Ah Xuan, Feed Me, Okay

"I'm not wrong!" Chen Ling shouted at her father. "Dad, I'd rather die than apologize to that bitch!"

With that, Chen Ling stormed out.

Su Hua curled her crimson lips into a smirk.

Sometimes, playing the innocent white lotus wasn’t such a bad tactic.

Chen Hong looked apologetically at Lin Xuan. "Xiao Xuan, I’ve spoiled my daughter too much—she’s become terribly willful. I’m truly sorry for how she treated your girlfriend."

Before Lin Xuan could respond, Su Hua spoke up. "It’s fine. We won’t dwell on it."

Lin Xuan eyed Su Hua suspiciously.

Something felt off about her behavior at the orphanage today.

Very off.

"Thank you," Chen Hong said, nodding appreciatively at Su Hua.

This woman was gracious and understanding—a perfect match for Xiao Xuan.

"Xiao Xuan," Chen Hong continued, "it’s getting late. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No," Lin Xuan declined. "I have urgent matters to attend to. Director, I’ll visit again another time."

He needed to talk to Su Hua about the orphanage as soon as possible.

Su Hua looped her arm through Lin Xuan’s and smiled. "Ah Xuan, don’t you remember? Your secretary just called—those matters have already been handled. There’s no need for you to rush back."

"You and the director haven’t had a proper catch-up in so long. Why not stay for dinner?"

Under her persuasion, Lin Xuan relented. "Alright, I’ll stay."

"Wonderful!"

The director beamed and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for Lin Xuan and Su Hua.

By dinnertime, Chen Ling had composed herself and rejoined the table.

This woman was deliberately trying to turn Lin Xuan against her.

She wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

"Miss Su," Chen Ling said, forcing a smile, "I was wrong today. I apologize."

Su Hua chuckled magnanimously. "It’s nothing. I’ve already forgotten about it."

Chen Ling sneered inwardly.

This woman was putting on a front—she must be seething inside.

"Lin Xuan-gege," Chen Ling pouted, "can you forgive me for how I treated your girlfriend today?"

Lin Xuan frowned.

Her behavior toward Su Hua had left a terrible impression.

But with the director present, he had to keep up appearances.

"Mm," he nodded stiffly.

"Thank you, Lin Xuan-gege!" Chen Ling smiled sweetly, shooting Su Hua a triumphant glance.

Su Hua raised an eyebrow.

Chen Ling was sharper than she’d expected.

But so what?

She and Ah Xuan were officially together.

"Ah Xuan," Su Hua cooed, "my arms are still sore from last night. Could you feed me?"

Lin Xuan’s mind flashed back to the previous evening—Su Hua’s hands had been quite busy.

Clearing his throat, he agreed. "Of course."

Chen Ling’s chest heaved with rage.

How shameless! Flaunting their intimacy like this!

Chen Hong placed a piece of braised pork in Chen Ling’s bowl. "Ling’er, don’t overthink it. Just eat."

His heart ached for his daughter.

Managing the orphanage had meant a hard life for her.

He only wished she could find happiness with someone who returned her feelings.

But Lin Xuan didn’t love her—some things couldn’t be forced.

He just hoped she wouldn’t obsess over him.

Chen Hong sighed.

Chen Ling gritted her teeth.

How could she not overthink it?

This woman was openly provoking her at the dinner table!

Yet there was nothing she could do.

Su Hua continued being hand-fed by Lin Xuan throughout the meal.

Chen Ling had no appetite watching them, but she refused to leave—this was her rare chance to see Lin Xuan.

So she endured the torture.

From the shadows, a bodyguard rubbed his chin and muttered, "The tension between these women is practically flammable."

"Gotta admit, Boss Su’s usually so proper, but when she plays games, no woman stands a chance."

"She really loves Young Master Lin—going to such lengths for him."

After dinner, the group settled in the living room.

Su Hua asked, "Director Chen, could you tell me about Lin Xuan’s time at the orphanage?"

That was their main purpose for visiting—she wanted to know about his past.

She only knew he’d suffered here, but not the details.

Lin Xuan tensed.

He didn’t want her pity.

"Hua Bao, that’s all in the past. There’s no need to talk about it. Let’s discuss something else," he deflected.

Su Hua smirked. "No, I think it’s very meaningful."

Director Chen said with a smile, "Xiao Xuan, your girlfriend probably just wants to understand you better. Let her listen."

Lin Xuan couldn't stop him and could only nod helplessly.

Director Chen then began recounting the story from over twenty years ago.

"It was a stormy night. I had gone out to gather herbs for Chen Ling, and on my way back, I heard the cries of a baby. If I had left him there, he wouldn’t have survived."

"So I picked him up and brought him back. Later, I raised him with goat’s milk, little by little. Back then, the orphanage was terribly poor, and there were so many children. I couldn’t give Xiao Xuan much attention. By the time he was four, he was already doing household chores."

"The clothes he wore were all hand-me-downs from older orphans, patched up over and over. Even in winter, his clothes were thin, and he often shivered from the cold."

"As for food, there was hardly any meat—maybe just two or three days a month when he could have a proper meal with it."

"Back then, Xiao Xuan was so thin that his veins stuck out on his arms. His hair was pale and brittle from malnutrition."

"When he was around eight or nine, after school, he would collect bottles or wash dishes for others. Whatever money he earned, he’d use it to buy a little meat to share with the other children."

With just a few words, the director summarized Lin Xuan’s life in the orphanage.

Su Hua’s heart ached terribly.

She knew Ah Xuan had a difficult childhood, but she never imagined it had been this hard.

She tightened her grip on Lin Xuan’s hand.

Lin Xuan smiled gently. "Hua Bao, don’t worry. I’m fine now, and all of that is in the past."

Su Hua pressed her lips together.

If only she had met Ah Xuan sooner—she would never have let him suffer so much...