Chapter 75: The Interrupted Meal

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The Interrupted Meal

Huo Jingchen led Xi Yunxui toward the small seating area nestled within the greenhouse, where a wooden table and several chairs had been arranged beneath the shade of the surrounding plants.

Xi Yunxui had only just taken her seat when movement near the entrance caught her attention.

Two servants entered the greenhouse, each carrying a covered tray.

The moment Xi Yunxui realized they were approaching the table, she immediately understood what was happening.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Without thinking, she rose from her chair.

The movement was so sudden that Huo Jingchen looked up at her.

Xi Yunxui stepped away from the table and stood to one side, leaving a respectful distance between herself and him.

Huo Jingchen’s expression remained unchanged.

However, something within him quietly sank.

He understood why she had moved.

She was a maid employed by the Huo family, while he was the eldest young master of the household. If the other servants discovered that she was casually sitting and eating with him, there would undoubtedly be whispers throughout the residence.

Xi Yunxui was simply trying to avoid unnecessary gossip.

Huo Jingchen understood that.

He understood it perfectly well.

Yet understanding did not stop the unpleasant feeling settling in his chest.

His gaze lingered on her.

For some reason, seeing her deliberately place that distance between them bothered him far more than it should have.

A small, irrational part of him wanted to tell her that he did not care what the servants thought.

He wanted to tell her that she did not need to stand so far away from him whenever other people were present.

However, the words never left his mouth.

He knew that the difference in their positions was real, whether he cared about it or not.

More importantly, Xi Yunxui clearly cared.

He could not simply ignore that.

The servants approached the table and carefully placed the dishes down.

Xi Yunxui remained quietly at the side throughout the process, her hands folded politely in front of her.

Once everything had been arranged, the two servants bowed before leaving the greenhouse.

The moment they disappeared from sight, Xi Yunxui returned to the table and quietly sat down again.

Huo Jingchen watched her.

There was something vaguely accusatory in his gaze.

Xi Yunxui, however, either failed to notice or deliberately pretended not to.

Her eyes remained firmly fixed on the food.

Huo Jingchen’s lips pressed together.

She knows.

He was almost certain she knew exactly why he was looking at her.

Yet she continued examining the dishes as though they were the most fascinating things she had ever seen.

Huo Jingchen eventually spoke.

"Eat."

Xi Yunxui looked up.

His expression remained calm, although his voice carried a faint trace of displeasure that she could not quite understand.

Xi Yunxui glanced at the food before looking back at him.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Huo Jingchen leaned back slightly.

"I specifically asked them to bring this for you."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

The words were simple, but something about the way he said them made warmth spread through her chest.

She quickly lowered her gaze.

"Thank you."

This time, her voice was softer.

Huo Jingchen watched as Xi Yunxui picked up her chopsticks.

She selected a piece of food and finally took her first bite.

The moment the food entered her mouth, her expression relaxed.

She had genuinely been hungry.

Seeing the subtle satisfaction on her face, Huo Jingchen’s displeasure gradually faded.

Perhaps bringing her here had not been such a bad idea after all.

Xi Yunxui reached for another bite.

Then the system suddenly spoke.

[Host, there are currently three well-fed creatures staring at your food.]

Xi Yunxui froze.

Her chopsticks remained suspended halfway toward her mouth.

For a moment, she did not move.

Then, very slowly, she turned her head.

King C.

Biyu.

Hui.

The three creatures were gathered nearby.

They were staring at her.

More specifically, they were staring at her food.

Xi Yunxui looked from one creature to another.

King C sat perfectly still.

Biyu stood beside him.

Hui remained slightly behind the two of them.

None of them made a sound.

None of them moved.

However, the intensity with which they stared at the dishes made Xi Yunxui feel as though they were silently discussing the best method of stealing her food.

King C’s gaze was particularly shameless.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes at him.

King C blinked innocently.

Xi Yunxui turned away.

She refused to acknowledge them.

She placed another bite of food into her mouth.

The system spoke again.

[Host, are you not going to feed them?]

Xi Yunxui’s expression darkened slightly.

System.

[Yes, Host?]

I fed them less than an hour ago.

The system remained silent.

Xi Yunxui continued communicating with it internally.

They ate vegetables. Plenty of vegetables.

Still, the system said nothing.

Xi Yunxui picked up another piece of food.

I am hungry.

[The creatures are also staring at your food because they appear hungry.]

Xi Yunxui’s hand stopped.

She slowly closed her eyes.

What kind of logic is that?

The system remained quiet.

Xi Yunxui continued internally.

I am their owner. If the person responsible for feeding them doesn’t eat, who exactly is supposed to have the strength to continue looking after three bottomless pits?

The system did not answer.

Xi Yunxui opened her eyes.

Exactly.

Feeling victorious, she lifted her chopsticks again.

King C stared.

Biyu stared.

Hui stared.

Xi Yunxui ignored all three of them.

She took another bite.

The moment she reached for what would have been her fourth mouthful, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from the entrance of the greenhouse.

Xi Yunxui paused.

Huo Jingchen looked toward the entrance.

A young maid hurried inside, her expression revealing that she had been searching for someone.

The moment her eyes landed on Huo Jingchen and Xi Yunxui, she immediately headed toward them.

Xi Yunxui placed her chopsticks down.

The maid stopped at a respectful distance before bowing.

"Young Master."

Huo Jingchen gave a slight nod.

The maid then turned toward Xi Yunxui.

"Xi Yunxui."

Xi Yunxui looked at her questioningly.

"The Patriarch is asking for you."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes."

The maid’s gaze shifted toward King C, Biyu, and Hui.

After a brief pause, she continued.

"The Patriarch asked that you bring your three... companions as well."

Xi Yunxui slowly turned toward the creatures.

King C’s ears immediately perked up.

Biyu tilted its head.

Hui blinked its large dark eyes.

Xi Yunxui, meanwhile, could not help wondering why the Patriarch wanted all four of them.

Had King C done something again?

Her gaze slowly moved toward him.

King C immediately looked away.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

Suspicious.

However, there was no time to interrogate him.

"The Patriarch is waiting in the living room," the maid added.

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"All right. I’ll go immediately."

She turned toward the table.

Only then did she remember that she had barely eaten.

Her eyes lingered briefly on the food.

A faint expression of regret crossed her face.

She had waited so long to eat.

She had finally taken only a few bites.

And now—

The Patriarch was calling for her.

Xi Yunxui sighed inwardly before standing.

King C immediately rose to his feet.

Biyu fluttered toward her shoulder.

Hui hurried closer and stood beside her leg.

Xi Yunxui looked at the three creatures gathered around her.

"Let’s go."

King C nodded as though he were the one in charge.

Xi Yunxui resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

She then turned toward Huo Jingchen and bowed slightly.

"Young Master, I’ll take my leave."

Huo Jingchen did not immediately respond.

His eyes fell upon the untouched food on the table.

Then they returned to Xi Yunxui.

He had specifically brought her here because she was hungry.

He had even instructed the servants to prepare food for her.

She had barely eaten.

And now someone had interrupted them.

The irritation that surfaced within him was entirely unreasonable.

Huo Jingchen knew that.

His grandfather was the one calling for her.

He had no reason to be displeased.

Yet the thought that their quiet moment together had ended so quickly left him feeling unexpectedly dissatisfied.

His gaze shifted toward the maid.

The young maid stiffened slightly.

For some reason, Young Master’s expression had suddenly become difficult to read.

She immediately lowered her head.

Huo Jingchen eventually looked back at Xi Yunxui.

"Go."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"Yes, Young Master."

She turned and began walking toward the entrance.

The three creatures immediately followed.

King C walked with unusual confidence.

Biyu perched comfortably against Xi Yunxui.

Hui remained close to her side.

Xi Yunxui had almost reached the entrance when she glanced back.

Huo Jingchen was still sitting at the table.

For some reason, he was looking at her.

Their eyes met.

Xi Yunxui paused briefly.

Huo Jingchen’s expression remained composed, but something in his gaze made her heart feel strangely unsettled.

She did not know why.

Perhaps it was because he had brought her food.

Perhaps it was because of the strange silence that had fallen between them before the maid arrived.

Or perhaps it was simply because, for the first time since entering the greenhouse, Xi Yunxui suddenly realized that Huo Jingchen looked genuinely disappointed.

Before she could think about it any further, King C bumped gently against her leg.

Xi Yunxui looked down.

"Let’s go."

King C nodded.

Xi Yunxui turned away and left the greenhouse with the maid and her three creatures following closely behind.

Huo Jingchen remained seated.

The greenhouse gradually became quiet once more.

His gaze fell upon the untouched food across from him.

For several moments, he said nothing.

Then he slowly leaned back in his chair.

He had spent considerable effort trying to understand the feelings Xi Yunxui stirred within him.

After visiting the Wei Sect, he had decided to stop resisting them.

Yet one thing was becoming increasingly clear.

Whatever these feelings were—

Huo Jingchen was beginning to dislike anything that interrupted the time he spent with her.

And somehow, he had the feeling that this was only the beginning.