Who gets scolded and still smiles so happily?!
It was probably because Ji Shulang strongly recommended it, so Ji Shuhe had a huge double-scoop ice cream cone before dinner. The freshly scooped ice cream balls, vanilla and matcha, were both flavors she liked. Tasty, yes, but for Ji Shuhe, who had little appetite in the summer, it was a bit too much.
Maybe to save face for Ji Shulang, or more likely not wanting to provoke Wen Shaoyu who was treating her, Ji Shuhe dawdled until most of the ice cream had melted, then had no choice but to finish the cone.
But then came dinner right after she got home. Faced with the bowl of tightly packed rice that Grandma had served her, it was a nightmare for Ji Shuhe.
She couldn't eat too fast, and the fullness in her stomach made it nearly impossible to swallow anything. Yet she couldn't be the last one at the table, making others waste time waiting for her to finish before clearing up.
Actually, every family dinner was torturous for Ji Shuhe, but today was especially bad.
Eating tasteless food and forcing herself to choke down the last bite, the fullness in her stomach made it hard to breathe, extremely uncomfortable.
All the food seemed to expand again in her stomach, stretching it to two or three times its normal size. If she bent over even slightly, she could easily throw up everything she'd swallowed.
Suppressing the discomfort in her stomach, Ji Shuhe forced herself to help her aunt clean up the dishes, then quickly made an excuse about going to the public bath outside the alley, grabbed her wash basket, and left the house.
At this hour, it was dinner time for those coming home late. The smell of cooking oil wafted from every house. Ji Shuhe held her breath and leaned against the wall, planning to walk around a bit to digest before bathing. But the smell made her nauseous, so she hurried into the public restroom just in case.
Unfortunately, the bathroom smell dealt her a second blow. Stomach acid churned, and soon she felt the suffocating sensation of something stuck in her throat. Bending over made the blood rush to her eyes, so tears mixed with the mess as they fell.
After throwing up everything she'd eaten, her stomach felt better, but her face was flushed and her head was still dizzy. She had to lean against the wall to get out.
It was truly embarrassing, especially near the alley entrance where there were always familiar faces. If someone saw her and misunderstood, that wouldn't be good.
Ji Shuhe moved quickly like a thief to the sink outside, scooped up a handful of water, and splashed it on her face to cool down. When she looked up, her eyes in the mirror were bloodshot, and though the flush on her cheeks had faded, she looked somehow haggard.
Clearly, everyone in that family was good to her...
"Even a newborn knows to stop eating when full. But some people would rather eat until they throw up than say 'I can't eat anymore.' I wonder who they're trying to impress."
A shadow fell beside Ji Shuhe, and along with the sound of running water came a male voice laced with sarcasm. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
She suspected this guy had installed a tracker on her. He always showed up when she was at her most embarrassing, witnessed the whole scene, and then made a half-hearted sarcastic remark.
But this time, after speaking, Wen Shaoyu didn't seem to expect an answer. He flicked his hands over the sink and turned to leave.
"Wen Shaoyu! Don't you dare leave!"
Surprisingly, Ji Shuhe was stunned for only a moment. As soon as she reacted, she called him back.
She hopped down the steps in two or three strides, jogged to catch up, and blocked his way aggressively, craning her neck to demand an explanation.
"What do you mean? 'I wonder who they're trying to impress'?" Ji Shuhe looked up at Wen Shaoyu, anger momentarily overcoming her fear. She even dared to stop someone she usually avoided.
Wen Shaoyu stood with his arms crossed, looking nonchalant. "Probably exactly what you think."
"Your family doesn't care if you waste food. All you have to do is say 'I'm full.' Starving yourself like this every day does nothing but make you feel self-satisfied."
In fact, it wasn't just today. Wen Shaoyu had noticed earlier. Grandma Ji served Ji Shuhe the same amount as Ji Shulang. There was no way a little girl like her could finish it.
Wen Shaoyu was bored enough to observe for a few days. He was surprised to see her actually clean her plate, and a few times he thought she had some special talent—until he saw her jogging around the alley to digest before bathing.
All of it, again, to please her family.
So earlier, using Ji Shulang's treat as an excuse, Wen Shaoyu had been deliberate. He wanted to see how far Ji Shuhe would go before she became honest and straightforward.
But she seemed to have endured again.
Wen Shaoyu had been observing since dinner at the Ji's. He saw her leave because she was too full, saw her nauseated by the cooking smoke, saw her clutching her stomach as she ran to the bathroom to throw up.
She silently endured everything where no one could see her.
But even so, she never thought of speaking up to solve the problem. It was like... a pretty puppet without a self, being manipulated. To Wen Shaoyu, that was terrifying.
"What do you know! You've never lived in someone else's house. You don't understand my situation, so how can you say that about me!"
Ji Shuhe was provoked by Wen Shaoyu's words. Emotions surged, making her feel hot all over and her eyes red. Tears welled up but didn't fall, though her voice still maintained a semblance of calm.
Wen Shaoyu frowned, regretting being too harsh. Ji Shuhe was a girl after all, not like the shameless Ji Shulang.
But he couldn't lower his pride easily. His mouth was still hard, but his tone unconsciously softened. "Living under someone else's roof and expressing your feelings have nothing to do with each other."
"Of course they do."
Ji Shuhe blurted out these three words without thinking, but then she paused. She looked at Wen Shaoyu's eyes, which flickered with hesitation. After a moment, she unclenched her fists and muttered in resignation, "Forget it. You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
She swallowed the words of debate she had on the tip of her tongue, turned her back, and wiped her face. Her dejected silhouette was utterly mismatched with her age.
Wen Shaoyu's brow remained furrowed. What did she mean by 'forget it'?
Telling him was useless, but keeping it to herself would help?
Curiosity piqued, Wen Shaoyu was determined to get an answer. He might not understand now, but he could learn.
He caught up, shamelessly sticking by Ji Shuhe's side. "I was too harsh. Don't be mad."
"I don't get it now, but you haven't said anything yet. What if I do understand once you tell me?"
Ji Shuhe was still angry, walking faster. Wen Shaoyu followed closely, buzzing like a fly in her ear, irritating her to no end.
She suddenly stopped, and Wen Shaoyu braked beside her. She looked up and demanded, "What do you want exactly?"
"I want to know what I don't understand." Wen Shaoyu was sincere.
Ji Shuhe grew more convinced he was crazy. "Even if you understand, what then? What does my business have to do with you!"
Indeed, it had nothing to do with him. But... Wen Shaoyu's peach blossom eyes curved as he tried to appear friendly. "At least it would prove I was wrong, and I should apologize to you."