So what if you wear rags? Clothes are just superficial—nobody’s got any room to laugh at anyone else.
The real key to a good life is eating well!
After Ye Family’s father and daughters took their seats around the large round table, the accompanying maids served up the pre-prepared dishes one after another.
Birds from the sky, beasts from the land, swimmers from the sea—anything edible and legal had left its trace on this feast!
That golden sweet-and-sour fish gleamed so temptingly that Guang Yu’s mouth was practically watering.
Other people ate meals; Ye Zhibai’s meals were a crash course in fine dining.
Having grown up on steamed buns dipped in her dear old mom’s sauce, followed by flatbreads rolled with broccoli, this spread of delicacies from land and sea felt like a scene from another lifetime to Ye Zhibai.
Yes, like another lifetime—quite literally, no joke intended.
At first, Ye Zhibai thought this would be a delightful, heartwarming banquet where they could all dig in with gusto.
But the moment the dishes were all on the table and the three of them could start eating…
Ye Zhibai learned what true “heartwarming” really meant!
“Zhibai, try this! Sea cucumber’s a real powerhouse for recovery. Your dad doesn’t know much about nutrition, but the chef says it’s packed with goodness. You’ve only just rested up a few days—you need to nourish yourself properly!”
“Dad! You can’t start Sis off with sea cucumber!”
“Er… what do you mean, Yun’er?”
“Bring over those fried chicken drumsticks first! Before worrying about nutrition, we gotta make sure Sis eats her fill! Sea cucumber can come later!”
“Hiss… look at me, what a muddled head! You’re right, I had it backwards! Zhibai, you gotta enjoy yourself first! Yun’er, scoot that plate over!”
“Got it!”
“…”
Those two were really busy.
Ye Zhibai sat there dumbly, clutching her chopsticks.
All she could see was this jaw-dropping spectacle.
Ye Qinghe moved at an astonishing speed, sweeping the tastiest, most nutritious dishes from the table—like a gale stripping leaves in autumn—and piling them all into one big plate.
Yun’er hustled to help select the best ones. Once she deemed it sufficient, she grabbed the overflowing plate and slammed it down right in front of Ye Zhibai with a clatter!
“Sis, dig in! Don’t worry about us or any table manners. Your one and only rule is to eat and drink your fill.”
“…”
I think I could have eaten my fill just fine.
If only you two weren’t staring at me like hawks the whole time!
Eat your own food, for crying out loud! With a table this huge, you think it’s not enough for one person?
I’m not Guang Yu!
Speaking of Guang Yu…
Ye Zhibai tilted her head and spotted the scummy fox maiden plopped right on the floor rug, using her own fluffy tail as a cushion. She hugged a massive drumstick and chomped away merrily!
From that angle, Guang Yu could chow down without a care in the world!
Old Dad… Yun’er… if only you had even a tenth of Guang Yu’s self-awareness.
After Ye Zhibai’s calm persuasion, Ye Qinghe and Ye Zhiyun finally settled back into their seats and began eating—sort of reluctantly.
They looked downright crestfallen.
What the heck? It’s just normal eating—why so glum?!
Ye Zhibai had just picked up the giant plate in front of her, ready to tuck in.
Then she heard Guang Yu’s wail echo in her mind!
“So spicy! So spicy!! Waaah, what the heck is this stuff?!”
What stunt are you pulling now?
Ye Zhibai glanced down.
Guang Yu clutched a bottle of chili oil in her hand, and from the red ring staining her mouth…
She’d chugged the chili oil straight from the bottle!
How on earth did you go that hard?!
Exasperated, Ye Zhibai smacked her on the head. If Guang Yu hadn’t been suffering so much from the heat, Ye Zhibai would’ve followed up with a kick!
No helping it—Guang Yu’s pleas kept ringing in her mind, so Ye Zhibai had to bail her out first.
She recalled that milk was a great way to cut the spice.
The milk carton sat right in front of Yun’er.
After a brief hesitation, Ye Zhibai decided to ask for it.
“Yun’er, can I have that milk carton of yours?”
“Sure thing! Here, Sis—help yourself!” Ye Zhiyun’s eyes lit up like she’d won the lottery. She cradled the carton with both hands and passed it over.
All I asked for was milk—why the over-the-top excitement?!
Meanwhile, Old Dad Ye Qinghe’s face was full of envy.
Damn it, why wasn’t that carton in front of me?!
What’s there to envy about handing over a milk carton?!
Ye Zhibai was beyond snark at this point.
She still had a fox on the verge of passing out from spice.
Ye Zhibai poured herself a glass first. While Yun’er and Old Dad were busy with their dishes, she quietly poured a second one.
She chose a big glass, then hastily passed it to the floor-sitting Guang Yu and whispered,
“Drink this quick—it’ll kill the spice. What you chugged was chili oil, not like your wasabi. Spice is basically pain receptors firing. You really paid the price for being uncultured…”
“Waaah, drinking it now! Thanks, Ye Zhibai—you pulled this god from the fire! Good karma’s coming your way!”
Yeah, yeah, thanks for the blessing, O Deity. Just kill that chili burn first.
Without even checking what was in the glass, Guang Yu—spice-addled as she was—downed the milk in one gulp!
The result?
“Ugh! Cough! Too punchy!! This flavor hits harder than the chili oil!!”
“？!”
Oh right!
Ye Zhibai had forgotten: Guang Yu and milk were like oil and water. Last time she tried some, she’d nearly kicked the bucket!
Now Guang Yu rolled on the floor after the milk, beset by a double whammy of milk and chili oil!
But it didn’t last long before she calmed down.
Flat on her back on the floor, Guang Yu’s starry eyes dimmed a bit as she informed Ye Zhibai,
“Ye Zhibai… I think I just took a detour to the heavens a moment ago, only to get booted back down by Mother Goddess.”
“Speak normally. Still spicy? I can grab some water if you are.”
“Not spicy anymore—I’m good now. Lesson learned. Chili oil’s a killer. Wasabi straight-up it is for me.”
Do you even belong at a dinner table?!
A freak who chugs condiments straight—you don’t deserve a seat!
Ye Zhibai gripped the milk carton, ready for another rescue mission.
Just then, Ye Zhiyun’s voice reached her ears—calm yet laced with hesitation.
And a touch of resolve.
“Dad, while we’re all eating together, why don’t you tell Sis everything about Mom? Sigh, I know bringing it up kills the vibe, and I hate to mention it, but look at Sis right now—so down. She must really want to know why Mom’s not here.”
Ye Zhiyun finished and gazed at the one empty seat among the four around the table.
After a long pause, she let out a sigh.
Yun’er… thanks for your keen eye, spotting that tiny flicker of sadness on my perfectly blank face.
But I’m bummed about Guang Yu chugging chili oil! I’m sad she almost died eating dinner!
Ye Qinghe heard Yun’er’s words. Surprise flickered across his rugged yet weathered face.
He slowly set down his chopsticks, his expression wistful.
But resolve soon hardened it!
“You’re right, Yun’er. Alright, I do think… these things need to be clear to Zhibai. I promised her on the day she left the hospital that I’d explain it all when we had time. Listen to your dad, kid—but promise me, don’t let it get you down. Your dad and Yun’er are right here by your side.”
“…”
Ye Zhibai reflected that she hadn’t felt much emotion before.
But with you two setting the somber tone like this, now I’m actually getting a little scared of feeling sad!
Oh, and Guang Yu?
When you’re scarfing that flatbread slathered in wasabi, scoot a bit to the side.
Too punchy.
