Free Web NovelChapter 172: Chapter 170: He Could Hug His Quilt and Cry All Night
Bai Su turned her head, looked at the clock on the wall, and then it hit her—she had promised Li Chenlin she would go on a date to see a movie with him today. He was here to pick her up.
Wen Xiaobao obediently put down her spoon. "Hello, sir."
Li Chenlin’s lips curved. "Hello, little one."
Suddenly, his gaze shifted back and forth between Wen Xiaobao and Bai Su. He raised an eyebrow. "Susu, where did you find this little bunny? She looks so much like you..."
They looked like they were cast from the same mold.
Bai Su laughed. "Right? I think so too."
That was why she was so fond of the little girl; she felt a natural sense of closeness to her.
She said, "Wait for me a moment. I’ll eat with her first. Do you want some?"
Li Chenlin shook his head. "No, thanks. I’ll just wait for you two."
Bai Su nodded and continued feeding the little girl. "Try this, sweet and sour pork."
The little girl obediently held up her spoon to receive the food, popping the round piece of meat into her mouth. The rich sweet and sour flavor instantly took over her entire palate, completely overwhelming the savory taste of the soup from before.
The pork was coated in a thick, sweet, and savory sauce. With one bite, her teeth met a distinct crunch. As she bit down harder, the tender, springy texture of the meat burst forth, its natural juices mixing with the sweet and sour sauce from the coating.
Wen Xiaobao’s eyes widened in amazement. The more she chewed, the more delicious it became.
After she swallowed, a refreshing, sweet aftertaste of pineapple lingered in her mouth.
’This is so good!’
She eagerly scooped up another piece of meat with her spoon.
Bai Su reminded her, "You can mix the tofu and egg in tomato sauce with your rice."
She had deliberately thickened the sauce for the tofu and egg with a cornstarch slurry just before taking it off the heat, making the sauce viscous and smooth—perfect for mixing with rice.
Every grain of rice would be fully soaked in the thick sauce, creating a phenomenal mouthfeel!
Plus, she had used steamed eggs for the dish, so it wasn’t greasy at all.
The little girl didn’t quite understand what she meant.
Bai Su smiled and took her spoon. She scooped up some of the tofu and egg in tomato sauce, mixed it into the rice until it was fully soaked in the rich sauce, then added a small shrimp and a piece of sweet and sour pork. She lifted the spoonful of rice to the girl’s mouth. "Ahh, open up."
Wen Xiaobao’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment. No one had ever fed her like this before.
For as long as she could remember, her father had always made them feed themselves.
She opened her mouth wide and took the whole spoonful, her mouth stuffed full.
As she chewed, layers of flavor exploded: the savory sauce from the tofu and egg, the sweetness of the shrimp, and the rich, sweet and sour taste of the pork. The smooth tomato sauce coated the plump grains of rice, making them slick and delicious.
The rich combination of textures was an explosion in her mouth.
As Wen Xiaobao ate, she felt a little like crying. She had truly never eaten anything this delicious before. She really wanted her sister and father to try it too.
While eating, the little girl made a resolution: she had to get her father and sister to eat here once!
After eating her fill, she saw there was still a lot of food left on the table. She looked at Bai Su, a little nervous. "Auntie..."
Bai Su thought she was worried about wasting it and smiled. "It’s okay if you can’t finish it. Just eat as much as you can."
Wen Xiaobao licked her lips. "No, it’s not that. Can I... take the leftovers home? Auntie, I have money, I can buy it..."
Bai Su burst out laughing. "Of course you can take it home! I said I was treating you, and I meant it. I don’t want your money."
She really liked Wen Xiaobao. The girl had been raised so well.
The little one’s belly was full, so she must have wanted to take the leftovers home to share with her family.
Bai Su got some takeaway containers and quickly packed up the food. She patted the girl’s little head. "Come on, Auntie will walk you home."
Wen Xiaobao nodded obediently. "Thank you, Auntie."
Bai Su carried the food and walked the little girl across the street and into a general store.
There was no one inside; Wen Lan probably wasn’t back yet.
Wen Xiaobao said, "Auntie, you can just put the food on the counter..."
Bai Su smiled and nodded, then asked, "When will your dad be back?"
’A store this big, and she’s home alone. She’s just a little girl.’ ’Even though it’s the city center, it’s still not safe, is it?’ ’What if a kidnapper shows up, or a thief?’ ’Wen Lan is so careless, always leaving such a young child home alone.’
As Bai Su thought this, a worried look appeared on her face.
Li Chenlin had been lazily trailing beside them, but he suddenly felt an extremely aggressive gaze coming from the staircase.
He was instantly on alert. His snake-like pupils narrowed as he released a powerful field of spiritual power, enveloping Bai Su within its protective range.
Bai Su was confused. "What’s wrong?"
Li Chenlin lowered his eyelids, hiding the hostility in his eyes. "Oh... it’s nothing."
Wen Xiaobao said obediently, "Dad will be back later. You don’t have to worry about me, Auntie."
Only then did Bai Su turn back to Wen Xiaobao. "Are you sure you’ll be okay here by yourself?"
Wen Xiaobao nodded. "I will!"
Bai Su was still a little worried. "After Auntie leaves, lock the door, okay? Don’t open it for anyone except your dad. Be careful when you’re home alone."
Wen Xiaobao knew Auntie was worried about her, so she didn’t explain, just nodded obediently again. "Okay~"
Bai Su finally felt a bit more at ease. She led Li Chenlin out of the general store. Only after watching Wen Xiaobao wave goodbye, her small, tender arm pulling the big door shut and sliding the lock into place, did she finally leave, reassured.
Li Chenlin gazed toward the second floor of the general store, a pensive look in his eyes.
Wen Xiaobao watched them walk away, then scampered up the stairs. "Sister, I brought something delicious back for you!"
FLICK! Wen Dabao’s finger tapped Wen Xiaobao’s forehead, not too lightly and not too hard.
Caught off guard, Wen Xiaobao clutched her head. "Sister?"
Wen Dabao looked at her sternly. "Are you an idiot? I take my eyes off you for one second and you run off with a stranger!"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Wen Xiaobao hugged her sister’s arm and wheedled, "Sis... I know I was wrong, but Auntie really isn’t a bad person! She treated me to dinner and even let me pack up the leftovers to bring home. You’ll definitely love it!"
Hearing there was food, the tail hanging behind Wen Dabao twitched. "Mmm..."
They were twins; Wen Xiaobao knew her sister all too well.
Wen Xiaobao hugged her arm and swayed it back and forth. "Sis~ come on! I brought it back especially for you! You’ll definitely like it, it’s really, really good! Way better than Dad’s scrambled eggs with tomato!"
Wen Dabao twitched the corner of her mouth like a little adult. "If he heard you say that, he’d cry into his blanket all night."
Wen Xiaobao scratched her head. "Hehe..."
Wen Dabao cleared her throat. "Ahem... Well, if Dad finds out you brought food from *that woman* back home, he’ll definitely be furious. So, I guess I’ll reluctantly help you... dispose of the evidence!"
’I’ve already eaten that woman’s strawberry pudding anyway,’ she thought. ’One more meal won’t make a difference.’
’I’m definitely not going to change my opinion of that woman just because of one meal!’
’Nope, definitely not!’
