“Are you really okay?” Xiao Bai looked at her carefully. “You never eat spicy food normally. What’s going on today?”
Lin Xiaoman thought that before finishing the ramen, she first needed to silence Xiao Bai, as he was about to ruin her entire plan.
“So… it’s fine,” Xiao Bai, sensing her gaze, said with strong survival instinct, “Want some more chili?”
“Waiter, bring two bottles of milk,” Huo Qizhi ordered.
“I don’t need it,” Lin Xiaoman reflexively refused. But she immediately regretted it.
If even Xiao Bai could tell she couldn’t eat spicy food, how could Huo Qizhi not notice?
Huo Qizhi had never liked strong-willed women; he liked her because their beginning was beautiful. But as time passed, their incompatibilities gradually emerged.
She was too assertive, but Huo Qizhi also had his own thoughts.
Raised and pampered since childhood, she rarely listened to others’ perspectives.
So they would sometimes argue and give each other the silent treatment.
She remembered that after every argument, Huo Qizhi would apologize while saying, “If only you could be less assertive.”
He liked gentle women, like Xie Xueer, not her.
So now, acting this way would only backfire and make him despise her.
She helplessly ate another bite of spicy food, tears uncontrollably flowing again.
“Here.” Huo Qizhi handed her another tissue, explaining, “I wanted milk.”
He could see at a glance that the girl in front of him was forcing herself, which should have made him feel disgusted, but seeing her reddened eyes reminded him of Tang Fei’s first time eating ramen with him – spicy and stubbornly silent – his heart softened.
“Shall we eat something else?” Huo Qizhi’s tone was gentle, and in the dim yellow light, his eyes looked even more deep and warm.
Lin Xiaoman realized that in front of strangers, he was always gentle.
“Okay,” she laughed, presenting the innocent demeanor she thought Huo Qizhi would like.
When she returned to the hotel, Lin Xiaoman opened Weibo and found that someone had posted photos of them eating together. Several shots showed Huo Qizhi handing her tissues and milk, one with him looking tenderly gentle, the other with her bright, romantic smile. Their CP fans were as excited as during the New Year:
— Oh my god, I’m shipping them for real!
— They’re so sweet, I’m declaring they’re together!
