Shen Qingqing touched her chin, "He's quite something."
Before she could finish, her chin was gripped, and her small face was turned. Before her was that familiar, impossibly handsome face.
"Look at me."
...The vinegar jar had tipped over again.
Shen Qingqing felt helpless yet sweet. She nestled into his embrace, no longer looking at anyone else, only at him.
Before eating, Fu Jingshu checked her wound and found it recovering well. He immediately thought of the medicine's efficacy. "This old man is quite capable."
This remark was overheard by the old man who was walking over.
"You brat, what are you saying? Are you calling me an old man too?"
Even though Shen Qingqing called him "old man," he was displeased when Fu Jingshu used the same term, insisting on acting like an elder.
After all, he considered himself Shen Qingqing's elder. Those from the Shen family or Xiao family were all newcomers!
What kind of blood relation was that? It meant nothing!
The old man said righteously, "Call me Grandpa."
Fu Jingshu paused, glanced at him, his gaze indifferent, as if looking at roadside stones and grass. This glance made the old man bristle.
"What's with that look? Don't you like it?"
Shen Qingqing quickly tried to mediate, "Alright, stop arguing. He's just like that, he didn't mean anything by it. Old man, don't make things difficult for him."
The old man said sternly, "You girl, now that you're married, your arm is already turning outwards!"
Shen Qingqing bared her teeth and smiled, showing a hint of playfulness, "I'm not... you two are fighting. You are all the most important people to me."
Most important.
The old man smacked his lips. These words made him somewhat satisfied. "Fine, I'll give you face."
However, the old man was still annoyed and glared at Fu Jingshu.
Just then, they were called to dinner, and he turned away indignantly.
Fu Jingshu held Shen Qingqing. She naturally struggled, "I can walk, put me down."
"Be good."
"It's not good if people see..."
"Since when did you care about what others think?" His sharp gaze lifted. "Did someone say something to you?"
Those who were looked at by him felt bewildered, wondering what had offended this formidable god.
A soft little hand tugged at his collar, "No, no one said anything. I don't care, and I'm too lazy to walk when you're giving me a ride. But what about your image?"
It was one thing to show affection normally, but carrying a woman around every day might lead to gossip.
"I don't care."
The hard lines of his face softened slightly. He held her, his steps steady, and walked steadily to sit beside the old man and King.
The two of them were already accustomed to their affection.
King handed over two bowls of soup, while the old man snorted and gave them a large portion of his instant noodles.
"Old man, you..."
He glared at Shen Qingqing, "I'm giving it to you, and you have no room to refuse. You two should eat more."
Shen Qingqing's heart warmed.
Even the most ordinary instant noodles felt incredibly precious at this moment.
She looked at the mushroom soup from the previous night, which was filled with mushrooms.
She glanced at King.
The latter didn't even look up, holding his own bowl and eating with gusto. "Don't look at me. I was worried you two wouldn't eat enough and would drag us down."
Each one more tight-lipped than the other!
Shen Qingqing shook her head and was about to reach for the mushroom soup when a large hand took it. The mushroom soup was still steaming.
She quickly said, "It's hot, put it down quickly!"
"It's fine."
Fu Jingshu looked at her worried face, paused, then grabbed a handful of grass from the ground, padded his palm, blew on it for a while, and brought it to her lips. "Alright, drink your soup."
Someone provided noodles, someone served soup, and someone even fed it to her lips.
This treatment...
The women present, as well as the men, were intensely envious. Why didn't they have such good treatment!
Even servants wouldn't be this attentive, right!
But servants were paid for their services. Look at these people, their faces full of doting and care, their actions incredibly thoughtful and warm.
They couldn't take it anymore. If they kept watching, they'd turn into jealous wrecks!
Everyone quickly lowered their heads. They suddenly felt as if the soup in their hands didn't taste as good anymore!
Shen Qingqing knew that if she didn't drink, Fu Jingshu wouldn't touch his food, so she obediently drank the soup and ate the noodles.
Her appetite was small, and she had been resting and recovering from her injuries for the past two days, so she hadn't expended much energy. After a few bites of noodles and a bowl of soup with mushrooms, she was full.
She tilted her head and pushed the bowl away with her small hand.
In fact, it wasn't a bowl at all, but an instant noodle bucket. They hadn't thrown it away after eating last time, and it was useful now.
There was even a small fork inside, but no spoon.
She thought regretfully.
Fu Jingshu stroked her small belly, knowing she was full. There was still a little left in her bowl. He didn't mind and finished it in one gulp, then served himself another bowl of soup.
Ai Qi was eating bread when a bowl of soup suddenly appeared before her.
She looked up and saw Zhao Qian sitting beside her. The bowl of soup had mushrooms floating in it and emitted a fragrant aroma, but she merely glanced at it before looking away.
"Thank you, I don't like soup."
Zhao Qian's hand remained suspended in mid-air. "Drink some soup to warm your body."
"I don't need it."
She still refused to look at the bowl of soup.
"Holding a grudge?"
"No."
Fearing he would bring up the past, and with so many people around, if anyone overheard, she would be finished. Ai Qi denied it a little too quickly.
Zhao Qian chuckled, as if knowing what she was worried about. He lowered his voice, "I have no ill intentions, Miss Ai Qi. I'm just telling you what I saw. I'm doing this for your own good."
"I don't want to hear it!"
She said through gritted teeth.
Zhao Qian sighed silently, placed the bowl of soup on the ground, and casually rested his long fingers on his knees. "Why are you so hostile towards me?"
Ai Qi remained silent.
"I truly have no ill intentions, Ai Qi. Don't you want someone to listen to your troubles?"
This sentence touched Ai Qi's heart. She instinctively looked at her brother, only to see Ai Sen slurping soup contentedly.
He looked like a large husky.
She sighed. She couldn't count on her brother.
"Here, we are teammates fighting side-by-side, experiencing life and death together," Zhao Qian said in a low voice. "Outside of here, we are strangers."
His voice was actually very pleasant, speaking so softly like a lover whispering in her ear.
Ai Qi bit her lip and glanced at him. "I don't believe you."
"What are you worried about?" Zhao Qian bent one leg and let the other rest casually on the ground. He hummed and said, "She and I are friends. I won't tell anyone. It's not something I want to see, to ruin their relationship."
Upon hearing this, Ai Qi looked up at him and saw his eyes filled with tenderness.
And he was looking at... Shen Qingqing.
"You like her too?"
She blurted out, then covered her mouth, regretting it slightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just..."