Rong Shaoze looked at the large bowl of soup in front of him, having had only a few sips, he didn’t want any more.
Lin Xinlan, however, finished her portion and then eyed Rong Shaoze’s leftovers with envy.
"Want more?" The man unhesitatingly pushed his portion towards her, which she drank up entirely.
Rong’s mother saw how much she liked it and was very pleased.
"Do you want more? I can get you some," she offered.
"Okay," Xinlan nodded with a shy smile.
"Your appetite seems quite good," Rong Shaoze said with a smile. However, noticing her thin figure, he added quickly, "Indeed, you should eat more and gain some weight to look better."
"Alright, when I turn into a big fatso, you better not regret it."
The man said indulgently, "If only you could eat your way to being a fatso, that would be great."
Lin Xinlan nodded earnestly, "Then I’ll try to eat more and strive to become a fatty."
Indeed, at lunch, she ate an extra bowl of rice. Her appetite was really good, and Rong Shaoze was very happy to see that.
Her good appetite was a sign of her being in a good mood and in good health.
What he wanted for her was to be worry-free, without any troubles.
Throughout the day, Lin Xinlan ate a lot, but by bedtime, she felt hungry again. She endured it, though, not going downstairs to look for food.
The lights turned off, Rong Shaoze lay on top of her, gently kissing her lips, his hands slowly moving over her body.
Lin Xinlan wrapped her arms around him, responding to his advances.
Unable to bear it, Lin Xinlan arched her body, but at a moment that should have been filled with passion, an inappropriate sound suddenly emerged.
"Gurgle—" It was her stomach growling.
All passion evaporated in an instant, and Lin Xinlan’s face turned crimson with embarrassment.
Raising his head, Rong Shaoze asked with a smile, "Hungry?"
"Mm, a little," she admitted.
"Gurgle—" No sooner had she finished speaking than her stomach growled again, louder than before, leaving her drowning in her shame.
It was mortifying, especially after she had eaten so much during the day and was now hungry again. She wondered if it was a sign of an over-efficient digestive system or simply a large appetite.
Rong Shaoze didn’t mock her. Instead, he got up to turn on the light and put on his pajamas, then indulgently smiled at her and said, "Wait for me, I’ll go make you something to eat."
"I can go myself," Lin Xinlan promptly got up to follow him.
"No need, I’ll be quick. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll bring it right up."
Lin Xinlan felt very embarrassed. It was so late at night, and she was troubling him to get her something to eat.
Yet she really enjoyed his indulgence and service.
"Just make whatever’s in the fridge. Mmm, if there’re wontons, boil more of them," she said.
After Rong Shaoze left the room, she sat up in bed.
Directly across from her was her dressing table. In the mirror, she could see herself at that moment.
She wasn’t sure if it was due to the lighting, but Lin Xinlan felt she looked somewhat haggard.
Startled, she immediately switched on all the lights, making the whole room as bright as day.
Taking the mirror, she examined her face closely. Aside from being a bit thinner and her complexion a tad duller than before, there were no other changes.
Yet for a woman, complexion is very important, especially for one who has passed the age of twenty-five—it’s crucial.
Just a slight dullness made her feel a bit older.
The more Lin Xinlan looked, the more uneasy she became. Was she really starting to age?
Rong Shaoze came in with a bowl and saw her staring blankly at the mirror in her hand. Approaching her, he asked with curiosity, "What’s wrong? What are you looking at?"