Unlock New Hero Huh Say, do you like the Young Miss’s chicken drumsticks

"Oh, well, alright then..."

Tang Yuyao deflated like a punctured volleyball, her initial cocky demeanor vanishing instantly. After being rejected, she went back to gnawing on her baguette.

Tang's mother: "..."

For some reason, she felt like the sky had just collapsed.

Was it really true that all her years of life had been wasted? Just go up and fight her, eldest daughter! What are you afraid of? She's got two eyes, one nose, two ears, just like you... What's there to fear!

Was it just because of the age gap?

Well... that did seem a bit like an old cow eating tender grass.

Tang's mother was indignant up to a point, then suddenly couldn't stay "indignant" anymore. It hit her—her eldest daughter didn't seem to have any advantage among the girls surrounding Ye Cheng.

At their stage, family background and such could basically be ignored. In a way, if everyone was outstanding, then no one was.

This came down to the issue of resource competition and allocation...

A pretty obvious situation: too many wolves, too little meat. The question was, who was the meat? Hard to guess, really. Who could it be?

Ye Cheng: "..."

For some reason, Ye Cheng always felt like someone was provoking him, yet there were clearly no enemies around him. Could it be...

A flash of inspiration struck Ye Cheng. His gaze landed on Brother Doudou across from him, who also seemed to be "lost in thought."

Alright, Brother Doudou, I just wanted to cheer you on when the madam got ripped off, but you kept provoking me. Fine. Next time, I won't just cheer—I'll add fuel to the fire!!!

Shen Ming, who was still pondering a solution, suddenly felt a strong, piercing gaze fixed on him. He instinctively looked toward the source and locked eyes with Ye Cheng.

Shen Ming: "???"

What's this kid staring at me for?

Is there something on my face?

Shen Ming wiped his face—the face that was famously authoritative and beloved by the young wives of Big Sea City—and found nothing.

So, why was he staring?

Ye Cheng was puzzled, Shen Ming was puzzled, and Tang's mother was also puzzled... One sensed a foreboding feeling, another wondered why he was being stared at, and the last was frustrated by her eldest daughter's uselessness.

A question mark popped up above each of their heads in unison.

Meanwhile, the youngest son was still locked in a standoff with Da Huang. Because there weren't enough seats, he had been relocated from the main table to a smaller side table.

Truly, in a physical sense, he was eating with the dog.

The youngest son scooted slightly to the left; Da Huang's rear shifted left. He scooted slightly to the right; Da Huang's rear shifted right.

The youngest son: "..."

Grandpa, look! This fat dog is really out to get me!!!

The meal proceeded with a bizarre, tacit understanding. Even Tang's mother, usually quite talkative, was oddly silent, just munching on a steamed bun she had snatched from Grandpa Tang's bowl.

Grandpa Tang: "???"

She's even stealing steamed buns?

Was she that angry? He hadn't said a word beside her, so why was it still like this... Grandpa Tang fell into self-doubt.

"Here, classmate, try this." Lin Baizhi linked arms with Ye Cheng and brought a fork with a peeled shrimp to his lips.

Ye Cheng: "..."

You're acting suspicious.

But when food comes to your mouth, how could you refuse? As the saying goes, you're already here... Ye Cheng opened his mouth and gobbled down the shrimp Lin Baizhi offered.

"Is it good!" Lin Baizhi's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Chew, chew, chew. Not much flavor. Just plain water shrimp. It's okay... chew, chew, chew..." Ye Cheng chewed away while delivering his lukewarm critique as a "school food connoisseur."

Lin Baizhi looked "crushed," even loosening her grip on Ye Cheng's arm, putting on a completely dejected act.

But was that really the case?

It's all an act—just an act!

Did Lin Baizhi not know that the shrimp she'd just fed him was plain, practically tasteless, but healthy? Of course she knew. She was aiming for exactly that effect. Plain shrimp wouldn't leave any lingering flavors—that was precisely what she wanted!!!

Lin Baizhi seemed "downcast" as she used the fork she'd just taken from Ye Cheng's mouth to ferociously attack the remaining shrimp on the table... and then ate them herself.

Chew, chew, chew... The corners of her mouth involuntarily lifted.

Yes, yes, that's it, that's exactly it, aahhh!!!

A little inner voice screamed in Lin Baizhi's heart, as if on the verge of mutating...

If the setting weren't inappropriate and she couldn't risk getting caught, Lin Baizhi would have liked to repeat the feeding a few more times before starting her own "meal."

It was a "magical little trick" to turn food delicious—one she'd mastered as a child and had never failed her. Because Ye Cheng never wasted food. Whatever he couldn't finish always migrated from Lin Baizhi's plate into his stomach.

Whether he could really finish it or not, that was none of anyone's business. Ask again, and the answer was: you stay out of a beautiful young lady's affairs.

If Da Huang had been raised on Ye Cheng's literal feeding, then Ye Cheng had been raised by Lin Baizhi one bite at a time since childhood. She'd been playing the raising game from the very start.

By the way, because of that literal feeding (with excrement), Da Huang had chased Ye Cheng for days on end... Yep, that's right, physically speaking.

Otherwise, how would Ye Cheng have ever learned that Da Huang doesn't eat that stuff?

Chewing slowly and savoring, a fleeting look of happiness crossed Lin Baizhi's face, and within her dazed gaze, excitement flickered.

Finally, she put on a delicate, troubled expression.

"Yeah, it is a bit bland... What about this, classmate? Try this too!"

As she spoke, Lin Baizhi started getting handsy again, leaning into Ye Cheng while still arm-in-arm. She picked up her fork, eyed the next target, and settled on a piece of broccoli.

Also boiled, but with a few light additions and some mild seasonings. She brought it to Ye Cheng's lips.

Judging by Lin Baizhi's momentum, unless something interrupted, she planned to feed him everything on the table.

The fork was at his mouth, and Ye Cheng was ready to open up and eat—

"Bang!"

Shen Qinghan slammed the table, set down her knife and fork, and glared coldly at Ye Cheng and Lin Baizhi.

Ye Cheng: "..."

Silently, he closed his mouth and discreetly nudged Lin Baizhi's little hands off him. Not now, Little Idiot (Xiao Baichi). The miss will get mad.

"Doesn't he have hands? Does he need you to feed him?" Shen Qinghan stared flatly at Lin Baizhi.

Ye Cheng perked up his ears. The moment he caught the keyword "hands," he quickly lifted his two paws from below and gripped his own knife and fork.

Lin Baizhi wasn't happy. A flicker of displeasure passed over her face before she quickly suppressed it.

Still wearing that harmless, gentle, little white flower smile, she said, "Senior Shen Qian, this doesn't seem to concern you, does it?"

“Classmate Ye has just recovered from a serious illness and was released from the hospital, so his hands and feet are still a bit unsteady. Isn’t it only right for classmates to help each other? Or is it that you, Classmate Shen, think I shouldn’t be helping him?”

Every word she said subtly jabbed at Shen Qinghan, painting her as a cold, selfish rich girl.

Shen Qinghan narrowed her eyes, calm ripples disturbing her usual composure. She glanced at Ye Cheng, then at Lin Baizhi, who was clinging to his arm.

She lifted her fork, stabbed another identical piece of broccoli, and shoved it right up to Ye Cheng’s lips.

She said nothing, yet somehow said everything.

Ye Cheng: “...”

Miss Rich Girl, you really missed the point of her technique. Who feeds someone like that? You’re supposed to be gentle, you’re supposed to—

“Eat.”

Yes, ma’am.

Ye Cheng instantly caved, obediently chomping down on the “love-filled broccoli” the young lady had offered. Chew, chew, chew. Mm, not bad. Delicious. Love it. Even the neighbor’s kid would be jealous.

Lin Baizhi’s face stiffened. Her hands trembled with anger, and a fire seemed to blaze in her eyes—its target the bratty problem child snatching away her brother.

How dare she? He was her brother. No one could take him!

“Classmate Ye, eat this one. It’s good—I just tried it. You’ll like it,” Lin Baizhi said. She nibbled the broccoli off her fork herself, savoring it slowly with exaggerated relish.

Then she picked the next dish on the table—something light and mild—speared it with her fork, and turned back.

Her world crumbled.

On the other side, the young lady had a massive chicken drumstick stuck squarely on her fork, and Ye Cheng’s face was practically splitting with a grin. He didn’t even glance her way.

Lin Baizhi: “???”

Brother, you… don’t fall for that evil woman!!!

The little figure in her heart screamed wildly, on the verge of mutating. She immediately switched to a dish Ye Cheng actually liked, cupping her hand underneath to catch any dripping sauce so it wouldn’t stain his clothes, and held it to his lips—a gesture so intimate.

“Classmate… over here.” Lin Baizhi gently nudged him.

Soft.

Oh, right.

For the record, Lin Baizhi’s hands were both occupied now, but that didn’t stop this little nudge. It was like the “bump” feature on WeChat; you bump me, I bump you—the same, really.

Bump-bump, brain gain? Definitely brain gain.

The moment Ye Cheng turned his head, the young lady shoved the chicken drumstick straight into his mouth. Sister Lin didn’t back down—she crammed a roasted, juicy pork rib between his lips.

Ye Cheng: “???“

Whoa wait, isn’t this just like one of those Japanese movie plots? But… something’s off. How did I become the “female lead“?”

Whether he liked it or not, in the moments that followed, he went from a “mmm, delicious” gourmand to a mindless swallowing machine.

Down the hatch, bros!

Ye Cheng: “…”

His belly swelled visibly, bit by bit. Shen Ming, sitting across from him, was utterly stunned.

This kid is a monster. I was too harsh earlier; turns out his stamina isn’t any less than mine.

Also across from him, Mother Tang watched Ye Cheng “holding a girl on each arm” and felt her heart bleed. Eldest daughter, open your eyes! Look at what they’re doing while you’re gnawing on that stupid stick over there!

Get in there!

Unable to contain herself, Mother Tang kicked out under the table toward Tang Yuyao’s direction.

But because Tang Yuyao had pressed herself into the corner, shrinking into an ostrich with its head buried in the sand, that kick landed squarely on Old Man Tang’s leg instead.

Old Man Tang: “???“

Hey, Guilan, what—

Frozen mid-chew of his bun, a look of pure disbelief filled his eyes. Meanwhile, Mother Tang was fuming. Seeing that her eldest daughter had “taken a kick” and was still hiding her head only made her angrier.

Old Man Tang had just turned his head—right into the line of fire.

Mother Tang: What are you looking at? Look again and I’m done with you!

Old Man Tang: “???”

Silently, he withdrew his stare of disbelief and shrank further into his corner, gnawing his bun, puzzled as to what he’d done to make his Guilan so furious today.

In an inconspicuous corner, the youngest son was still locked in his game with Da Huang. What kind of game?

The boy had finally grasped its true essence: respond to the unpredictable with the unchanging.

He closed his eyes, feeling the rhythm of the wind…

Eyes snapped open. Now!

Run!

The youngest sprinted toward the door, leaped up, and twisted the lock. In that instant, he tasted a long-lost flavor of freedom.

Yes! Grandpa, Grandma, I did it! I really did it! I—

“Son, what are you doing?” Tang Shouye stood at the doorway, staring at his boy, who looked like he was joyfully in tears after winning a championship, a bit puzzled.

The youngest son: “…”

Tang Shouye and Lin Tianxiong had been standing at the door for who knows how long. Judging by Tang Shouye’s posture, he’d been about to knock.

Well, isn’t that convenient? Saved the trouble of knocking.

Tang Shouye waved at Lin Tianxiong. “Come on in, Brother Lin. Make yourself at home.”

As he spoke, he scooped up the youngest son and carried him back into the private room. The boy felt a familiar gaze upon him, stiffened, and gulp—swallowed hard, afraid to turn his head and see Da Huang’s expression right now.

This mouthful… is going to be savage!

The youngest son: NO!!!

Quest unlocked: New hero class. Two middle-aged men incoming.

Lin Tianxiong had finally tracked down his daughter, who’d fled in a panic earlier, and also… one Ye Cheng who was almost “dying of bliss.”

Wait, no. He should be Big Stomach Cheng.

Hm?

Tell me—do you like the young lady’s chicken drumstick or not?!

Ye Cheng: “…”