Just as he was in a daze, Meng Ruozhao frowned slightly, with a hint of understanding and a touch of helplessness, and continued.
"This can't be something extra given by your classmates, right?"
"Actually, it's your own portion. You didn't eat it and specially saved it to bring back, am I right?"
The heart that Pei Jiangmu had been holding in his throat suddenly dropped back to its place.
The huge drop almost made him lose his composure.
So this was the lie she was referring to?
He secretly let out a long sigh of relief, almost scaring himself to death.
He quickly adjusted his expression, showing a bit of embarrassment and shyness after being exposed.
He raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, acting quite naturally.
"Uh, you've found me out, sister."
"I forgot that I told you before that I don't get along well with my classmates."
"They usually don't invite me to their activities. How could someone give me extra..."
He lowered his eyelashes, with a hint of appropriate loneliness and self - mockery in his tone.
But soon he lifted a smile that tried to look cheerful.
"But I really don't like sweet food. Sister, you should try it. I heard it tastes good."
Looking at him like this, the depression in Meng Ruozhao's heart that had risen because of her mother seemed to fade a bit.
Especially seeing his cautious and somewhat flattering look, her heart softened inexplicably.
She opened the cake box. Inside was a small blueberry cream cake with a good appearance, about the size of a palm.
She picked up the small spoon that came with it. Instead of eating it herself first, she skillfully divided the cake into two halves.
"I also need to lose weight. I can't eat too much."
As she said, she put one half on the lid and handed it to Pei Jiangmu along with the spoon.
"You help me finish this half."
Pei Jiangmu was stunned for a moment and subconsciously shook his head to refuse.
"No need, sister. I really..."
Before he could finish his words.
Meng Ruozhao had already naturally scooped up a small piece with the spoon and directly brought it to his mouth.
Her tone carried an unrefusable casualness: "Just try it. Don't waste it."
This action was so natural, as if she had done it thousands of times.
What really stunned both of them was Pei Jiangmu's reaction -
Without even thinking, as if some muscle memory deep in his bones had been triggered.
He subconsciously opened his mouth and ate the spoonful of cake.
The soft cream and sweet strawberries melted in his mouth.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
Meng Ruozhao's hand holding the spoon froze in mid - air.
Looking at Pei Jiangmu's eyes, which were slightly widened in surprise and were so close, her heart skipped a beat.
That action just now.
That sense of being taken for granted.
It was so familiar.
Pei Jiangmu was also completely stunned, and even stopped chewing.
A corner deep in his heart that had been tightly sealed seemed to be hit hard by this familiar scene.
A long time ago.
During the days when he was the most paranoid, the most gloomy, and resisted everything, even eating.
She was just like this, patiently, again and again, in this almost tough yet gentle way.
Feeding him food and medicine mouthful by mouthful.
She always said, "Pei Jiangmu, open your mouth."
Just as naturally as just now.
A silent storm swept over between the two of them.
A few seconds later, Meng Ruozhao was the first to come to her senses.
She quickly withdrew her hand, lowered her head with a flickering look in her eyes, picked up another spoon, and pretended to scoop a mouthful for herself.
She stuffed it into her mouth and said vaguely, "It does taste good."
Pei Jiangmu also quickly lowered his eyes.
His long eyelashes covered the intense emotions surging in his eyes. He mechanically chewed the cake in his mouth but seemed to taste nothing.
The strange sense of familiarity and flutter that the mouthful of cake brought.
Made the atmosphere between the two a bit subtly awkward and silent.
Finally, Pei Jiangmu adjusted his emotions first and casually found a topic to try to break the frozen air.
"Sister."
His voice returned to its usual gentle tone, with appropriate concern.
"Were you the only one in the store today? Could you handle it?"
"You drank so much wine last night. Does your head still hurt?"
He carefully avoided any words that might make her think of the specific events of last night.
Sure enough, as soon as "last night" and "wine" were mentioned.
Meng Ruozhao's ears turned slightly red, almost imperceptibly, and her eyes also flickered.
Those vague and shameful "dream" fragments popped up uncontrollably.
She quickly forced them down and answered in a relaxed tone as if nothing had happened.
"It's okay. I could handle it alone."
"I received a few clients, and the conversations went quite smoothly."
Thinking of the check left by Mrs. Shen just now, her mood improved a lot, and a real smile appeared on her face.
"We'll be busy from now on. It's a good thing."
Pei Jiangmu carefully observed her expression. Although there was still a hint of tiredness between her eyebrows, her eyes were clear.
When she mentioned work, she showed concentration and radiance. She really didn't seem to be affected by Shen Xinyin or Mrs. Shen.
The stone in his heart dropped a little.
Of course, he knew that Shen Xinyin had come, and he also knew about Mrs. Shen's visit this afternoon and the reason behind it -
All of this was within his control and expectation.
As long as she wasn't wronged, that was good.
To help her completely get rid of the influence of others, Pei Jiangmu began to actively share some interesting stories about "school".
He made them up vividly.
How boring the professor's lecture was and how the classmates dozed off collectively.
How the cafeteria came up with some strange "innovative dishes".
His tone was vivid, carrying the "lively" aura of his age.
Sure enough, Meng Ruozhao was led by his topic.
Listening to those small stories full of campus life, a smile appeared on her face involuntarily.
She temporarily threw the doubts about her mother and the little embarrassment just now out of her mind.
While listening, she suddenly became a bit curious. With a tone of chatting about gossip like an elder sister caring about her younger brother, she interrupted him with a smile.
"Hey, Pei Jiangmu, do you have a female classmate you like in school?"
Pei Jiangmu was just speaking enthusiastically. He was almost choked by her sudden question.
He immediately waved his hand. His expression became very serious, even a bit eager to prove his loyalty. He said firmly.
"No! Absolutely not! Sister, I'm very chivalrous! I won't like someone casually!"
His look of being on full alert, as if he wanted to swear immediately to prove his innocence, made Meng Ruozhao laugh.
She thought his reaction was a bit too cute and serious, so she couldn't help but continue to tease him.
"Really? Not even a little bit?"
"That's such a pity. Campus love in college sounds so pure and wonderful."
"Don't you even want to try it?"
As she said, a hint of longing and regret flashed in her eyes.
"Alas, it's a pity that I don't even remember if I was in a relationship when I was in school... It feels like I missed something."