Part 01

She shrank her body slightly, looking for a sheltered corner to wait for the bus. When a champagne-colored BMW sped past her, she seemed to suddenly remember something, and a sly smile immediately appeared on her previously troubled face. Today was the Friday she had been looking forward to, and there would be an extra pair of chopsticks at home. She quickly took out her phone and dialed the special family number she had set up.

Ah? After changing the subject, Xi Qinnuo's expression immediately transformed from that of a queen to that of an ostrich

It has been more than six months since she returned to City A, and she once vowed with great determination that she would regain the slender figure she had during her university days. Unfortunately, while God granted her a heart that desires to be thin, He left her with a food lover's mouth. Over the past six months, she has been unable to part with even a single pound of meat, and her figure still leans towards being overweight

Xi Qingnuo's home is rented in the southern district of City A, which can be considered an old town. Her workplace is located in the northern part of the central area, within the economic and trade zone. It takes an hour and a half by bus to travel from her home to the company. Li Xintong finds it hard to understand her; even if finances are tight, one could rent a place in the northern district, where the prices are quite similar to those in the southern district, but the commute would be much shorter. Only Liang Yue, who understands Xi Qingnuo, never inquires about it.

Xi Qingnuo was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and said, "Handsome, wait for me to pamper you when I get home." Just then, the bus arrived, and with too many people around, wanting to squeeze onto the bus to secure a seat, she immediately changed her tone, "I have to go." She hastily ended the call and forcefully pushed her slightly plump body onto the bus.

She was momentarily at a loss for words, only able to respond with an awkward smile, a guilty chuckle, "Oh my, it smells so good, let me see what delicious food you have made." The best strategy is to retreat. She had just downloaded a new game a few days ago and had been so engrossed in it after work that she ended up looking disheveled, resembling a beauty in a chaotic room.

No, the clothes have shrunk a lot

"The meal is ready, I am leaving." Liang Yue said this behind her

Xi Qingnuo hurriedly turned around, watching him deftly remove his apron, put on his suit jacket, and meticulously fasten the buttons. In less than a few seconds, his appearance transformed from that of a homebody to that of a competent elite

Liang Yue seemed uninterested in her teasing, picking up his work bag from the sofa, changing his shoes, and preparing to leave. Xi Qingnuo immediately felt aggrieved, "Handsome man, look how pitiful I am, won't you accompany me through this long, lonely night? You just leave like that?" She leaned against the wall, her pair of pitiful, watery eyes gazing at him.

All you need to do is go home and admit your mistake, and everything will be fine

Liang Yue turned around; what kind of face was that? It was handsome, yet it bore a cold quality. The sharp sword-like eyebrows, the prominent nose, and the slender phoenix eyes revealed a faint chill amidst their inscrutable depth. His tightly pressed thin lips slightly moved, "Xi Qingnuo, I spent over an hour cleaning your house"

"Do you also think I am wrong?" Xi Qingnuo's voice suddenly rose an octave, and there was a hint of anger on his face

Xi Qingnuo hurriedly said: "Why not eat before leaving? Are you afraid that you poisoned the food and it might poison yourself?"

She finds this statement particularly reasonable, and as a result, her weight loss efforts have been postponed and have not been implemented until now

Xi Qingnuo has always been afraid to go to the North District of City A, fearing that she might encounter acquaintances. Today, the BOSS is holding a celebration party, and since the BOSS lives in the North District, the venue is located there based on the principle of proximity. She initially intended to indulge in a feast, but ultimately had to find an excuse to decline the invitation.

Only on Fridays, when Liang comes to her home with ingredients to cook, can she enjoy home-cooked meals

Liang Yue raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, seemingly in a hurry. He said, "Whatever, just give me a call when you get to the office"

Liang Yue looked at her coldly and said, "Quit that job, don't you have a teaching certificate? Go teach instead"

She opened the entrance, took out her slippers and walked cheerfully to the kitchen. The kitchen lights were bright, and a tall figure stood by the stove, with the delicate strings of an apron tied in a beautiful bow at his back. If it weren't for this, just based on his neatly pressed shirt and formal fitted trousers, she would have thought it was a leader coming to inspect her kitchen.

It is hard to imagine that the general manager of Yuehua Group would cook for a small clerk in this inconspicuous company. While others drive BMWs worth millions, she has to squeeze onto a bus every day; while others live in the most upscale residences in City A, she is crammed into a place that is almost like a slum; while others earn in a month what could sustain her for a year, she not only spends her entire salary each month but also needs assistance from others. Having grown up together, how can their fates differ so greatly?

This is not the first time Liang Yue has brought this matter up with her. She studied at a normal university, and after four arduous years, if it were not for City A, she would definitely choose to be a well-paid teacher rather than a small clerk without job security, a position that even high school graduates could take. But if it is in City A, how could she dare?

The company is now entirely under my control, and my mother is no longer involved, so you need not worry about encountering acquaintances

She walked to the dining table and saw that it was filled with her favorite side dishes. Without caring whether her hands were dirty or not, she directly reached out and grabbed a dish to send to her mouth. Her gaze wandered and, upon noticing a row of clothes hanging on the balcony, she nearly choked on her food.

After getting off the bus and turning into a few small alleys, Xi Qingnuo smiled knowingly when she saw a champagne-colored BMW parked downstairs. She had arrived home. The rented apartment was old and in disrepair; the stairs had no lights, and the steps were incomplete. It was manageable during the day, but at night, one could only feel their way carefully in the dark. Every time Liang Yue came over, he would always smile wryly and say, "Why make things so hard for yourself? Just go home."

Although she and Liang Yue wore the same pants and played together in the military family compound since childhood, and even slept together, she never regarded him as the opposite sex. However, there are indeed differences between men and women, and washing such intimate items inevitably causes some embarrassment

She also falls for it every time, her eyes sparkling with surprise, "Have I really lost weight?"

It is now 6:50. Even with a speeding car, it would be impossible to arrive on time. For Liang Yue, who has always been meticulous in his work and does not allow for any deviations, this is the first time he is late

Xi Qingnuo also sensed that he was in a hurry and curiously asked, "Are you in a rush?"

Her university classmate and current close friend, Li Xintong, has not missed an opportunity to tease her. Every time they meet, the first thing she says, with a look of surprise on her face, is: "You have lost weight"

Liang Yue paused for a moment, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his expression stiff as he uttered a soft "hm". It was difficult to discern any joy in his response to her blessing, and he simply closed the door and left. The room was suddenly eerily silent, with only the sound of the door closing lingering in the air.

Hello. A slightly deep voice came from the other end of the phone. The tone was magnetic, providing an inexplicable sense of reassurance

Xi Qingnuo immediately covered the phone with a playful smile and said: "Liang Yue, handsome man, why not come to my house tonight, okay?"

I am already at your home

Whenever this matter is brought up with her, Xi Qingnuo becomes agitated. Regardless of the relationship, Li Xintong is like this, Liang Yue is like this, and her parents are the same. Seeing her in this state, Liang Yue understands that there is no need for further discussion. He suddenly says, "Quit your job and come work at my company."

She hurried over to take a look, and to her surprise, all the clothes she had left in the bathroom after her shower yesterday were there, even her underwear had been washed. Xi Qingnuo's face instantly turned bright red, comparable to the small red panties fluttering in the wind on a clothesline

Upon thinking of this, Xiqingnuo's originally frivolous face suddenly became serious, and his limp body straightened up, "You know my difficulties all too well."

In fact, she truly made a significant decision to lose weight; however, Liang Yue, the handsome chef, possessed exceptional culinary skills, and one misstep led to eternal regret, causing her belly to grow larger. In the end, Liang Yue comforted her, stating that the belly is bound to expand; rather than waiting for others to make it grow, it is better to shed tears and personally indulge in making it larger.

My mother arranged a blind date for me at 7 o'clock

If she were to say that, she would be somewhat moved. Working at Liang Yue's company, she could use a feather as a command; who would dare to bully her? As for the treatment, how could Liang Yue possibly shortchange her? Going home would be even more convenient, as Liang Yue would definitely drive her home, eliminating the need to squeeze into a bus that could flatten a person.

She always shakes her head resolutely

But as his best friend, the most understanding childhood sweetheart, shouldn't she wish him success in his blind date?

She lazily leaned against the door, coughed softly twice, and said, "Liang Yue, the beauty, I have returned."

After work, she could only listen enviously as her colleagues excitedly discussed the delicious dishes that would be served today. As a food lover, Xi Qingnuo tragically had to swallow her saliva in vain. On an autumn evening, the cold wind rushed into her thin cardigan, chilling her already low body temperature.

Upon reaching the third floor, she took out her keys to unlock the door. Speaking of the dilapidated door from the 1970s and 1980s, Liang Yue had complained about it several times, but Xi Qingnuo was too lazy to replace it with a security door. As soon as the door opened, she was greeted by the aroma of food. She hadn't eaten for many days; every time after work, she would directly buy takeout from the restaurant downstairs and bring it home to eat while sitting at her computer desk.

Xi Qingnuo was taken aback when she heard Liang Yue say he was going on a blind date. This astonishment surprised her as well. She had never considered that Liang Yue would leave her; even though Liang Yue was already 25 years old and had never been in a relationship, she did not feel that there was anything wrong. Now, this was undoubtedly a stone, heavily dropped into her tranquil heart lake, causing ripples to spread continuously, making her feel an illusion of fear of loss.

Thinking this way, Xiqing Nuo agreed, "Alright, I will resign tomorrow. When should I start working at your company?"

Thus, she collapsed

Xi Qingnuo stood dazed at the door, the ripples in her heart lake spreading wider, disturbing her mood all at once. She walked to the dining table, looking at the dishes she would usually finish completely, yet at this moment, she had no appetite whatsoever

What a situation, a blind date! Back then, when she was crying her heart out in City B, he held her and said he was willing to marry her. But now that she has healed, he has also forgotten what he said to her; it turns out he was just comforting her.

Then I wish you success. I believe that as long as you throw her a flirtatious glance, she will be completely captivated. Remember, when you have a child, I want to be the godmother. She forced a smile, showing a row of neat teeth, looking indeed very happy. However, she regretted what she said immediately; she had gone too far, having not even met her yet, and the child was already born.

She angrily clamped down on a piece of meat, biting hard and chewing fiercely, only to accidentally bite her own tongue, causing her to grimace in pain