Chapter 41: The Critical Moment

"Steamed chicken with lotus leaves!" Luo Chucheng’s smile grew even brighter, though his pace of speech slowed significantly.

Luo Qingyao, who had been running, had slowed to a walk, and with every step, she grew slower still.

Beside them, Yun Yi watched the amusing father-daughter duo, his starry eyes shining with brilliance. A playful, mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Shark fin and egg dumpling soup!"

"Crab roe soup dumplings!"

"Vinegar-marinated lotus root!"

...

For every dish Luo Chucheng named, Luo Qingyao’s pace faltered further. By the time he had reeled off a dozen more, she could no longer restrain her feet. With a sudden dash, she turned around and, abandoning all pride, bolted back into the room to eat.

Watching that dainty silhouette vanish in a flash, Luo Chucheng and Yun Yi exchanged glances and both burst into laughter. They knew this girl wouldn't hold out for long; in the face of fine food, pride and principles were nothing but passing clouds to her.

Rushing into the room, Luo Qingyao was greeted by a table laden with delicacies, and she began to eat with immense satisfaction.

Mmm, it had been so long since she had enjoyed such a scrumptious meal. Her father’s culinary skills were no joke; if he were to showcase them, even the imperial chefs might fall short. In all the world, few could rival his craft.

As she savored the food, Luo Qingyao basked in her happiness. The steamed chicken with lotus leaves was truly divine—the meat was silky, fragrant yet not greasy, leaving a lingering taste on the palate. And the crab roe soup dumplings! They were exquisite, stripped of any briny fishiness, leaving only the pure, fresh essence of the crab. They were a masterpiece.

She ate one, then another, wishing she had two stomachs to feast with simultaneously. She couldn't even remember the last time she had such a spread; usually, her father would only make one dish for her. Today was a glorious surprise!

However, just as she was mid-meal, two figures burst in. One snatched the chopsticks from her hand, while the other took the soup bowl. Then, each grabbing one of her arms, they hoisted her up and began to drag her outside.

With a dumpling still half-swallowed in her mouth, Luo Qingyao struggled, her voice muffled and indistinct. "What are you doing? I’m not full yet! Can't whatever this is wait until I've finished eating?"

Yet, the two men acted as if they hadn't heard a word, continuing to haul her away.

"Hey! Please, I’m begging you! Can't you just let me grab one dumpling before we go? Or at least let me take a sip of soup!" Luo Qingyao felt helpless. If it were just her father, she might have had a chance, but with Yun Yi involved, she saved herself the struggle and resorted to begging. She was utterly distraught—she had been so focused on eating that she hadn't even managed a single spoonful of her father’s signature soup. *Woe is me...*

And so, Luo Qingyao was reluctantly dragged out of the room, through the courtyard, and straight out the gate before they finally stopped.

The moment Yun Yi and Luo Chucheng released her, she instinctively turned to run back inside. Just kidding—nothing in heaven or earth was more important than a full stomach. But the moment she took a step forward, the two men pinned her down once again.