A Meal, A Secret, and a Lingering Warmth

The girl had not been sleeping deeply. After only a short while, she stirred awake, her eyes still heavy with slumber.

Her consciousness was still hazy. Catching sight of the class monitor, who had settled beside her at some unknown point, now watching her with a hint of exasperation, she felt a pang of embarrassment.

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

“I… I’m so sorry… How long was I asleep?”

“Ten minutes.”

Leaning her head back against the sofa, Liu Yinuo adopted a rather languid posture.

“Uh… what time is it now?”

Since she didn’t have her phone, and saw no wall clock or similar items in the living room, the girl had no choice but to ask Liu Yinuo for the time.

“Around twelve forty, I suppose?”

Without checking her phone, Liu Yinuo offered an estimate.

The moment she heard it, Ye Xingmian immediately sprang from the sofa, her expression one of frantic haste.

“What’s wrong?”

“Cla… Class Monitor… have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“Then… it’s already this late, should I still make dinner?”

A wave of self-reproach seemed to wash over her. The girl lowered her head, her eyes dimming slightly.

Ignoring the girl’s concerns, Liu Yinuo kept her gaze fixed on her two legs.

“Are your legs still hurting?”

“Ah… it seems… they don’t hurt anymore?”

“That’s good then.” Liu Yinuo offered a reassuring smile.

“Cla… Class Monitor… you still haven’t answered me…”

“Go ahead and make it. There should still be enough time. Are the dishes you want to make very complicated?”

“No… not at all… just some simple home-cooked meals.”

“Then go ahead. There’s still time. Do you need my help?”

“No need, Class Monitor. You should rest a bit first.”

The girl’s voice grew softer and softer, as if she truly felt profound shame and guilt for having accidentally fallen asleep.

She practically fled into the kitchen, and from the living room, only the hurried sound of her opening the refrigerator could be heard.

“Are you really sure you don’t need my help?”

“No need!”

Listening to the sounds emanating from the kitchen, Liu Yinuo’s worries temporarily eased.

She bounced suddenly on the sofa, then lay flat on her back, allowing the sofa’s softness to envelop her.

The spot where the girl’s calves had rested still retained a lingering warmth. Liu Yinuo suddenly covered her face and began to roll back and forth on the small sofa.

‘Ugh… she’s truly so adorable…’

Ever since the girl had unconsciously drifted off to sleep, Liu Yinuo had been secretly observing her.

From her smooth, fair, slender calves to her adorable face.

The girl looked so peaceful in her sleep, devoid of the timidity and apprehension she displayed when awake. Especially the faint, lingering smile on her lips, and her long eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly, made Liu Yinuo feel as though her heart had melted.

And to think it was all her own doing, it filled her with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, making her incredibly happy.

After rolling around on the sofa like a restless worm, Liu Yinuo suddenly sat up with a serious expression.

She slid off the sofa, crept to the kitchen door, and cautiously poked half her head in, peering at the petite figure bustling about inside.

‘No, this isn’t peeping!’

‘She’s merely concerned for her little darling’s safety!’

‘It’s a necessary precaution to prevent her from accidentally injuring herself, given her unfamiliarity with the various kitchen tools!’

‘Yes, that’s right, exactly!’

Thus, rationalizing her actions inwardly, Liu Yinuo continued to discreetly observe the girl’s movements, as if it were perfectly natural.

However, something quite unexpected occurred. The girl’s movements while cooking showed no trace of awkwardness or clumsiness.

On the contrary, washing vegetables, chopping ingredients, heating oil, adding them to the wok, and stir-frying—everything flowed seamlessly, almost without a pause. Though it was her first time cooking in this kitchen, she performed as if she had practiced countless times.

Aside from a momentary hesitation when searching for certain items, she almost immediately had a simple pot of home-cooked dishes ready.

It was rare to see the girl display such an extraordinary aptitude. Liu Yinuo felt a flicker of surprise, and after a moment’s thought, she quietly retreated.

Before long, Ye Xingmian emerged from the kitchen, carrying a steaming bowl of food. The entire process had taken barely more than ten minutes.

Suddenly spotting Liu Yinuo waiting by the doorway, the girl was visibly startled. She almost dropped the dishes she was holding.

Once she regained her footing, she nervously asked, “Uh… that… which way is the dining room?”

Liu Yinuo, appearing deep in thought, gently pointed towards the dining room.

“Oh, alright. Class Monitor, please come along too?”

Once they reached the dining room, the girl went to serve rice for herself, then poured two glasses of water, bringing them both to the modest dining table.

“I apologize. Because time was short, I only made some simple dishes… It’s all my fault for accidentally falling asleep…”

Standing by the dining table like a servant, she continued to apologize profusely.

Liu Yinuo, however, frowned slightly. She looked at the pink-eyed girl.

“Aren’t you going to sit down and eat with me?”

“Eh? Wouldn’t that be inappropriate… I…”

“Why would it be inappropriate?”

“Uh… it’s just that…”

She stammered for a moment, unable to articulate a coherent reason.

The girl’s voice grew fainter and fainter, until she finally gave up arguing altogether.

She fell silent for a moment, then softly said, “I understand…”

She then quietly took a seat opposite Liu Yinuo.

Her demeanor was very reserved, as if she was worried she had done something wrong.

Seeing this, Liu Yinuo’s frown deepened.

Yet, she said nothing more. She picked up her chopsticks, selected some of the dishes the girl had prepared, and ate them with her rice.

“Ye Xingmian, do you often cook at home?”

“Uh? Mm… yes, I do…”

Stealthily glancing up at Liu Yinuo’s expression, the girl worried her cooking might not suit the other’s taste.

To be honest, the taste was excellent.

Though the girl’s dish had been prepared somewhat hastily, it surpassed an 80% quality level in all aspects, and was even better than her own mother’s cooking in Liu Yinuo’s memory.

But her focus wasn’t solely on that.

“Ye Xingmian, your cooking is truly delicious. I wonder how fortunate the person who marries you someday will be.”

“Eh? Eh?!”

At Liu Yinuo’s teasing, the girl seemed utterly bewildered. Her face flushed as she whispered, “Cla… Class Monitor… I’m a boy…”

“Then just marry a girl.”

Burying her head even lower, these were matters the girl had never considered. Such distant thoughts were too far removed for someone who struggled even with survival. And a girl and a girl—how could that possibly work?

Silently observing the girl’s reaction, Liu Yinuo suddenly asked in a calm voice, “Ye Xingmian, do you usually eat with your family at home?”

“Eh? I… I do… I guess…”

Her guilt was palpable.

Recalling Lin Ziyan’s attitude when mentioning Ye Xingmian, Liu Yinuo now had a theory about the girl’s earlier peculiar behavior.

‘Why should she cook for those ungrateful people? Wouldn’t it be better to just cook for those who care about her?’

‘Those people aren’t worthy of her kindness at all!’

A surge of inexplicable anger welled up within Liu Yinuo, but she knew it wasn’t the girl’s fault, so she didn’t show it. Taking a deep breath, she offered a smile.

“Ye Xingmian, since your cooking is so delicious, would you be willing to come to my house every day to make lunch for me? I’ll tutor you in your studies as compensation.”

“Eh? Ev… every day?”

“Yes.”

‘All those lovely things—the smiles blossoming from happiness, the frustration shown over minor worries, the shy blushes—they should only be shown to those who care about you. Don’t let those who hurt you see your vulnerable side anymore.’

Liu Yinuo didn’t know why she suddenly felt such a strong desire. When she belatedly realized it, she was almost startled by herself.

“Al… alright… I’ll try my best…” Despite some hesitation, the girl agreed to the class monitor’s request.