"Xiao He, are you feeling unwell again?"
The woman in the cheongsam quickly supported my tottering body from behind.
I sat in the chair and took a long time to calm down the wildly pounding "thumping" in my heart a bit.
"Mother, I really have no appetite."
Even though the table was filled with delicious - looking and - smelling dishes, they no longer tempted me in the slightest.
"Alright then. Later, mother will prepare some afternoon tea for you. You can invite your friends over to keep you company."
The woman in the cheongsam sighed and lovingly stroked the cold sweat on my forehead. "Go on, go back and have a good rest."
"Okay."
I supported myself on the table and stood up shakily. The emptiness in my stomach was like an infinite black hole, sucking away all my energy and spirit.
"Miss, be careful."
A girl who looked like a maid behind me held my elbow and helped me walk out of the room.
Stepping over the half - foot - high vermilion - painted door threshold, there was a lush expanse of greenery outside.
A few banana trees hung their plump green leaves, leaving ink - like shadows on the white wall.
The young boy A Wen with a shaved head was squatting beside the rockery outside the moon gate. When he saw me coming out of the courtyard, he quickly trotted up and held out a small paper package in front of me.
"Miss, can't you eat well again?"
A Wen winked at me playfully. "I've got some osmanthus cakes I bought outside. Have some."
"You bald - headed rascal! You're always sneaking these dirty things to the miss!!"
The maid who was supporting me reached out to slap the paper package in A Wen's hand. "I'll tell the master and mistress, and they'll break your legs!"
A Wen quickly pulled his hand back. "Don't act so high - and - mighty! If you dare tell the master and mistress, I'll pee at your door every day. Believe it or not!!"
The maid was so angry that she tried to pinch A Wen's face, but A Wen dodged with a grin and started running around the rock.
"Stop fooling around!"
I felt dizzy watching them run around. I simply sat on the rock and pointed at the house I'd come from and said to the maid, "I left my handkerchief on the table. Go and get it for me."
"Okay!" The maid quickly stopped and nodded obediently. "Miss, wait for me. I'll be right back."
Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly turned back and said to me, "Miss, don't eat what A Wen gives you. The master said your health is weak. You can't eat outside food. It's not hygienic."
"Okay... go, go."
I waved my hand weakly. The maid glared at A Wen warningly and then turned around and rushed out of the courtyard.
"Miss, here!!"
As soon as the maid left, A Wen immediately handed the paper package to me. "Hurry and eat. I bought these after lunch. They just came out of the steamer. They almost burned my skin off."
As he said this, he rubbed his chest. This guy had been keeping the little package in his bosom...
When I opened the butter paper, there were two square, snow - white pastries inside, dotted with golden osmanthus sugar. The faint sweetness immediately made my stomach growl.
"Hehe, I knew it. Miss likes their cakes the most."
A Wen watched me pick up a piece of cake and put it in my mouth. He tilted his head and said with a smile, "Miss is so beautiful. How could she eat that kind of thing..."
"A Wen, what kind of thing are you talking about?"
The sweet - smelling osmanthus cake tasted like wax in my mouth, but I forced myself to swallow it with my neck stretched.
I knew that only this was the real food, the only thing that could truly be eaten!
"Can you see it too?!" After I swallowed the osmanthus cake and the hunger in my heart was suppressed, I asked again, "The food my mother gives me is... human flesh?"
"Miss... you're really sick!"
A Wen waved his hands in a hurry. "Don't think such crazy things. We all can see how much the mistress loves you. It's just... that kind of food isn't suitable for you!!"
"What do you mean it's not suitable for me?!"
Seeing that he was about to run away, I quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist. "A Wen, explain clearly!"
"Miss... don't hold me like this!"
A Wen said with a bitter face, "If you do this, I won't buy cakes for you next time..."
"Master, you're back!"
Just as I was holding A Wen and trying to get to the bottom of things, I heard the voice of the maid just now, respectfully sounding behind me.
I quickly turned around and saw a middle - aged man in a gray - blue suit handing his top hat to a servant beside him and looking at me.
"Xiao He, still not fully recovered?"
He walked over, looked at the cake crumbs left in my hand, and smiled helplessly. "I know you like desserts, but... you should also take care of your body because of your diabetes!"
"Diabetes...?"
My mind was in a complete mess. What kind of disease was that? Why was I not allowed to eat sweet things?
Before I could think more, the middle - aged man had already said to A Wen with a faint smile, "A Wen, you shouldn't have given the miss these things. Go and accept your punishment."
"Okay..."
A Wen pursed his lips. It seemed that he had been punished like this many times and didn't really care. "Thank you, master."
"Dad, don't punish A Wen!"
I couldn't help but tug at the middle - aged man's clothes. "Only the things he brings can I eat a bit! Do you want to starve your daughter?"
"Sigh..." The middle - aged man sighed deeply and stroked my hair. "Poor Xiao He!"
A Wen waved at me, walked out of the courtyard while looking back at me and winking, silently mouthing, "I'll buy cakes for the miss tonight..."
I smiled bitterly and was already looking forward to that little extra meal at night.
"How can I rest assured to marry you into the Si family when your health has always been so poor?"
The middle - aged man looked at me with a faint look of worry in his eyes, which was exactly the same as the woman in the cheongsam's expression. "It seems that we really have to try the radical cure for this severe illness!"
"Radical cure for a severe illness?!"
I didn't think I had any problems. I'd always been in good health. My current weakness was completely because I was so hungry. Although the cakes A Wen gave me didn't taste good, I could already feel some strength returning to my body.
"Dad, I don't need to take medicine. Just let me go around with A Wen. I'll get better."
I remembered that I had quite a bit of pocket money. If A Wen could take me for a walk on the street, my hunger illness would immediately get better!!
"...Okay. After A Wen accepts his punishment, I'll let him take you out for a walk."
I just said it casually and didn't expect the middle - aged man to agree. Unexpectedly, he didn't even think about it and immediately agreed to my request.
"Thank you, dad!"
I thought the middle - aged man was more human - like than the woman in the cheongsam just now. Thinking that I could go out soon, I couldn't help but feel excited.
"Come on, I'll take you to the servants' quarters to find A Wen."
The middle - aged man raised his arm, and I naturally took his arm. "Dad is the best to me!"