Chapter 55 - 54: His Chopsticks Are So Good to Use

Chapter 55: Chapter 54: His Chopsticks Are So Good to Use

Xiao Ran smiled with a look of resignation. "It’s a good thing you were born in a time of peace. Otherwise, a kid like you could definitely be lured away with a single piece of candy."

The girl slurped up a mouthful of noodles, her little cheeks puffing out like a small squirrel sneaking a snack.

She mumbled, her words muffled by the food, "No way. You’re just jealous because you see my noodles are tastier than yours!"

As she spoke, her soft, pink lips moved in a way that was particularly beautiful.

Xiao Ran looked disdainful. "I’m not jealous of you. My noodles are definitely tastier!"

’To Xiao Ran, noodles without meat were completely flavorless.’

’It didn’t matter if it was crab roe or shrimp; nothing was as satisfying as a nice chunk of meat.’

The girl lowered her head and nonchalantly took another slurp.

The delicious flavor exploded on her taste buds once more, and her pretty eyebrows twitched slightly.

"’There’s absolutely nothing tastier than my crab roe noodles!’"

’She refused to believe anything could be more delicious than crab roe noodles!’

Just then, Xiao Ran’s noodles were ready. The proprietress, beaming, brought his bowl out from the back kitchen.

The rich beef broth, large chunks of beef, a sprinkling of cilantro, and an egg all made it look incredibly appetizing.

To put it simply, it looked just like the picture.

"’Noodles are here. Enjoy your meal.’"

With that, the proprietress placed the steaming hot bowl of noodles in front of Xiao Ran.

He picked up his chopsticks and shot Yan Xici a smug smile. "So? Mine looks pretty good, right? It even has an egg!"

As he stirred with his chopsticks, the fresh-from-the-pot noodles released puffs of fragrant steam.

The subtle aroma of cilantro was enough to make her cravings flare up.

She couldn’t help but lick her lips.

’What do I do? His noodles suddenly look really good.’

She swallowed hard and tried to console herself.

’It’s an illusion!’

’It has to be an illusion!’

’Hmph. I’m not envious. Mine are the best.’

Having steeled her resolve, the girl gave a small sniffle with her delicate nose, then lowered her head to take a bite of her noodles.

For his part, Xiao Ran gave his noodles a quick stir and then began to wolf them down. His ravenous eating made the dish look incredibly tempting.

Each and every slurp only made the bowl of noodles seem that much more enticing.

Watching him feast so heartily, the girl’s newfound resolve instantly began to waver pathetically.

Her glistening eyes fixated on the beef in Xiao Ran’s bowl.

There was a small, tender piece of tendon attached to the braised beef.

The girl couldn’t help but swallow. ’It must be delicious.’

’I really want to try a bite.’

’But she was too embarrassed to ask. After all, she’d just declared that her noodles were the best. It would be way too humiliating to change her tune now.’

’But... it looks so, so good.’

Seeing her blinking her big eyes, staring at the meat in his bowl like a little hungry kitten, almost made Xiao Ran burst out laughing.

’Didn’t she just insist hers were better?’

’Why the sudden craving?’

He deliberately picked up the piece of meat, acting as if he was about to eat it.

The girl’s long eyelashes fluttered, the longing in her eyes practically spilling out.

"’Is... is it good?’"

Xiao Ran fought back a laugh. "I haven’t eaten it yet. How would I know?"

The girl blinked, her small, pink tongue darting out to lick her lips as she stared imploringly at Xiao Ran.

’What do I do? I want it so badly.’

Seeing her pitiful expression, Xiao Ran couldn’t resist any longer, and his heart softened.

He placed the piece of meat in the girl’s bowl. "Alright, go ahead and eat it."

"’Thank you!!!’"

Without a moment’s hesitation, the girl picked up her chopsticks, placed the beef in her mouth with a blissful expression, and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

Mmm~

’It really is delicious.’

Perhaps feeling it was a bit embarrassing for someone her age to be so gluttonous,

the girl tried to justify herself as she chewed. "Um, you gave this to me. It’s not that I wanted to eat it... I just didn’t want it to go to waste."

After speaking, she reluctantly swallowed the meat.

Mmm.

’So good.’

’It would be even better if there was another piece!!!’

As if Xiao Ran didn’t know exactly what she was thinking.

"’Right, right, right, you’re absolutely right.’"

With that, he went back to devouring his noodles.

’Let’s see who caves first!’

Sure enough, after eating Xiao Ran’s beef, the girl’s crab roe noodles suddenly seemed tasteless.

Watching Xiao Ran wolfing down his food across from her, she practically started drooling.

The corners of her pretty eyes drooped, and her long eyelashes fluttered, making her big eyes look as innocent as humanly possible.

"’Um... uh... I don’t think you can finish that whole big bowl... so, how about... how about you share some with me...’"

The girl swallowed her embarrassment and looked at Xiao Ran with undisguised longing.

After all, you can eat noodles, but you can’t eat your pride. The ever-pragmatic girl was very clear on this point.

Xiao Ran: "..."

’She’s being so pitiful. If I don’t give her some, I’ll feel like I’m abusing a child.’

"’Alright, fine. But what about your noodles? Are you not going to eat them?’"

The girl shook her head and sniffled, her voice full of helpless honesty. "Suddenly, my noodles just don’t taste good anymore. Yours are tastier."

’It’s all my fault for eating the beef Brother Xiao Ran gave me.’

Xiao Ran sighed. Seeing her nearly untouched noodles, he decisively pushed his own bowl toward her.

"’Then you can have mine. We’ll switch.’"

Then he pulled the girl’s bowl of noodles toward himself.

’To be honest, it doesn’t really matter what I eat.’

’I’m past the age of being a picky eater, anyway.’

’As long as it’s food, I’m good. Besides, I’m not full yet.’

Hearing this, the girl was absolutely delighted, her eyes lighting up.

"’I knew Brother Xiao Ran is the best!’"

With that, she eagerly picked up the chopsticks resting on the bowl and, without a second thought, took a huge mouthful.

’As expected, Brother Xiao Ran’s food is the best!’

Watching her blissful expression, Xiao Ran suddenly remembered something.

’We didn’t switch chopsticks!’

’She’s using mine!’

"’Um, you’re using my chopsticks...’ Xiao Ran swallowed."

The girl hadn’t even had time to swallow the noodles in her mouth.

Her eyelid twitched, and she froze.

’Huh?’

’What did he just say?’

She instinctively glanced down at the chopsticks in her hand.

’These are Brother Xiao Ran’s?’

’I just licked them a moment ago...’

The thought made her feel utterly mortified.

’This wasn’t a cup or a bowl—it was chopsticks!’

’The very thing he’d been putting in his mouth over and over!’

’Isn’t this basically the same as kissing him???’

’Not only that, our saliva probably mixed!!!’

The more the girl thought about it, the more flustered she became, her face flushing crimson before his very eyes.

The girl was so embarrassed every nerve in her body felt taut. She hurriedly bowed her head. "’I-I’m sorry!’"

After speaking, she hastily offered the chopsticks back to him.

"’Um, maybe I should give these back to you.’"

It was strange. If she didn’t harbor a secret crush on him, she probably wouldn’t have had such a peculiar thought.

She would have just laughed about using the wrong chopsticks and grabbed a new pair.

But as soon as a little crush was involved, her mind couldn’t help but wander into romantic territory!

And she would unconsciously fall into a state of nervous bliss.

This, perhaps, was what they called a young girl’s heart.

Looking at the girl’s flushed face, Xiao Ran knew she was most likely just shy. He swallowed.

’She’s already used my chopsticks. Is it really not too late to switch back now?’