Chapter 27 – She Got Her Food Stolen

Shu Ruohua quickly finished the porridge in her bowl.

She was just about to get another bowl when she suddenly noticed the stormy expression on Xiao Che’s face.

Xiao Che said coldly, “If I remember correctly, that rice was given to you by me.”

In other words: If you don’t give me porridge now, I won’t give you rice in the future.

Shu Ruohua was instantly snapped back to her senses by his words.

She shot him a sly glance and replied reluctantly, “Oh~”

Picking up the ladle, she hesitated for a moment in deep internal struggle, then finally scooped a spoonful of porridge for Xiao Che.

Just one flat spoonful.

Then, clutching the bowl in both hands with obvious reluctance, she slowly brought it over to Xiao Che. “Here… for you.”

Xiao Che: “…”

He stared at the tiny amount of porridge in the bowl and felt completely insulted.

He had taken time out of his busy schedule to come see her. Just visiting her already meant he was giving her face.

Yet she couldn’t even spare him a proper bowl of porridge?

He was fuming with rage.

Even Qian Ning standing off to the side was speechless.

She had never imagined in her wildest dreams that her own lady could be stingy to this degree.

She also secretly broke out in a cold sweat for Shu Ruohua—His Highness the Crown Prince rarely visited. She really mustn’t anger him into leaving again.

Quickly, she tried to smooth things over. “This servant will go cook another pot of porridge right away.”

Upon hearing that, Shu Ruohua instantly tensed up and quickly called out, “Wait!”

She frantically signaled to Qian Ning with her eyes…

Xiao Che obviously looked like someone who was very wealthy, yet here he was trying to share their food rations. Couldn’t Qian Ning be a little more frugal?

Xiao Che seemed to sense something and gave a light cough.

Shu Ruohua immediately turned her gaze and forced a smile at him.

Qian Ning, however, was completely confused by all of Shu Ruohua’s frantic blinking and gestures.

Shu Ruohua: “…”

She quickly walked over to Qian Ning’s side and grinned stiffly, “Ha… um, didn’t we already run out of rice?!”

While saying this, she tugged at Qian Ning’s sleeve and muttered under her breath, “Can’t you learn to live a little more frugally?!”

After grumbling, she didn’t forget to turn back again and squeeze out another extremely apologetic smile toward Xiao Che.

Qian Ning was at a loss for words.

Xiao Che, however, saw right through it.

Shu Ruohua was clearly going out of her way to avoid letting him eat.

But… that was fine.

The corners of Xiao Che’s lips curled into a cold smile. His dark eyes swept over the half pot of porridge still left.

Without another word, he simply picked up the pot and poured all the remaining porridge into his own bowl.

Since she wouldn’t give it to him, he would just help himself.

Shu Ruohua panicked.

She’d been robbed of her food!

Immediately, her short legs kicked into high gear and she dashed straight toward Xiao Che in fury.

But…

Apparently, she still wasn’t used to wearing the long robes of ancient times. In her haste, she accidentally stepped on her hem—

And tripped.

Completely out of control, her body lunged straight toward Xiao Che…

Xiao Che’s mind went blank for a second. Then came a sharp pain in his back.

Shu Ruohua’s mind also blanked out.

Tripping over her skirt, she had knocked Xiao Che to the ground.

She lay awkwardly sprawled on top of him. The distance between their faces seemed to be no more than a fingertip.

Their eyes met.

Time froze.

The room fell completely silent, and it seemed like only their heartbeats could be heard.

No one knew how much time passed.

Suddenly, a wave of pain shot up from Xiao Che’s foot, jolting him back to his senses.

“Ugh…” he let out a low groan.

At the same time, Shu Ruohua seemed to snap out of her frozen state like a log of wood thawing after a thousand years.

Her head jerked back, her neck stiffening instinctively, and she quickly scrambled off of Xiao Che.

Her face instantly flushed bright red.

“You…”

She wanted to say something to defuse the awkwardness, but didn’t know what to say.

After all, that moment just now had been beyond embarrassing.

Xiao Che’s face darkened.

The pain from the injuries on his back and foot made it impossible for him to get up.

Yet Shu Ruohua still showed no intention of helping him.

Expressionless, he glared at her, his eyes burning with fury.

“Help me up!!”

…

…

(End of Chapter)