Always Together

Ye Shuang had no choice but to let Bai Yuyou cling to her like this, as her attention was entirely focused on the stove.

Steam still rose from the pot, the oil from the fried eggs emulsifying fully in the hot water, turning the broth thick and milky. After adding loofah, Ye Shuang sprinkled in some salt and MSG.

A bit of meat would have made it absolutely perfect.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option—Ye Shuang didn’t have any on hand, so she had to rely on salt and MSG to enhance the flavor.

Generally, in provinces like Guangdong, adding MSG to soup was a big no-no. If you dared to do it, your mom would whack you over the head with a ladle and scold,

"Have you lost your mind? Eating MSG causes cancer!"

Then she’d toss out the MSG you secretly bought.

But in reality, normal use of MSG doesn’t cause cancer at all. That was just a rumor spread decades ago by foreign chicken bouillon brands trying to break into the domestic market. Nowadays, if you check the ingredient list of any chicken bouillon, the first thing you’ll see is MSG.

It just goes to show how effective those old-school marketing wars were in an era when information wasn’t as accessible.

Compared to MSG, the truly terrifying thing has always been human nature.

Recalling her own past experiences, Ye Shuang sighed silently in her heart.

Once the meal was ready, Ye Shuang laid everything out on the table. Bai Yuyou sat in her chair, chopsticks in hand, staring at the two dishes and a soup prepared just for her, looking slightly at a loss.

"What’s wrong? Weren’t you starving earlier?" Ye Shuang asked when she noticed Bai Yuyou hadn’t touched her food.

"I can’t eat," Bai Yuyou said.

Ye Shuang blinked, then joked, "What, are you afraid I poisoned it?"

Bai Yuyou shook her head. "Anyone who eats with me will have bad luck. I can’t eat first."

The smile on Ye Shuang’s face slowly faded. She asked seriously, "Who told you that?"

Bai Yuyou’s expression remained blank as she answered softly, "My classmates."

Then she added, "Everyone says so."

Ye Shuang fell silent for a few seconds before rubbing her temples and pulling up a chair beside Bai Yuyou. "They’re all talking nonsense. We live in a scientific age—someone as beautiful as you only brings good luck."

"Good luck?"

"Exactly. Now eat." Ye Shuang picked up a piece of cucumber and placed it in the girl’s bowl. "If you don’t believe me, time will prove it."

Bai Yuyou picked up the cucumber, studied it for a long moment, then turned to the woman beside her. "How long?"

"Maybe just a second. My good luck might have already started." Ye Shuang grinned and urged, "Come on, hurry up and eat this tomato and egg over rice—it’s amazing."

Bai Yuyou obediently put the cucumber in her mouth. The simple salty flavor, mixed with the wok’s aroma, was unexpectedly delicious.

She then scooped up a spoonful of tomato and egg stir-fry with rice.

"It’s good."

"Glad you like it." Ye Shuang simply watched her eat, as if observing a small animal.

Suddenly, Bai Yuyou lifted her gaze and asked, "Will you leave here?"

The question caught Ye Shuang off guard, but she answered, "Of course. We can’t live together forever."

"Is it because of money?" Bai Yuyou asked. "I still have some. You can have it all."

"It’s not about money. You’ll understand when you’re older."

As soon as Ye Shuang finished speaking, she noticed Bai Yuyou’s head droop. Though her expression didn’t change, Ye Shuang could somehow sense the girl’s dejection—even her usually calm eyes seemed dimmer.

"Do you want to stay with me forever?" Ye Shuang asked.

Bai Yuyou didn’t speak, only nodding slightly.

"Why? We’ve known each other for less than a day."

"I don’t know…" Bai Yuyou murmured.

Seeing that the girl couldn’t articulate her feelings, Ye Shuang instinctively reached out and placed a hand on her head. In a gentle voice, she said,

"Don’t worry too much about the future. After you’ve experienced more, the scenery you see will be different from before."

Bai Yuyou kept her head down, her silky hair spilling onto the table like satin.

"Since it’s the weekend, you don’t have school, right? How about we go out this afternoon?" Ye Shuang suggested with a smile, noticing Bai Yuyou’s mood.

"Go out?"

"Yeah, to buy some everyday clothes. Seems like you only have your school uniform." Seeing the girl’s interest piqued, Ye Shuang continued.

Bai Yuyou nodded, her spirits lifting slightly.

After lunch, as Ye Shuang stared at the spotless plates and empty soup bowl, she realized she’d underestimated one thing—

Bai Yuyou had an enormous appetite. Three large bowls of rice disappeared without a change in expression, and she still seemed unsatisfied… until Ye Shuang handed over her own half-finished bowl.

"Speaking of which, when you buy those big packs of instant noodles, how many do you eat in one sitting?" Ye Shuang suddenly asked.

Bai Yuyou blinked. "Aren’t you supposed to cook the whole pack at once?"

Holy—she downs an entire pack in one go?!

Ye Shuang glanced at the girl’s stomach, which remained perfectly flat.

Is this girl some kind of Kirby reincarnation?

Noticing Ye Shuang’s gaze, Bai Yuyou lifted her shirt, revealing her smooth abdomen. "Do you want to see this?"

Ye Shuang immediately tugged her shirt back down. "Don’t do that, especially not in front of guys."

"Why?"

"No reason." Ye Shuang felt like if she showed interest in any part of Bai Yuyou’s body, the girl would strip without hesitation.

"Oh…"

Soon, it was afternoon, and Ye Shuang took Bai Yuyou out.

Still in her school uniform, Bai Yuyou followed closely behind.

The streets were lively, filled with pedestrians and the occasional honk of passing cars.

But Ye Shuang noticed Bai Yuyou had grown even quieter. Her expressionless face and cool demeanor created an unspoken distance, but Ye Shuang knew it wasn’t aloofness—she was simply uncomfortable in crowded places. The slight furrow in her brow, an attempt to stay composed, made her look almost angry.

Still, plenty of passersby stole glances. Bai Yuyou’s striking looks and unique aura made her stand out effortlessly. Among all the girls Ye Shuang had met, Bai Yuyou was in a league of her own.

"If you’re uncomfortable, just hold onto my clothes," Ye Shuang said.

Bai Yuyou obediently reached out, her slender fingers lightly gripping Ye Shuang’s sleeve.

As if by magic, she seemed to calm down, though she pressed even closer.

The sight drew more attention, but Ye Shuang paid no mind, leading the girl toward a nearby clothing store.