To Explode in Silence or Perish in Silence

When Xiao E saw Mu Zibai holding Wenren Lingmeng's hand again, she couldn't help rubbing her brow. Her eyebrows were drawn tight as she looked at Mu Zibai strangely.

Mu Zibai felt helpless too. What else could he do? Was he supposed to touch Wenren Lingmeng once every thirty seconds?

Wouldn't that look even weirder?

Why did it stop?

Wenren Lingmeng felt her body return to normal, and she truly didn't want it to end. She hadn't enjoyed it enough yet—why had it stopped already?!

Reluctantly, she silently looked forward to the next massage.

[Clang! Points +21]

Mu Zibai: "!!!"

The points had actually increased by one. Mu Zibai stroked his chin and thought it over, quickly figuring it out.

This system was similar to Heartsteel. Perhaps because Mu Zibai had touched Wenren Lingmeng for too long, the points he gained had increased.

But whether the extra points came from the number of touches, the duration, or some other factor, Mu Zibai hadn't figured it out yet.

This system still needed further exploration.

Mu Zibai kept leafing through Shen Nong's Herbal Compendium in his mind. The compendium contained a wealth of knowledge on medicinal herbs, and there was still much to learn. It wasn't something he could comprehend overnight.

Fortunately, it had an index. Mu Zibai could find whatever he wanted at any time. Otherwise, finding a single herb might take days and nights of searching.

Xiao E sat to one side with her eyes closed, apparently resting with her eyes shut. It was one of her cultivation methods.

Before long, noon arrived. Xiao E went out to have the maidservants prepare the meal. Wenren Manor was vast and different from ordinary households; everyone ate separately, and maidservants had to fetch the food from the kitchen.

Not long after, Xiao E returned. When she opened the food box, it was porridge again.

Well, given Wenren Lingmeng's condition, she could basically only drink porridge. She couldn't eat anything else, and Xiao E's method only worked on porridge.

But there was a problem. Mu Zibai looked at the plain white porridge in his hands. Why did he have to eat plain porridge too?

Xiao E said apologetically, "I'm truly sorry, Young Master. I went too late and forgot to tell the kitchen, so they only made plain porridge for us."

"You usually only eat plain porridge too?" Mu Zibai asked speechlessly.

"I'd be fine even if I didn't eat for several days," Xiao E said with a smile.

Mu Zibai rolled his eyes at her. You might be fine, but I have a huge problem with it. This plain porridge was bland and tasteless, and if someone ate it for too long, they wouldn't get enough nutrition!

"Have you never thought of making pumpkin porridge or mung bean porridge? Why does it have to be plain porridge?" Mu Zibai asked in confusion.

Not only did it taste bad, it had no nutrition. How could they keep feeding a patient plain porridge?

Especially a vegetative patient—they needed their nutrition to keep up, or their body would become extremely weak.

"Given Miss's condition, she can only drink porridge. I never thought that far."

Only after Mu Zibai pointed it out did Xiao E realize it. Yes, ever since Miss fell unconscious, she had always eaten plain porridge.

The Imperial Physician had only said that, in Miss's condition, she couldn't eat things recklessly.

So they had prepared plain porridge. On top of that, Wenren Lingmeng was in a vegetative state, so no one had thought much about it. In the heat of the moment, they had forgotten—how could someone live on plain porridge alone?

As if a knot had suddenly come undone in her mind, Xiao E was filled with regret and blamed herself for not taking proper care of Miss.

The moment Mu Zibai saw Xiao E like this, he understood. Those involved couldn't see as clearly as onlookers, and concern led to confusion. Besides, who would think so much about a vegetative patient?

Wenren Lingmeng had eaten plain porridge for so long and was still alive—it was practically a miracle. And her pulse was so normal that Mu Zibai found it somewhat puzzling.

Logically speaking, after eating plain porridge for so long, Wenren Lingmeng's body should have been extremely weak. Could it be because someone in a vegetative state consumed less energy?

That was probably the reason.

"Ling Meng needs nutrition most right now. Without strength, how can she recover properly? Change it to pumpkin porridge tonight. And add another dish for me."

"Yes, Young Master. Then I'll have to wrong you with plain porridge for lunch today," Xiao E said apologetically, her impression of Mu Zibai improving considerably.

Such a simple gesture showed how much Mu Zibai cared about Miss. No matter what kind of person Mu Zibai was, as long as he cared about Miss, that was enough.

Finally... finally, I can have a different flavor.

Hearing the conversation outside, Wenren Lingmeng was overjoyed. A weight lifted from her heart, and she nearly cried.

It's been half a year. Do you know how I've survived these past six months?!

Every day, it was either plain porridge or plain porridge. Wenren Lingmeng had drunk so much that she was practically forgetting what savory food tasted like.

For Wenren Lingmeng, who was used to eating delicacies, it was nothing short of torture.

Countless times, she had screamed in her heart, Can't you change it to something else? Even two slices of cucumber would be fine! At least it wouldn't be this bland.

Unfortunately, no one could hear her inner cries, and no one had raised the issue. Today, someone had finally brought it up, and she was overwhelmed with gratitude.

As long as she endured this afternoon, she could eat delicious food. The thought nearly made her drool.

Having tasted all sorts of delicacies and never lacking food, this was the first time she had felt such longing for a meal.

Just then, she heard the sound of a door opening.

Xiao E had just returned the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen when she said,

"I just asked the kitchen, and it seems there aren't any ingredients left for porridge. The vegetable delivery won't come until tomorrow. One day shouldn't matter, right?" Xiao E said.

Wenren Lingmeng: "Ah!!!"

No! It mattered very much! Lives were at stake! You don't need any ingredients—just throw in a couple pinches of seasoning!

Wenren Lingmeng screamed herself hoarse, but they couldn't hear her. She could only pray silently, hating the manor's head chef to the bone. Couldn't he just make do with something? No matter how bad it was, Wenren Lingmeng wouldn't mind. She just wanted something different.

The manor's head chef was naturally highly skilled. If he cooked, he would certainly do it properly. He wouldn't just slap something together, nor would he dare to.

Mu Zibai thought for a moment, then said with a smile, "It's fine. Just add two small dishes for me. Besides, I tasted your manor's cooking at yesterday's banquet, and it was truly impeccable."

Wenren Lingmeng: "..."

To explode in silence or perish in silence.

Mu Zibai thought that Wenren Lingmeng had already drunk porridge for so long, so one more night wouldn't make a difference. Besides, in her condition, she probably wouldn't mind, right?

Xiao E didn't take it seriously either and said with a smile, "Of course. There are still many things Young Master surely hasn't tried. Our head chef has plenty of signature dishes."

"Oh? What do you recommend? Which ones can I try?" Mu Zibai asked curiously.

In the manor, some dishes weren't available whenever one pleased. The head chef would only bring them out to entertain distinguished guests or when the masters wished to taste them.

Xiao E thought for a moment and said, "Other than what you saw at yesterday's banquet, why not let Young Master try Steamed Crab Roe Lion's Head and Vinegar Fish tonight? Those are also two dishes Miss likes rather well."

Mu Zibai looked forward to dinner tonight. After two meals of plain porridge, everything had been far too bland. He nodded and said,

"Alright. What other dishes are there?"