"Go in," Zheng Wei said, shifting his body to allow the nannies to enter and pick up the child.
The nannies bowed, offered their greetings, and then quickly walked inside.
They passed the study, crossed the threshold, and then saw Shen Xiaoyan happily playing with four children.
Shen Xiaoyan’s attire today was a rare sight, and the nannies were utterly captivated, their eyes glued to her, momentarily forgetting their task of holding the babies.
"Take them down to nurse, and later ask Aunt Qu to make steamed eggs," Shen Xiaoyan said, looking at the people standing motionless.
"Yes, Madam, rest assured." The nannies responded, then took the children and went down together.
Perhaps it was because the family was growing, but the children, from a young age, were not afraid of people. Now, they would cry incessantly if they were not with Shen Xiaoyan.
Watching the nannies leave with the children, Shen Xiaoyan let out a long sigh. She got off the kang bed and prepared to go out.
"Mimi, where are you going?"
Just as Shen Xiaoyan reached the door of the inner room, Zheng Wei walked in, holding a wooden tray. On the tray were two bowls of hulutang and two plates of fried buns.
"Today's breakfast is really delicious."
Looking at the items on the wooden tray, Shen Xiaoyan felt her mouth water. Her stomach, which hadn't eaten yet, began to rumble.
"If you like it, that's good. Come, let's eat together."
As Zheng Wei spoke, he held the wooden tray with one hand and took Shen Xiaoyan's hand with the other, leading her back into the inner room.
Zheng Wei placed the wooden tray on the table and said, "Come, eat quickly. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
With that, Zheng Wei placed a bowl of soup in front of Shen Xiaoyan and handed her a spoon.
At this moment, Shen Xiaoyan's eyes were only on the delicious food before her. She paid no mind to Zheng Wei's slightly unusual attentiveness.
It wasn't that she was careless; it was just that Zheng Wei was usually like this.
However, Shen Xiaoyan didn't stop to think why they were eating alone in the room today when they usually ate together.
Shen Xiaoyan picked up a spoonful of hulutang, blew on it, and then eagerly put it in her mouth.
The moment the thick broth entered her mouth, Shen Xiaoyan closed her eyes in comfort. It was truly delicious.
In her previous life, Shen Xiaoyan had loved hulutang. Paired with crispy, golden fried buns, it was the ultimate delicacy in the human world.
When she had free time, she had taught Aunt Qu the method for making these two dishes, instructing her to make them every so often. This way, she could satisfy her cravings without becoming tired of eating them too frequently.
It seemed that because there were so many delicious things, Aunt Qu made different breakfasts every morning. They were mostly made according to Shen Xiaoyan's prior instructions, simply following a daily rotation.
Shen Xiaoyan had actually wanted to eat fried buns for the past few days. However, seeing how hard Aunt Qu worked to prepare breakfast every morning, she hadn't made any requests.
She never expected to be able to eat them again today. Shen Xiaoyan felt overjoyed.
Sometimes, it was like this: simply eating something you particularly liked could make your mood exceptionally good.
"Why aren't you eating?"
After eating four or five spoonfuls of hulutang, Shen Xiaoyan noticed that Zheng Wei hadn't started eating and asked with some surprise.
"I'm happy just watching Mimi eat happily," Zheng Wei said with a smile.
"You'll be even happier when you taste it," Shen Xiaoyan said, picking up a fried bun and holding it to Zheng Wei's lips.
Zheng Wei glanced at Shen Xiaoyan with a half-smile, then looked down at the fried bun by his lips. Finally, he opened his mouth and took a bite.
After feeding Zheng Wei a fried bun and a spoonful of soup, Shen Xiaoyan, at Zheng Wei's urging, began to eat her own meal.
The breakfast was eaten sweetly and with great satisfaction.
Zheng Wei ate faster than Shen Xiaoyan. When he saw Shen Xiaoyan put down her spoon, he placed his empty bowl and plate on the wooden tray and stood up to walk out.
"You can rest for a while. Don't worry about the children," Zheng Wei said, turning back as he reached the door to remind Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan yawned, her eyes still a little blurry, and nodded at Zheng Wei.
Indeed, after eating her fill, she felt a bit sleepy. Although only one night had passed outside, she had spent over ten days in the space.
During these ten-plus days, she hadn't eaten anything other than immortal spring water.
As for sleep, that was even less of a possibility.
Watching Zheng Wei leave, Shen Xiaoyan yawned again, stretched, and slowly walked towards the kang.
She took off her outer clothes and removed the hairpin from her head. Then, she lay down on the kang bed, closed her eyes, and began to sleep.
When Zheng Wei returned, he saw Shen Xiaoyan's peaceful and beautiful sleeping face.
"Sleep well."
After watching Shen Xiaoyan for a while, Zheng Wei murmured to himself and then turned to leave, naturally not forgetting to close the door.
Zheng Wei went to the main room and saw only Lu Taobao sitting there eating.
Lu Taobao saw Zheng Wei come out and asked curiously, "Why isn't anyone else eating breakfast? Aren't you going to eat such delicious food?"
"I've eaten," Zheng Wei said indifferently.
"What about the others?" Lu Taobao continued to ask.
"There's something going on. You eat, and then you have to go back to cultivation. After all, besides those four who can't run away and Xiaoming, you're the most..."
"Alright, alright, don't say any more. I'm not ignorant of hard work. You don't need to nag me repeatedly," Lu Taobao interrupted Zheng Wei, quickly asserting himself.
"Exactly, Big Brother. You've become so talkative in these two years. I really miss the old Zheng Big Brother who was as stingy with words as gold."
Lu Taobao said with some emotion, his face showing a look of recollection.
"I know you're itching for a fight. We can spar outside later."
Hearing Zheng Wei say this, Lu Taobao shivered all over and immediately said, "No, no, Big Brother is so busy, how could he have time to spar with me? I'll just go back to cultivation. But, you have to wait for me to finish my meal, right?"
Zheng Wei remained noncommittal and did not speak, simply sitting there and watching Lu Taobao.
Lu Taobao felt extremely uncomfortable under Zheng Wei's gaze, but he didn't dare to stand up and leave.
Let alone the fact that he couldn't bear to part with the delicious food, even if he could, if he dared to stand up now, Zheng Wei would surely kick him in the backside.
This breakfast was eaten with great reluctance. Zheng Wei's naked gaze made Lu Taobao feel as if he had been stripped bare.
Putting the last fried bun into his mouth, Lu Taobao didn't bother to chew. He stood up and walked outside.
Zheng Wei watched Lu Taobao's receding figure with amusement.
Lu Taobao was becoming more and more afraid of him. He didn't know where all the food he ate went.
The person hadn't changed, and neither had his courage.
Zheng Wei stood up and walked to the door, looking at the west wing for a while. Seeing no movement from inside, he turned and went back into the house.