Chapter 59: His Chest

Lu Beiqin shifted his gaze. "Since you're awake, get up and eat something."

"Mm."

Still half-asleep, Shen Chutang responded and got out of bed. Her mind hadn't caught up yet; she thought she was in her own room. The height was entirely different, and as she jumped down, her feet suddenly went soft, and she was about to fall!

Lu Beiqin reacted quickly, wrapping an arm around her slender waist. Shen Chutang was startled, her head plunging directly into his chest. She looked up in surprise, meeting his calm eyes.

"Stand properly."

"Oh."

Lu Beiqin cleared his throat lightly and headed outside. "Go wash up. I've prepared clothes for you."

Shen Chutang had always had a habit since childhood: when she wasn't fully awake, she was muddled, and no one could rouse her properly. Yet today, falling into his arms brought her instant clarity.

It was already seven in the evening, and Shen Chutang's stomach began to rumble.

She quickly finished washing up and found a bag of clothes placed in the room. Upon inspection, it was a white dress.

After slipping it on, she headed downstairs.

Lu Yuebai was still asleep. The old master looked worried. "He's been sleeping for so long; could something be wrong?"

Shen Chutang smiled. "Don't worry, Grandpa. Xiaobai needs rest to recover his strength—this is perfectly normal."

Only then did Old Master Lu relax a bit. "We really must thank you this time. Eat whatever you like, don't be shy!"

As Uncle Zhang brought out dish after dish, Shen Chutang's appetite was fully awakened. "Thank you, Grandpa. Then I really won't hold back!"

She grabbed a piece of sweet and sour pork rib and started munching, holding a crab in the other hand, her eyes fixed greedily on the spicy boiled pork slices... Grandpa truly understood her; all the dishes were her favorites!

The old master was very pleased with Shen Chutang. "Being able to eat is a blessing. This child truly looks fortunate."

Lu Beiqin said nothing, taking the crab from her hand.

"Why are you snatching mine? There’s more in the bowl!"

Lu Beiqin spoke, "I'll shell it for you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chutang immediately let go.

The spicy boiled pork was tender and smooth, perfect with rice. The stir-fried cumin beef was fragrant, and there was a crab stew beside it. The chicken feet were braised until soft and glutinous, melting in the mouth with a bite.

As she ate, Shen Chutang didn’t forget to invite Old Master Lu. "Grandpa, you should eat too!"

The old master smiled. "I wasn't sure when you’d wake, so Zhang and I ate earlier. You two go ahead."

Shen Chutang felt a wave of gratitude—clearly, none of the dishes had been touched. Grandpa and Uncle Zhang must have refrained, saving all the best food for her.

Meanwhile, Lu Beiqin had finished shelling the crab, placing the meat back in the shell. "Eat."

"Thank you!"

With that, Shen Chutang picked up a piece of sweet and sour rib and offered it to Lu Beiqin. "These ribs are amazing, you should try them—perfect with rice!"

Uncle Zhang tried to stop her, but it was too late.

Lu Beiqin never ate sweet dishes, let alone food picked up by someone else’s chopsticks!

Uncle Zhang was about to bring Lu Beiqin a new set of bowl and chopsticks, but to his surprise, the man calmly picked up the rib and said, "Mm, the flavor is indeed good."

Uncle Zhang and Old Master Lu both wore expressions of disbelief!

The old master tactfully left the young people to their meal, excusing himself with his age and the need for an early rest.

When they were out of earshot, the old master couldn't help but whisper to Uncle Zhang, "Did you see just now? Beiqin ate the food Chutang picked for him!"

"I saw."

The old master was delighted. "It seems our Lu family will be welcoming a new member soon. Chutang is skilled in medicine and lovely in appearance, and Beiqin is outstanding too. Their child will surely be remarkable."

Little did Shen Chutang know, the old master was already pondering names and which kindergarten the child would attend.

The next day, Lu Yuebai slowly awoke.

"Xiaobai, how are you feeling?"

Lu Yuebai blinked slowly. He had almost given up yesterday, yet every time he opened his eyes, he saw Lu Beiqin and Shen Chutang at his side, which kept him holding on.

He hadn’t expected to make it!

"I'm all right."

Shen Chutang stepped forward to take his pulse. It was steady, the poison of the demon mist completely eliminated. "You were poisoned for too long; your body is still weak and needs more rest. I'll prepare some nourishing medicine for you—within a month, you'll be fully recovered. By then, even joining a triathlon won’t be a problem!"

Lu Yuebai's eyes grew moist. "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Shen Chutang smiled. "No need to thank me. It's my duty. Now, get up and try walking."

Lu Yuebai froze. Ever since he was poisoned, he'd been confined to a wheelchair. He had almost forgotten what walking felt like.