What was I supposed to do today?

"Xiao Xi, that's just how my brother is. Don't be upset." Bo Miao stepped in, linking arms with Xiao Xi and speaking gently.

Seeing Bo Miao actually comforting her today, Xiao Xi immediately cheered up. In the past, she had always been the one trying to please Bo Miao, but now Bo Miao was being so friendly to her because of Bo Zhe.

This windfall left Xiao Xi positively giddy, and she forgot all about Bo Zhe.

If she could win Bo Miao over, wouldn't marrying into the Bo Family be easy? Forgetting everything else, Xiao Xi wanted to drag Bo Miao off shopping to bond with her.

After much coaxing and persuasion, Bo Miao finally sent Xiao Xi on her way. Wiping away her sweat, she said, "Good grief, that woman can really talk. I could barely keep up."

[Exactly! Win you over, and she's got someone to pick up the tab. Such a sweet, gullible little fool. Who wouldn't be happy?]

...You really don't have to say anything, you know. Bo Miao looked at Fang Yao, torn between laughter and tears. How could someone so beautiful say such heartless things while acting so differently on the outside?

o(╥﹏╥)o

"See, Bo Zhe? My instincts were right. I told you back then that I didn't like her. Now you know why." Bo Miao rose onto her toes and slung an arm over his shoulders.

After a while, her feet grew sore, and she tugged on his shoulder to make him bend down.

"Hah! When you became friends with Chen Qing, didn't I tell you she was fake? Did you listen?" Bo Zhe shot back acidly, even as he bent down a little so his sister could reach his shoulders.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bo Zhe saw how comfortable Bo Miao looked and smiled.

"You... you said Chen Qing was fake, but why didn't you tell me how she was fake? You couldn't, could you? Hmph!" Bo Miao stared blankly at him. After a long moment, she stamped her foot and reached for his ear.

Anticipating her move, Bo Zhe tilted his head and twisted away as nimbly as a snake. When he stuck his tongue out at her, Bo Miao stamped her feet in fury.

Sparks flew between Bo Zhe and Bo Miao as they glared at each other, on the verge of coming to blows. Fang Yao smacked her lips, inwardly lamenting the lack of sunflower seeds to snack on.

[Oh dear. One's a gullible sweetheart, and the other's a hopeless romantic. Neither of you has any room to judge.]

Lu You burst out laughing at their labels, successfully drawing both their ire. Under their combined assault, his face fell and his shoulders slumped.

As Fang Yao gleefully offered her commentary, even Bo Hanmo couldn't help wondering why he had never noticed what a comedy trio these three were.

"Mmm~~~ So good. Bo Hanmo, I want more lamb rolls. In the spicy broth, not the clear one." Fang Yao narrowed her eyes in satisfaction. Seeing him about to put the lamb rolls into the clear broth, she caught his hand just in time.

Bo Hanmo stared at the small hand resting on his, his dark gaze unreadable. Being ordered around by Fang Yao had felt unfamiliar at first, but barring any surprises, he would be spending the rest of his life with this woman. There was no harm in getting used to it early.

"You've already had plenty from the spicy broth. Have something milder..."

"No. If you don't have spicy broth, can you even call it hot pot?" Fang Yao retorted, meeting his eyes.

Looking at the stubborn little woman, Bo Hanmo resigned himself to putting the lamb rolls into the spicy broth. His lips curved as he watched her sway happily.

"Hey, slow down! If you eat all the meat, what am I supposed to have?" Fang Yao turned to see the meat on the table steadily disappearing. They were even scooping all the meat out of the pot.

For some reason, the moment the three saw Fang Yao raise her chopsticks, they began grabbing and eating meat faster.

"Take your time. We can order more if it's not enough."

"Fighting over the food is what makes hot pot fun." Fang Yao rubbed her belly contentedly and slumped in her seat.

Bo Hanmo glared at the three across from him. Can't you eat more slowly? Why are you fighting your sister-in-law for food? The three bit their chopsticks miserably, looking resentfully at the couple throwing their weight around.

Now they understood why they had felt compelled to scramble for the meat. They simply couldn't compete with Fang Yao.

ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3

"Fang Yao, don't you girls go on diets and eat nothing but vegetables and low-calorie meals?" Lu You elegantly wiped the grease from the corners of his mouth and eyed her stomach curiously. She had eaten so much, yet her belly hadn't grown at all.

Where had all that meat gone?

Bo Miao stared lifelessly at the ceiling. Thanks to Fang Yao, her diet had failed.

Ow! What are you pinching me for? Lu You glanced down at the hand on his arm, then looked expressionlessly at Bo Zhe.

Bo Zhe tilted his head toward his elder brother, and Lu You promptly sat up straight.

Fang Yao waved a hand. "Who'd be silly enough to diet? I'm not fat. Dieting would make sense if I were."

"Don't you girls talk about wanting that skinny, bony look? You're not after that kind of beauty?"

Fang Yao rolled her eyes and sat up straight. "Hah! Why do women chase that bony look? Shouldn't you be asking yourselves? Isn't that what you men demand? And you're asking me why?"

The three stared at the dent in the table and swallowed in unison. Good grief! Just how strong is she?

Lu You slammed his hand down hard on the table.

"Young man, there's no such thing as an Iron Palm or peerless martial arts. Luckily, you haven't fractured anything. All right, come back for a follow-up in a while. Next."

The doctor lectured Lu You as he bandaged his hand. He had no idea what young people were chasing these days. A while ago, they had all been into some sort of dance, and now they had moved on to martial arts.

"Doctor, I wasn't practicing any dance. I hit the table by accident. All right, thank you, Doctor." Lu You listened with a livid face, forced to make up an excuse. Otherwise, he suspected the doctor would go on forever.

[Pfft, hahaha! Iron Palm? More like a pig's trotter.]

"Lu You, right? I'm naturally strong, and I've trained. Don't copy me." Fang Yao couldn't go on. She clutched her stomach and burst out laughing.

Her laughter filled the hospital corridor. Everyone there to see a doctor or collect medicine looked at her as though she had lost her mind.

Fang Yao coughed, stood up as if nothing had happened, and brushed off some nonexistent dust.

"Lu You, you're a real pal." Bo Zhe draped an arm over his shoulders with a look of brotherly affection.

Thank goodness Lu You had tried that palm strike first. Otherwise, he would have been the one with a hand swollen like a pig's trotter.

"Hanmo, it's getting late. Let's go home." Bo Miao's eyes lit up, and she discreetly showed Bo Hanmo the time on her phone.

"All right, let's head back. The servants said they've made dessert for us." Sensing that Fang Yao was about to say something, Bo Hanmo immediately distracted her with food.

Back home, Fang Yao held her dessert and ate, feeling as though she had forgotten something very important. What was it again? Oh well, she could think about it tomorrow.

With her back to Fang Yao, Old Madam Bo shot them a questioning look. How did it go?

They didn't get divorced. Mom, it's up to you tomorrow. Is everyone here? Bo Miao waggled her eyebrows and made an OK sign.

You can count on your mother. Everything's taken care of. Old Madam Bo returned the gesture.