Some habits had accompanied Xiao Jingcheng for over two decades. They wouldn't be discarded just because he'd lost his memory and was disoriented. In no time, he was deftly wielding chopsticks, and his eating speed picked up considerably.
Like a whirlwind sweeping away debris, Ye Wanmian's chopsticks came up empty. Only then did she shockingly notice that the food on the table had been devoured by Xiao Jingcheng without her realizing it!
She put down her chopsticks and looked up at the person across from her.
Xiao Jingcheng was the royal crown prince. Even though he'd been framed and nearly lost his life, the royal etiquette he'd been steeped in since childhood was ingrained in his bones.
He was clearly ravenous, yet his eating speed was far from slow. His posture and movements exuded an indescribable nobility and elegance, unlike Qi Wen, who'd grown up in the countryside. Qi Wen ate so sloppily that his mouth was greasy and rice grains stuck to his lips.
After swallowing the food in his mouth, Xiao Jingcheng realized there was nothing left in his bowl. Only then did he snap out of his daze.
"Are you full?"
The girl's voice came from across the table. He looked up. Perhaps because he'd finally been able to eat, he finally responded to her words, gently shaking his head.
A voice in his head told him that nodding meant agreement and shaking his head meant disagreement.
He still felt extremely hungry, as if there was a huge hole in his stomach that could never be filled.
His reaction surprised Ye Wanmian.
She'd packed quite a bit of food from the tavern today, enough for four or five people. Yet he still wasn't full?!
Seeing the eagerness in his eyebrows, Ye Wanmian put down her bowl and patiently said, "You've been sleeping for a long time and couldn't eat on your own. You could only rely on liquid food to sustain your life. Now that you've just woken up, your stomach and intestines haven't returned to their normal state. You can't eat too much at once, or it might be life - threatening."
The medical records of her master said that if one hadn't eaten normally for a long time, one shouldn't eat too much solid food at once. One should do it gradually to let the intestines and stomach adapt.
Her words were too long for Xiao Jingcheng to understand in his current state. He grabbed Ye Wanmian's sleeve and shook it vigorously.
Oh no, is he pouting?
Cough.
Forcing herself to be tough - hearted, she said, "Pretending to be pitiful won't work. Given your situation, you really can't eat any more. Let's take it slow, okay?"
Xiao Jingcheng understood this sentence. He grinned, nodded vigorously, opened his mouth, and said in a slurred voice, "Wan... wan... lai."
He must have been trying to say "take it slow", right?
Goodness, he'd learned to talk with his tongue just while having a meal?
Ye Wanmian couldn't help but wonder if he'd regain his memory if he had good meals for a few days and filled his stomach.
After eating, Xiao Jingcheng seemed even more excited than when he'd first woken up. He clung to Ye Wanmian all the time. Even when Ye Wanmian picked up the bowls and chopsticks and went to the well to wash them, he followed her every step of the way, tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
Behind a half - closed window, a pair of eyes blinked, taking in the figures of the two almost glued together in the yard.
Qi Wen lowered his head and scribbled something on the paper quickly, a mysterious smile on his face.
Hehe, it's all material, all great material!
Ye Wanmian never expected Xiao Jingcheng to be so clingy!
Wherever she went, he followed. The most absurd thing was that when Dahuang saw this, it seemed not to be outdone and vied with him to get close to her.
When she almost bumped into the man's chest again when turning around and accidentally stepped on Dahuang's paw, she got angry.
"Can you please stay away from me!" Ye Wanmian said angrily to the man who was following her like a tail.
Then she lowered her head and roared at Dahuang, who was hiding to the side in pain, lifting its right front paw, "And you, Dahuang. What are you doing here? Can't you see I'm busy!"
Both Xiao Jingcheng and Dahuang hung their heads and said nothing. In fact, they were trying to provoke each other with their eyes. But the next moment, seeing Ye Wanmian take a step forward, the man and the dog quickly chased after her and surrounded her like left and right guardians.
Ye Wanmian tried to shoo them away several times but failed. In the end, she just let them be.
Smoke curled up from the stove. Ye Wanmian was adding firewood to the stove, and a large pot was on it, boiling water.
Xiao Jingcheng was still hungry. Thinking she was going to cook, he sat behind her eagerly, his eyes fixed on her movements, and he licked his lips from time to time.
"Mujin."
A soft call came from behind. Ye Wanmian turned around and saw Li Zhao limping towards her.
"Uncle Li," Ye Wanmian stood up and greeted him. "The water will be boiling soon."
Li Zhao nodded and then looked at Xiao Jingcheng, who was standing closely beside Ye Wanmian.
The man's hair hadn't been groomed for a long time and hung loosely behind him. He was wearing someone else's clothes, which didn't fit well and were a bit too tight. However, they accentuated his figure.
A dragon that had fallen to the mortal world was still a dragon, even if it had broken its horn and rubbed off some of its scales.
This man was a hot potato and a trouble that could bring her mortal danger.
She didn't know where she got the courage to keep such trouble by her side.
Xiao Jingcheng was innocent. He just didn't like the way Li Zhao was looking at him with lowered eyes. So he instinctively bared his teeth and growled at Li Zhao.
Then, he got a rap on the head: "Don't be rude!"
He looked up aggrievedly. Ye Wanmian glared at him: "This is Uncle Li. He's someone who can help you."
Xiao Jingcheng lowered his head and no longer showed a defensive look towards Li Zhao. But after Ye Wanmian turned around, he quickly bared his teeth at Li Zhao again.
Li Zhao saw it but didn't care.
The water in the pot boiled. Ye Wanmian winked at Li Zhao: "I'll leave this to you, Uncle Li. I'll go back to my room first."
Li Zhao nodded: "Go ahead."
Ye Wanmian was about to leave. Seeing this, Xiao Jingcheng quickly got up to follow. But the next moment, a figure blocked his way. Li Zhao looked down at him and said indifferently, "Where are you going?"
Xiao Jingcheng was anxious and didn't bother to answer. He just tried to bypass Li Zhao to chase Ye Wanmian, but his shoulder was immediately held down. A strong force came from the other person, holding him in place.
Xiao Jingcheng was startled and looked up at Li Zhao. Li Zhao said, "She's left you in my care. Now, you should listen to me."
Xiao Jingcheng frowned and raised his hand to push Li Zhao away, trying to break free. But how could Li Zhao let him succeed? He increased the strength in his hand, and in return, Xiao Jingcheng struggled even more fiercely.
Ye Wanmian ignored the commotion behind her. She went straight into her room, closed the door, and even latched it.
Imagining the scene of Xiao Jingcheng being held down by Li Zhao and pushed into the water, she covered her lips and giggled.