Chapter 50: Come and eat!

Five years ago, when Liu Feng left home with Liu Huang, she saw Liu Qiu for the last time.

Thin, sickly, her entire body steeped in the aura of death, as if she might stop breathing at any moment.

At the time, Liu Feng had thought it would be best if that hypocritical person died early.

Unfortunately, this invalid now seemed to be growing healthier by the day.

Liu Feng carefully wiped away Liu Qiu’s tears.

The smooth fabric carried a faint, elegant fragrance, much like the impression Liu Feng herself gave.

Liu Qiu’s breathing faltered slightly, and she turned her head to avoid Liu Feng’s touch.

“I want to rest.”

Liu Feng did not seem angered by her evasion.

Her smile appeared etched onto her face, as if it would never fade.

“Qiu-jie, you’ve changed quite a bit.”

The moment those words were spoken, Liu Qiu’s heart tightened.

Surely Liu Feng did not expect her to treat her the way the original host once had.

Liu Qiu did not notice that her nervousness had already surfaced in her eyes.

In those large, tear-filled eyes, any emotion was easily revealed.

The smile in Liu Feng’s eyes deepened slightly.

She looked toward Liu Huang.

“Sister, take Qiu-jie to rest.”

Liu Huang curved her lips into a smile and suddenly tightened her grip around Liu Qiu’s waist, lifting her up entirely.

Liu Qiu cried out in surprise as her vision flipped.

By the time she came back to her senses, her stomach was pressed against Liu Huang’s shoulder, and she was being carried out in that humiliating position.

Supporting herself against Liu Huang’s shoulders with both hands, Liu Qiu shouted, “Put me down!”

Her abdomen hurt from being pressed so hard.

Liu Huang acted as if she had not heard and carried her straight toward Liu Qiu’s room.

Liu Qiu could only clutch tightly at Liu Huang’s clothing to steady herself.

From that position, she lifted her gaze and met Liu Feng’s smiling eyes.

Those pitch-black pupils were unfathomably deep.

Liu Qiu could not tell what Liu Feng was thinking, but instinctively, she knew she should stay away.

Even though their eyes met for only a brief moment, Liu Qiu lowered her lashes, cutting off Liu Feng’s gaze.

Fortunately, she would not live long in this world anyway.

The Liu sisters looked more difficult to deal with than the other.

Liu Huang carried Liu Qiu into the room and, without much gentleness, tossed her onto the bed.

Her backside throbbed painfully, especially where it had been scraped while riding yesterday.

Liu Qiu’s brows knitted tightly.

It hurt.

Liu Huang stood by the bedside, looking down at her from above, a not-so-friendly smile on her lips.

“So now you know how to act pitiful.”

“Too bad it’s useless.”

Liu Qiu clenched the cotton bedding beneath her fingers.

“You can’t treat me like this. Do you want Mother to scold you?”

“I’ll tell Mother you bullied me.”

Liu Huang raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes.

She leaned down, bracing her hands on either side of Liu Qiu, trapping her within reach.

“Qiu-jie, isn’t that unfair?”

“You cry so miserably in front of my sister, yet when you face me, you start threatening me.”

At such close proximity, Liu Huang once again caught that faint medicinal fragrance.

She stared at the delicate face before her.

The red marks on Liu Qiu’s cheeks were ones she herself had left moments ago.

Her skin was truly tender.

Her waist was slender.

And she always carried that subtle scent.

Liu Huang’s gaze was too intense.

Liu Qiu felt uncomfortable.

She placed her hand on Liu Huang’s shoulder and pushed outward.

“Move aside.”

“Don’t get so close to me.”

Even her breath seemed faintly fragrant as she spoke.

Liu Huang let out a low chuckle.

“Qiu-jie hasn’t answered me yet.”

“Is it because my sister is now Third Scholar and holds official rank that you don’t dare to act up in front of her?”

“But I’m just a lowly soldier, so you treat me the same as before.”

Liu Qiu turned her head away, unable to push Liu Huang back as she leaned even closer.

Taking a deep breath, she said slowly, “So what if that’s true?”

“Now hurry up and leave my room.”

“If you stay any longer, you’ll dirty it.”

Liu Huang’s gaze drifted to the beautiful stretch of Liu Qiu’s neck exposed by her turned head.

Slender and pale.

Fragile beyond measure.

Her fingers twitched.

Including yesterday, Liu Qiu had now called her dirty twice.

Liu Huang’s eyes darkened slightly.

So the sickly girl truly bullied the weak and feared the strong.

She did not even bother pretending in front of her anymore.

“Invalid, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my sister and have her scold you?”

Liu Qiu’s fingers tightened slightly.

“You can’t bully me. I’m your elder sister.”

“And—and Mother and Father like me the most.”

She felt somewhat embarrassed saying it.

After all, in this household, she was the most useless one.

Liu Qiu’s lashes fluttered quickly several times.

A child picked up by her parents, who had monopolized all their affection since childhood—what kind of elder sister was that?

Yet she had still said it aloud.

Liu Huang did not respond to that.

Instead, she suddenly asked, “Do you want medicine applied?”

The topic changed so abruptly that Liu Qiu did not react in time.

At that moment, the small fox between them bared its teeth at Liu Huang.

Liu Qiu froze and lowered her gaze toward the fox.

Liu Huang’s eyes also fell upon it.

The little fox let out a low growl, as if warning her.

Liu Huang sneered and straightened up, her expression turning cold.

“Liu Qiu, control your little beast.”

“I might just—”

Before she finished speaking, she turned and left.

Liu Qiu hugged the fox and watched Liu Huang’s retreating figure, letting out a small sigh of relief.

Liu Huang was finally gone.

Her strength was far greater now, and her presence overwhelming.

Just now, she had looked as if she might devour her.

If Liu Huang truly wanted to hit her, she would have no ability to fight back.

Liu Qiu stroked the fox’s fluffy head and said sincerely, “Thank you, little fox.”

Su Li let out a howl and lightly brushed her tail against Liu Qiu’s arm.

No need to thank me, human.

Just let me drink a little of your blood essence every day.

Of course, Liu Qiu could not understand fox speech.

She only found the swishing tail adorable.

Unable to resist, she lifted the fox up so they were face to face.

Its fur was snowy white and glossy, completely different from yesterday.

“Little fox, I’ll give you a name,” Liu Qiu said, her eyes bright, a faint smile on her lips.

Tears still lingered in her eyes, blurring her pupils and making them look watery.

“I’ll call you Xiao Li. It’s simpler than Little Fox.”

Su Li had expected a beautiful name.

Instead, she had merely dropped the word “fox.”

Still, it happened to sound like her real name.

“Aw.”

That sounds terrible.

“You think it sounds nice too, don’t you?” Liu Qiu laughed, two small dimples appearing on her cheeks.

Su Li noticed and reached out a paw to press at one of the dimples.

This human was strange.

Her cheeks had little dents.

Meanwhile, Liu Huang returned to Liu Feng.

Liu Feng sat in a chair, slowly sipping tea.

Liu Huang dropped into the seat opposite her.

Though they shared the same face, the feeling Liu Feng gave when she smiled was entirely different.

“How is her condition?”

Though no name was mentioned, Liu Huang knew who she meant.

“Much better than before.”

“After all, all our money was spent on that invalid.”

Liu Feng set down her teacup and sighed lightly.

“Mother and Father have always been biased.”

Liu Huang shrugged.

“That invalid always pretends to be pitiful in front of them.”

“Can’t really blame them.”

“But now she doesn’t even reach my chin. Dealing with her is easy.”

She was thin and weak.

Handling her would be effortless.

Liu Feng pressed her lips into a faint smile.

“Huang’er, restrain yourself.”

“Don’t let her die.”

Liu Huang poured herself another cup of tea.

“What do you take me for? I’m not going to kill her.”

She did not hate Liu Qiu to that extent.

---

Although the banquet was held late, it was lively.

Liu Qiu stayed in her room and did not go out.

Fang Lian came to call her at one point, but Liu Qiu declined, claiming she felt unwell.

Fang Lian grew worried upon hearing that, yet today was clearly Liu Feng’s celebration.

She touched Liu Qiu’s cheek, reminded her to rest well, and left.

The sounds of merriment outside were thunderous.

One could tell how joyful everyone was.

Liu Qiu lay on her bed, watching the window glow with a dim yellow hue.

Sleepiness crept over her.

She tired easily.

Her fingers gently stroked the fox resting in her arms as she thought of the system.

[System, next time shock me a little harder.]

The previous one had been too light.

It had felt… strange.

[Okay, Host. Do you want to keep watching TV with me?]

[No. I want to sleep for a while.]

She was truly tired.

After saying that, Liu Qiu closed her eyes and slowly drifted to sleep amid the noise outside.

It was not a peaceful rest.

Her brows furrowed.

She suddenly opened her eyes, sat up quickly, and leaned over the bed to cough violently.

A metallic sweetness rose in her throat.

Blood surged as if it were about to spill from her chest.

The coughing gradually turned hoarse before finally stopping.

Staring at the yellowed sky outside, Liu Qiu swallowed the blood back down.

[System, I don’t think my body can last many more days.]

Even in modern times, coughing blood was no small matter.

She lay back down, letting her dizzy head settle.

Taking a deep breath, she said, [My wife should be arriving soon.]

At the very beginning of the plot, it had been mentioned that her family would find someone to marry her in hopes of warding off bad luck and prolonging her life.

It was likely Fang Lian and Liu Tieniu who would arrange it.

[Host, are you afraid of dying from illness?] the system asked.

Liu Qiu pulled the quilt over her nose.

[I’m not afraid. I’m just worried I might die too early.]

She had never feared death.

If her parents were not waiting for her at home, then dying would simply be dying.

The voices outside gradually faded until they disappeared completely.

The door opened, carrying with it the rich aroma of food.

A candle was lit inside the room.

Liu Qiu saw the shadow cast upon the bed curtain.

Without hearing a word, she ruled out Fang Lian first.

The person careful enough to light a candle for her was not Liu Huang either.

Liu Tieniu rarely entered her room.

So the figure could only be Liu Feng.

Strangely, she would rather face Liu Huang than Liu Feng.

Lifting the bed curtain slightly, Liu Qiu saw Liu Feng’s face illuminated by the warm yellow candlelight, appearing even gentler and more beautiful.

“Qiu-jie, you’re awake,” Liu Feng said softly.

Her gentle gaze fell upon Liu Qiu, who leaned against the bed, eyes frozen.

A faint smile flickered within her eyes.

“Qiu-jie, are you hungry?”

She had changed out of her crimson robe and was now wearing a simple pale green dress.

Her black hair was loosely gathered at the back, secured with a brown hairpin.

Her frame was slender yet upright.

Liu Qiu shook her head slightly.

“Thank you, Sister Feng.”

It was strange.

Liu Feng should not have been the one bringing her food.

She could not see through Liu Feng.

Liu Feng always smiled gently, appearing completely harmless.

Yet to rise from an ordinary farming household to Third Scholar, her mind could not possibly be simple.

Liu Qiu did not know what Liu Feng was planning.

She slowly got out of bed.

Her figure was thin.

Her skin so pale it was almost translucent.

Yet the corners of her eyes were tinged with a sickly red, making her pupils appear even more vivid.

It was not the beauty of health.

It was like a flower on the verge of withering.

Her chest began itching again.

She curled her fingers and pressed them against her lips, coughing softly.

The taste of iron flooded her throat once more.

This time, she could not hold it back.

Between her pale fingers, a hint of crimson seeped through.

Her back bent slightly.

Her body trembled faintly.

Standing there alone, she appeared unbearably frail.

The scent of medicine mixed with blood drifted into Liu Feng’s nose.

She watched quietly.

Her smile did not change in the slightest.

The candle flame flickered in the night breeze, casting shifting light across Liu Feng’s face.

Half illuminated.

Half shadowed.

Slightly distorted.

“Qiu-jie, why are you standing there?”

“Come eat.”

“Afterward, you should bathe.”