In order to live a few more years, I walked into the kitchen without hesitation. Looking at the two beautiful women washing vegetables, I said, “If you can’t cook, you should have told me sooner—let me handle it!”
Wang Ziyan and Sister Lin were both stunned.
Wang Ziyan asked incredulously, “You can cook?”
“Of course! Xia Tian can cook. Back then, whenever there wasn’t any food, I’d always go to his place for a meal!” Sister Lin replied cheerfully.
I smiled helplessly and said, “You two, go out—I’ll cook.”
“Then it’s in your hands. I’m off to wait for the food!” Sister Lin said as she bounced out the door.
Seeing that, Wang Ziyan looked at me and asked, “Should I give you a hand?”
“No, thanks,” I replied with a smile. If I hadn’t overheard your conversation with Sister Lin earlier, I might have considered it—but now I definitely don’t have the mood.
After Sister Lin and Wang Ziyan left, I glanced at the vegetables Wang Ziyan had bought—cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, and the like. There’d be enough to make quite a few dishes.
As I was selecting the vegetables, Qin Mengdie suddenly walked in. Looking at me, she asked, “Need any help?”
I was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and said, “No, thanks.” After all, Qin Mengdie is a high-born lady, so it’s unlikely she’d know her way around the kitchen.
“What, don’t you trust me?” Qin Mengdie asked, frowning as she looked at me.
Seeing how serious she was, I laughed helplessly, “Alright, help me chop the tomatoes, will you?”
I took out a bowl and began cracking eggs while watching to see if Qin Mengdie really knew how to cook.
To my surprise, her knife skills were excellent—every slice was nearly identical in size.
Suddenly, I found myself developing a bit of fondness for this young lady of the Qin family. If she could just adjust her temper a little, she’d make a great marriage prospect—the ideal wife and mother type.
While she was slicing the tomatoes, Qin Mengdie suddenly looked at me and asked, “Are you cooking, or are you just watching me?”
Quickly diverting my gaze, I replied with a smile, “Cooking, cooking!”
Tang Shuyao looked at the table full of food and said with a laugh, “The dishes are pretty plentiful—you don’t look like just a narcissist, you’ve got some skills!”
I loved hearing that. With a hint of modesty, I said, “Not too bad, not too bad—third best in the country!”
“Tsk!” Tang Shuyao snorted dismissively, then picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
Sister Lin immediately began eating without a word, and Mei’er seemed to need to devour a lot of food every time she broke through her seals to replenish her energy.
Wang Ziyan didn’t seem to have much of an appetite; she just shoved vegetables into her mouth and kept chewing.
In terms of eating, Qin Mengdie’s style was probably the most impeccable—neither rushed nor slow. Even while eating, she exuded a refined grace. No wonder she’s a young lady of the Qin family.
“Uh… why do I feel like someone’s missing?” Just as I was about to pick up my chopsticks, I suddenly realized that ever since going upstairs, Xu Xin hadn’t come down.
Before Sister Lin could even swallow what was in her mouth, she said, “That’s right—where’s Xu Xin?”
Oh my gosh, can we be a bit more ladylike? I really have no way of handling Sister Lin.
I said to the group of beautiful women, “Can one of you go upstairs and call her?” But apart from Mei’er, not one of them bothered to respond—damn it!
“Mei’er, go ahead!” Mei’er said with a smile.
I shook my head, “Forget it, I’ll go up and call her myself.”
Since Mei’er and Xu Xin aren’t very close, after thinking it over, it seemed best that I go myself. Besides, I might get a good view.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
I pounded on the door while calling Xu Xin’s name, but there was no response from inside. Could something have happened?
That was unlikely—she was fine just a moment ago. There shouldn’t be anything wrong, right?
After knocking a few more times and receiving no reply, I thought for a moment and decided to push the door open.
There lay Xu Xin on the bed, covered by a blanket and lying on her side. Her face was very flushed, she was trembling all over, and faint moans could be heard from her mouth.
Fuck! Did I come in at the wrong time? Could it be that she’s… in the middle of something? Uh… I hadn’t noticed before, but I didn’t expect this girl to be so open.
Wait, no! She’s trembling, but don’t girls usually only shiver a bit? Why is she still trembling—and the trembling isn’t very intense? Did I misunderstand something?
“Xu Xin?” I called tentatively, but she didn’t respond at all, just kept trembling.
I stepped closer to take a look. Xu Xin’s complexion was extremely off. I reached out to feel her forehead—damn! It was so hot.
“Xu Xin! Xu Xin!” I called out again, but she still didn’t respond, merely trembling.
This was serious. She must have gotten caught in the rain earlier and caught a cold—it didn’t look mild at all.
I carefully tucked the blanket back over Xu Xin and hurried downstairs, saying, “Xu Xin’s fever is really bad. I’m off to the hospital to get some medicine. Can one of you stay with her?”
“Sister, I’m full—I’ll go!” Sister Lin said while still eating, raising her hand. But honestly, she didn’t look full to me at all.
Mei’er added, “I’m not hungry either.”
Tang Shuyao joined in, “Count me in as well!”
“Alright, I’ll go upstairs to check too!” Wang Ziyan even spoke up in surprise.
Now, except for Qin Mengdie, everyone else agreed. Just a moment ago when I asked them to go upstairs and call Xu Xin, none of them was willing to go—and now they’re all so proactive. I really can’t figure out how women think.
The only one who didn’t say a word, Qin Mengdie, went straight upstairs. I thought she was heading back to her room. All the good impressions I’d had of her from her cooking skills vanished in an instant—how can this girl be so cold-blooded!
I turned back to the group of beautiful women and said, “You all come upstairs with me—remember to bring a basin and a towel.”
With that, I went upstairs toward Xu Xin’s room. As soon as I entered, I found Qin Mengdie already there, standing and feeling Xu Xin’s wrist. Could this be what they call pulse-taking?
Noticing me, Qin Mengdie gently set Xu Xin’s hand and said, “She’s been on her period these past few days. Now that she got caught in the rain and has a high fever, it’s quite serious. Hurry up and go buy her some medicine.”
I was stunned for a moment, and after a long pause, I said, “Okay…” I had originally thought Qin Mengdie was as aloof as everyone else on the outside, but it turns out she’s warm on the inside.
“I’ve brought the basin and towel!” Sister Lin ran over, saying.
Sighing, Qin Mengdie said, “First, wet the towel—then use it to wipe her face.”
“Ah! I almost forgot to fetch water!” Sister Lin shouted.
F*ck! What kind of joke is this.
“Earlier, Xu Xin ran too fast and I couldn’t catch her, so I got another basin,” Tang Shuyao said as she ran over.
“What are you still standing there for? Hurry and go buy the medicine!” Qin Mengdie, frowning, shouted at me. I was taken aback for a moment, then dashed downstairs.
Outside, it was still raining heavily; the raindrops pounded on me, making me shiver.
Xu Xin’s condition wasn’t looking good, so I had to hurry to the school hospital to get her some medicine. Catching a high fever during your period is definitely serious. Suddenly, I felt that being a woman might not be as great as I had imagined—next time, I should just be a man, as tiring as that might be.
I dashed through the rain—it might have looked really ridiculous, but I had no choice, after all, I’m Pan Ke Huai Dao—and there were some busybodies snapping photos.
Click! Click! Click! Click!
D*mn it!
While I was grumbling to myself, my phone suddenly rang. Could Xu Xin’s condition have worsened?
The rain was so heavy I couldn’t see who was calling, so I answered right away. It looked like my phone was about to be ruined in this lousy weather.
“Is that Xia Tian?” a voice asked from the other end—somewhat familiar, though I couldn’t immediately place it. “It’s me. What’s up?”
Then, a burst of manic laughter came through: “I’m Zhao Gao!”
Zhao Gao?! I stopped running and said into the phone, “So it’s Zhao Gao—the second of the Zhao family? What do you want from me?”
Hearing my tone, Zhao Gao didn’t get angry at all. Instead, he laughed and said, “Even now you dare to be so arrogant? Your brothers are all in my hands. Are you thinking of coming over?”
“Brothers?!” I was stunned for a moment, then shouted at Zhao Gao, “What have you done to Lu Sen and the others?!”
“What do you mean? They’re fine—only that their clothes got a bit of extra color. If you don’t believe it, just listen to their voices.” No sooner had Zhao Gao finished speaking than Lu Sen’s voice came through: “Boss, please don’t come over—we’re not… ah!!!”
“Zhao Gao!” I yelled as Lu Sen screamed pitifully.
“Hahaha…” Zhao Gao’s delighted laughter came through, “What’s wrong, feeling a pang of pain? If you want to save your brothers, come to the warehouse in the school’s backyard. I’ll be waiting for you there!”
“Boss, there are hundreds of people here—please, don’t come over! Ah!!!”
“Go on, beat him up for me!”
“B-Boss, please don’t come over—please… ah!!! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!” Finally, amid Lu Sen’s wailing, Zhao Gao hung up the phone.
“Zhao Gao!” I shouted angrily, then turned and ran toward the warehouse behind the school.
If any one of those three gets into trouble, I, Xia Tian will definitely not let him off!
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Check out my other projects: Roughly an Isekai Hypnosis Story (er0-novel 😉
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