Xie Yuancheng propped himself up on his hands and looked at me, but I wouldn't turn around. I just kept trying to stall for time while hugging my little pillow. But I forgot that it was already noon and I was hungry. I had been sulking with him that morning and hadn't eaten breakfast.

"Bizhu!" I was just about to ask Bizhu to set the table when she came in, only to be ordered out again by Xie Yuancheng.

“Ying’er is hungry. She was so stubborn this morning, refusing to eat and ignoring everyone. I think we should skip lunch and calm down.”

"You!" I turned around and glared at him fiercely. Xie Yuancheng was also staring at me, almost like Xi Zhi, and was kicking his legs on the bed.

"Stop trying to be cute with me. You're a cunning marquis; you should stay away from me. Anyway, I can't beat your family!"

"What do you mean by 'our family'? Isn't Ying'er's man me? Who is he? You've already had three children, no man would dare to want you."

Xie Yuancheng flashed his signature smile again, and I abandoned my little pillow, ready to run away. He walked silently, and when he grabbed me, there was absolutely no sound.

"I'm hungry! You're bullying me, not even letting me eat!" I turned away and went to the side. This bastard won't know how powerful I am if I don't teach him a lesson.

"I'll cook for you, so that Ying'er won't eat someone else's food and then run away with them."

"I don't want to eat what you made! It's all vegetarian and it takes forever. I'm hungry, I want to eat now!"

"You dare to look down on me!" He's angry now, isn't he? I nodded at his expression, my face full of reluctance, but why wouldn't he let go? I struggled a couple of times, and Xie Yuancheng coldly said, "Then go hungry."

I couldn't break free, and he took me to the study to read, leaving me hungry to grind ink for him. Shouldn't he have stormed out? Why is he in the study?

"The millstone is almost dry, Ying'er needs to hurry up." Xie Yuancheng said gloatingly from the side, actually copying the book without even looking up!

"You grind it yourself, I'm going to rest." My arms are sore, I don't want him to grind it for me.

"There's a small bed here. It's not like I haven't slept in one before. Last time, she even held my hand tightly."

I've forgotten how stingy he is, but he is indeed very stingy. I was starving, so lying down would be good; I could avoid eating without having to exert myself. He came over as soon as I lay down, so I quickly got up.

"Go write your things and don't bother me." You often go out to play, so go ahead, I don't need him to come with me.

"I'm tired too, so of course I need to rest. Is there another bed here?" I saw that he had actually lay down and leaned over to the side. Luckily, Xie Yuancheng was just sleeping under the covers.

I was starving. I should have slept on the outside; the inside had a carved wooden base. I poked Xie Yuancheng with the tip of my hair, and when he didn't move, I tiptoed out of bed.

This is a small bed, or rather, a soft, comfortable bed, for temporary rest. There are no bed curtains or headboard, making it difficult to walk around. Just as I was about to get past him, Xie Yuancheng opened his eyes and reached out to pick me up and carry me down.

He was pretending to be asleep! My stomach really cooperated, it actually growled, and I quickly covered my stomach: "I'm so hungry, the Marquis doesn't give people food."

"If Ying'er wants to eat, then eat me." Xie Yuancheng even reached for my mouth, but I pushed him away in disgust. He should go out more often next time; he's always causing trouble for me.

"Go away! Go to sleep!"

"I didn't sleep at all. I was with you this morning, and neither did you eat or drink. You always say I'm too thin, but you never seem to care about me at all~"

"It's all your fault for not eating. Get up, I'm going out." I miscalculated. He was unmoved. I'll get up and find something to eat first, and then I'll slowly reason with him.

"Ying'er~ I'm already like this, what more do you want?" I shouldn't have turned around. As soon as I turned around and saw his aggrieved and pitiful look, I lost my composure.

"Don't overthink it. I... I'm just angry. I told you to leave me here in the manor, humph!"

"Yes, I'll definitely take you next time. I didn't want my sister to go this time, but she was worried we wouldn't be able to handle it, so she went instead."

"See? He never tells me anything, and this time is no different." I turned to him, rubbing my stomach and saying I was hungry.

"I'll go to the kitchen right now and make something delicious for my sweet Ying'er." My eyes were almost red; I still had to wait.

Xie Yuancheng had already left, and there was no food left in the house, so I went to the kitchen with him. I've cooked before, so I thought I'd help wash the vegetables.

"Ying'er, the vegetables have all gone bad. Go wait outside."

"This isn't washed; it's already clean. If you wet it again, the oil will splatter when you put it in the pan."

"Ying'er, do you still want to eat?"

Xie Yuancheng started nagging again, so I had to wait on the side. But he was really fast; by the time I got to eat, I was almost in tears.

"Eat more stir-fried vegetables, it's good for your health. Don't always eat sweets, and even meat should be eaten in moderation."

"Okay, okay, you're so long-winded~" I picked up some lotus root slices, which were stir-fried quite well. Maybe it's because the lotus roots were grown well; they taste good even when simply stir-fried.

This meal is really something else. I just finished eating when Xie Yuancheng told me that Xizhi and the others had gone out to play. If I hadn't thrown a tantrum this morning, they would all be out and about by now.

I facepalmed. That jerk deliberately didn't tell me: "You're so annoying!"

“I’ve said this several times, but it’s good that my sisters are taking care of us. If Ying’er goes with a dark face, the children will be frightened.”

"I don't care! I'm going too! Right now!" I punched his chest, but Xie Yuancheng just shook his head. "I'm never going to mess with you again. You're always trying to outsmart me!"

"Yes, I've already said nice things to Ying'er this morning. I've worked so hard, so you should at least make it up to me."

"Hmph!" I'll compensate him my ass! I pinched Xie Yuancheng's waist several times. He's way past the time. They must have had so much fun running around and playing all day.

"I see Ying'er is so sad and upset." A voice sounded above me, and I quickly looked at him. Xie Yuancheng immediately changed his mind: "Let's go look at the painting. It's been a long time since Ying'er has been there."

I didn't want to go; I wanted to play with the children. Just as I was about to leave, Xie Yuancheng picked me up. He meant what he said. I struggled for a long time but couldn't break free, so I had to hold onto his shoulders to avoid falling.

"If you don't explain yourself clearly next time, I won't talk to you anymore!" I frowned, my eyes almost popped out, and I looked at him pitifully.

"Yes, but this time it wasn't my fault. I came home happily last night, but you didn't even listen to me finish before you got angry and kicked me out of bed."

"No, you have to tell me what you said last night. I need to hear it to be happy. Otherwise, I'm going to sleep by myself tonight. I don't want you to sleep with me."

"Okay, I'll tell you everything. Let's go. Ying'er Residence has added some things; it's quite interesting."