Chapter 021: What's Wrong with a Little Lolita Eating Soft Rice?
"Ahem! Well, the wind is quite boisterous today…"
Ye Zhen cleared her throat loudly twice, trying to interrupt the topic.
But she couldn't help wondering: Does Ye Fuli's arrangement count as keeping her?
Did that make her a freeloader?
Living off someone else was definitely more appealing than struggling on her own!
After all, she was just a scrawny little girl now, not some 6-foot-tall hulk. What was wrong with living off someone else?
That's how she thought about it…
But Ye Zhen knew Ye Fuli's temperament all too well.
What Ye Fuli wanted was a pet forced into obedience, not a slave stripped of dignity and soul.
Simply put, if she agreed too readily, Ye Fuli would lose interest in a heartbeat.
She had to find ways to prolong her interest.
Only then could she remain in a safe environment until she could extricate herself completely.
In the Mary Sue heroine's script, not offending Feng Aotian was merely a basic condition for survival. To live comfortably, she had to keep Feng Aotian's interest piqued and find a place in her heart.
If she could transform Feng Aotian's hatred into love, that would be even better…
But such fantasies were only safe in Ye Zhen's dreams.
In reality, she dared not even mention it!
She was timid, afraid of pain, and afraid of death.
Ye Fuli's gaze bore into her, waiting for her response.
After a painful internal struggle, Ye Zhen offered weakly, "I'm not exactly likable. I think… I'd have a hard time pleasing you forever, so I wouldn't dare expect you to support me indefinitely."
"Hmph."
Receiving her answer, Ye Fuli gave a cold snort and quickly averted her gaze.
"At least you have some self-awareness."
Standing before her, Ye Zhen was, after all, a wealthy heiress—even if her bloodline was fake, the upbringing she received from that elite family was real. Naturally, she possessed the pride and dignity of a young lady of means.
All this time, Ye Zhen had gone to such lengths to curry her favor, carefully maintaining their relationship… It seemed she hadn't truly submitted to her after all.
Reaching this conclusion, Ye Fuli felt a complex mix of emotions.
She couldn't tell if she felt pleased or displeased.
Her cautious reincarnated instincts even sensed from Ye Zhen's response that the other might suddenly take off at any moment.
If Ye Zhen dared to run away…
Hmph, don't let her catch you.
…
…
During the rest of the shopping trip, Ye Fuli didn't speak another word to Ye Zhen.
Once they'd bought most of the groceries, Ye Fuli decided to take her home.
There was no way Ye Zhen was cooking tonight—the kid couldn’t do a thing in the kitchen except set it on fire. But she could handle washing the vegetables and rinsing the rice.
Ye Zhen was obedient, never refusing any arrangement.
Watching her crouch in the corner, carefully scraping potato skins, Ye Fuli felt an inexplicable emotion well up inside her.
She really was so tiny.
A creature like this could be reduced to tears with a single punch. How had she dared to bully her so cruelly in her previous life?
Then again, keeping such a tiny thing as a permanent little pet might not be so bad after all.
Having lived another lifetime, there's little left in life that brings me joy.
Finding joy in this is perfectly fine.
"Alright! The potatoes are done. What else needs doing?"
Before Ye Zhen could turn around to seek praise, Ye Fuli decisively averted her gaze, feigning calmness as she said, "You can go do your homework now."
Ye Zhen gave a noncommittal "Oh," wiped her hands, and walked out of the kitchen.
Through the rickety wooden door, Ye Fuli asked, "What did you tell your parents about coming over here tonight?"
Ye Zhen turned back at the door, flashing her habitual sweet smile.
"They're out of town for a conference today. Only the two maids are home. I've already taken care of things."
Hearing this, Ye Fuli felt somewhat relieved.
A few simple home-cooked dishes were quickly prepared.
Glancing at the spicy crayfish on the table, Ye Zhen timidly suggested, "Wouldn't this taste better with some beer?"
Ye Fuli: "You're such a fussbudget."
"Then… Sprite, Coke… something like that? Would that work?"
Ye Fuli tugged at the corner of her mouth but said nothing more.
With no objection, Ye Zhen cheerfully pushed open the door and headed downstairs.
Downstairs was a small convenience store, currently filled with the smoke and noise of mahjong players. Ye Zhen bought a large haul of drinks, carrying them in a red plastic bag back to Ye Fuli's home.
"Look! This soda in glass bottles is super famous! And this yogurt—I've never seen it before…"
She pulled out the colorful drinks like they were treasures, laying them out one by one on the table.
"There's bound to be one you'll like!"
Watching this scene, Ye Fuli felt strangely as if she were taking care of her own daughter.
She picked up a bottle of room-temperature cola, popped the tab with a satisfying "pop," and opened it.
It had been ages since she'd indulged in such an unhealthy treat.
Bubbles burst one by one on her tongue, the sweetness spreading from her mouth to her heart. She swallowed it down with difficulty.
Ye Zhen picked up a lobster, twisted off its head in one swift motion, and stuffed the shell—meat and all—into her mouth, chewing away.
Before long, she'd stripped the shell clean and spat it onto the plate.
Ye Fuli leaned closer, watching her with a half-smile.
Suddenly, she wanted to see how Ye Zhen would react if she just stared at her without saying a word.
Ye Zhen: o((⊙﹏⊙))o……
What should she do? Quickly make an offering to Feng Aotian!
So, Ye Zhen swiftly peeled a shrimp, flattered her with a smile, and held it to Ye Fuli's lips.
"Care for some?"
Ye Fuli gently lifted the long hair by her ear, leaned in, parted her red lips, and took the shrimp between her teeth.
But she didn't eat it. Instead, she continued to stare at her with that ambiguous, half-smiling expression.
As if hinting at the next move.
Ye Zhen: (*⊙_⊙)……
She began to feel uneasy.
What on earth did this mean? Could it be that Feng Aotian didn't eat the tail end of the shrimp, only the part connecting the head and body, waiting for her to finish the tail?
It had to be said, someone who'd spent ten years confined to a hospital bed had a rather peculiar way of thinking.
Ye Zhen pondered for a moment, then decisively leaned in and bit down on the shrimp tail.
But at this distance…
her action would inevitably lead to something.
Ye Fuli froze for a second.
She wasn't sure if she'd been waiting for this moment, but she knew… her first kiss in this lifetime was gone.
It was merely a fleeting touch, yet Ye Fuli flushed instantly.
Ye Zhen's slow-moving thoughts hadn't yet caught up to what Ye Fuli was thinking. She remained bowed over, peeling another shrimp.
Silence took root between them, spreading like wildfire.
Ye Fuli suddenly slammed her hand on the table and stood up, startling Ye Zhen so much that the shrimp she was holding dropped to the floor.
She looked up at Ye Fuli nervously: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
The moment she stood up, Ye Fuli's rationality regained control.
She thought to herself that she was overreacting. They were all girls; no matter how close they got, it wouldn't mean anything special.
She sat back down, picked up her Coke, and downed it in one gulp.
Completely calm!
"So, do you want more shrimp?"
The second shrimp tail was offered to her again.
Ye Zhen still wore that innocent, dazed expression, but Ye Fuli felt a flicker of unease. She couldn't help but suspect the person before her was playing dumb to catch the unwary.
"Why are you so flushed? You're not running a fever again, are you?"
Ye Zhen offered genuine concern, reaching out to touch her forehead—only to be swiftly dodged.
This meal was definitely impossible to continue calmly!
Ye Fuli swiftly gathered her bowl and chopsticks and retreated into the kitchen.
Left alone at the table, Ye Zhen finally realized what had just happened between her and Ye Fuli a minute ago—a tiny spark had ignited between them.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard.
In disbelief, she reached up and touched her own upper lip…