Mechanical Acting

Just as he reached his front door, Xu Feng looked with surprise at the graceful figure waiting there.

"Where did you two go?" Lu Fei asked, looking puzzled.

Her face, which had been cold, softened significantly, especially when she saw little Dan sleeping on Xu Feng's shoulder.

Xu Feng felt a wave of speechlessness.

You're acting just like my ex-wife; is all this really necessary?

"Setting up a stall, making money," Xu Feng replied indifferently before opening the door and heading inside.

Lu Fei followed him in without a hint of hesitation, noticing the various groceries, vegetables, and meat in his hands.

She looked quite surprised. "You're actually willing to spend money now? Haven't been to the foot massage parlor lately?"

Xu Feng: "."

Just how pathetic am I in people's eyes?

"I'm not going to foot massage parlors anymore. Talk is cheap, so I'll just change things slowly," Xu Feng said casually while tidying up the room, not caring about Lu Fei's gaze.

"The patrol team took care of that murderous mutant creature. The shanty town should be stable for a while, so you and your daughter can rest easy," Lu Fei said, bringing some good news.

Xu Feng's mood improved slightly. "Got it."

Inside the room, Lu Fei watched little Dan sleeping soundly, noting how her face had finally become fair and chubby. She then looked at the girl's tattered clothes, turned, pulled a card from her pocket, and tossed it onto the table.

"What's this?" Xu Feng glanced at it and asked, surprised.

"That's my extra weekly allowance card. Go buy the kid some clothes tomorrow," Lu Fei said with a calm expression.

Xu Feng paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No need, I just earned some money a couple of days ago—"

Lu Fei glanced at the disassembled communicator Xu Feng had left on the table and scoffed. "Just take it if I give it to you. Do you have to be so long-winded? I've never seen you refuse anything before; are you trying to act all high and mighty just because you made a little cash?"

Xu Feng opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

This detestable, busty woman.

Fine, although her tongue was sharp, she wasn't exactly evil. He moved his lips, eventually offering a smile that was as polite as possible. "I... I'll thank you on behalf of little Dan."

Lu Fei sneered, "Hah, I'd be happy if you weren't cursing me in your heart. And keep your lecherous eyes to yourself. Don't force me to gouge your eyeballs out; little Dan was around the last few times, so I didn't say anything."

Xu Feng felt a chill run through his entire body. He cursed inwardly and turned to start cooking. "Yes, yes, yes."

You've got the assets, you make the rules.

Less than five minutes later, the scent of rice and meat wafted from the pot. Xu Feng washed and sliced the fruit he had bought, placing it on the cluttered table. Seeing that Lu Fei still showed no signs of leaving, he asked in surprise, "Are you staying for dinner?"

"Heh, you're overthinking it. I'm just waiting for little Dan to wake up," Lu Fei said with a scoff, picking up a slice of apple and tossing it into her mouth as she adjusted her coat.

Xu Feng rolled his eyes. For the sake of that allowance card, I'll let you have a few bites.

He was just about to head back to the kitchen to finish the soup when he heard a knock at the door again. Xu Feng walked over quickly, opened the door, and froze.

Standing outside was Liu Yu, wearing a long dress and holding a bag of items. She tilted her head, a bright, sunny smile on her face. "What, don't recognize me?"

This woman usually spoke in jest whenever they met. Seeing her this close today, Xu Feng was momentarily stunned.

Liu Yu was only about thirty years old.

To say she was good-looking, it wasn't the kind of striking beauty that stood out.

Yet, there was always a seductive air about this woman that made one's heart itch after just a few glances.

"Is something the matter?" Xu Feng asked, suppressing the stray thoughts in his mind.

Why had this woman suddenly come here?

Xu Feng secretly warned himself that he absolutely would not lend her any money.

However, Liu Yu smiled and lifted the items in her hand: "I saw that the child's clothes were old, and since I see you've finally turned over a new leaf, as an old neighbor, I thought I'd bring you a gift."

As she spoke, she handed the bag to Xu Feng: "These are clothes my sister's child used to wear; she's a girl too. Although they're used, they've all been washed very clean. They'll be perfectly fine for daily wear."

"Uh, ah?"

Xu Feng hadn't expected that Liu Yu had also come over to bring clothes for Xiao Dan.

He immediately smacked his lips: "Tha-thanks."

Having two women come to his door to care for him and his daughter in a single day.

Xu Feng still found it quite surreal.

Nevertheless, Xu Feng accepted this kindness.

"Thank you so much. Why don't you come in and sit for a while? I happen to be cooking, so have a bite before you head back."

Xu Feng opened the door wide and asked.

"I shouldn't, I still—"

Liu Yu stopped mid-sentence as she looked past Xu Feng's side and saw the tall Lu Fei sitting at the table inside.

She immediately raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "Oh? You have a guest?"

"Oh, she's Xiao Dan's teacher, a student from Tianyue Martial Arts University." A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Xu Feng's heart.

"She's very pretty! I also like eating with beauties, so that works out perfectly."

For some reason, Liu Yu didn't know what came over her.

Seeing the curves on Lu Fei's chest and her cold, elegant appearance, she suddenly felt a strange impulse to walk into the house.

Xu Feng: "..."

Once the two women sat down and introduced themselves to each other, the room fell into an eerie silence.

Lu Fei had also taken off her coat, and with a fake smile, she and Liu Yu exchanged vapid, meaningless pleasantries.

In the kitchen, Xu Feng felt the atmosphere was somewhat odd.

However, both were guests, and Xu Feng didn't have any ulterior motives toward either of them.

Besides, he wasn't the one feeling awkward.

Therefore, he didn't pay it much mind.

After inviting them to sit at the table, he went back into the kitchen to get busy.

Soon, Xiao Dan woke up.

With the little girl there to keep them company, the room finally became lively.

By the time Xu Feng had stir-fried two more dishes, the four of them sat down together.

"Well then, here's to my first pot of gold in life—cheers!" Xu Feng said with a smile, holding up a glass of plain water.

"Cheers!"

Xiao Dan said happily with a smile.

Even the two women couldn't help but laugh along.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was finally no longer stiff and cold.

After the meal, the four of them began to chat idly.

But a sudden sentence from Xiao Dan left Xu Feng frozen in place.

"Daddy, was Mommy as pretty as Big Sister when she was alive?"

Xiao Dan looked at Xu Feng innocently and asked.

Xu Feng: "..."

No, is this really the time to ask that?

Did I give you the cue to start acting?

This girl, why was she pushing herself into a pit of fire?

The two women at the table were stunned for a moment, then simultaneously turned their gazes toward Xu Feng.

Xu Feng felt as if he should say something.

Yet, he had no idea what to say.

In the end, he shuddered, sighed, and pulled the little girl into his arms. "There, there. Mommy went to a very far place; she is just as beautiful as your sisters."

At the table, Lu Fei lowered her head and pursed her lips.

Beside her, Liu Yu's eyes turned slightly red as she thought of her deceased brother.

Xu Feng turned his head toward the two women and apologized, "I'm sorry, please excuse this display."

Xiao Dan mechanically recited her lines, burying her head into his chest. "I miss Mommy so much."

Xu Feng gently patted her back. "There, there, Daddy is here."

"Daddy, I'm so hungry." Xiao Dan continued her mechanical performance.

However, Xu Feng finally couldn't hold it together anymore.

He rolled his eyes. "Didn't you just finish eating? You ate such a big piece of meat, and there was half a plate of apples left!"

Xiao Dan froze, looking at Xu Feng as if she didn't know how to continue.

This script wasn't right.

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