Chapter Ninety-Three: He Had No Meal Today

With no one around at the moment, Qin Sheng had even more room to act freely.

She cast a cautious glance in all directions, then quickly took several instant self-heating rice meals from her hidden store and lined them up one by one in the kitchen cabinet.

She also brought out the ready-made pickled vegetable fish and the seaweed-and-egg soup packets she had bought on a whim before.

Qin Sheng could not cook, but she was confident she could make these simple instant foods taste pretty good.

In her hidden store, there were fresh eggs, fish fillets, and some seasonings, but it was inconvenient to take them out.

Qin Sheng puffed out her cheeks. In the future, she would have to think of some way to bring out the food from her hidden store naturally; otherwise, simply hoarding it would not solve anything.

Besides, the hidden plot of land had already been planted with cabbage and corn. There was more food there than she could ever eat in several lifetimes. Using up some of the older supplies would make room for the fresh ones.

While thinking this, Qin Sheng twisted open the portable gas stove beside her. It was rather amusing, really; she had bought it back then from a camping shop online, and thinking it necessary, she had stocked up on quite a lot.

The little stove was compact and convenient. Since arriving in the safe zone, Jiang Miaomiao had mostly used it to prepare food for everyone.

Qin Sheng quickly brought a pot to the boil. While waiting for the water to bubble hot, she slid the fish fillets into it, and in another pot she stir-fried the pickled vegetables that came free in the package. Seizing the moment while no one was around, she even added Sichuan peppercorns to the fish. In an instant, the aroma spread through the whole room.

Self-heating rice was the easiest thing to handle: just add a little water and leave it alone.

In only half an hour, Qin Sheng had finished preparing lunch.

By her reckoning, Jiang Miaomiao and the others should be back soon.

Qin Sheng tidied up briefly, arranged the rice at the places where they usually sat, and waited quietly for them to return.

“No way, I thought that guy looked exactly like Brother Xing, but when I went over there, they looked nothing alike at all...” Chu Xingyu’s voice came from outside the door.

A Di nodded in agreement. “Me too. There were so many people, and I didn’t see anyone who looked even remotely related to Lin Xing.”

Hearing that, Jiang Miaomiao could not help laughing. “You make it sound like you’ve actually met Lin Xing before.”

“Isn’t that just based on the way you described him...?”

Just as they opened the door, the rich fragrance of the fish instantly stirred the hunger in their bellies.

“What in the world—is a sea fairy here or something? Why is there even pickled vegetable fish?” Someone who had eaten nothing but steamed buns and salted pickles for days nearly drooled the moment he caught the scent.

After hearing them, Qin Sheng came out from the kitchen.

“Did you find Lin Xing?” she asked, looking at Jiang Miaomiao with quiet uncertainty.

Jiang Miaomiao sighed and shook her head, indicating that there had been no discovery that morning.

Qin Sheng drew in a breath and quietly confirmed the suspicion she had had that day. It seemed she would have to go out tonight.

“Sister Sheng, did you prepare lunch for us?” Chu Xingyu’s attention was already completely drawn to the fish on the table, and his beloved Brother Xing had been shoved to the back of his mind.

Qin Sheng nodded. “Lunch is ready. Come and eat.”

Chu Xingyu and A Di cried out in delight and hurried to sit down where they ate.

Qin Sheng glanced at Jiang Miaomiao and gestured for her to come eat as well.

Jiang Miaomiao nodded and sat in her usual place.

“Oh my god, there’s even a self-heating hot pot,” A Di said, so excited that he could barely speak clearly. He promptly picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the tender fish, and nodded furiously. “Hurry up and try this fish. It’s so good it’s practically heaven-sent. Qin Sheng, your cooking is amazing!”

Qin Sheng smiled and ate a mouthful of rice with unhurried composure, not answering A Di.

These were all simple instant foods. If she had tried to make pickled vegetable fish from scratch, the kitchen would probably have blown up and she still would not have managed it.

Still, even if it was instant food, she had made it herself, and that gave her a certain sense of accomplishment.

“By the way, where’s Brother Song?” After taking a bite, Jiang Miaomiao suddenly realized that Song Qing’an was not here for lunch.

At the thought of Song Qing’an’s sly smile that morning, Qin Sheng’s expression darkened at once. She said lightly, “Don’t worry about him. He’s not eating today.”

Jiang Miaomiao and A Di exchanged a glance and immediately understood, wisely keeping their mouths shut and not asking where Song Qing’an had gone.

Chu Xingyu stuffed a large mouthful of rice into his mouth, then asked with concern, “If he doesn’t get to eat today, won’t Brother Song get a stomachache? I remember his stomach—”

Qin Sheng shot him a warning glance, and Chu Xingyu immediately clammed up.

Jiang Miaomiao and A Di also decisively chose to eat without talking. Otherwise, the one who would go hungry today would not be Song Qing’an alone.

By the time Jiang Miaomiao had nearly finished eating, she remembered that none of these things had been in the safe zone, and guessed that Qin Sheng must have gone outside again.

“Shengsheng, did you go out of the safe zone again last night?” Jiang Miaomiao looked at Qin Sheng with worry.

Qin Sheng knew she would certainly ask where the food had come from, and so she nodded.

“It’s too dangerous, Shengsheng. We can eat less. Going out of the safe zone so often is fraught with danger...” Jiang Miaomiao knew her persuasion would not do much good each time, but she still had to say it more often so that Qin Sheng would be more cautious.

Qin Sheng patted Jiang Miaomiao on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry about me, Miaomiao. I’ll be fine.”

Because Qin Sheng had not gone out of the safe zone at all, and would naturally not face the dangers of doing so.

Jiang Miaomiao worried every time, but Qin Sheng could not very well tell her that these things came from her hidden store. She could only let Jiang Miaomiao fret over her a little each time.

“But...”

“I won’t put myself in danger. You don’t need to feel too much pressure. Only when you’re well fed can you do more things.” Qin Sheng curved her lips faintly. Her words were for Jiang Miaomiao, but also for Chu Xingyu and A Di.

Jiang Miaomiao sighed and nodded. “All right.”

“Eat quickly. Training this afternoon.” Having left that one line behind, Qin Sheng stepped out onto the rooftop again.

Jiang Miaomiao and the others exchanged smiles. Without needing any more words, they obediently resumed eating.

When Qin Sheng returned to the rooftop, Song Qing’an was still in his original spot. Only this time, he was not leaning against the chair anymore, but reclining in it in complete leisure, wearing a pair of sunglasses she did not know where he had found. He looked anything but like someone who had been denied a meal.

The moment Qin Sheng arrived, Song Qing’an noticed her. Beneath the sunglasses, his eyes narrowed with mischief as he lazily asked, “Full already? What did you eat?”

Qin Sheng pressed her lips together, walked over, and sat down beside him. “Since you can’t eat it, why ask? Trying to quench your thirst by imagining plums?”

Song Qing’an immediately sat up in his chair and shook his head lightly. “I’m just seeing whether I’d be interested.”

“You’re interested and still can’t eat it.” Qin Sheng rolled her eyes.

Song Qing’an pouted and said pitifully, “How can life be this miserable? Not only can I not eat, I can’t even hear what other people are eating...”

Qin Sheng let out a soft laugh and replied flatly, “You can go eat with Lu Shenchen.”

After all, before he knew her, Song Qing’an had always eaten over there.

“What? I was only gone one night, and you’re already sick of me?” Song Qing’an took off his sunglasses in disbelief and looked at Qin Sheng like a little dog that had been abandoned.

Qin Sheng had not expected him to think so much. Seeing his pitiful expression, she could not help teasing him. “Yes, you’ve been here quite a long time already.”

Song Qing’an said nothing for a long moment, as if sulking, and turned away from her.

When Qin Sheng saw that he remained silent for so long, his back looked especially forlorn, and she stopped teasing him. From her hidden store, she took out two sandwiches and a rice ball.

“All right, stop pretending and eat.”

At the mention of food, Song Qing’an turned back at once. Seeing that it was his favorite sandwich, there was no trace left of the pitiful, lonely look from before. He took the sandwich and began eating cheerfully.

Qin Sheng smiled helplessly and said to him, “The safe zone has been registering everyone by real name these past few days. You probably won’t be able to stay much longer.”

Song Qing’an continued eating his sandwich with complete calm.

Qin Sheng pressed her lips together and spoke for him. “Fine, I know no one can stop you from coming in.”

“Smart.” Song Qing’an smiled and opened the next sandwich.

Qin Sheng smiled in resignation and stood up to practice her punches for a while.

“How have you been lately?”

Somehow, Song Qing’an had finished eating and was standing behind her.

Qin Sheng thought for a few seconds, then said lightly, “Everything’s fine.”

Song Qing’an nodded.

The next second, as if she had already foreseen it, Qin Sheng looked back at him and asked, “Are you leaving?”

This time Song Qing’an did not keep teasing her. He nodded again.

It would not be long now. He should go.

“All right, then. Safe travels.” Qin Sheng curved her lips and said with a smile.

Song Qing’an turned to look at her, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He removed the ring from his hand, took Qin Sheng’s hand, and slipped it onto the little finger of her left hand.

Qin Sheng froze. Looking at the black obsidian ring on her finger, she moved as if to take it off. The thing was far too valuable; she absolutely could not accept it.

But Song Qing’an caught both her hands and stopped her from removing it.

“Take it as repayment for letting me eat today.”

The careless way Song Qing’an said it made Qin Sheng feel a little guilty. It was only some food, after all; she would not really go so far as to let Song Qing’an starve.

But his repayment was far too precious. She could never accept it.

“Keep it. Consider it comfort for standing me up last time.”

After speaking, Song Qing’an raised a hand and, almost unconsciously, ruffled Qin Sheng’s hair. Then he gave a low laugh and strode away from the rooftop without looking back.

Only Qin Sheng, left standing there somewhat dazed, remained.

Hadn’t the matter of standing her up already been settled by that fight?

Why was there even comfort for it?

Qin Sheng raised her hand and looked at the black ring on her little finger. In a trance, she almost felt as if the ring had grown smaller, binding itself snugly around her finger.