she possibly bring it up? She only wanted to eat a little, then find an excuse to slip back to her own room and lie down.

She had not expected Hua Tianyu to notice her discomfort, making things all the more embarrassing.

"I'm fine..." Shu Yue's voice grew fainter as the pain intensified.

"Miss Shu, is it...?" Lin Lin, also a woman, quickly picked up on Shu Yue's dilemma. Seeing her hesitate to speak, Lin Lin suddenly guessed the reason.

"Yes..." Shu Yue immediately understood and nodded quickly.

Hua Tianyu was baffled. What kind of silent communication was this? Could Lin Lin, after only a few days of studying biology with Shu Yue, have learned telepathy? Or had Shu Yue's perfect gene evolution technique advanced to the point of granting mind-to-mind communication?

Noticing Hua Tianyu's confusion, Lin Lin didn't explain, but busied herself with pouring hot water and fetching a hand warmer.

Tian Li, a fellow woman, caught on as soon as she saw Lin Lin's actions and understood Shu Yue's embarrassment. But in Tian Li's heart, Tianyu was always first, and she kept no secrets from him. She walked over and whispered two words softly in Hua Tianyu's ear.

His eyes widened as he instantly grasped the situation.

Now that Hua Tianyu understood, Shu Yue's embarrassment deepened. Her face flushed all the way to her neck, and she wished she could disappear into the floor.

Carrying the cup of hot water and the hand warmer, Lin Lin shot Hua Tianyu a glare and helped Shu Yue into her own bedroom.

Hua Tianyu was left speechless.

He hadn't said or done anything—why was he receiving that glare? Was it simply because he was a man?

Looking at the untouched dishes on the table, Hua Tianyu turned to Tian Li and said, "Why don't you take Shu Yue's bowl and some dishes into the room for her?"

"No need," Tian Li shook her head, "she can't eat when she's in pain."

Hua Tianyu was at a loss.

Tian Li, you really are unflappable.

With both women gone from the table, Hua Tianyu lost his appetite as well. After Tian Li checked on Shu Yue and returned, she assured him that Shu Yue was feeling better, then stayed to chat with him for a while.

After about half an hour, Shu Yue finally emerged. Though she still avoided Hua Tianyu's gaze, her complexion had returned to normal and was no longer pale.

The four of them resumed their meal.

The atmosphere was a touch awkward. Shu Yue kept her head down, saying nothing and no longer commenting on Hua Tianyu's cooking.

Tian Li, ever the most carefree and familiar with Hua Tianyu, sensed nothing amiss. After a while, seeing no one speaking, she turned to Shu Yue and shared her own experience: "Shu Yue, I used to be just like you—every month I had that pain. But recently, it hasn't bothered me at all!"

Tian Li's words piqued Shu Yue's curiosity. This was a problem that had plagued her for so long without resolution. Now, hearing that Tian Li had found a way, she was naturally eager to learn the reason.