Breakfast was deep-fried dough sticks, red bean buns, chive and egg pan-fried buns, and glutinous rice and date porridge. Except for the porridge, which Luo Feng stirred for a while, everything else was made by Wen Xin's own hands.
The deep-fried dough sticks were fluffy and tasty, the red bean buns sweet but not greasy, the skin of the pan-fried buns was thin with a crispy golden bottom, and the date porridge soft and sweetly delicious. Tasting her mother's delicious cooking after so many years, Luo Ye couldn't help but tear up, and had to bury her head in her bowl of porridge to hide it.
Luo Zhenggang frowned and coughed, Wen Xin quickly pinched her daughter's shoulder: "Ye'er, lift your head and drink slowly with a spoon. You are a lady, how can you bury your head in the bowl like a child?"
"Okay!" Luo Ye's mood returned to normal, put down the bowl and smiled at Wen Xin: "Mom, your cooking skills are worth a five-star chef, non-exchangeable!"
Wen Xin happily touched her daughter's cheek: "Little Yezi has lost a bit of weight recently, you can eat a little more, but just a little, it's important for a girl to maintain a good figure to look pretty!"
This was what made Mrs. Ye different from other mothers; others would hope their children ate more, but Mrs. Ye has been controlling Luo Ye's diet since she was little, fearing her daughter would grow fat, how absurd!
"Mom, I will stick to exercising regularly, it should be fine to eat a bit more, I'll pay attention!" Luo Ye said as she served herself another bowl of porridge, only to have Wen Xin snatch it away and scoop out half of it: "This is enough, red dates have high sugar content, eating too much will make you gain weight!"
Luo Feng pitifully looked at his sister and continued to battle with the delicious food, feeling very fortunate that he was a boy and not restricted by their mom.
Luo Ye, stubbornly shaking her head, watched as her mom scooped out the watery half-left porridge: "Mom, I ran so long this morning, give me a little more!"
Wen Xin eyed her daughter's figure and hesitated: "Alright then!"
Watching her mother reluctantly add just a tiny bit more porridge with a small spoon, Luo Ye felt utterly defeated. She just couldn't understand why her mother was so obsessed with her figure. What's the difference between her and a plank now?
Seeing Luo Feng's head suspiciously shaking over his bowl, Luo Ye shouted into his ear: "Brother!"
"Cough...cough..." Rice stuck in his throat, Luo Feng coughed with a bright red face.
Luo Zhenggang slammed his bowl down: "Stop messing around!"
Scared, Luo Feng jolted and coughed out the rice—finally!
"What disgrace!" Luo Zhenggang glared at his son, resenting his lack of resolve: "Your sister is right, what could I possibly eat out of you?"
Luo Ye unexpectedly glanced at Luo Zhenggang, amazed he would say such a thing. If he was willing to listen, there was hope for the future. Thinking this, her resentment towards her father faded a bit.
"Dad, after school today, I want to go see Dad's office and work environment. Is that okay?" Luo Ye bravely made this rather impractical request, having no other options at the moment.
Wen Xin looked worriedly at Luo Zhenggang and secretly pinched Luo Ye: "Ye'er, what's there to see about Dad's office? Come shopping with your brother and me after school?"
Luo Ye stubbornly looked at Luo Zhenggang: "Dad..."
Luo Zhenggang waved his hand: "Go shopping with your mom, my office is no place for kids!"
Though she had anticipated this outcome, Luo Ye still felt disappointed. It seemed her words yesterday had little effect.
...
After class, Shangguan Yingnuo nudged Luo Ye who was daydreaming on her desk: "Luoluo, didn't you say you'd be brave yesterday? Why so wilted today?"
Luo Ye gave a weak smile: "I've already started working on being brave this morning by running for 45 minutes, so I'm now quite drained and need some rest!"
"Alright, rest up then. But honestly, I'm more familiar with this version of you. The way you were yesterday felt so strange, like you were a completely different person!"
Luo Ye smiled bitterly; her current state was partly due to the distress of not seeing someone she wanted to see, and also because her body was really too weak, feeling no strength at all.
Shangguan Yingnuo nudged Luo Ye: "Looking like this... next week is the midterm examination, you aren't planning to finish last, are you?"
Luo Ye rubbed her head anxiously; without clarity on the other person's situation, she couldn't calm down. She couldn't focus on her books; what should she do?
Luo Ye spent the day in a daze. She realized after truly confirming her rebirth and experiencing the long-absent familial affections, she couldn't stay composed. No way! She must find a way to meet that person.
And she felt she should surprise them to genuinely ascertain their situation. Otherwise, with their cunning, who knows? She might not see through their act.
"Cough!... Cough!..." During the third lesson in the afternoon, Luo Ye started coughing non-stop.
Shangguan Yingnuo looked worriedly at Luo Ye, who was red-faced and flushed: "Luoluo, what's wrong? How about we go to the infirmary now?"
Teacher Yang, who was lecturing, came over with concern: "Luo Ye, are you catching a cold?" Teacher Yang always had a good impression of Luo Ye as her Chinese was excellent.
"Teacher...cough...I feel a bit unwell...cough...I would like to ask for leave to rest at home, is that okay?" Luo Ye felt she could very well compete with Lin Daiyu right now.
"Sure, but can you make it home by yourself? Should I assign a classmate to escort you?"
Seeing Teacher Yang deliberating over the appropriate person to send, Luo Ye quickly waved her hands: "Teacher, no need...cough...I can manage by myself. Senior year is approaching, I can't delay everyone's study. I'll rest at home and study hard!"
Shangguan Yingnuo stood up: "Teacher Yang, let me send Luo Ye home. I'm worried about her in this state. It's also a good chance for me to recognize her house's door to find it easier later!"
"No need, no need, I'll be home as soon as I get in the car. It's too troublesome to go back and forth!" Luo Ye suddenly felt like she might have overplayed her weakness. Didn't she bring this upon herself?
Nu'an's first update delivered. Tonight there's another chapter with a 300 points PK boost update. For the early sleepers among you to see this, I'll upload this portion now. The remaining chapter can be read tomorrow morning. I seek your pink votes and PK tickets encouragement. For the 300 points, Nu'an will put in the effort!