Lu Li, “…”
She had the feeling that Fu Qingli was doing it on purpose!
Drooling, Lu Guoguo looked at Lu Li with sparkling and expectant eyes. She licked her lips, unable to wait to take a bite.
Lu Li frowned in a brief hesitation and decided against giving the latiao to Fu Qingli. Instead, she sent the food to her mouth for a taste.
With Lu Li hogging the latiao, Lu Guoguo grabbed Fu Qingli’s ear and fretted, “Mommy can’t take anything spicy! She’s allergic!”
Fu Qingli’s pupils dilated after listening to the little girl. He quickly seized the woman by the wrist before leaning forward to gnaw it away.
Lu Li’s lips had come in contact with the latiao, but she was stopped by the man before she could savor the taste.
It slipped her mind to move back when the man closed in on her. She watched as the handsome face enlarged in her vision and got a mouthful of the latiаo in her hand.
Because he was so quick and loomed up unexpectedly, his lips unintentionally brushed past her fingertips during the lean. Her heart skipped a beat as the man’s scorching breath, inconsistent with his detached demeanor, tickled between her fingers. She was caught in a daze.
Fu Qingli was so close when he took a bite that he had a good view of chili stains on the woman’s lips. For once, his different and emotionless eyes painted a tinge of fluster.
Lu Li’s heart was beating fast as she retrieved her arm. Putting her game face on, she glanced at Lu Guoguo. “You can only have one bite.”
She then felt a glaze across her lips. The man placed a handkerchief over her mouth and said, “Give it a wipe.”
Clearing her throat, Lu Li took the handkerchief. “Thank you.”
She simply could not handle spiciness and was not at all allergic as mentioned by Lu Guoguo. It was true that she would have a stomachache every time she had something spicy though. His handkerchief seemed to carry his breezy scent that wormed its way to her heart. Yet somehow, it did not feel that chilly.
Smiling through her eyes, Lu Guoguo tilted her head as she urged, “Dad, give me. I want to eat. Guoguo can take the heat.”
“Hold on.” Fu Qingli did not feed Lu Guoguo the latiao he took a chunk of. It was not good to share food with children that adults took a bite
of.
Soon, the stall owner packed the sliced latiao in a box and added two cocktail forks to eat with.
Despite wiping her lips clean, Lu Li still got a tingling sensation as if they were swollen. She took the latiao from the stall owner and grabbed one for Lu Guoguo.
Like Lu Li, Lil’ Zhen could not handle spicy food.
For Guoguo, the spicier the better. Following the scene, Shen Xi and Song Wenye exchanged glances. Hmm, there was hope.
Song Wenye spoke in hushed tones, “Your big brother is getting the hang of it! Look, he got it right just now, right?”
Shen Xi nodded in agreement. She believed that was the case too. It was true that certain things came naturally.
“Should we leave and give them some space?” Song Wenye asked Shen Xi. “It’s tiring to carry a child.” Shen Xi glanced at the boy over Li Yuan’s shoulder. Although they did not get emotions out of him, the boy’s eyes appeared softer.
The little guy might not say anything, but he was a toddler after all. He yearned to be like other children. The little guy would not get any horsey rides if they were to leave.
“I think we can bring the children along,” Song Wenye suggested.
Shen Xi shook her head. “You had no idea that Ms. Lu has no interest in my big brother. If it weren’t for the children, she wouldn’t be alone with him.”
It was wishful thinking for them to have a date alone by the current state of their relationship.
Sure, Fu Qingli was getting it and trying to warm up to Ms. Lu. However, Ms. Lu did not take kindly to Fu Qingli.
“How about we take Lu Zhen with us and leave Guoguo with them to play culprit?” Song Wenye believed she could not come up with a better idea.
Leaving a witty and cute kid like Guoguo to stick around would make the perfect wing-girl.
“I’ll go and tell them.” Thinking it might work, Shen Xi nodded in agreement. She dragged Song Wenye to come with.
Lu Guoguo relished the latiao Fu Qingli bought for her. They then stopped by a spicy skewer stall next door to order some and were now waiting on their food.
Song Wenye drew near and gazed at Lu Zhen with a smile. “Lil’ Zhen, I see a shop there selling ice cream and bubble tea. Do you want to go with us to get some for your sister?”
Lu Zhen remained silent but turned to Lu Li to ask for her opinion.
Shen Xi jumped in and cheerfully inquired, “Can we, Ms. Lu? We’ll take good care of Lil’ Zhen.”
Lu Li could not say no. “Make it quick. We’ll wait for you right here.”
“Sure.” Shen Xi then pulled Li Yuan to come along.
Song Wenye and Yu Yuanxi excused themselves and went after Shen Xi. Having seen through her plans, Li Yuan looked at the girl next to him and dotingly smiled.
Shen Xi lifted her head with smugness and gave him a cheeky glance before turning to Lu Zhen. She asked, “Lil’ Zhen, what does your sister like?” Lu Zhen blurted, “She likes spicy food and drinks fruit juices like orange and mango.”
“Let’s get her orange juice and mango juice.” Shen Xi then inquired, “What do you like to drink?”
Lu Zhen gave it a thought before saying, “I’m good with anything.”
Shen Xi felt sorry for the little kid. “Do you like to eat ice cream?”
Lu Zhen bobbed his head.
Song Wenye crept up and hugged Shen Xi by the shoulder. Tilting her head at Lu Zhen, she curled her finger at him. “Lil’ Zhen, I want to eat the candy that you’re holding. Can you give me one?”
It was a wonder how the child grew up as he did not exhibit signs a child should have. He was heartbreakingly sensible for his age. Lu Zhen earnestly lowered his head to pick up one skittle from his box and handed it to Song Wenye.
Song Wenye opened her mouth. “Ah!”
Lu Zhen froze for a little but compliantly fed her the skittle.
Shen Xi also opened her mouth and pointed at the candy in his hands.
Lu Zhen patiently poured another one to feed Shen Xi.
Shen Xi smiled brightly. “Thank you, Lil’ Zhen.”
Lu Zhen bit his lip in embarrassment. His luscious lashes fluttered in his lowered gaze as he whispered, “You’re welcome.”
Shen Xi and Song Wenye exchanged looks and grinned.
The little man was not, in fact, detached. He just was not used to acting like a child in front of outsiders, especially Fu Qingli.