Chapter 454 A Girl’s Little Thoughts

Since he had his little sister with him today, Zhao Nuan Yang kept getting distracted to check on her.

When he saw his sister sitting quietly in the corner, engrossed in a book, Zhao Nuan Yang smiled. He knew she would be interested in this one.

Around noon, Pan Ling’er appeared at the doorway of Zhao Nuan Yang’s office, a small bag in her hand.

"Aren’t you two going to eat? Everyone else has already left!" Pan Ling’er’s voice rang out from the doorway. "Little Red Carp, Ms. Ling’er has brought you something tasty."

Hearing Pan Ling’er’s voice, Little Red Carp finally snapped out of it, realizing the entire morning had passed. She carefully placed the book on the table and looked at her brother. "Brother, let’s go to the cafeteria with Ms. Ling’er. I’m hungry, and you must be hungry too!"

Normally, Zhao Nuan Yang would wait for the crowds to thin out before eating. It saved time, but it also meant the food was cold by the time he got there.

But he had his little sister with him today; he couldn’t let her be inconvenienced.

So, Zhao Nuan Yang put down his paintbrush, led his sister over to the sink to wash their hands, and said with a smile, "Little Red Carp is hungry, and so is her big brother. Let’s go eat with Ms. Ling’er!"

Pan Ling’er’s heart leaped when she heard Zhao Nuan Yang say her name.

Little Red Carp was practically her lucky star.

The cafeteria was packed, just as they’d expected. Pan Ling’er found a seat in a corner and had Little Red Carp sit down while she went to get their meals.

"Zhao Nuan Yang, you stay here and watch Little Red Carp. I’ll go get our food!" Pan Ling’er said, taking out her lunchbox. ’This is my chance to make a good impression. If I build a good rapport with them, we can get closer.’

"No need!" Zhao Nuan Yang said with a smile. He looked at Pan Ling’er. "You stay here and chat with my sister. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t wander off. I’ll go get the food."

With that, Zhao Nuan Yang took the lunchbox from Pan Ling’er’s hands.

Pan Ling’er sat down at the table and started sharing a snack with Little Red Carp.

When Pan Ling’er took out her own snack, Little Red Carp’s eyes lit up. It was cheesecake, her favorite.

"Little Red Carp, have some! This is my favorite cheesecake. It’s delicious," Pan Ling’er said, her eyes sparkling as she talked about food.

Little Red Carp took out her own small wooden box of snacks and pushed it toward Pan Ling’er. "I love cheesecake, too! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful treat with me, Ms. Ling’er. My older sister made these—they’re plum blossom cakes. They have their own unique flavor. You should try one."

"Mhm!" Pan Ling’er beamed, picking up a piece of the plum blossom cake and taking a bite. "It’s soft, sweet, and chewy... it melts in your mouth! This is so much better than the plum blossom cake our cook makes at home."

"Wow, I think this cheesecake is even better than any I’ve had before!" Little Red Carp couldn’t help but exclaim after tasting a small piece. "Where did you buy it?"

"Haha, our cook at home made it herself," Pan Ling’er explained. "You can find cheesecake anywhere, but you’ll never find this specific flavor. It has a faint hint of tea. If you like it, Little Red Carp, I’ll bring it for you often!"

’What a good person!’

Stars appeared in Little Red Carp’s eyes. She was growing more and more fond of this round-faced policewoman.

"Mhm, my sister can make lots of tasty things too! I’ll bring some to share with you next time." Little Red Carp was never one to keep good food to herself and always believed in returning the favor. "Oh, by the way, Ms. Ling’er, when I grow up, do you think I could learn how to make cheesecake from your cook? That way, whenever I want cake, I can just make it myself. I could make lots and lots for everyone!"

"Of course you can! You can learn when you’re older," Pan Ling’er said with a laugh. "Oh dear, these plum blossom cakes... I think I’ve eaten a few too many. We’d better save some for your brother!"

Pan Ling’er quickly retracted the hand that was reaching for another plum blossom cake. As much as she loved these treats, she couldn’t look like a glutton in front of Zhao Nuan Yang.

Her mom used to say that greedy girls would have a hard time finding a good husband.

Pan Ling’er hesitated. ’Delicious plum blossom cakes... delicious cheesecake...’

’I’ll just have to hold back for now. I can eat more when I get home.’

By the time Zhao Nuan Yang returned with their meals, they had already eaten half of the snacks.

"You two ate so many snacks. Are you going to be able to finish all the food I brought?" Zhao Nuan Yang knew that eating sweets before a meal could ruin one’s appetite, so he couldn’t help but make a comment.

Hearing this, Pan Ling’er thought Zhao Nuan Yang was angry and quickly tried to explain. "Zhao Nuan Yang, please don’t be upset! It was my idea to give Little Red Carp a snack. And I ate most of them, really! Little Red Carp barely had any. It’s my fault, so please don’t blame her."

Little Red Carp looked at Pan Ling’er, who was so quick to take the blame and looked utterly pitiful. She quickly chimed in, "I have a great appetite! Eating a few snacks won’t spoil it. Don’t blame Ms. Ling’er, she’s a good person."

Pan Ling’er shot Little Red Carp a grateful look, thinking, ’Little Red Carp is a good person, too. A very good little person.’

Seeing both his sister and Pan Ling’er defend each other, Zhao Nuan Yang didn’t have the heart to press the issue. He handed them their lunchboxes and said, "The cafeteria only had three vegetable dishes and two meat dishes today. I got a bit of each for you."

Pan Ling’er opened her lunchbox, only to find it contained onions—something she hated. Her appetite vanished instantly.

But she didn’t dare be a picky eater in front of Zhao Nuan Yang.

Little Red Carp, on the other hand, wasn’t picky. As long as it was edible, she would happily eat it.

Watching Little Red Carp eat with such gusto, Pan Ling’er suddenly felt that perhaps the onions weren’t so bad after all.

Nevertheless, the onions were what remained in Pan Ling’er’s lunchbox when she was done.

Zhao Nuan Yang noticed and asked, "You don’t like onions?"

"N-no, it’s not that..." Pan Ling’er denied hastily. "Actually, onions taste fine. I hear they’re good for you, too!"

"That’s right. My older sister is studying medicine, and she says onions are very healthy. You should eat up so it doesn’t go to waste," Zhao Nuan Yang said with a smile, then proceeded to finish every last onion in his own lunchbox.

Pan Ling’er stared at the large pile of onions still left on her plate, filled with regret. ’I should have just told him I don’t like them.’

’But the words are already out of my mouth!’

’I can’t be a picky eater, a liar, *and* wasteful all at once!’

So, bracing herself, Pan Ling’er forced herself to keep eating. It took a Herculean effort, but she finally finished her meal.

Pan Ling’er made a decision. ’Tomorrow, I’m definitely getting my own food. I am never letting Zhao Nuan Yang get it for me again.’ The taste of onions was simply unbearable.

As she ate, Little Red Carp observed the interactions between her brother and Pan Ling’er, secretly snickering to herself.