Chapter 27

As Qiao An stepped out of the room, she bumped straight into a solid wall of flesh.
Instinctively, she tried to step back, but her arm was grabbed, and she was pulled aside a couple of steps. There stood Gu Ze, his face dark and probing as he stared at her in disbelief. "He ate it?" he asked incredulously.
Qiao An curled her lips into a strained smile. "Yes, he did."
She lifted the bowl in her hand, empty, not even a drop of soup left.
Gu Ze’s eyes darkened. He moved closer, blocking her attempt to retreat, and leaned in to whisper by her ear, "Sister Qiao An, I’m having trouble with some homework. Can you teach me?"
Gu Ze was handsome, much like Gu Ting, not just in looks but in build as well. Yet their temperaments were worlds apart. His voice was pleasant, but now, lowered and laced with a hint of mischief, it carried a seductive edge. As he spoke, his warm, damp breath brushed against her earlobe, and a vivid blush spread rapidly from her ears down her neck, staining her fair skin like dye.
Qiao An frowned and quickly stepped back, using force to break free from Gu Ze’s grip. Relieved, she shook her head. "Sorry, I’ve been struggling with my own studies lately. I don’t have time to teach anyone else."
The original host was a few months older than Gu Ze. When she first came to the Gu family, Grandpa Gu had asked Gu Ze to call her "sister," but he had never done so.
To be honest, Qiao An had always liked this kind of seemingly yandere, beautiful boy in novels. But fictional characters were different from real people. After witnessing what Gu Ze had done to Gu Ting, her heart raced and her back chilled every time she saw him now.
With that, Qiao An turned and walked away without looking back.
Gu Ze’s face turned cold as he watched her hurried retreat. She was petite, not even reaching his chin, with a slender and fragile frame that seemed devoid of any strength.
He clenched his hand, the sensation of her soft, delicate arm still lingering in his grasp.
There was no way she could have made Gu Ting obey through force.
How had she managed to coax that cold-blooded snake?
Gu Ze pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth, his hand itching with restlessness. He cast a dangerous glance at the room next door, then turned and left after a couple of seconds.
Oh well, there would be plenty of time.

Xu Hui also expressed great surprise that Qiao An had succeeded in feeding Gu Ting.
She took the bowl to wash it and, turning her head, asked her daughter, "What happened? Did he stop fussing? Or" she said suspiciously, "Did you finish the noodles yourself?"
Qiao An pouted, displeased. "Of course not!”
"I was just joking," Xu Hui quickly shook her head and smiled. "An An is so capable. Is the young master full? Should we bring some fruit upstairs?"
This reminded Qiao An of a hypothesis she wanted to test, so she nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll take it up."
The Gu household had two refrigerators, fully stocked with ingredients that were regularly delivered. Anything that couldn’t be eaten in time was distributed among the villa’s staff before it spoiled.
As soon as Qiao An opened the refrigerator, she saw a dazzling array of fruits, all of the finest quality.
She didn’t take too much, just one or two of each kind, arranging them on a large fruit platter to bring upstairs.
Gu Ting remained exactly as Qiao An had left him, leaning against the pillow, hands resting at his sides, eyes fixed straight ahead as if his soul had left his body.
The problem was, he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
His fair skin stood out starkly against the dark-colored quilt. Though he was thin, he had an oval face, peach-blossom eyes, a high nose, thick eyebrows, and thin lips. Below that were a graceful neckline, collarbones, and slightly toned arms.
For a moment, Qiao An’s thoughts wandered again.
But she quickly composed herself, put on a bright smile, and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. "Gu Ting, look, all this fruit is for you. Do you want some?"
Gu Ting glanced at the fruit, then at her.
This time, unlike before, he wasn’t completely unresponsive. Even though his expression remained blank, Qiao An could detect a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
Two seconds later, the hesitation vanished, and he returned to his dazed state.
Qiao An frowned slightly, picked up a banana, peeled it, and waved it in front of him. "Really, you don’t want it?"
No reaction.
With a sigh, she took a bite herself.
She ate it slowly, one mouthful at a time, but didn’t take a second bite because Gu Ting’s gaze shifted toward her.
Her eyes sparkled as she tentatively offered him the banana. "For you?"
Gu Ting obediently opened his mouth, then took the banana with his uninjured left hand. He ate it bite by bite, just like he had with the fried rice and noodles earlier, his small mouth moving rapidly.
Qiao An facepalmed and glared at him in exasperation. "So you’re using me as a poison tester?!"
She had sensed something while feeding him earlier, and combined with what happened that night, she guessed that Gu Ting might believe the food here was poisoned. He would only eat if he saw it being prepared successfully or if someone else tasted it first without any ill effects.
And the reason he had only eaten a little before was probably because a small amount wouldn’t kill him, at most, it might cause a stomachache?
That’s why he had sneaked into the kitchen at night to find food himself. That small amount was just enough to keep him alive, but not sufficient for normal living.
He trusted himself, so the food he found on his own was safe to eat.
But anything that passed through someone else’s hands was suspect.
That explanation made sense.
Gu Ting, who was still eating, seemed to sense her anger and thought she might snatch the banana away. He quickly moved back a little, his eyes fixed on her. Though they weren’t wide open and his expression remained neutral, it gave off the impression of glaring.
Qiao An's lips twitched, and without looking at him again, she picked up the next fruit. She ate one lychee in front of him and handed the rest to him.
Gu Ting returned the banana peel to her, showing no interest in the lychees.
Qiao An’s expression grew even stranger. She peeled another lychee, took a small bite of the flesh, and offered it to Gu Ting.
This time he ate it.
He lowered his head and took the fruit directly from her fingers, his soft, warm lips brushing against her fingertips. Qiao An’s face instantly flushed bright red, and she hurriedly fled in embarrassment.
Watching the girl who had been feeding him suddenly run off as if frightened, Gu Ting tilted his head in confusion. Then he glanced at the fruit plate she had left on the bedside table, his dark eyes flickering with a familiar dilemma.
To eat or not to eat?

"Qiao An, Qiao An! Time to do homework!" Lei Xiao’s cheerful voice snapped Qiao An out of her strange mood.
Because Qiao An’s grades had slipped so much recently and she was struggling to catch up, Lei Xiao, upon finding out, had enthusiastically offered to do homework together, discussing any difficulties they encountered.
Of course, a video call would be even better.
Qiao An naturally agreed. They scheduled their sessions for 8 p.m. every day, and on weekends, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
They helped each other out, though in reality, Lei Xiao was the one providing more assistance.
Hearing Lei Xiao’s voice, Qiao An immediately snapped back to reality. She slapped her forehead and said, "Right, homework! Which subject should we start with?"
How could she let her mind wander to such trivial things when she hadn’t even finished her assignments?
She was getting way too carried away!
Did she still want to get into a good school?
Getting into a top university was Qiao An’s obsession. Now that she had a second chance to make her dream come true, it was truly a blessing.
In her previous life, Qiao An’s family had been fairly well-off. She herself was diligent and a top student, well-liked by her teachers and classmates.
But in her senior year of high school, her father’s mistress showed up with a bulging belly, demanding that Qiao An’s mother step aside, claiming she was carrying a boy.
Her mother had known about it all along but had kept it hidden to avoid affecting Qiao An’s studies. Yet, the two shamelessly made a scene anyway, and her mother didn’t hesitate to file for divorce.
However, she had no job, having been a homemaker for years, dedicated to caring for her son and in-laws. Suddenly thrust into the world on her own, she couldn’t support her daughter and initially wanted Qiao An to stay with her father.
But Qiao An, unable to tolerate such injustice, insisted on staying with her mother.
Life became extremely difficult for the mother and daughter. Qiao An’s grades did suffer, but the real blow came just days before the college entrance exam. Her father gleefully announced that his mistress had given birth to a son and invited Qiao An to celebrate. The news infuriated her beyond words.
After that, she found it impossible to concentrate, ultimately failing the college entrance exam and ending up at an ordinary second-tier university.
But Qiao An was still somewhat fortunate. Her mother was skilled at cooking and worked as a chef at a street food stall. Though the work was tiring, it provided enough to get by. Qiao An learned her mother’s culinary skills and had a clever idea, she started regularly posting food videos online, which unexpectedly gained popularity.
Even before graduating from university, Qiao An was already able to support herself and had saved up a considerable amount of money. She even helped her mother open a small shop specializing in snacks.
Still, not getting into a prestigious university remained a regret for her.

Another two hours of painful studying.
By the time the video call ended, both Lei Xiao and Qiao An felt dizzy and mentally drained.
Qiao An had already taken a shower earlier, so she went straight to bed as soon as she finished her homework.
At midnight, she was abruptly awakened by the system’s urgent beep-beep-beep sound. As soon as she opened her eyes, a transparent screen appeared right in front of her.
[Midnight Limited-Time Discounts: Hair Growth Tonic: 2,000; Height-Increasing Pill: 1,500; Eye-Brightening Solution: 30,000…]
There were over ten items in total, each with varying discount rates. Some were clearly sold at a loss, while others were only slightly discounted. Many of the items were rather useless.
At the bottom of the screen was a ten-minute countdown.
Spotting the Height-Increasing Pill, Qiao An decisively placed an order. Then, rubbing her eyes, she scanned the rest of the list and finally noticed a Muscle-Regeneration Pill priced at just 200.
Feeling like she might have stumbled upon a bargain, she ordered that one too.
After that, she didn’t need anything else. Confidently patting her thick, lustrous hair, she thought, What’s a Hair Growth Tonic? I don’t need that!
Once her shopping was complete, two small transparent bottles appeared in Qiao An’s hands, each containing pills of different colors.
With the system’s help, she identified the Height-Increasing Pill and immediately swallowed it. The pill dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, requiring no chewing. A wave of drowsiness washed over her, and Qiao An closed her eyes, falling asleep.
System: […]

The next morning, when Qiao An woke up, she remembered the events of the previous night and immediately grabbed the soft measuring tape from her bedside drawer to check her height.
She had been just under 160 cm before.
This time, as she measured, her pink fingertips pinched the tape, and her eyes blinked rapidly in disbelief. “163 cm? Is this for real?”
[It’s real], the system replied cheerfully.
Overjoyed, Qiao An cupped her face and rushed to the mirror to take a look. The pajamas she had bought according to her previous size were now slightly too short, revealing a section of her fair and slender ankles.
Her original body proportions were already good, and this height increase had been proportional as well. Visually, there wasn’t a huge difference, she just seemed a bit slimmer?
Being taller made her appear even more slender.
She stepped onto the scale and, sure enough, her weight had increased significantly. Previously 41 kg, she now weighed 45 kg. Of course, besides the added height, it was also because Qiao An had been eating a lot over the past couple of days without any restraint.
After getting dressed, Qiao An went downstairs. Xu Hui was preparing breakfast and, upon seeing her, greeted her with a gentle smile, affectionately patting her head. She habitually asked what Qiao An wanted to eat but then noticed her sleeves were too short.
“Oh, An An has grown so much! We’ll have to get you new clothes,” Xu Hui exclaimed delightedly, admiring her beautiful and delicate daughter with a natural expression, not finding anything unusual. After a moment, she sighed regretfully, “What a shame about the clothes your father gave you yesterday.”
"It's fine, they're about the same, I can wear any of them." Qiao An shook her head, a cheerful smile spreading across her face. The joy of having grown taller put her in an excellent mood.
She followed Xu Hui into the kitchen, first taking Gu Ting's food upstairs.
Xu Hui called out to her, "Why don't you take your own meal and eat with the young master? He always eats alone, it's kind of pitiful."
"Alright." Qiao An added a little more to the portions.
When Grandpa Gu returned from his walk and was about to have breakfast, he noticed Qiao An was missing and asked about her. Xu Hui replied, "I told her to have breakfast with the young master. It’s good for him to have some company."
"Eating together?" At the staircase, Gu Ze suddenly appeared. Hearing this, his expression turned inscrutable.
Grandpa Gu also paused, his face equally hard to read.
But neither of them pursued the topic further.

When Qiao An brought the meal to Gu Ting, she noticed as soon as she entered the room that he seemed to be in a particularly good mood today.
The reason she thought so was that his eyes were bright, especially when he saw her, they seemed to sparkle.
Gu Ting was capable of taking care of himself; he could handle tasks like using the bathroom and bathing independently. With the household staff checking in on him, his daily life didn’t require much concern.
The Gu Ting Qiao An saw had already changed into a fresh white short-sleeved shirt.
He sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, basking in the sharp morning sunlight, exuding a lazy, relaxed aura.
As Qiao An drew closer, she saw the boy’s soft hair bathed in the golden sunlight, his handsome features cast into perfect relief by the side-lit rays. His chin tilted slightly upward, and when he turned at the sound of her approach, Qiao An’s heart skipped a beat unintentionally.
"This is today’s breakfast." Qiao An set the tray on the floor, picked up one portion, took a bite herself, and then fed Gu Ting.
Gu Ting obediently opened his mouth, his eyes narrowing with pleasure.
Everything was going smoothly.
Breakfast consisted of plain congee and steamed buns.
After finishing the congee, she handed the bun to Gu Ting, letting him hold it and eat on his own.
Qiao An started drinking her own congee.
But as soon as she took a sip, she noticed Gu Ting’s eyes widen briefly before quickly returning to normal, though he continued to stare at her mouth.
Perhaps because of her speculation from the day before, Qiao An easily understood what he meant.
He was clearly saying: Why are you eating my food!
Qiao An glared at him and said, "This is mine."
Gu Ting seemed to understand, reluctantly shifting his gaze away and continuing to eat his bun. His thin cheeks puffed out as he stuffed the bun into his mouth, lending his usually expressionless face a somewhat adorable touch.
After breakfast, as she prepared to leave, Qiao An hesitated for a moment.
After walking a few steps, she stopped, exhausted. Gu Ting looked at her in confusion, showing a rare flicker of reaction.
Having just eaten his fill, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly. His left hand gently stroked his round, full belly, and he even seemed to linger with a hint of longing as he glanced at the empty plate, he had finished even Qiao An’s leftovers.
Qiao An took out the Muscle-Regeneration Pill she had bought the night before.
If it had been more expensive, she might not have been willing to buy it. The reason she could see so many good items was because the system had explained that, considering it was her first purchase, it would try its best to filter for things she wanted. From then on, it would truly be random.
This pill was for treating wounds, whether external or internal, even broken bones could be restored.
As soon as the white pill was taken out, Gu Ting’s expressionless face showed a panic deeper than when he was about to fall off the swing earlier. His already fair complexion turned even paler, his lips pressed together as if trembling slightly, and he turned as if to run.
But Qiao An held him down.
His eyes were rounder than before, though the earlier expression had completely vanished. With his shoulders pinned, he couldn’t immediately stand up. He looked at Qiao An with a hint of anxiety, his gaze filled with deep-seated wariness.
Anyone unaware of the situation would probably think she was trying to kill him!
Qiao An felt a bit helpless. The only comfort was that her efforts over the past few days hadn’t been in vain. She had some idea of Gu Ting’s strength, but when she held him down, he truly didn’t resist.
Still, he was clearly restless. If she didn’t explain, he might just snap!
“This isn’t poison. It’s to treat your wound,” Qiao An explained gently, pointing at his injured right hand.
Gu Ting’s eyes followed her hand, but he still didn’t react.
Sighing, Qiao An opened the box, took out the pill, and put it in her own mouth.
Gu Ting was shocked: “!!!”
Qiao An took a bite.
Two small tooth marks were clearly visible on the round pill, and a piece was missing.
The pill wasn’t unpleasant at all, it tasted sweet and melted in her mouth. A warm, cool liquid flowed down her throat. Qiao An blinked, smiled, and handed the pill to him: “Eat it.”
Gu Ting frowned almost imperceptibly, looking at the pill with reluctance and clear aversion, though his restlessness had lessened somewhat.
“Aah” Qiao An brought it to his lips, urging him to open his mouth.
Gu Ting was reluctant but complied. Before the pill entered his mouth, he glanced at her, a seemingly indifferent look, but Qiao An could clearly sense boundless grievance and resignation in it.
For a moment, she almost felt like a bully tormenting an honest man.
The pill wasn’t miraculous, it would only help Gu Ting’s fractured right hand heal a bit faster.
Because it was expired.
Its effectiveness had greatly diminished, which was why it ended up in the discount section, allowing Qiao An to buy it at such a low price.
When Qiao An found out, she almost thought she had wasted her money. Fortunately, the system explained that although it was expired, it wasn’t spoiled, just that only ten to twenty percent of its medicinal value remained.
It also kindly reminded her to avoid eating expired items from the three-dimensional world.
Even expired, the Muscle-Regeneration Pill was still quite effective.
The day after Qiao An ate, she woke up to find that the two pimples she had grown over the past couple of days from not watching her diet had completely disappeared. Her already collagen-rich skin seemed as if it had drunk its fill of water, with pores that were now much finer and cleaner.
Even when her period arrived later, she barely felt a thing.
This, however, led to a misunderstanding.
But that’s a story for later.
Since Gu Ting was injured, he hadn’t stepped outside, shutting himself in his room every day.
Although Qiao An was supposed to protect him, there was no danger at the moment, so her services weren’t needed. Besides, she still had a lot to learn, and with Monday looming as a day of public scrutiny, she spent the entire weekend studying to improve herself.
As a result, Gu Ze couldn’t find another opportunity to make a move.
For two days, he obediently accompanied the old master and left after dinner on Sunday evening.
Before leaving, he even asked Qiao An to see him off, sending a chill down her spine.
On Monday morning, Qiao An couldn’t feed Gu Ting, so she had Xu Hui prepare extra food. She brought it all over to Gu Ting’s room in one go, instructing him to eat whenever he felt hungry.
Perhaps because she had brought so much food at once, Gu Ting gave her a rare nod.
But when Qiao An returned from school in the afternoon, she saw the doctor she had met on Friday back again, looking as if he had just finished working and was wiping sweat as he walked out.
Startled, Qiao An hurriedly grabbed him and asked, “Doctor, did something happen to Gu Ting?”
The doctor frowned slightly and nodded. “Yes, the young master overate.”
“O-Overate?” Qiao An questioned in disbelief.
The doctor explained, “Someone gave the young master a large amount of food, and he ate all of it. His stomach swelled and hurt so much it nearly became serious. Fortunately, we discovered it in time. He’s already been induced to vomit and has taken medicine. For the next two days, make sure his diet is light, preferably liquid foods.”
Qiao An: “…”