Amid the pitter-patter of rain.
Xiao Jinghong explained calmly.
"I only brought you back along the way."
"I'll make a trip to the Ministry of Works Yamen later, then I'll have to hurry back."
Pei Guanli gave an "oh," suspecting nothing.
Then she saw the hotpot on the table. Without much ceremony, she sat down beside it. "Can I eat?"
Xiao Wan'er smiled. "Of course."
As she instructed Cui'er to fetch two sets of bowls and chopsticks, she stepped forward and pulled Xiao Jinghong into a seat.
"Second Sister came back through the rain. There's no rush to leave. Eat something first and warm yourself up. This hotpot was specially prepared by brother-in-law."
Xiao Jinghong did not decline. Her eyes fixed on the hotpot, and she had no intention of looking away.
Clearly, Pei Guanli's earlier words had left her somewhat uncomfortable.
Especially after she saw the faintly teasing smile on Chen Yi's face, the tiny ripple in her heart began to spread.
It seemed bringing Pei Guanli back had been a somewhat rash decision.
Chen Yi sat down as well, his smile unchanged. "Give it a try. It tastes pretty good."
As he spoke, he took his own chopsticks, rinsed them in the bowl of water, and picked up some food for Xiao Jinghong.
Xiao Jinghong accepted it without the slightest hesitation, eating with his bowl and chopsticks.
After rushing about all night without a drop of water or a bite of food, she truly was hungry.
Xiao Wan'er watched it all, and a trace of complexity flashed across her pale, delicate face.
After a brief silence.
She then began speaking, as if nothing had happened, about all that had taken place these past days.
She recounted everything, large and small, one by one.
"I had originally planned to