Chapter 157

Is it not a mental problem? Could it be that Xia Yan's loss of appetite is an excuse due to the aftereffects of overwork last time? No way... Hua Xin remembered Xia Fen saying during a casual chat at work that Xia Yan's appetite had recently increased dramatically since her recovery. She could eat four bowls of rice in one meal, plus two packets of instant noodles and eggs, comparable to someone on steroids and Nine Dragon Potion, a fitness superhuman consuming 10,000 calories a day??? But why didn't she find it appetizing when she looked at the beaker at home? She was still hungry! If this were true, it would save so much money... Although she knew she looked like a perfect, invincible beauty, there couldn't possibly be some kind of Magic Power that made Xia Yan so obsessed, could there?! Could it be that Xia Yan was missing her too much, which was why she had no appetite? Wait, uh... eat? Hua Xin glanced guiltily at the table. She saw two steamers of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), a small dish of pickled vegetables, and a red bean bun, all of which had been devoured by her, leaving only some Tofu Pudding for Xia Yan to enjoy. It seems Xia Yan didn't lack appetite; he simply ate all the food himself?... So, didn't she say she'd treat Xia Yan to a meal? How did it turn into a feast for one?! "I'm not very hungry, half a bowl of Tofu Pudding is enough." "I think this restaurant is quite delicious." Xia Yan smiled gently, subconsciously and politely wiping the stains on the table with a tissue. When he arrived, he saw that the girl seemed to have arrived early and was waiting for him. So, he could deduce that the girl's home was probably not far from here. But if that's the case... why, even though they're in this area, have they never met? Logically speaking, a beautiful girl like Gu Xin Hua should have already become a topic of gossip among the vendors, or they might have bumped into her while shopping. Could it be that they've coincidentally avoided each other every time over the years? Xia Yan couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Your Name? The probability of that happening is probably lower than the probability of suddenly turning into a beautiful girl after sleeping. "Do you come here often?" The girl's calm tone masked her inner embarrassment. Well, it seemed she'd accidentally eaten too fast and finished all the steamed buns, leaving Xia Yan with nothing to eat. Hua Xin silently covered her face. "Yeah, my grandpa brought me here a few times when I was little." "Back then, I was always unloved and uncared for, so a good meal could last a lifetime." "Like Jerry always longing for cheese, Garfield loving lasagna." Xia Yan said humorously, momentarily stunning the girl. He brandished his ladle. "So my first impression of this place is a bowl of Tofu Pudding." Xia Yan had previously mentioned his childhood, and from Xia Fen's account of his past on the subway, she already knew most of Xia Yan's background. From the moment Xia Fen confessed with guilt, "My mother was the mistress," for Hua Xin, Xia Yan was no longer someone from an unreachable world. She, who could only live alone in Little Black; him, warm and loved by everyone. Two people from two different worlds, who would never have crossed paths, found a special resonance because of this incident. For Hua Xin, Xia Yan was no longer someone with an insurmountable barrier between them. He was a companion who had experienced things others hadn't. Otherwise, the girl wouldn't have mustered the courage to question him on the night Xia Yan collapsed, asking why he suppressed his personality, why he cared so much about others' feelings, and why he pushed himself so hard. This was something she had witnessed while always by Xia Yan's side. It was also the source of her "anger" after being gradually helped out of her gloom by Xia Yan's care and concern. It was because Xia Yan had selflessly helped her, giving her someone she had never known before. Otherwise, how could she possibly be angry with someone? "Is Grandpa alright now?" Hua Xin's heart sank as she thought of these things, and she spoke softly to Xia Yan. The surrounding breakfast shop was noisy with constant conversations and the clatter of bowls and chopsticks, but to Xia Yan and Hua Xin, it was as if they were in another realm within the environment. In this realm, there was only her and him. "That's great... If I could bring home a girlfriend, he'd probably be even happier." Xia Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, his smile widening as he looked at the girl in front of him with gentleness. He hadn't told his grandfather about Hua Xin yet. After all, that incident happened the day they met in person. And the girl's attitude had suddenly changed for some reason, completely different from how it was online. Xia Yan wasn't sure if he had done something wrong, nor did he know how the girl's opinion of him had changed. Saying things like "Online doesn't represent reality" probably meant she no longer had any feelings for him. A hint of disappointment flashed in Xia Yan's eyes, but it quickly disappeared. What was the use of being disappointed now? Today was his last effort. If he kept pestering her, it probably wouldn't end well. "..." Hua Xin guiltily shifted her gaze to the side. Well, even if she was slow to understand, she could tell that Xia Yan meant he wanted to bring her home as his girlfriend. "I'll pay." The girl hesitated for a moment, not responding to Xia Yan's very straightforward hint, but instead changing the subject. She couldn't answer. She couldn't answer!!! Today was to sever ties, not to be all lovey-dovey with Xia Yan! The story of Gu Xin Hua should come to an end; the rest of the story should return to Hua Xin. "I've already paid. If I pay again, I'll have to eat more." "Uh..." Hua Xin, who was half-standing up, suddenly froze, her mind filled with questions. "?" "Didn't I say I was going to treat you this time?!" "Why are you secretly paying??" Hua Xin sat back down, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, questioning Xia Yan. It wasn't because she had devoured the entire meal and felt ashamed to let Xia Yan pay. It was because paying was also for herself. Xia Yan hadn't eaten much at all (toes digging into the ground)!! "I paid for it when I went to buy water." "After all, you seemed to be enjoying your food." Xia Yan said honestly and earnestly. How could a man let a girl pay? Then, he hesitated slightly, met the girl's sparkling eyes, and said softly, "Treat me next time." "Is that okay?" "Miss Gu Xin Hua." 124. The whole world only has you. 3k "Where are we going?" "You're not taking me to some weird place, are you?" Hua Xin took a step back in fear, hugging herself cautiously, looking at Xia Yan as if she were a perverted stalker following a beautiful girl alone at night. "To see a movie." Xia Yan put his hands in his pockets and blinked innocently. "Do we have to go that far to see a movie?"