Cao De watched Zhu Zhuqing sulking, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
He picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks and offered it toward Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing gently nudged the plate before her forward, as though it were an absentminded gesture.
Cao De's chopsticks paused in front of Zhu Zhuqing, then continued forward and deposited the food on Shui Yue'er's plate.
He smiled and said, "Yue'er, you're still growing. Eat more of this."
Shui Yue'er froze, forgetting even to chew the food stuffed into her cheeks as she stared blankly at Cao De.
She looked utterly adorable.
Cao De smiled and said, "Stop staring. Eat up."
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and continued sipping her bland congee, her mood souring a little.
With a smile on his face, Cao De pushed his own plate, piled high with food, in front of Zhu Zhuqing.
"I don't like it," Zhu Zhuqing said.
"I can't finish it. Help me out, would you? Thanks." Cao De immediately gave Zhu Zhuqing a graceful way out.
"Fine, then." Zhu Zhuqing reluctantly began digging in.
Her mood brightened, too.
Despite claiming he could not finish his food, Cao De ate plenty more.
The other three women watched the pair and ate in silence, acting as though they had seen nothing.
They soon finished the meal. Outside the door, Sha An's legs had begun to go numb.
Cao De said to Shui Bing'er, "You and Huo Wu look after Zhu Zhuqing."
"Yes, Master. We'll take good care of our mistress," Shui Bing'er said with a smile.
"I'm not your mistress," Zhu Zhuqing corrected her.
"Of course, Mistress," Shui Bing'er replied with a smile.
Cao De gave Shui Bing'er an enthusiastic thumbs-up in his heart. All the passionate love he lavished on her