Meng Ruozhao looked at the sandwich handed to her. It was exquisitely packaged, indicating that it should not be cheap.
In contrast, the rice ball he had eaten half of and left on the table was the cheapest one from a convenience store.
Moreover, on the outer packaging of the rice ball, there was a red label that read “Special Offer for Soon-to-Expire Products”.
He was eating a cheap rice ball himself while giving her a better sandwich.
Meng Ruozhao took the sandwich, also accepting his careful overtures.
However, she didn't rush to eat it. Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed against the sandwich packaging, making the plastic box emit a faint rustling sound.
Seeing that she had taken it, Pei Jiangmu gave her a gentle smile.
“Sister, once I get through this tough time and make some money, I'll treat you to a big meal.”
Hearing Pei Jiangmu's words, Meng Ruozhao looked up at him.
She saw that he slightly lowered his eyes, his eyelashes fluttering. There was a smile on his lips, but a faint sense of desolation could still be detected.
When she looked over, he picked up the half - eaten rice ball again.
After taking a big bite, Meng Ruozhao noticed that he was slightly frowning.
Apparently, the cold rice ball tasted really unpalatable.
He swallowed the hard rice ball with a gulp of his Adam's apple, yet there was still a nonchalant smile on his lips.
His hand holding the rice ball had distinct knuckles, and the blue veins on the back of his hand snaked under his fair skin.
He was like a precious porcelain illuminated by the light in a museum, beautiful yet fragile.
“Don't eat that rice ball anymore,” Meng Ruozhao couldn't help but say.
Pei Jiangmu paused in his chewing. His eyelashes cast a trembling shadow under his eyes.
But soon, he looked up and gave her a smile, his voice deliberately cheerful.
“Don't worry, sister. I've been working out recently, and these are just right for me.”
As he spoke, he even showed off the muscle lines of his arms.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Meng Ruozhao clearly heard his stomach growling.
Pei Jiangmu felt a bit embarrassed and immediately covered it up with laughter, but he choked and coughed because he was too hasty.
When he turned his head to hide the reddened corners of his eyes, the spinous processes of his cervical vertebrae on his neck looked like the bones of a crane about to break under the light.
This scene was like a blunt knife slowly cutting at her heart. No matter how nonchalant he pretended to be, his physical reactions couldn't lie.
Not knowing what to say for a moment, she quickly went to pour him a glass of water.
Pei Jiangmu drank the water and caught his breath. When he looked up, there was still a trace of embarrassment in his slightly red eyes.
But soon he put on a forced smile again.
“Don't worry about me, sister. I'm fine like this. At least I've learned a lot of things I didn't understand before.”
He held the rice ball, his tone tinged with self - mockery.
Although Meng Ruozhao didn't know exactly what had happened to him.
She knew that financial difficulties could mercilessly devour a person's pride.
So he always pretended to be strong to hide his difficult situation.
“Although I don't know what difficulties you're facing, you have to believe that this is only temporary,” Meng Ruozhao said softly, her voice gentle yet unshakably firm.
Pei Jiangmu was slightly stunned. A flicker of emotion flashed across his slightly red eyes.
“Sister, you're the first person who's willing to comfort me like this after I fell from grace,” his voice was a bit hoarse, as if the pretense of strength he had always maintained crumbled instantly in front of Meng Ruozhao.
He was well aware that his current appearance would surely arouse Meng Ruozhao's pity.
Sure enough, his Ruozhao was always so soft - hearted, readily falling for his well - designed act of feigning hardship.
She even forgot about the safety distance and walked up to him, patting him on the shoulder.
“Don't be discouraged. You're still so young. There are infinite possibilities in the future.”
“As long as you're willing to work hard and persevere, you'll surely get out of this difficult situation and live the life you want again.”
Meng Ruozhao's eyes were full of encouragement, like a beam of light shining into Pei Jiangmu's somewhat gloomy world.
Pei Jiangmu stared at her for a long time before slowly saying, “Is sister always so good at comforting people?”
There was a deeper interrogation hidden in his hoarse voice.
The image of Meng Ruozhao chatting and laughing merrily with Yan Qiubai at the banquet overlapped and then separated from the gentle figure comforting him at the moment.
His morbid possessiveness fermented in his chest, but he lowered his eyelashes, allowing the light to cast just the right shadow on his face.
The hand holding the rice ball dropped. He curled up as if stung by something, and his Adam's apple rolled in a vulnerable arc under the light.
“Actually...”
His voice suddenly caught in his throat. When he turned his face away, his jawline tightened into a stubborn arc.
“Today is my birthday, so I bought that sandwich.”
It was indeed his Gregorian birthday on his ID, but he usually didn't celebrate it.
This lie clung to his tongue like honey.
Through his still - damp, hanging hair, he observed Meng Ruozhao's reaction.
When he saw her pupils suddenly contract, the fingers of his other hand beside his body excitedly dug into his palm.
The pain made tears well up in his eyes, and combined with his slightly trembling shoulders, he looked exactly like an abandoned stray dog.
“Why didn't you say so earlier?”
Sure enough, Meng Ruozhao was hooked.
She took two steps forward and then suddenly stopped. Her eyes flitted nervously over his lean waist and abdomen.
“I'll treat you to a meal. Consider it a birthday gift.”
Pei Jiangmu looked over in surprise, but then quickly shook his head shyly.
“It would be too much trouble for you, sister. And the fact that you came here tonight so I'm not alone is already a gift,” his voice trembled just right. When he lowered his head, he didn't forget to let the light outline the perfect contour of his back muscles.
Meng Ruozhao looked at him with a touch of pity and insisted, “It's not trouble. A birthday only comes once a year. It should be celebrated properly.”
Before Pei Jiangmu could refuse again, she added, “Besides, I also want to eat something different.”
Pei Jiangmu, who had been struggling internally and seemed quite hesitant, finally agreed when he heard that she wanted to eat.
“Then... okay. Thank you, sister.”
Seeing that he had agreed, Meng Ruozhao felt relieved and showed a gentle smile on her face.
“What would you like to eat? There's a Western restaurant nearby with a nice environment. Or if you have other preferences, like hot pot or Japanese cuisine, it's all fine.”
Pei Jiangmu tilted his head and thought for a while. A hint of shyness flashed across his eyes.
“How about hot pot? Is that okay?”
It used to be her favorite food. She said that it was really enjoyable to eat hot pot while chatting cheerfully.
But he had rarely accompanied her because of various reasons.
Hearing this, Meng Ruozhao smiled slightly. “Sure. Let's go for hot pot then.”
Pei Jiangmu got up to put on his clothes, while Meng Ruozhao casually threw the remaining rice ball into the trash can.
She didn't want him to be reluctant to throw it away and end up ruining his stomach.
After they walked out of the store side by side, Meng Ruozhao accidentally noticed the clothes Pei Jiangmu was wearing.
It was just a simple T - shirt and shorts, but it was obvious that the edges were a bit worn from being washed many times.
A pang of sadness welled up in her heart again.
Fortunately, he was good - looking. Even the simple old clothes on him had an air of a down - and - out nobleman.