Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups! Chapter 17: Eat

After I left his room, my chest felt a little heavy. Sigh... I hate when my conscience gets the better of .

I ended up warming so leftovers and sent the boys to deliver it to him since he didn’t even want to look at . At least they were happy to do it.

While they were gone, I busied myself arranging another room for him to stay in for the night. Yiling helped spread the bedding and tidy the space.

**

Inside the other room, Mo Yuen and Mo Bao Bao walked in carefully with bowls in their hands, their smiles wide and proud.

"Papa, we brought you food!" Bao Bao announced, setting the bowl on the small table beside the bed.

Mo Ying’s brows twitched. "...Papa?"

"Yes!" Yuen nodded seriously, puffing his little chest. "Mama said you’re our new papa now. So you have to eat and get strong, okay?"

Mo Ying stared at them, his sharp eyes softening against their bright faces. His gaze fell on the plain porridge with a few vegetables before returning to their eager looks.

"Eat, eat!" Bao Bao urged, lifting the spoon toward him. "Mama made this for you."

He sat in silence for a while, then sighed and finally took the spoon. The taste was simple, but the boys clapped like he had just eaten a feast.

"See, Yuen? Papa likes it!" Bao Bao giggled.

Yuen nodded again. "Don’t worry, Papa. We’ll protect Mama and Xiu Xiu until you’re strong enough to protect us back."

Mo Ying froze. His fingers tightened around the spoon, but for once, no mocking words left his lips. Instead, he muttered under his breath...

"...Innocent brats."

But he kept eating.

**

The night ended there, and the next day began differently.

I got the kids washed and dressed before making breakfast. Since there was still so rice and fish left, I turned it into soup. The children sat at the dining table with Mr. Stubborn, while I quickly packed my things.

Before leaving, I knocked lightly on his door. "Listen! I’m heading out. Your pills are on the table. Take them after eating. And since you’re already here, try watching the kids until a young girl cos!"

Without waiting for his answer, I left.

Thanks to him, my purse was painfully light. All my savings had flown out, so I needed to start over. At the market, I set up my stall and by noon, as usual, all my braised at was sold out. At least that part of my life still worked.

Afterward, I went to Physician Li’s clinic. I explained about Mo Ying’s condition. He looked hesitant at first, but in the end, he agreed to co check on him. Weep! It cost three taels.

From there, I dragged myself to the matchmaker’s pavilion. Old Zu Shi was waiting with more "fine" n for to et.

And the results? Nothing. Not a single one caught my eye. Too ugly, too short, too selfish... or just plain strange.

By the ti I left, I felt like giving up. But no, I told myself to hold on. A solution will co sooner or later. It has to.

On the way ho, I picked up so foodstuffs, trying to ignore the dull ache in my chest.

By the ti I reached ho, my legs felt like lead. I dragged myself up the steps and before I even pushed open the door, a rich, mouthwatering scent drifted out. My nose twitched.

"...Wait, is that...?"

I hurried in, half afraid I was imagining things.

And then I froze.

Right outside, on the little wooden table, Yan i, Mo Yuen, Yiling, and Bao Bao were all seated neatly, clapping their hands and cheering like little birds.

"Papa! Papa! Another dish, hurry!" Bao Bao squealed, bouncing in his seat.

And there he was. Mo Ying ’Mr. Stubborn himself’ coming out of the kitchen with steaming bowls in his hands. One after another, he set them down: fragrant soup, stir-fried greens, even braised fish glistening with sauce.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"You—!" I rushed over, staring at the spread. The food looked good. Too good. Like sothing out of a nobleman’s kitchen. But my shock quickly turned into horror. "Mo Ying, where in the world did you get all these ingredients?"

He looked up lazily, as if nothing was wrong. "From the kitchen."

My jaw dropped. "The kitchen?!" My voice shot up an octave. "Do you know how expensive these things are? You’ve literally cooked two weeks’ worth of food in just one night!"

The kids froze, glancing between us, but before I could scold further, Mo Ying raised a brow and replied calmly, "They’re growing children. How do you expect them to live on scraps? Do you plan to starve them just to save a few coins?"

"You—!" I pointed a shaking finger at him. "I don’t know what kind of life you used to live before, but here we survive on little. We don’t waste food like this!"

Mo Ying gave a cool glance, his lips quirking. "Then don’t worry. I’ll pay you back."

I almost choked on air. "Pay back? With what money? Do you think taels drop from the sky?!"

The kids blinked at us, nervous. Yan i reached for my sleeve to calm down, but I was too riled up.

"Why didn’t you at least ask before cooking all this?" I snapped. "And you-" I jabbed a finger at Yuen and Bao Bao, "what’s this about calling him papa?! Did you really tell him that?"

The two little rascals imdiately ducked their heads. Yuen scratched his ear and mumbled, "Mama... we thought... since he’s staying here... maybe..."

Mo Ying, of course, smirked and leaned back in his chair. "So, according to your own children, I’m the new papa. Looks like you already married without knowing."

My mouth fell open, and for a mont, words failed . Then my face burned hot. "You-you shaless man!"

The children tried to stifle their giggles, while Mo Ying just picked up his chopsticks and said smoothly, "Co, sit down. No need to get angry. The food will get cold."

I wanted to throw the chopsticks at his head.

I turned to leave, but before I could even take a step, a firm hand caught my wrist.

"Sit."

Mo Ying’s low voice carried no room for argunt. He pulled out the chair beside him and pressed down into it with ease, like I weighed nothing. My mouth fell open.

"You—!" I glared up at him, but he only looked at calmly, as if I were a fussy child.

"You cooked two weeks’ worth of food in one night!" I hissed, resisting the urge to slam the table. My eyes darted to Yan i. "And you—Yan i! Why didn’t you do anything? You just stood there and let him use up everything from my kitchen!"

Yan i fidgeted, eyes guilty but her lips tugging into a smile. "Lin Xu... the food slled so good, I didn’t know how to stop him. And the children looked so happy..."

I groaned and buried my face in my hands. "Unbelievable. Just unbelievable."

"Stop whining," Mo Ying said bluntly, pushing a steaming bowl of soup in front of . "You’ve been running around all day. Sit. Eat."

I shot him a sharp glare, but the scent of the broth betrayed . It slled heavenly, rich and warm, the kind of food that made your stomach rumble even when you weren’t hungry.

The children’s eager eyes pinned down, waiting. "Mama, eat!" Bao Bao chirped.

I wanted to argue more, but with Mo Ying’s hand still on the back of my chair and the kids practically drooling with expectation, I felt cornered.

"This is bullying," I muttered under my breath.

"Call it whatever you like," Mo Ying said coolly, already filling my bowl. "But you’ll eat."