Chapter 47: Proposal

When Zi Yi entered carrying the meal, he saw his young master clinging to Zhang Meng again.

Xu Lu Cha was half-lying on the bed, his hand tightly gripping Zhang Meng’s sleeve. Zhang Meng, holding the used washbasin, wanted to leave but couldn’t take a single step.

“Young Master Xu, I’m just going to empty the water,” Zhang Meng said helplessly.

Xu Lu Cha looked up at Zhang Meng with reluctance, his beautiful eyes brimming with such intense tenderness that it seemed to engulf Zhang Meng.

Zi Yi coughed dryly, intending to inform them that it was mealtime. But before he could speak, Xu Lu Cha shot him an icy glare, chilling him to the bone.

Zhang Meng, unaware of Xu Lu Cha’s expression, turned and nodded to Zi Yi with a smile: “Zi Yi.”

Enduring Xu Lu Cha’s cold, impatient gaze, Zi Yi steeled himself to quickly place the meal on the round table, then hurried forward to take the washbasin from Zhang Meng’s hands.

“Zi Yi will empty the water. Zhang constable and young master, please have your meal.”

With that, he fled the room, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

Seeing Zi Yi leave with stiff movements, Zhang Meng muttered in confusion: “Zi Yi seems a bit strange…” She turned to Xu Lu Cha and said: “Young Master Xu, let me bring the meal over for you.”

Xu Lu Cha nodded docilely and released her sleeve.

Zhang Meng brought the meal to the small table by the bed, ladled the fragrant, soft rice porridge into a small bowl, and stirred it a few times with a spoon.

Actually, Zhang Meng wanted Xu Lu Cha to eat by himself. She always felt that unless one’s hands were disabled or one was too weak to move, one shouldn’t need to be fed by others, otherwise it seemed too affected. But Xu Lu Cha had already opened his mouth, waiting for her to feed him. Zhang Meng could only steel herself, scoop up a small spoonful of porridge with the spoon, and bring it to Xu Lu Cha’s lips.

The porridge was still steaming hot. As soon as Xu Lu Cha took the spoon into his mouth, he was scalded and tears began to fall, but he still endured the pain and swallowed the porridge.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Xu, I didn’t notice…” Zhang Meng hurriedly put down the porridge bowl and poured a cup of cold water for Xu Lu Cha to rinse his mouth.

She had never fed porridge to anyone before, and seeing Xu Lu Cha waiting to be fed made her feel both awkward and nervous, causing her to forget that hot porridge needed to be cooled first.

Xu Lu Cha quickly shook his head: “It’s alright…” As long as she was feeding him, even if it was poison, he would swallow it.

Zhang Meng couldn’t bring herself to tell him to eat on his own now. She could only resist the urge to shudder and blow on the porridge to cool it before bringing it to his mouth.

Xu Lu Cha ate the porridge in small bites, chewing slowly, his fair cheeks puffed out like a white Persian cat. As Zhang Meng watched, she suddenly found him somewhat adorable. Her previous awkwardness gradually disappeared, and she felt as if she were feeding a kitten.

Xu Lu Cha raised his eyes to look at Zhang Meng. Seeing her gentle expression, his heart softened: “Zhang Meng, don’t just focus on me, you should eat too. I can manage on my own.”

There were two small bowls on the tray, a small pot of porridge, and several small dishes. It seemed Zi Yi had prepared this for both of them. Hearing Xu Lu Cha’s words, Zhang Meng inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and handed him the small bowl and spoon: “Be careful, Young Master Xu, it’s hot.”

Zhang Meng ladled herself a small bowl of porridge and took a small taste. Finding it fragrant, soft, and delicious, she couldn’t help but praise: “It’s delicious.”

Seeing her lavish praise for the porridge, Xu Lu Cha casually remarked: “I taught Zi Yi how to make this. The porridge I make is even better.”

Compared to his, Zi Yi’s porridge couldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath.

When he was young and living in the brothel, to curry favor with others and earn his keep, he had helped the brothel’s cook prepare meals and pastries for four years. What delicacies couldn’t he make? Since Zhang Meng loved good food so much, he would cook for her every day in the future.

Zhang Meng finished a small bowl of porridge and stopped. She looked at the sky outside the window; the sun had already reached its zenith. If she didn’t return soon, Zhong Huo would surely be displeased. So she bid farewell to Xu Lu Cha.

“Young Master Xu, I need to return to the magistrate’s office now. I’ll come see you again tomorrow. You should rest well and recover from your illness.”

Xu Lu Cha suddenly raised his head, almost dropping the bowl in his hand: “You’re leaving already?”

Zhang Meng nodded: “I’ve stayed here too long already, I must go back.”

Xu Lu Cha’s heart was full of reluctance and grievance. He wished he could cling to Zhang Meng and have her take him along.

He couldn’t bear to be apart from her for even a moment. Hearing that she was returning to the magistrate’s office, he struggled to get out of bed, wanting to pack his clothes and follow her back.

“Young Master Xu! What are you doing getting out of bed?” Zhang Meng exclaimed in surprise, quickly pressing down on his shoulders. “You’re not well yet, you shouldn’t move around…”

Xu Lu Cha was completely weak and easily pressed back onto the bed by Zhang Meng. He had just exerted himself and was breathing slightly heavily, looking at Zhang Meng with wide, aggrieved eyes: “I want to go back to the magistrate’s office with you.”

Zhang Meng was taken aback, unprepared for Xu Lu Cha’s clinginess.

“Young Master Xu, that wouldn’t be appropriate,” Zhang Meng said, somewhat troubled.

“What’s inappropriate! I’m already yours! We’re going to get married sooner or later.”

Seeing that Zhang Meng wouldn’t take him along, Xu Lu Cha’s tears fell as he struggled to get up, but Zhang Meng held him down firmly. He became so agitated that he started coughing violently.

Zhang Meng quickly patted his back to help him catch his breath, and poured him some water to soothe his throat. After a while, Xu Lu Cha finally calmed down.

For someone as extreme as Xu Lu Cha to have such a clingy personality made people feel helpless, yet unable to be angry with him. Zhang Meng gently coaxed him: “I’ll come see you tomorrow, I won’t break my word. Stay at the Xu residence and rest. Wait for me to come and marry you.”

The last sentence seemed to please Xu Lu Cha. His beautiful eyes, which had been filled with grievance, instantly melted into a pool of spring water, overflowing with affection when he looked at Zhang Meng.

Although they were engaged and the wedding day was approaching, Xu Lu Cha still felt that he wasn’t close enough to Zhang Meng. He always felt that Zhang Meng was very distant from him. So distant that he feared if Zhang Meng stepped out of this room, he would never find her again.

That’s why he clung to her so tightly. But no matter how reluctant he was to part with her, he didn’t want to earn a reputation for being unreasonable, and he certainly didn’t want Zhang Meng to dislike him.