Chapter 37

True painting appeared, and everyone was stunned.

Although the painting paper was exquisite, to avoid any damage, Ning Tang instructed the butler to hang it up.

The vast rivers and mountains were indeed rare.

Everyone was shocked, but Ning Tang overheard their discussion clearly. She waved her hand to the butler.

The butler understood and promptly asked everyone surrounding the painting to leave.

After closing the door, Ning Tang shook her head, looking at Ruan Xizhi with great interest. “Tell me, how did you know this was a re-painted work?”

Ruan Xizhi had a very good impression of the elderly lady, like she did of her own grandmother.

As she explained what she knew, she and Ning Tang entered the inner hall.

Ning Tang knew she understood art, but didn’t expect her to know so much, making her smile even deeper.

The villa was very large, with only two elderly people present.

After dinner, Ning Tang gave Ruan Xizhi a thick red envelope.

Ruan Xizhi declined, “Thank you, Grandma, I already have that painting, and that’s enough for me. I can’t accept the red envelope.”

“That’s a greeting gift. It’s a small token from Grandpa and me,” Ning Tang glanced at Xing Peixuan and continued with a smile, “This is the first time Peixuan has brought someone back. He’s never been this attentive to others before. If there’s anything that’s not done well, you can be understanding.”

First time?

Xing Xiaochi’s mother hadn’t brought anyone back?

Ruan Xizhi looked at Xing Peixuan with suspicion.

This man seemed to have many secrets, but she wasn’t curious about them.

Xing Peixuan noticed her looking at him, thinking she was asking for his opinion.

He nodded, “Accept it.”

Ruan Xizhi then stopped refusing.

There were elderly people and children at home, so the food was relatively light. On the way back, Ruan Xizhi felt like her taste buds had lost their sense, but when she looked out the car window, she saw a newly opened hotpot restaurant.

The business was booming, crowded with people.

At the same time, her mouth watered.

In her previous life, she advocated for healthy vegetarian food and never touched hotpot, fried chicken, or drinks, claiming they were junk food.

Now, living this life again, why should she deprive herself of good food?

However…

She glanced at Xing Peixuan beside her and dismissed the idea of eating hotpot.

But when she got back to the villa, the thought of hotpot kept swirling in her mind and wouldn’t go away.

Xing Xiaochi, having been with Grandpa Chen, left everyone behind and returned to his room early. Xing Peixuan had some matters to attend to and left her with a “rest early” before heading to his study.

She had her own room. Lying in bed, she could almost taste the hotpot’s aroma wafting through her nose.

She struggled and struggled, staying up until after 11 PM. The whole villa was silent, and Ruan Xizhi finally couldn’t hold on any longer!

She flipped over, picked up her phone, and opened the yellow app.

She chose the highest-ranking hotpot, ordered a special spicy broth, and selected all the restaurant’s specialty meat slices.

As she kept ordering, her craving intensified.

She ordered four servings for herself.

She was going to indulge herself!

Although it’s not good to eat alone, such junk food was probably something no one else would eat.

After placing the order, Ruan Xizhi felt as though she was starving, her stomach growling. Every second felt like an eternity.

Just as she picked up her phone for the 99th time, she finally heard some noise at the door.

She had been waiting for a long time and immediately opened the door. The delivery guy, with his hand still hovering in midair, froze when he saw the door open.

“Hello… here’s your delivery.”

Ruan Xizhi looked around and lowered her voice, saying, “Sorry for troubling you to deliver this so late.”

After saying this, she took the takeaway from him. The thick bag was so heavy that she raised an eyebrow.

Looks like it’s time to feast!

A moment later, the first-floor dining room was completely dark. Ruan Xizhi, using the faint light from outside, opened the takeaway box.

The hotpot aroma greeted her face, making her feel invigorated.

At that moment, she finally understood why so many people loved hotpot.

Just smelling it made her feel ecstatic!

The hotpot shop was considerate enough to include a self-heating pot, so she could eat while heating, and the oil wouldn’t solidify.

Ruan Xizhi’s face always turned red when she ate spicy food. She hadn’t eaten much spice before, and this was her limit.

She felt her face burn, yet she couldn’t stop stuffing her mouth with more food.

It was so satisfying!

The self-heating hotpot bubbled and wafted with fragrance, and Ruan Xizhi, perhaps too hungry, lost her rationality and didn’t even consider the strong smell of the hotpot.

Upstairs, after finishing a video meeting, Xing Peixuan was heading downstairs to get some water. However, as soon as he opened the door, the smell of hotpot hit him.

He subtly frowned, noticing the aroma coming from downstairs.

Xing Peixuan walked downstairs.

Ruan Xizhi was so absorbed in eating that she didn’t notice anyone approaching.

Her mouth was burning and tingling, but she couldn’t resist stuffing another slice of tripe into her mouth.

Just as she was about to eat another piece, the dining room light suddenly turned on, blindingly bright.

She tilted her head and met Xíng Péixuān’s gaze.

Ruan Xizhi: “……..”

She was eating so enthusiastically that her face turned red, with strands of hair sticking to her face, giving her an unintended charm.

Ruan Xizhi glanced down at the tripe in her hand, feeling a bit embarrassed for getting caught sneaking a bite. She extended the tripe toward Xing Peixuan: “Want some?”

This was Xing Peixuan’s first time experiencing something like this.

He had always disliked oily and spicy foods, and hot pot was a prime example, but when he looked at the tripe Ruan Xizhi handed him, and then met her clear eyes, he found himself walking over, almost involuntarily.

Ruan Xizhi was fanning herself, struggling to cool down from the spice, wiping sweat from her nose. “Hot pot is a must, the tripe is crunchy. Here, the last piece is for you.”

Xing Peixuan looked at the greasy tripe in her hand, inwardly rejecting it, but still took it from her.

“You should try it,” Ruan Xizhi, who had lost all rationality from the spice, continued to recommend. “I guarantee it’ll leave you craving more.”

Encouraged by her enthusiastic pitch, Xing Peixuan took a bite.

Ruan Xizhi blinked her eyes, eagerly asking, “Isn’t it delicious?”

Xing Peixuan wanted to say it wasn’t that great, but looking at her, covered in oil and enjoying her food so much, he let out a faint “Mm” from his throat.

Satisfied with the response, Ruan Xizhi grabbed a few more pieces of fatty beef from the pot and started talking.

“I used to not eat this, felt like it wasn’t hygienic, and it’s hard on the stomach.”

She quickly stuffed another piece of vegetables into her mouth, crunching it loudly.

She sighed. “Life is so short. Isn’t everything in life just for this mouth? Who cares about hygiene, eating comes first. Worst case, we get a stomachache, but hey, it won’t kill you.”

“You agree, right?”

As the hot pot grew spicier, it wasn’t irritating the throat or stomach, and the more they ate, the more addictive it became. Ruan Xizhi breathed heavily, sweating, but couldn’t stop eating.

Xing Peixuan had never seen a woman eat like this, nor had any woman dared to eat so unrestrainedly in front of him.

Plate after plate went into the pot, and he couldn’t imagine how she, so slim, could eat so much.

While he found it bizarre, he couldn’t help but feel she was enjoying it so much that it was contagious.

It smelled so good that he picked up his own chopsticks.

Just as he dipped the chopsticks into the pot, Xing Xiaochi’s voice came from upstairs.

“You… what are you guys eating?!”

Xing Xiaochi quickly ran down the stairs, drawn by the delicious smell in the air. He licked his lips, “I want to eat too!”

Xing Peixuan frowned, pulling back his chopsticks. “You’re not allowed to eat.”

The child was too young, and spicy food wasn’t good for his stomach. Xing Peixuan, who had thoroughly studied child-rearing, knew better than anyone. He read parenting guides like Parenting Encyclopedia or Good Mother every night before bed.

Xing Xiaochi felt wronged, tears welling up in his eyes, ready to protest.

Ruan Xizhi immediately stepped forward to stop him. “Who says kids can’t eat? I can wash it with hot water, and it’ll be fine.”

Xing Xiaochi wiped his tears away, eyes wide with hope: “Really?”

Ruan Xizhi stood up, got a bowl, and poured some hot water into it. “Really. It’s more real than gold.”

Xing Xiaochi managed to compose himself and hopped over to sit down.

Ruan Xizhi was worried the food would be too spicy for him, so she brought two bowls of hot water and placed them in front of him.

As she sat down, she saw Xing Peixuan furrow his brow and figured, after all, he was a father who understood how to care.

She smiled and explained, “I didn’t eat much spicy food when I was a kid, and life lacks a lot of fun without it. Since he wants to try it himself, let him. Life is all about trying new things.”

Xing Peixuan, in his heart, labeled Ruan Xizhi as a “good mother,” and at this moment, her words touched him.

There seemed to be some sense to it.

Ruan Xizhi picked up a couple of pieces of meat with her chopsticks and placed them in Xíng Xiaochi’s bowl, giving him a reminder, “You asked for this. If it gets too spicy, you’re on your own. No crying or complaining.”

Xíng Xiaochi nodded confidently: “I promise!”

“Good,” Ruan Xizhi smiled. “As long as you’re not afraid of spice, go ahead and eat.”

Xing Xiaochi couldn’t wait, grabbing a piece of meat and stuffing it into his mouth.

However, within a second, he spit it out, exclaiming, “Hot, hot, hot, so spicy!”

Ruan Xhizhi was unmoved, simply replying, “Mm.”

Xing Xiaochi, face flushed, still trying to endure, gripped his stomach, “It’s so spicy!”

Ruan Xizhi: “Then don’t eat it.”

“I want to!” Xíng Xiaochi grabbed another piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth, tears streaming down, but he stubbornly repeated Ruan Xizhi’s words, “Life is all about trying new things.”

Ruan Xizhi couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, try away.”

Little rascal.

Xing Peixuan watched as both of them were sweating and gasping from the spice but still didn’t give up, eating happily with flushed faces.

It wasn’t even that funny, but somehow, he found himself laughing.

A table, a pot, three people.

The scene was warm and harmonious.