When Xu Tingchuan returned, the room was pitch black.

While changing into slippers in the entryway, he turned on the living room light and found Ni Sitian asleep on the sofa.

His brow furrowed, and he strode to the sofa, bent down, picked up Ni Sitian, and wanted to carry her to the bedroom to sleep.

He had only taken two steps when Ni Sitian opened her sleepy eyes.

"Awake?" Xu Tingchuan frowned and scolded in a low voice, "How could you sleep in the living room? Although your wounds have healed after the surgery, you still need to be careful. What if you catch a cold?"

Ni Sitian had just woken up and was still a little groggy. After a delicate yawn, she mumbled, "But there's heating on."

"Even with heating, you should still cover yourself with a blanket." Xu Tingchuan had no choice but to carry her into the bedroom, gently place her on the bed, and pat her head: "If you're still sleepy, sleep a little longer. I'll make dinner and then call you."

Ni Sitian mumbled a response, then closed her eyes and continued sleeping.

After Xu Tingchuan left the bedroom, Ni Sitian suddenly woke up and sat up, wide awake.

She rubbed her eyes, put on her slippers, got out of bed, and headed to the kitchen.

Standing at the kitchen doorway, she saw Xu Tingchuan with his back to her, busy washing rice and chopping vegetables.

She looked at his back; he was broad and tall, and seemed very reliable.

After standing at the door for a while, she couldn't help but walk towards him and hug him from behind.

Xu Tingchuan paused for a moment, then turned his head to look. He saw Ni Sitian with her head slightly lowered and buried in his back. He could only see the top of her head and assumed she was being coquettish. He chuckled and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping? Aren't you sleepy?"

"I'm not sleepy anymore." Ni Sitian hugged Xu Tingchuan's waist tightly, showing her special affection for him.

"Then let's go outside and sit for a while, watch some TV, and I'll make dinner soon."

"No." Ni Sitian gently shook her head and whispered, "I want to hold you."

Xu Tingchuan smiled, helplessly indulging her in his embrace, and continued cooking in that position.

Ni Sitian clung to him like a sloth the whole time, following him wherever he went.

She could only sit down and eat after Xu Tingchuan finished cooking.

During their meal, Ni Sitian would glance at Xu Tingchuan from time to time, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Xu Tingchuan noticed that something was wrong with her. After giving her a piece of carrot, he asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Ni Sitian quickly shook her head, picked up a carrot, and stopped just as she took a bite. She looked up at Xu Tingchuan and frowned: "Why did you give me a carrot? You know I don't like carrots."

Xu Tingchuan narrowed his eyes slightly. He had picked up this piece of carrot earlier to test how preoccupied she was. He hadn't expected her to accidentally eat such a large piece of carrot. It seemed there was a serious problem.

"Carrots are nutritious." Xu Tingchuan picked up another piece for her and said, "Good children shouldn't be picky eaters."

Ni Sitian pouted, muttering defiantly, "I'm not a child. You're just acting like an old lady. You yourself don't eat many things, like onions, which are very nutritious, as well as garlic, taro, and black beans..."

She listed all the foods he didn't like to eat. After saying so much, she suddenly realized that two months ago, she didn't even know he was allergic to bamboo shoots, but now she knew so clearly about his picky eating habits.