Chapter 37: Overestimating Yourself

“Miss me?”

Shu Ruohua burst out laughing with a snort.

She tried to suppress the expression on her face that had already twisted with laughter and patted Xiao Che on the shoulder. “I really didn’t expect this, but you, a gloomy gourd, actually overestimate your own importance!”

She was just excited to finally get to eat—that was all.

Xiao Che’s face darkened. “…”

He was the dignified Crown Prince, yet in Shu Ruohua’s heart, he was just a “gloomy gourd”?!

Seeing his face fall, Shu Ruohua immediately sensed the change and quickly said, “Aiya, let’s eat, let’s eat!”

Right now, eating her fill was the top priority.

She cheerfully invited Xiao Che to sit down and sat down herself.

Xiao Che was a guest, and as the host, she had to maintain proper manners.

“I’ve already eaten, help yourself.”

She said this while lifting her bowl of rice porridge and began gulping it down with zero regard for her image.

Qian Ning stood nearby, visibly distressed.

The Crown Prince hadn’t even picked up his chopsticks yet, but her lady was already eating like she hadn’t seen food in hundreds of years, finishing a bowl of porridge in no time.

Xiao Che was rather shocked at the speed at which she ate.

Noticing that he still hadn’t moved his chopsticks, Shu Ruohua looked up. “Eat, why aren’t you eating?”

She was unusually generous today.

Xiao Che choked slightly. “…Oh.”

As he picked up a slice of potato, Shu Ruohua was already scooping herself a second bowl of porridge.

By the time Xiao Che had finished his second slice of potato, Shu Ruohua had already downed her second bowl.

After polishing off her second bowl, Shu Ruohua felt full. She ended her meal with one final slice of potato, then set her chopsticks down and left the table.

She lazily stretched, rubbed her soft tummy rolls, and let out a burp. “Hic~”

Xiao Che, “…”

Qian Ning, “…”

At this point, Qian Ning genuinely wished she could run over and cover Shu Ruohua’s mouth. This was just too embarrassing.

If this continued, the Crown Prince definitely wouldn’t like her lady!

But Shu Ruohua completely ignored their reactions and slowly sat back down.

After all, Xiao Che hadn’t finished eating yet, and as the host, she still had to keep him company.

Looking at the potato slices on the table, she began to drool.

But for the sake of her diet… she held back!

Xiao Che frowned slightly.

He hesitated for a long while. “You only had porridge?”

Looking at her pitiful appearance… someone might think he was mistreating her and refusing to let her eat.

Shu Ruohua nodded seriously. “Mhm~”

As if something occurred to her, she added, “I’m dieting lately, so I have to eat less.”

Xiao Che was speechless at her logic.

Although Shu Ruohua ate quickly, she didn’t eat much—just two small bowls of porridge and a few potato slices.

Xiao Che hadn’t eaten much either, but he still had more than her.

“You… does that even fill you up?”

He hesitated and asked.

Looking at her figure… he really doubted she was full.

Shu Ruohua replied, “Half-full is enough.”

Xiao Che, “…”

He’d never dieted before, but wasn’t weight loss supposed to involve more exercise?

His lips twitched slightly…

He wanted to tell her to eat a bit more and that she could just exercise to lose weight.

But once the words reached his lips, he realized they weren’t appropriate for him to say.

In the end, he just let out a faint, “Oh.”

He picked up his bowl, grabbed another slice of potato, and paired it with rice.

It actually tasted pretty good.

…

Just then—

A sudden commotion erupted outside the door.

“Shu Ruohua!!!” A woman’s voice called out sharply.

Xiao Che’s hand paused mid-meal.

He didn’t react at all outwardly, but from the voice alone, he immediately recognized it was Consort Jing.

Shu Ruohua heard the noise too.

She looked up—and saw Consort Jing storming in, followed by four or five extravagantly dressed, unfamiliar women.

Qian Ning also turned to look.

Upon recognizing the newcomers, her face instantly paled.

She tugged nervously at Shu Ruohua’s sleeve. “Miss…”

Shu Ruohua didn’t recognize them and was completely confused.

Calmly, she asked Qian Ning, “Who are the women beside Consort Jing?”

Qian Ning answered timidly, her voice full of dread, “They are His Highness the Crown Prince’s other concubines.”

Shu Ruohua, “…”

Suddenly, she felt a chill down her spine.

She had thought once Consort Jing left, she wouldn’t come back.

Who would’ve guessed she went off to recruit reinforcements?!

These women all looked like they meant business.

Once they came in, was she about to get skinned alive by them?!

…
…
(End of Chapter)