Yun Buji couldn't recall the last time he had been this happy. Not since his mother had passed away had he truly smiled.
Finally, the car stopped in front of an old alley. Mian Mian looked at the small food stalls lining both sides of the alley and asked, "You haven't had dinner yet? Are you taking me to eat? But I've already eaten tonight."
"You've eaten?" Yun Buji asked.
Mian Mian shook her head weakly. She had always been healthy since childhood, having undergone only two major surgeries. Thus, her father had taken extra special care of her, hiring chefs who were also nutritionists to prepare her meals.
"Don't you want to try?" Yun Buji asked, looking at her with a coaxing tone.
"But I can't eat too much." Mian Mian was indeed tempted to try. Her father had never allowed her to eat just anything.
"You can eat as much as you want, and I'll eat the rest. Buy whatever you want! Don't be polite with me!" Yun Buji said generously.
"Okay," Mian Mian replied softly.
"What's wrong with you? You seem quite bold usually. What are you afraid of now?" Yun Buji looked at her, perplexed.
"Afraid... afraid of getting too full, perhaps," Mian Mian said sheepishly.
Yun Buji...
He walked to the passenger side, pulled her out of the car, and led her into the food street. The sky had long since turned dark, but the street was brightly lit, bustling with people, and queues formed at every stall.
Yun Buji watched Mian Mian's curious gaze as she looked at everything like an inquisitive child, seemingly eager to try everything. He smiled and said, "Try the stinky tofu, it's delicious. Boss, one double portion. Do you like spicy?"
"A little spicy is fine," Mian Mian liked spicy food, but not too much.
"One portion, slightly spicy, with extra vegetables," Yun Buji ordered skillfully. He took out his phone to pay, saying he'd pick it up later.
He then took her to buy other things. He bought five portions of snacks in one go. When all five were ready, Yun Buji found a table and sat down with Mian Mian. He laid out all five snacks, gave her a pair of disposable chopsticks, and said, "Eat. Eat whatever you want."
Mian Mian looked at the chopsticks in her hand. They seemed to have splinters.
"These..." Mian Mian was not used to such chopsticks.
"It's alright, they won't poke your mouth. Eat up, 'unclean food makes you immune'," Yun Buji said, using his own chopsticks to pick up half a piece of stinky tofu and offer it to her.
Mian Mian...
"Open your mouth and eat, don't be so fussy," Yun Buji continued to push the tofu closer.
Mian Mian opened her mouth, took a bite of the stinky tofu, and ate it. To be honest, the smell was quite unpleasant. She ate it with trepidation, but after biting into it, she found it fragrant. The taste was unlike anything she had ever eaten before; it was surprisingly delicious.
Mian Mian's eyes lit up. Yun Buji found it endearing. "Eat it yourself. You're a grown-up, don't expect to be fed."
"Got it!" Mian Mian picked up a piece herself and ate it. Then she tried other things. The stuffed pancake was also delicious. How were these made? Why had she never eaten them before?
In the end, they finished about half of everything. Yun Buji, fearing she might feel uncomfortable if she ate too much, quickly led her away. Mian Mian didn't want to leave, but he promised to bring her back again to eat to her heart's content.
Only then did Mian Mian agree to leave with him.
"I want to take you to a secret base of mine," Yun Buji suddenly felt like taking her to a place only he knew about.
"Okay!" Mian Mian eagerly agreed. She felt this experience was very novel, something she had never encountered before.