Liu Xiazhi had been feeling gloomy.
Maybe it was because her father and brother had said she was gaining weight last night, but when lunchti ca, she had no appetite at all.
She just stared blankly at the food in front of her.
It was the weekend, and Liu Changqing had finally found ti to cook a full al at ho. Knowing how much his daughter loved chicken, he had even made a special trip to the market to buy one.
Yet, despite the colorful and fragrant dishes on the table, she showed no interest.
She didn’t touch her chopsticks for a long ti.
Liu Changqing, who had been eating, paused and glanced at his daughter’s sulking expression. After thinking for a mont, he picked up a chicken drumstick and placed it into her bowl.
“Chicken has the lowest calories. It won’t make you gain weight.”
“Really?!”
Liu Xiazhi’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, a bright smile returned to her face as she picked up her chopsticks.
“Dad, why didn’t you say that earlier if chicken doesn’t make people fat?!”
With that, she dug in happily, eating with great enthusiasm.
She really was taking after Liu Changqing more and more.
But… was it really a good thing for a girl to eat so much?
He rembered that when his son was around Liu Xiazhi’s age, he had been a slim little kid. But after being influenced by his cooking, he had started to put on so weight.
Would his daughter end up the sa way?
As if sensing her father’s gaze, Liu Xiazhi paused mid-bite, flashing him a big, toothy grin.
Then, she continued eating.
“…”
No, he absolutely couldn’t let his daughter eat without restraint like this anymore.
Liu Changqing fell into silent contemplation, already making plans in his mind.
“I’m full,” Liu Zhiyue suddenly said.
His words snapped Liu Changqing out of his thoughts. He looked over in surprise.
“You’re full after just one bowl of rice?”
“My appetite isn’t as big as before.”
“Have another bowl—there’s still plenty of rice left.”
“No, one bowl is enough. I’ll head back to my room to read.”
With that, Liu Zhiyue stood up from his seat.
Knock, knock, knock.
A series of knocks ca from the door.
Father and son turned their heads toward the entrance in unison.
Liu Xiazhi, however, continued eating.
“I’ll get it,” Liu Zhiyue said as he walked to the door.
The mont he opened it, his expression beca sowhat strange.
Standing outside was Zhao Xuanwen.
She looked at him, first at his face, then slowly scanning downward. She repeated this process twice.
Then, tilting her head slightly, she asked,
“Who are you?”
“…”
She leaned forward, trying to peek inside, but since Liu Zhiyue was blocking the doorway, she couldn’t see past him.
After a failed attempt, Zhao Xuanwen politely asked,
“Did Liu Changqing’s family move away?”
“…Are you stupid? I’m Liu Zhiyue.”
“Huh?”
She froze for a mont, then suddenly pouted in what looked like irritation.
“Don’t try to fool ! Liu Zhiyue used to have a big belly!”
“…”
Not wanting to waste ti on this pointless ga, Liu Zhiyue turned around and walked back inside without another glance at her.
Seeing him leave, Zhao Xuanwen quickly dropped her act and scurried into the house.
“I was just joking! Why are you ignoring ?!”
After saying that, she spotted Liu Changqing and Liu Xiazhi sitting at the dining table and greeted them cheerfully.
“Uncle, I’m here!”
“Have you eaten?”
Liu Changqing set down his chopsticks and asked politely.
They were eating later than usual today. Normally, lunch would have been long over by this hour, but out of habit, he still asked.
Zhao Xuanwen nodded and replied,
“I already ate.”
“Want so more?”
“Yes, yes!”
Her answer made Liu Zhiyue, who had been about to return to his room, stop in his tracks. He turned around and walked back to Zhao Xuanwen.
Leaning in closer, he lowered his voice.
“Didn’t you say you already ate?”
“But Uncle’s cooking slls so good! Just from the scent alone, I feel hungry again…”
As she spoke, she even rubbed her belly.
“If you’re still hungry, have so more. I’ll get you a bowl of rice,” Liu Changqing offered.
“Thank you, Uncle!”
Grinning, Zhao Xuanwen set down her small purse on the sofa, pulled a chair over, and sat at the dining table.
A mont later, Liu Changqing brought her a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks.
She took them with a bright smile.
Watching how likable this girl was, Liu Changqing chuckled and made a few lighthearted comnts before sitting down again.
Zhao Xuanwen happily picked up a piece of at and took a bite.
Then, she suddenly noticed Liu Xiazhi, who was eating with her head down.
Her hand holding the chopsticks paused for a mont before she turned to look at her.
“Xiazhi, have you gained a little weight?”
Liu Xiazhi froze mid-bite.
Her eyes t Zhao Xuanwen’s.
After a few seconds, she put down her chopsticks, let out a dramatic wail, and bolted back to her room.
The whole thing happened so fast that Zhao Xuanwen was left completely stunned. She glanced at Liu Changqing in a panic.
“Uncle, did I say sothing wrong? Why did Xiazhi stop eating…?”
“It’s fine, just eat. She was already upset with her brother earlier.”
“…Okay. I’ll go cheer her up after I finish eating!”
With that, she resud eating.
Liu Changqing had been almost done with his al, but after watching this girl eat, he sohow ended up refilling his own bowl.
Earlier, he had worried that he had cooked too much rice and that it might go to waste.
But with Zhao Xuanwen around, that concern disappeared.
Just like the first ti she ate at their house, even though she had already had lunch, she still managed to eat two more bowls of rice.
After finishing, she even took the initiative to help clean up the table.
That was surprisingly thoughtful of her.
Liu Zhiyue took in the whole scene from the sofa.
Because of Zhao Xuanwen’s presence, he didn’t go back to his room and instead stayed, occasionally glancing at the girl who had been his deskmate for the past two years.
After clearing the dishes, Zhao Xuanwen washed her hands in the bathroom, then ca over and plopped down on the sofa beside him.
Tilting her head, she grinned at him.
“You lost so much weight over the sumr! I almost didn’t recognize you!”
“It’s not that dramatic.”
“It is!”
She suddenly reached out, trying to poke his stomach.
Noticing her movent, Liu Zhiyue quickly raised his arm to block her hand.
“Don’t touch !”
“…”
His reaction made Zhao Xuanwen freeze.
She stared at him, confused.
It was then that she realized—sothing had changed between them.
They were growing distant.
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