An Yuanyao’s expression grew complicated after hearing Liu Changqing’s words. Once she processed his response, irritation flickered across her face.
You don’t like eating leftovers? Didn’t you gobble up my leftover noodles last ti with gusto?!
She glared at Liu Changqing, who kept his head down, avoiding her gaze.
Her tone carried a trace of annoyance. "I didn’t eat much of it, and there’s no way my saliva got on it!"
"That makes it even less appealing," Liu Changqing replied flatly.
"I’m serious! No saliva!"
Liu Changqing paused mid-slurp, glancing at her.
With exaggerated sincerity, he explained, "I’m on a diet. High-calorie, oily, delicious roast duck like this? I won’t take a single bite."
"…"
An Yuanyao seed to latch onto only the first part of his statent.
She looked at him curiously, her tone light and teasing, "So, you’re dieting because I called you fat?"
"What does that have to do with you?!"
Her brief excitent evaporated instantly, and her face darkened.
Oblivious to her change in mood, Liu Changqing patted his stomach, scowling. "It’s because my son and I both feel our clothes getting tighter. Do you think I’d bother dieting otherwise? at doesn’t taste good to anymore?"
He sighed, his frustration mounting.
"I tried on an old pair of pants, and I had to hold my breath just to pull them up… Sigh. This body’s aging;
my tabolism isn’t what it used to be."
Still clutching her plastic bag, An Yuanyao stared at Liu Changqing, speechless.
Suddenly, her dissatisfaction grew. She had put effort into dressing up today, but not even a single complint?
After a long-winded lant about the woes of gaining weight, Liu Changqing finally looked up at her.
It dawned on him that sothing about An Yuanyao seed different today.
He recalled their past encounters:
The first ti, in the café, she had worn a black dress with her hair casually styled, sporting fake black-rimd glasses.
The second ti, she looked like a drunken madwoman with a ss of hair.
The third, when she repaid her debt, she had been modestly dressed and presentable.
The fourth, drenched head to toe, dressed like a stalker.
But today…
Today, she looked youthful and vibrant, as if she had shed a decade.
An Yuanyao had the features to pull off such a look. Her skin, too, seed better than before—bright and glowing.
Liu Changqing gave her a peculiar look.
Weird... she actually looks kind of good.
Though he thought this, his words betrayed him.
"Why are you dressed like a little girl?"
An Yuanyao froze, her face quickly turning crimson. Her eyes darted nervously around the room.
"W-What do you an, like a little girl?!"
"You’re not that young anymore;
dressing like this feels odd. Sure, it looks nice, but it doesn’t suit your age. That skirt you wore before, with your hair down—I thought that looked pretty good."
Liu Changqing noticed her face turning an even deeper shade of red as he spoke.
Setting his chopsticks down, he frowned.
"It’s not even warm in here. Why’s your face so flushed?"
"I…"
"Strange. I feel perfectly cool right now."
"...…"
An Yuanyao stayed silent, standing by the counter for a long ti.
Seeing her refuse to engage further, Liu Changqing felt a little bored.
He enjoyed teasing people and watching their reactions, but there was a limit—he didn’t want her snapping and coming at him in a rage.
He resud eating his noodles.
But after days of eating ran, even the thought of another bite was starting to wear on him.
No matter how decent the food was, eating the sa thing every day would dull anyone’s appetite.
Man, I’d kill for so braised pork knuckle right now…
Lowering her head slightly, An Yuanyao’s blush faded a bit.
She stepped forward, pulled out a stool from under the counter, and sat down next to Liu Changqing.
Placing her bag under the counter, she set the plastic bag containing the roast duck on the table. Slowly, she began unpacking it.
The mont the bag was opened, Liu Changqing’s chopsticks froze mid-air.
His gaze shifted involuntarily to the source of the aroma.
Why… does it sll so good?!
He looked down at his lackluster bowl of ran.
It suddenly seed utterly unappetizing.
An Yuanyao’s movents were deliberate. She carefully unpacked the roasted duck, along with the pancakes, sweet bean sauce, and scallions.
She arranged everything neatly, then expertly assembled a pancake wrap, folding it slightly before taking a bite.
"Mm~"
A satisfied hum escaped her lips as she savored the taste. Her eyes narrowed in bliss.
But as she ate, her gaze subtly shifted toward Liu Changqing.
She noticed his chopsticks had paused entirely. He wasn’t looking at her but staring down at his bowl of noodles, his expression blank.
His Adam’s apple bobbed visibly.
Finally, he snapped. Glaring at her with mock resentnt, he growled, "Are you a devil? Why are you torturing soone on a diet?"
"What do you an, torturing?"
An Yuanyao took another bite.
"It’s delicious~"
"...…"
Liu Changqing’s expression grew more complex.
Ignoring his reaction, An Yuanyao leisurely finished her food.
After a brief pause, she prepared another pancake. This ti, she carefully selected the finest pieces of duck skin and at, spread a thin layer of sweet bean sauce, and added a couple of scallion slices.
Rolling it up, she extended it toward him with a triumphant smile.
"Here, try a bite~"
Li Chongming had been sitting at ho all afternoon.
His mood had soured considerably, and he still had no idea where An Yuanyao had gone.
Since arriving that morning, it was now nearly 6 PM, and she still hadn’t returned.
While his frustration simred, a tiny part of him felt relieved.
It’s not that I don’t want to ask her for a divorce… I just can’t find her.
Satisfied with this self-serving rationale, Li Chongming let out a breath.
An Yuanyao’s looks were on par with Li Wanran’s.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to marry her all those years ago.
There’s an old saying: "The unattainable always seems better." Despite An Yuanyao’s unwavering devotion and care, he couldn’t stop wondering what life would have been like if he had chosen Li Wanran instead.
He was greedy.
He wanted to hold onto both won.
By 6:30 PM, An Yuanyao still hadn’t returned.
Unable to sit still any longer, Li Chongming laced up his shoes and left the apartnt, his conflicting emotions following him out the door.
As the door clicked shut, silence engulfed the room once more.
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