Gu Xiaoxi watched the woman flip her drama-queen switch in seconds, matching her expression with equal innocence. “If you don’t have kids, you don’t. You asked about arranged marriages so knowledgeably, I thought you were speaking from experience.”
When Lu Jiansen walked over, he saw his wife looking helpless. He shot a icy glare at the pair across from them before gently patting her head.
“Hungry? I had the dining car heat up our food. Want to eat now?”
Gu Xiaoxi nodded. “Yes, let’s eat!”
Lu Jiansen cleared the table by the window, poured her a cup of warm water, and placed the heated meal container in front of her.
The moment Gu Xiaoxi opened the container, a mouth-watering aroma wafted out, making the surrounding passengers crane their necks. Inside was a portion of white rice, several pieces of golden fried fish, savory fish balls, and a dozen freshly peeled shrimp—an exceptionally lavish spread.
Seeing how much food there was, she retrieved an empty container from her bag, scooped out a smaller portion for herself, and handed the rest to Lu Jiansen.
Lu Jiansen frowned slightly. “You’re only eating that much?”
Gu Xiaoxi tilted her head up proudly. “This is plenty for me. I want to leave room for snacks later!”
“You need to eat more,” Lu Jiansen insisted, transferring all the peeled shrimp into her bowl. They were nutritious, and he had peeled every single one himself.
Gu Xiaoxi didn’t refuse. She sat quietly like a well-behaved kitten, taking small, deliberate bites.
Her delicious meal set off stomach rumbles across the compartment. Someone nearby even whispered under their breath, “What kind of wealthy family is she from to eat so well on a train? Must be nice!”
Lu Jiansen replied in all seriousness, “My wife has delicate health. She needs proper nutrition.”
Seeing him defend her so earnestly made Gu Xiaoxi want to smile.
The girl across from them couldn’t stand seeing Gu Xiaoxi protected by such a handsome officer. She piped up again, “The elderly man sharing our compartment is a doctor. Since your health is so frail, why don’t you have him examine you?”
To her, Gu Xiaoxi was just spoiled and feigning weakness.
Gu Xiaoxi let out a faint laugh. “Who are you to him, offering his medical services so freely? Are you paying for the consultation?”
“Why should I pay for your doctor visit?” the girl snapped, her face tightening.
Gu Xiaoxi simply looked past her, opting to ignore her entirely.
Being snubbed made the girl even angrier. She tugged at her brother’s sleeve. “Second Brother, why aren’t you helping me?”
Feeling embarrassed by her scene, the young man whispered, “Xiao Ye, lower your voice!”
Xiao Ye lost her temper completely. “Why are you taking her side?! Are you mesmerized by her face?!”
A heavy silence fell over the compartment. Lu Jiansen’s sharp, glacial gaze settled squarely on Xiao Ye.
Xiao Lin, exposed by his own sister, felt like crying. He quickly clarified, “Please ignore her. She’s been spoiled since she was small and speaks without thinking.”
Xiao Ye flared up even more. “Xiao Lin, who are you calling spoiled?! Are you saying you weren’t staring at her with admiration earlier?!”
Xiao Lin: “…” How do I make my sister stop talking?
Gu Xiaoxi: “…” This woman named Xiao Ye has serious issues.
Sensing the cold aura radiating from Lu Jiansen, Gu Xiaoxi gently tugged at his sleeve. “Eat your food! Don’t waste energy on irrelevant people.”
The darkness in Lu Jiansen’s expression thawed. He nodded softly. “Focus on your meal.”
Gu Xiaoxi focused on her food, paying no further mind to the siblings.
After finishing, she went to wash her hands. When she returned, the siblings had retreated to their berths, and the elderly man—Dr. Qi—had returned from helping the sick passenger in the other car.
Noticing how worn out Dr. Qi looked, she asked gently, “Are you alright, Grandpa Qi? How is the patient?”
Dr. Qi sighed softly. “Fainted from hunger!”
Gu Xiaoxi fell silent. Times were tough, and many struggled just to stay fed. Yet her family had always cherished her, saving the very best for her. Hearing about someone collapsing from hunger right after enjoying such a rich meal made her feel deeply reflective.
As if reading her mind, Lu Jiansen said softly, “Everyone has their own path and circumstances.”
Dr. Qi nodded in agreement. “Indeed. The patient preferred to go hungry just to buy a hot meal for her young grandson, not taking a single bite herself.”
Gu Xiaoxi’s heart softened. Anyone able to afford a train ticket wasn’t entirely destitute; it was a matter of devotion.
Dr. Qi took a sip of water and picked up his leftover vegetable bun to finish it.
Gu Xiaoxi paused, then retrieved a jar of home-cooked fried fish from her travel bag, offering it with a bright smile. “Grandpa Qi, may I exchange this for another one of your scented herbal sachets? My grandfather suffers from poor sleep, and I’d love to send one to him.”
Dr. Qi paused mid-bite, his eyes crinkling with amusement as the savory aroma of fried fish reached him. “You clever little girl. These sachets use rare medicinal herbs, but for the sake of your filial heart, I’ll agree.”
He retrieved a second sachet from his satchel. Gu Xiaoxi happily tucked it away like a prized treasure.
Dr. Qi enjoyed the crisp fish and began chatting warmly with her. Gu Xiaoxi learned his surname was Qi and that he was returning home to Qingbei City, where he served as a senior physician at the People’s Hospital.
Learning of her frail constitution, he offered with a smile, “When you have time in Qingbei City, come visit me at the hospital. I’ll write you a proper tonic prescription.”
Gu Xiaoxi agreed readily, while Lu Jiansen carefully memorized the details, resolving to schedule a checkup for her as soon as his duties permitted.
From her upper berth, Xiao Ye peeked down, rolling her eyes in disdain. She’s only acting so sweet because he’s a senior doctor. How opportunistic!