Aunt Wang put down the food and left.
Xu Ruantang knew Chen Ji was going to talk about what had just happened. She stood in the courtyard for a moment, then gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and went inside.
Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway.
Whether you die sooner or later, you're going to die anyway.
But she did nothing wrong. If the older man wanted to lecture her at the karaoke bar, she wouldn't just sit there and wait to be attacked.
In both her lifetimes combined, the word "coward" was not in her dictionary.
Xu Ruantang lifted the curtain and went in, finding Chen Jizheng sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his straight and slender legs hanging down at an angle, a particularly pleasing sight.
How did this man grow up? His legs are almost as long as her lifespan.
Xu Ruantang is carefree; even at this critical juncture, she's still overthinking things.
"Come sit here."
Chen Ji glanced at her, then turned and went to look for something in the cabinet.
Before Xu Ruantang could even process what was happening, her legs had already obediently moved over, and she sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), swinging her legs.
Xiao Bao opened his dark, grape-like eyes and rubbed them every now and then.
Xu Ruantang quickly picked her up and comforted her, "Sorry, I forgot it was your bedtime."
When Chen Ji found the item and turned around, he saw her putting the child to sleep. He opened his mouth in surprise.
"I know what you want to say, but let's talk about it after Xiaobao falls asleep."
Xu Ruantang took the initiative.
She wasn't stalling for time; a child rubbing their eyes meant they were sleepy, and if she didn't soothe them soon, they would miss the best time to fall asleep and start crying and fussing.
Within three minutes, Xiao Bao was fast asleep.
With her eyes closed, Xiao Bao's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her little mouth was slightly open. Xu Ruantang manually closed her mouth, turned around and put the child on the kang (a heated brick bed), and covered her with a quilt.
She rolled off the kang (a heated brick bed) and stood upright on the ground. "You speak, I'm listening."
Chen Ji paused slightly when he saw her like this.
"Here's some ointment to reduce swelling and pain. Come here, I'll apply it for you."
Chen Ji's voice was magnetic, but his expression remained cold and indifferent.
"You...you weren't going to talk about what just happened?" Xu Ruantang asked, somewhat surprised.
"Apply the medicine first." Chen Ji unscrewed the cap of the ointment and gestured for her to reach out.
Xu Ruantang reached out and took the ointment directly from his hand, a bright smile on her face. "I can do it myself, thank you."
She went to the table, put down the ointment, washed her hands, and then came in to apply it herself.
Although he was wincing in pain, he didn't make much of a sound.
Chen Ji looked at the ever-changing woman in front of him and fell into deep thought.
One second they were all prickly and ready to fight, and the next they were as docile as a kitten.
He doesn't understand.
Are all women this fickle?
Xu Ruantang quickly applied the medicine, handed the ointment back to Chen Jishi, and casually asked, "Is your box a treasure chest? It has all kinds of medicine for sprains and bruises."
Chen Ji took the ointment, and during the handover, Xu Ruantang's fingertip accidentally brushed against his palm.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was a little hoarse: "I used it."
The smooth, soft touch of the woman's skin reached Chen Ji's palm, and he withdrew his hand without making a sound.
"oh."
Chen Ji glanced at her and said, "Don't be so reckless next time."
What's meant to happen will happen.
Xu Ruantang waited quietly, but no further news came for a long time.
So what about the old man's long-winded explanation?
This old man is no ordinary person.
Xu Ruantang quickly replied, "Okay, I understand."
She knew, but she didn't change.
"Wait here, I'll go to the kitchen and bring the food over."
Considering that Chen Ji had been standing for too long today, Xu Ruantang decided to eat indoors.
As soon as I stepped out of the house, the courtyard gate was pushed open again.
Xu Ruantang looked up and saw Yao Yulan, whose eyes were swollen like walnuts.
Yao Yulan glared at her fiercely, then turned and went into the Chen family's kitchen.
Xu Ruantang followed her inside and asked, "Is there something you need?"
"I've come to get my backpack!"
Yao Yulan spoke sharply as she dumped everything from her backpack onto the kitchen counter.
"Pour this out."
Yao Yulan pointed to an iron lunchbox and instructed Xu Ruantang.
Xu Ruantang ignored her and carried the food back to the house.
When she went back to get the bowl, she found an extra bowl of chicken soup in the kitchen.
"Chen Ji, this is chicken soup that Yao Yulan brought over. Shall I take it?"
She couldn't make up her mind, and besides, this thing wasn't meant for her, so she didn't know what to do with it.
"Bring it over here."
So the chicken soup was served, and Xu Ruantang placed it directly in front of Chen Ji.
"Do you have any empty bowls? Share them." Chen Ji asked, looking at the chicken soup in front of him.
Xu Ruantang picked up her chopsticks to eat and casually replied, "No need, I don't drink."
The bowl of chicken soup was covered with a layer of oil, and it looked so greasy that she couldn't bring herself to eat it.
However, Chen Ji heard it differently.
Chen Ji put down the chopsticks he had picked up and said solemnly, "Comrade Xu, you don't need to save money for me."
Xu Ruantang: "???"
Seeing her bewildered expression, Chen Ji continued, "Now that you've come all this way, I have an obligation to take care of you. Don't worry, I can support you and Xiao Bao, and at least you won't lack food or clothing."
His tone was very serious, as if he thought this was a matter of course.
Xu Ruantang: "I didn't?"
“You eat very little every day, and you don’t eat much meat.”
According to his observation, this girl had an incredibly small appetite; she couldn't even finish a small bowl of rice each time.
She avoided eating meat, and didn't even touch the steamed buns Aunt Wang made; she only drank a bowl of corn porridge.
At first he thought she was shy, but now he realized that wasn't the case.
Xu Ruantang sighed softly, "No, you misunderstood. I eat very full at every meal. I don't eat meat because I don't really like it, especially fatty meat."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
