When they arrived at the restaurant, she followed Ji Zhixian, pretending to be there for the first time.
Ji Zhixian ordered several dishes that Tang Feifei liked, filling the table with exactly the same dishes Lin Xiaoman had ordered before.
“They all look quite good,” Lin Xiaoman said, feigning restraint.
“This lobster sashimi is the restaurant’s specialty. Try it,” Ji Zhixian handed her wasabi vinegar, “It’s best with wasabi and vinegar.”
Lin Xiaoman was a wasabi and soy sauce enthusiast. Thinking carefully, it seemed Ji Zhixian refused to eat soy sauce.
Now, seeing Ji Zhixian prepare the dipping sauce, she suddenly wanted to try it.
Ji Zhixian watched her dip the sashimi in vinegar without changing her expression and even praised it as “delicious,” making him doubt his previous suspicions.
“Cheese-baked lobster really is the best,” Lin Xiaoman took another piece, her eyes slightly narrowed, looking like a contented cat in the sunlight, “Life is satisfying.”
“Life is satisfying—”
This was Tang Feifei’s favorite phrase when eating delicious food. Ji Zhixian’s heart stirred, his cold eyes brightening, his voice slightly trembling: “If you like it, you can eat more.”
Lin Xiaoman usually watched her food intake for weight loss, but when she encountered something she liked, she wouldn’t care too much. Without Ji Zhixian’s reminder, she would eat more anyway.
She ate quite a lot, only later realizing Ji Zhixian had been staring at her with an unusually intense gaze, making her uncomfortable.
“Why aren’t you eating? Didn’t you say you liked it?” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me it’s because I’m so beautiful that I’m appetizing.”
She deliberately teased, wanting to provoke Ji Zhixian’s anger. But he just smiled slightly, which made her even more uncomfortable.
“Are you… okay?”
Ji Zhixian looked at her deeply and slowly said, “I remember you didn’t used to like seafood.”
Lin Xiaoman was stunned, her hand holding the shrimp meat suspended in mid-air.
“Your cousin used to like it quite a bit,” Ji Zhixian’s gaze fell on her slightly shocked face, the corner of his mouth unconsciously lifting, “Do you have anything you want to tell me?”
“I need to go to the hospital,” she said.
★ Chapter Fifty-Two: Old Acquaintance
Ji Zhixian watched the girl quickly put on sunglasses and a scarf, then walk to his side. Just as he was about to speak, she gently pulled him down.
Her warm, light breath was near his ear: “I’m having an allergic reaction. I can’t let anyone see. We need to go quickly.”
Ji Zhixian looked down, meeting her eyes that were trying to stay calm but were slightly panicked. Without time to think further, he embraced her in his arms, his voice low: “Don’t worry, no one will see.”
He took Lin Xiaoman to the nearest hospital, quickly registered and saw a doctor. Fortunately, Lin Xiaoman discovered it in time, so the situation wasn’t too serious, but she still needed to be hospitalized for observation for a few days.
Lying in the single room, Lin Xiaoman sorted out what had just happened.
Thinking carefully, she inherited this allergy from her mother.
So the original owner’s lobster allergy was likely inherited from her grandmother.
Because of her lobster allergy, she could escape Ji Zhixian’s questioning.
Unexpectedly, Ji Zhixian could actually guess this absurd truth. It was because he knew her too well that he could see through her.
But now wasn’t the time to tell him the truth. Of course, she could tell Ji Zhixian the truth and seek revenge on that couple with his help.
But how could she trust that Ji Zhixian wouldn’t betray her?
Huo Qizhi had also sworn his love and been completely devoted to her. Even when betrayed, she believed there was a time when he truly loved her. And that love was no more fragile than Ji Zhixian’s current love for her.
But time changes everything and can make love disappear.
She didn’t dare to gamble.
So she couldn’t let Ji Zhixian know her true identity.
There was a knock at the door, and Ji Zhixian entered, placing a food box on the table. He carefully opened it, placed the spoon, and then handed it to her: “Eat.”
It was her favorite pumpkin golden thread porridge.
Lin Xiaoman didn’t take it, revealing a picky expression: “I don’t like pumpkin porridge.”
“Then what do you want to eat?”
Lin Xiaoman was worried he was trying to trap her into saying something, so she simply said nothing: “I’m not hungry right now, I won’t eat.”
“How about sweet potato porridge?” Ji Zhixian took out another bowl from the container.
Lin Xiaoman didn’t like it, but she didn’t know the original owner’s food preferences and thought this was another test from Ji Zhixian. She just repeated her previous words: “I don’t want to eat anything.”
Ji Zhixian knew she hadn’t eaten all day but wasn’t sure about her taste, so he bought both types of porridge. Unexpectedly, she seemed to be on guard and refused to eat anything. So he brought up the previous topic: “I heard you don’t like seafood.”
Just as expected.
Lin Xiaoman looked up at him, her mouth curving with a slight smile: “As your lover, of course I’ll eat whatever you want me to eat.”
“You should have directly told me that you can’t eat seafood. Why did you never mention it?” Ji Zhixian stared at her intently, trying to read any other emotions on her face.
Lin Xiaoman’s gaze was calm as water, her smile impeccable: “You forgot that you made me do this.”
“I never told you not to mention your own things.”
“But by making me play your cousin, aren’t you making me hide myself?” Lin Xiaoman said slowly, “And since my cousin loves seafood the most, as a professional lover, even if I’m allergic, I should eat happily to satisfy you. After all, this is specially prepared by you, isn’t it?”
She blinked lightly, her eyelashes fluttering slowly.
Her cunning and beautiful appearance suddenly became vivid and familiar.
Exactly like Tang Feifei after winning an argument with him, proud and spirited.
Ji Zhixian’s heart trembled as if struck, but he quickly calmed down and said sternly: “Would you not care about your life for the sake of being professional? Or… do you not even know you’re allergic?”
This was his final interrogation. If Lin Xiaoman hesitated slightly or panicked and made excuses, it would prove she was Tang Feifei.
However, she laughed softly, her face showing no panic: “How could I not know?”
“Since you know, you should understand how dangerous this is,” Ji Zhixian continued to press.
“Actually, I always carry anti-allergy medication and remember to take it each time,” Lin Xiaoman explained, “I just forgot today because I was too happy. After all, this is the first time you’ve taken me out.”
Ji Zhixian continued to stare at her, trying to find any hint on her face, but her expression remained normal, not like she was lying.
Was he overthinking?
Ji Zhixian’s gaze dimmed, and he stood up, preparing to leave the hospital room.
Lin Xiaoman relaxed, her gaze sweeping over Ji Zhixian, noticing his slightly loosened tie, which was unlike his usual meticulous self.
She wanted to remind him and pointed at his tie, but he didn’t react.
So she knelt up on the hospital bed and grabbed his tie, gently pulling it forward to straighten it: “It wouldn’t look good if someone saw you like this.”
Ji Zhixian came back to his senses, looking down at the girl fixing his tie, her demeanor gentle and submissive.
A thought crossed his mind about the tie he gave himself, and his Adam’s apple bobbed: “Thanks for the tie.”
“That tie is most suitable to match your blue suit,” Lin Xiaoman finished adjusting his tie and lightly patted his chest, unexpectedly firm, “Don’t use that bright white one.”
Ji Zhixian’s chest trembled, staring directly at her.
