The air froze instantly.
Zi Xi's face flushed bright red instantly, even her ears turned crimson.
She lowered her head abruptly, wishing she could bury herself in her knees, feeling utterly ashamed and indignant.
【Ugh, you useless belly, why are you yelling like that!】
[This is so embarrassing, but I absolutely refuse to eat such rough food! It will scratch my delicate esophagus!]
Pei Jiwang paused, his hand holding the steamed bun still.
He looked at the dark, fuzzy head across from him that was almost buried under the table.
Hearing her screams of shame and indignation, a mixture of amusement and helplessness quietly swept through my heart.
"Eggs are easy to swallow."
He neither exposed her nor tried to persuade her further. He simply peeled an egg in silence and handed it back to her on the lid of the lunchbox.
Zi Xi neither looked up nor moved.
Pei Jiwang ignored her and started eating on his own.
He ate quickly but not rudely, with the efficiency characteristic of a soldier.
After a while, just when Pei thought she would be hungry until she reached her destination.
A slender hand swiftly swept across the peeled egg before quickly retracting.
Pei Jiwang looked up and saw that Zi Xi was still looking down, eating the egg very slowly, like a hamster stealing food.
She ate very carefully, as if savoring some exquisite delicacy, or as if undertaking an extremely difficult task.
[...Hmm, boiled eggs, cooked just right, the yolks didn't turn green.]
[It's a pity there wasn't a drop of salt or soy sauce... Oh well, it's better than starving.]
The steamed bun looks so hard... I can't eat any of it.
She finished eating the egg, stared at the cold steamed bun for a long time, and struggled internally, but ultimately didn't eat it.
He simply took out his water bottle and sipped it slowly, trying to suppress his hunger with water.
Pei Jiwang frowned again as he looked at her stubbornness, which made her prefer to go hungry rather than force herself to eat steamed buns.
She was indeed spoiled, but she was somewhat different from the capitalist's daughter he had imagined who would cry and make a scene at the slightest disagreement.
As night fell, the carriages were lit up with dim, yellow lights.
The long, bumpy ride in the hard seat left Zi Xi with an undeniable look of exhaustion on her face.
She stopped looking out the window and leaned back in her chair with her eyes closed. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, and her face was even paler than during the day.
But she slept very restlessly.
Every sway of the train, every stop and brake, even the snoring of the passengers next to her would make her slender body tremble slightly and her brows furrow tightly.
I'm so tired, my whole body feels like it's falling apart, and my neck is so sore...
[The guy next to me is snoring like a tractor! Can't a person get any sleep?!]
My feet are so cold! This awful weather is so hot during the day and cold at night...
Her thoughts were fragmented, filled with physical discomfort and grievances, but she never actually cried.
He did not ask Pei Jiwang for any help.
Pei Jiwang remained clear-headed throughout.
As a soldier, he was already used to maintaining vigilance and rest in various harsh environments.
He looked at the girl across from him, curled up in her seat, clearly extremely uncomfortable but still trying not to make a sound. His hardened heart seemed to be gently touched by something subtle.
He recalled what Commander Li had said before he left: "...Once we reach the island, it will be your responsibility."
Responsibility should also include some basic...care.
After hesitating for a moment, Pei Jiwang took off his worn-out military jacket and draped it gently over Zixi's shoulders with slightly stiff movements.
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