Chapter 291: Chapter 291

Shen You’an’s gaze deepened slightly, and he subconsciously looked up at Liu Qingfeng.

This man, stripped of the dignity that comes with high status, was at this moment, simply a father.

When interacting with others, one should never speak too deeply on a shallow relationship; Liu Qingfeng undoubtedly understood this principle. Yet, he personally exposed the scars of his own son to someone he was meeting for the first time.

"Back then, I was at the peak of my career, so busy every day that my feet barely touched the ground. My wife... had a short temper. When Xixi needed companionship the most, as parents, we failed him..."

As he spoke, the man’s hand holding the cup trembled slightly.

"Later, as he grew older, outsiders thought he was normal. However, his heart was like a barren wasteland. He had no friends, he didn’t like to talk, and he locked himself in his room every day playing puzzle games. Watching him like that every day, my heart ached terribly. But everything changed after he transferred to Qingzhou."

Liu Qingfeng looked warmly at the girl in front of him.

Over the years, he hadn’t failed to notice Xixi’s changes.

Just as Helian Yu kept people monitoring Xixi to prevent her from doing anything excessive, Liu Qingfeng, too, had people keeping an eye on Helian Yu.

What Helian Yu could think of, he could think of as well.

"Xixi cares about you. Of course, Shen, don’t misunderstand. What I mean by ’care’ is the kind of concern and attention between friends. Don’t be fooled by his cold demeanor; deep down, he is the most soft-hearted and kind person. Maybe, without realizing it, you gave him a bit of warmth and light. To someone who has lived in darkness, it is something they might spend a lifetime repaying."

Shen You’an’s heart trembled slightly. She looked up seriously at Liu Qingfeng.

The man smiled, his eyes curving in a way that was strikingly reminiscent of the boy, with faint golden warmth shining through his restrained and distant demeanor.

"So please consider this earnestly. Don’t let prejudice lead you to miss a friend worth having."

Shen You’an said slowly, "Mr. Liu, if I avoid him because of my own prejudice, then it would only prove that I am not a friend worth having."

Liu Qingfeng blinked in surprise, then broke into a broad smile. "What an interesting girl."

At that moment, a soft knock came at the private room’s door. The door was gently pushed open, and a server came in, pushing a dining cart carefully as they began placing the dishes on the table.

The table was soon laden with spicy and flavorful dishes that were mouthwatering just to look at.

Liu Qingfeng poured a cup of lemon mint tea to offset the spiciness and placed it in front of Shen You’an. "Go ahead, no need to stand on ceremony with your uncle."

As he said this, fearing that Shen You’an might feel uneasy, he took the lead by picking up his chopsticks and grabbing a piece of ribbon tripe.

Shen You’an saw that he ate these spicy dishes without hesitation and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

The person across from her seemed to guess what she was thinking and chuckled. "Xixi takes after her mother; she can’t handle spicy food. As for me, my ancestors were from Xiang State. Maybe the ability to eat spicy food is etched into my genes."

Saying this, Liu Qingfeng added nonchalantly, "I didn’t expect you could handle spicy food so well either. There aren’t many like you in Qingzhou."

Qingzhou was remote and bitterly cold in winter. To keep warm, people would eat spicy food, but the dry climate often led to heat-related issues. Those who ate chilies often had it show on their skin, yet the girl before him had fair and delicate skin with no blemishes — it was truly remarkable.

She was clearly a girl favored by the heavens. This text is hosted at novᴇlfire.net

"Oh?" Liu Qingfeng’s face lit up with curiosity.

"Qingzhou is cold and dry. The heat from chilies depletes bodily fluids, which exacerbates symptoms of yin deficiency and causes internal heat. According to ’Medical Formulas,’ Zhu Danxi’s prescription uses reprocessed rehmannia and Angelica at one qian, white peony, Asparagus, Mai Dong at eight fen, and peach kernel and safflower at five fen. These traditional herbs are stir-fried to nourish yin, generate fluids, moisten dryness, and invigorate blood circulation. It’s very effective."

Shen You’an glanced up and looked at Liu Qingfeng. "Mr. Liu, even if you can handle spicy food, adapting to local conditions is always wise. Perhaps you could have your assistant prepare some for you as a precaution."

Liu Qingfeng was a bit taken aback. "You even know about traditional medicine?"

The girl said casually, "I know a little."

"You’re being far too modest."

One couldn’t take a scholar’s ’just a little’ at face value.

The girl ate quickly, a habit perhaps cultivated from years of living in a rush, yet she never seemed hurried. Instead, she exuded an effortless grace that’s pleasant to watch.

After finishing the meal, Liu Qingfeng arranged for his secretary to take her back.

At the door, Shen You’an turned back to look at him. "Mr. Liu, you are a good father."

It was only after the girl’s figure faded into the distance that Liu Qingfeng smiled and shook his head.

He could be a good husband, a good boss, but he could never truly be called a good father.