Yan Jin thought that since she and Yu Shu would be living under the same roof in the future, if the two of them were to eat together from now on, would it be inappropriate for her to always take her portion of the food back to her room to eat?

But if she didn’t take it back to her room, what if Yu Shu talked at the dinner table? Wouldn’t she have to stop after just a few bites to respond to him?

Yan Jin sighed inwardly: Interactions between people are so troublesome.

Before Yan Jin could figure it out, Yu Shu had already finished feeding Rou Bao and wiped his hands clean, ready to take Yan Jin’s empty soup bowl from her. “Let me get you some rice.”

Since Yu Shu was willing to help get the rice, Yan Jin didn’t feel awkward. Taking the bowl Yu Shu handed over, she casually said “Thank you” and began eating.

After a few bites, Yu Shu suddenly placed a piece of fish in Yan Jin’s bowl, causing her to look up in puzzlement.

Yu Shu put down the communal chopsticks, “This fish tastes quite good, have some more.”

Yan Jin couldn’t be bothered to pick out the fish bones, so she hadn’t touched the steamed fish on the table at all. But since Yu Shu had put a piece of fish in her bowl, Yan Jin tried it.

The fish was tender and had an excellent texture. Topped with the scallion whites, it was so fresh it made one want to swallow their tongue.

Yu Shu must have picked out all the fish bones. Yan Jin finished that piece of fish without biting into a single bone, leaving her feeling a bit emotionally complex.

According to the etiquette handbook on reciprocity, she should also put some food in Yu Shu’s bowl and say something thoughtful like he did.

But after thinking about what Yu Shu had just said, Yan Jin felt she couldn’t quite say it.

Yan Jin did some mental preparation as she ate. After a few bites of pig ears, she finished her mental preparation.

“These pig ears are quite hearty.” Yan Jin used the communal chopsticks to put some stir-fried pig ears in Yu Shu’s bowl and sincerely recommended, “Have some more.”

Although Yu Shu didn’t eat pig ears much, Yan Jin’s words were too sincere, so he couldn’t help but look at the pig ears in his bowl.

The pig ears were cut into thin slices, with a bright and clear color that whetted the appetite just by looking at them.

Yu Shu took a bite and found that it tasted as good as it looked, so he sped up his chewing. There wasn’t a bit of grease on his mouth, making him look very refined.

Seeing that Yu Shu didn’t smack his lips from start to finish and ate elegantly and handsomely, Yan Jin breathed a sigh of relief.

Although everyone has different eating habits, Yan Jin really couldn’t stand people smacking their lips while eating. She could tolerate it once or twice, but Yan Jin couldn’t stand it in the long run.

After Yu Shu finished the pig ears Yan Jin had put in his bowl, he remembered that Yan Jin seemed quite happy eating the fish earlier. So to return the favor, he put a few more pieces of deboned fish in her bowl.

Yan Jin casually put another piece of pig ear in Yu Shu’s bowl.

Yu Shu immediately put a few more pieces of fish meat into Yan Jin’s bowl.

…

After a few rounds, Yan Jin’s face showed a bit of entanglement.

Is it always this troublesome for normal people to eat with newly acquainted friends?

It’s fine to just get your own dishes, why help each other get dishes?

Not responding is impolite, but after responding, you have to get dishes for each other.

Thinking that she and Yu Shu might fall into an endless loop of getting dishes for each other, Yan Jin decisively protected her bowl, not letting Yu Shu put any more food in. “I’ll get what I want to eat myself. Let’s just eat first.”

Yu Shu had actually noticed Yan Jin’s entanglement just now, but he didn’t say anything and just quietly held back his laughter while putting a few more dishes in Yan Jin’s bowl.

After all, the usually calm Yan Jin showing this kind of conflicted expression was quite cute.

But now that Yan Jin proposed a truce, Yu Shu couldn’t tease her anymore and went along with it. “Okay, if there are any dishes you can’t reach, remember to tell me and I’ll get them for you.”

Yan Jin quickly waved her hands. “No need, no need. I can get them myself.”

[Ahem, although it’s inappropriate, Yan Jin’s expression just now was really cute. Is this the gap moe of a cold and socially awkward person?] [If Yan Jin had looked up at Yu Shu’s expression while she was conflicted, she would have found that Yu Shu was actually holding back laughter the whole time.] [I never would have thought that Yu Shu was actually so mischievous, deliberately teasing Yan Jin.]

Since Yan Jin paid for this meal, Yu Shu took the initiative to wash the dishes after they finished eating.

When Yu Shu finished washing the dishes, Yan Jin silently handed him a carved food box.

[Oh my, my prediction came true. This was actually for Yu Shu!] [Fans of Yu Shu, come quick! White sugar cake with two pounds of sugar. After eating it, Yu Shu will have no vital signs!] [Yu Shu fans: Don’t @ us, we’re burning incense and praying.]

“This is for me?” Yu Shu pointed at himself in surprise.

Yu Shu had a deep impression of this carved food box because Yan Jin had been holding it since she came back from outside. Yu Shu thought it was a snack Yan Jin bought for herself, so when setting out the dishes just now, Yu Shu specifically avoided this food box and didn’t take any food from it.

“This was bought for you in the first place.” Yan Jin said nonchalantly, “Didn’t you say before that you like to eat white sugar cake? I happened to see someone selling it on the way, so I casually bought some for you, to bribe you in advance.”

Yu Shu opened the food box. Inside were neatly arranged soft and sticky white sugar cakes. He smiled faintly, “It seems that the thing you want me to help with won’t be easy to accomplish.”

Yan Jin sized up Yu Shu’s physique, “It should be quite simple for you.”

“Don’t worry, even if it’s a simple task, I’ll give it my all.” After saying that, Yu Shu picked up a piece of white sugar cake and gently took a bite.

The moment his tongue touched the white sugar cake and tasted a bit of the flavor, Yu Shu’s pupils suddenly contracted and his smile froze on the corner of his lips.

Is sugar free in An Kingdom?!!!

This isn’t white sugar cake at all! It’s a pile of white sugar made into the shape of white sugar cake!

Yu Shu looked at the white sugar cake in his hand in disbelief. For the first time in his life, he felt that sweets actually had the terrifying potential to give people nightmares.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?” Seeing Yu Shu staring dumbly at the white sugar cake, Yan Jin thought he was moved to tears and comforted, “Although white sugar is more expensive in An Kingdom, we’re not short on money. We can still afford two pounds of white sugar.”

Yu Shu’s vision went dark. With trembling fingers, he pointed at the white sugar cakes in the food box, “You mean these white sugar cakes have two pounds of white sugar in them?”

There will be another update tonight at 21:00.

Looking at the future chapters I’ve written, the two of them are tricking each other back and forth, a bit like a bickering couple. But their interactions are super cute!! Cute enough to make you want to push their heads together and make them kiss.