"You are no match for me. With just the two of us in this room, you can't possibly win. Just listen to me, quitting smoking is only tough for the first few days. Once you get past that, it'll be fine. For your future health, stop making trouble."
"How about I pat you to sleep, okay?"
Fine, my foot!
Zhan Jingchun opened her mouth to curse him, but Peng Fei was quick, shoving his palm into her mouth.
With a muffled sound, Zhan Jingchun's mouth was blocked.
He dared to use his hand to block her mouth? Did he think she wouldn't dare to bite?
Zhan Jingchun bit down hard on his palm.
Peng Fei acted as if he felt no pain, letting her bite.
They remained locked in this stalemate for a long time, until Zhan Jingchun tasted blood in her mouth and finally let go.
"Are you sick?"
Peng Fei said, "If you say I am, then I am. I won't argue. Had enough trouble? Then let's sleep."
Zhan Jingchun hadn't had enough. She tried to struggle with all her might, but Peng Fei was like a mountain, pinning her down firmly.
The room was dark, without lights. The two of them tossed and turned like this for who knew how long. Eventually, she grew tired, stopped resisting, and fell asleep.
When she woke up in the morning, Peng Fei was already up.
Only then did she realize that she had slept without a single dream, sleeping so deeply that her long-tired body felt much lighter.
Zhan Jingchun rubbed her head and went out. Peng Fei had changed into clean clothes and was wearing a housekeeper's apron, bringing breakfast to the dining table.
"You're up. Go wash up quickly. Breakfast is ready. Come eat after you're done."
Zhan Jingchun glanced at the table. It was quite a spread.
She didn't know when he had woken up, but he had brewed thick, fragrant millet porridge, fried egg pancakes, and stir-fried two vegetable dishes.
Whether it was because she hadn't eaten a proper breakfast in a long time, or because she hadn't eaten his cooking in a long time, it smelled delicious.
Zhan Jingchun, feeling uncharacteristically weak, quietly swallowed her saliva and pretended to be haughty as she went upstairs.
She washed up leisurely, then sat down to do her skincare.
The porridge was getting cold, so Peng Fei had to bring it up to her.
"Can you eat before applying that? The food is getting cold."
She deliberately said she wouldn't eat, "Who would want to eat your cooking? Your skills are far from Auntie's. I don't care for it."
"I know I'm far from Auntie's level, and I'll keep improving. I've already made it today, so just make do with it."
"Why should I make do? We Zhan family members never make do. If you can't cook it well, then don't. Don't waste my things here. Take it away!"
After working hard for over an hour, she dismissed it without even looking, saying it wasn't good. Wasn't that just picking fault?
Even if it was bad, it was better than when she was in the village. She could eat it then.
Fearing that she was deliberately being difficult and harming herself, Peng Fei didn't take it away. Instead, he placed the tray in front of her and walked over, straddling her lap.
He didn't put his full weight on her, just sat lightly. Their eyes met, and he threatened her.
"Are you making excuses to deliberately not eat? This trick works with Auntie, but not with me. If you don't eat, I'll use the old method and force-feed you. You don't want to try that again, do you?"
Zhan Jingchun immediately remembered the days in the village when he had controlled her eating habits. She raised her hand to hit him, but Peng Fei caught her hand.
"I told you, you're no match for me in terms of strength. I'll indulge you in everything else, but not smoking and eating. Listen to me, eat now, and you have to eat on time every day from now on, or else..."
Or else your head!
Zhan Jingchun tried to lift her foot to kick his back, but she forgot her foot was under the table. She lifted it abruptly, stubbing her big toe against the table. The pain made her frown instantly.
"Ah!"
Peng Fei heard a thud and quickly stood up, looking at her feet.
In the middle of winter, the girl was wearing white fluffy slippers that exposed her toes and heels, offering no protection.
"Did you hurt your toe?"
Concerned, Peng Fei immediately squatted down, took off her slipper, and cradled her foot in his arms.
"Where did you hit it? Let me see. Your big toe, right? It's all red. Don't cry, don't cry, I'll blow on it for you."
As he said this, he lowered his head like he was coaxing a child and gently blew on her toe.
It was the same when she was at his house before. Zhan Jingchun didn't cook or do chores, and he would still serve her, feeding her, washing her feet, and bathing her.
After washing her feet, Peng Fei would often hold her foot like this and dry it.
It had been a very, very long time since she had experienced this. She thought it would never happen again, but unexpectedly, he still remembered.
After much blowing and rubbing, Peng Fei finally released her.
Zhan Jingchun's temper had subsided considerably. Knowing she wouldn't get her way by refusing to eat, she ate some with a sullen face.
Peng Fei was very happy. Before going downstairs with the bowl, he asked her what she wanted for lunch.
"I'll try my best to learn. Just name whatever you like."
When he treated her with this attitude, where he would indulge her anger but not take it to heart, Zhan Jingchun was helpless.
She thought seriously, her eyes narrowed, and named two dishes. Peng Fei said okay and happily went downstairs to research.
Zhan Jingchun was bored. She daydreamed in her room for a while, then sketched for a bit. Seeing the good sunshine outside, she ambled downstairs.
Peng Fei was busy in the kitchen, and waves of fragrance wafted out, carrying a festive New Year's aroma.
Zhan Jingchun was a little curious about what he was doing, but she was too proud to ask. She just wandered into the yard.
She imitated the housekeeper, trimming the branches of the ornamental trees and watering the flowers.
While she was playing, a childish voice came from outside the fence.
"Sister. Your watering can is so pretty, can I borrow it to play with for a while?"
Zhan Jingchun looked up. Outside the fence stood a little girl, about four or five years old, who had appeared at some point.
With two small braids, a fair and tender face, a crisp voice, and big, watery eyes, she looked incredibly cute.
She couldn't help but think of her nieces and nephews, her maternal instincts flooding her.
"Of course. What's your name? Where do you live? Does your mom know you came out? If you come to my house, will she worry if she can't find you?"
The little girl's chubby hands gripped the fence, peering inside.
"My younger brother is sick, and Mom and Dad are with him at the hospital. It's just me and the nanny at home. Auntie is cooking, so I came out by myself. Sister, I really like your watering can. Can you reach it over for me to touch?"
So that's how it was. Her parents weren't home. Zhan Jingchun felt sympathetic and told her to wait, taking the watering can and going outside.
The adult and child squatted by the fence, playing. Peng Fei finished cooking and came out to look for her.
"Why did you come out? Wearing so little, aren't you afraid of getting cold... Who is this little girl?"
The little girl looked up when she heard him. Upon seeing Peng Fei, her eyes immediately lit up.
"Is it you? I know you! You're that handsome guy from TV! My mom likes you a lot, and I like you too. How did you get here?"
"Are you cooking? You can cook too? Brother, can you hug me? Can I eat at your house?"
Peng Fei was also a person who really liked children, especially little girls. He immediately squatted down with a gentle expression.