Chapter 53: Explanation

After an unknown length of time, Ling slowly opened her eyes in unconsciousness; the ceiling lamp emitted a blinding white light, making it hard for her to adjust.

Did I faint again?

Ling raised her arm and laid it across her forehead, blocking some of the light as she squinted into thought.

She remembered before losing consciousness... she had bravely given her first kiss; the shocked expression on Ye Qingfeng’s face would surely never be forgotten...

But if asked how she felt about that kiss, she could only say she had no answer.

She had merely brushed her lips lightly against the corner of Ye Qingfeng’s mouth—her mind had been utterly blank at the time!

She recalled how the female leads in those romance video tapes pressed their lips tightly against the male leads’, their tongues swirling inside their mouths...

Ugh... such things were still too intense for her...

Your servant cannot do this!

Ling sniffed gently with her nose and caught the scent drifting through the air; her empty stomach could not resist the temptation and let out a loud “gurgle-gurgle” protest.

To hell with it! Eating is what matters most!

Ling sat up abruptly, her full attention fixed on the several dishes on the coffee table; before Zhe could react, she snatched up the empty bowl in front of her and quickly filled it with chopsticks.

“Mmm! So delicious!”

Ling hugged the bowl and devoured it greedily.

Zhe had just opened his mouth to say something, but seeing Ling’s ravenous state, he remembered that he and his sister had only eaten breakfast, then had that accident at noon, and immediately followed it up by completing Nico’s request.

Even he was starving—how much more so was Ling? She’s still young; she needs to eat more to grow!

Thinking this, Zhe decisively closed his mouth.

“Qingfeng, come eat.”

Nico put down her chopsticks upon seeing Ling awake and waved toward Ye Qingfeng, who was standing in the corner as punishment.

Ye Qingfeng wanted to sulk and ignore Nico, but he remembered how long he’d spent cooking—he couldn’t go without tasting a single bite!

Of course, above all, one must never starve one’s stomach!

Without hesitation, Ye Qingfeng rushed over and sat beside Nico; seeing the dishes on the coffee table nearly emptied, he immediately grabbed chopsticks and began eating heartily.

He had originally bought ingredients for four portions, but Mao You had left without a word, reducing the number by one.

He had thought to invite Zhe and Ling over to strengthen their bond, only to end up with not enough food!

The first few to eat had all put down their chopsticks and silently waited for Ye Qingfeng and Ling to finish.

Under their wolfish eating, all the plates were soon cleared.

“Burp! Still feels a bit lacking...”

Ye Qingfeng let out a satisfied burp and wanted to slump onto the sofa to rest, but conditions didn’t allow it.

Nico had never planned to buy a dining table; before Ye Qingfeng arrived, no one cooked, so they all used the ordinary coffee table as their dining surface.

The three sofas became their dining chairs.

The only single sofa was occupied by Zhe, and Ling, still unconscious, had claimed the entire sofa for herself.

The remaining three—Anbi, Nico, and Billy—sat together on the last sofa.

Their builds were all slim, so it was fine—until Ye Qingfeng joined them, and it instantly became unbearably cramped.

“Too crowded!”

Nico pressed her hand against Ye Qingfeng’s face and ruthlessly shoved him away.

“Exactly, exactly,” Anbi nodded slightly in agreement, then tilted her head and said coolly, “So where’s the child, Qingfeng?”

Ling’s face instantly flushed red; she shyly lowered her head and tugged at the hem of her skirt.

Aaah! She had almost forgotten this—why did Anbi have to bring it up again?

What had once been such a beautiful, cherished memory now made her want to bury it forever.

Ah! I’m dead...

Anbi hadn’t spoken, and things were fine—but the moment she opened her mouth, everyone remembered the matter still needed explaining.

Instantly, every gaze in the room turned Moqi ly toward Ye Qingfeng; why not look at Ling? After all, she was a girl too, and her face was delicate.

Ye Qingfeng: ...

He had once thought Anbi was cute and clueless... but apparently, she was literally clueless.

I’m broken! Truly broken!

Ye Qingfeng reluctantly recounted the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.

“So...” Nico gave Ling a strange look, “Qingfeng, you just wanted to remind her about the oil on her lips, but due to a chain of misunderstandings, Ling kissed you?”

“Mm-hmm!”

Ye Qingfeng nodded vigorously, finally exhaling in relief—finally, it was explained.

“Sister, you... I... him?”

Zhe wore the same strange expression as Nico, staring at her, words caught in his throat.

Ling lifted her flushed face and pitifully covered it with her hands. “Ugh... don’t say any more!”

Billy remained silent throughout, sitting perfectly still; but from his squinted eyes, his mood seemed delightfully pleased.

The misunderstanding was finally resolved; Ling immediately grabbed Zhe’s hand and headed for the door. Zhe, being pulled along, couldn’t help but wink back at Nico.

Zhe: Remember to get Qingfeng over!

Nico pouted slightly and nodded in assent.

She suddenly felt Qingfeng was kind of pitiful... wasn’t he?

Since the night she picked him up in the alley, he’d joined the Rabbit’s Den—nearly a month now.

Not only had she taken 300,000 Ding Ni from him, she’d never paid him a single wage since.

Since he arrived, he’d taken over all household chores and mastered such excellent cooking skills, handling most of the meals.

As a result, Nico had grown lazy lately—she barely washed a dish or took out the trash; everything else was his.

Now she couldn’t imagine how she’d survive without Qingfeng!

But she’d already promised Zhe and Ling—she couldn’t break her word...

Anyway, she, Anbi, and Billy could handle the Hollow mission alone; she’d let him do chores as usual, make breakfast in the morning, go to the video tape place, then return to cook dinner.

Perfect!

While Nico slumped on the sofa lost in daydreams, Ye Qingfeng had already dragged the dazed Anbi into the kitchen to wash dishes.

They couldn’t possibly make Billy—who hadn’t eaten anything—help!

After cleaning the coffee table, he rubbed his stomach and still felt hungry.

Nico, Anbi, and Zhe had already eaten nearly everything; Ling, who ate before him, hadn’t stopped eating once.

By the time it was his turn, there was hardly any food left.

Thinking of this, Ye Qingfeng decided to enjoy the last dish he hadn’t finished—just to soothe his tired, growling stomach.

As he entered the kitchen, he saw Anbi standing before the sink, silently washing the dishes.

Ye Qingfeng and Anbi quietly remained in the kitchen, each absorbed in their own tasks—the scene was unexpectedly warm!?