Her eyes fixed on Xi Fuhong, as if intimidating her to eat, but Xi Fuhong pretended not to hear and ignored her.
“Come here, drink the porridge,” Luo Qingcheng finally said after a while.
Xi Fuhong trembled but stubbornly refused to move.
“I’ll say it again, drink the porridge.” Her tone grew colder, but Xi Fuhong still ignored her.
Luo Qingcheng’s eyes narrowed, and she clenched her fist tightly.
She had been busy with the affairs of the Luo Family, with no time to rest, and was also occupied with investigating the Tiger Dragon Cave’s secret treasure, which took a toll on her.
With Xi Fuhong in the house, she had to instruct the maids to take care of her, providing all her food and clothing.
Not being a patient person, Luo Qingcheng hooked the chain on the ground with her toe, yanked it, and forcibly dragged Xi Fuhong from the chair by the window.
Before she could react, she was pulled over, stumbling and falling to her knees at Luo Qingcheng’s feet, like a servant apologizing to their master.
“Ugh!” Xi Fuhong winced in pain as Luo Qingcheng suddenly grabbed her jaw.
“Sit down and drink the porridge.” She pulled a chair over and made Xi Fuhong sit.
Even if Xi Fuhong was unwilling, she didn’t dare to rebel at such a close distance, so she obediently sat on the chair.
The hot porridge in front of her was steaming, looking very appetizing.
Just as Xi Fuhong was about to reach for the spoon, Luo Qingcheng took the bowl away.
She widened her eyes at Luo Qingcheng, who scooped a spoonful and brought it to Xi Fuhong’s mouth.
“Open your mouth.” That beautiful face was always so cold.
Xi Fuhong pressed her lips tightly and shook her head.
She had hands and could eat by herself.
“Open your mouth.” Luo Qingcheng ignored her resistance and repeated, this time louder.
Cold sweat trickled down Xi Fuhong’s back.
She never knew being served could be so terrifying.
After hesitating, she saw Luo Qingcheng’s stubborn gaze and the raised spoon.
Xi Fuhong didn’t dare refuse, swallowed, and reluctantly leaned forward, opening her mouth slightly to take the spoon and drink the porridge.
Seeing her take a bite, Luo Qingcheng’s expression softened.
She scooped another spoonful, and Xi Fuhong, after swallowing, cooperated and ate.
Initially, Xi Fuhong was too nervous to taste the porridge, but after a few times, she got used to it.
The light sweetness of the porridge spread in her mouth, and she, who hadn’t eaten for a few meals, smiled contentedly, a small gesture that Luo Qingcheng noticed.
Her heart suddenly warmed, like the slight warmth of the ceramic bowl in her hand.
“Is it good?” Luo Qingcheng asked, scooping another spoonful.
Xi Fuhong was suddenly asked, and she dumbly opened her mouth and looked up.
Seeing her like this, Luo Qingcheng’s heart skipped a beat.
Xi Fuhong had never changed, always so innocent and simple, always so silly, but this look always lingered in Luo Qingcheng’s mind.
Sometimes she would think of Xi Fuhong’s sleeping face, her biting her tongue on horseback, her sad tears, her inadvertent smile.
It turned out she had long been in her heart.
Luo Qingcheng put down the ceramic bowl and slowly stood up.
“Drink the rest yourself.”
“…Okay.” Xi Fuhong felt a bit wronged seeing her like this.
She hadn’t done anything, so why was she upset?
“Remember to eat well in the future,” Luo Qingcheng said, lowering her head.
“Your life is important.
You can’t die before things are over, so don’t think you can gain sympathy by fasting.
No matter what, you won’t be let go.
If you dare not eat, I’ll have you hung up and force-fed.”
Xi Fuhong’s right hand trembled, and the spoon immediately fell to the ground.
Luo Qingcheng wasn’t joking; she never joked.
“Here, you can’t resist.
Don’t forget, you’re just a prisoner.
The chain around your neck isn’t decoration.
Before you have any ideas, you’d better think it through,” Luo Qingcheng said coldly, staring at Xi Fuhong, making sure she understood not to anger her again.
“Do you understand?”
“…Yes.” Xi Fuhong tightly closed her lips, responding with difficulty.
Here, the Luo Family Head had the final say.
As a prisoner, what terms could she negotiate? Escape was just a fantasy, even if it was just a wall away.
Mist spread, and the silk half-retreated.
Xi Fuhong sat by the bed, watching the little maid set up the bath.
It had been two days since Luo Qingcheng had intimidated her to eat well, and during these two days, the little maid would always remind her: the head of the house wanted the girl to finish her meal before taking the plate away.
Therefore, the more Xi Fuhong chewed, the more bitter she felt.
Originally, she had no freedom being locked up here, and now even her meals were watched.
“Can you take this off?” Xi Fuhong tugged at the chain and asked.
“No, absolutely not!” The little maid was immediately frightened and shook her head at Xi Fuhong’s request.
“But… I can’t breathe…” Xi Fuhong frowned.
She really couldn’t breathe.
Although the iron ring wasn’t as heavy as shackles, the invisible pressure on her heart had already exhausted her spirit.
She could look out the window, but she couldn’t get out, like a bird in a cage, only able to look at the sky but unable to taste the freedom of flying.
“Can’t breathe?!” The little maid suddenly exclaimed.
If Miss Xi died, the Luo Family Head wouldn’t spare her!
Seeing the little maid’s panicked look, Xi Fuhong found it strange.
Although she didn’t want to scare the little girl, this was her only chance.
So Xi Fuhong deliberately held her breath, making her cheeks flush, then collapsed on the bed, gasping as if she was really suffocating.
“What’s wrong? Miss Xi!” The little maid knelt by the bed with a thud and asked.
“…Nothing, just… a bit stuffy… why… can’t breathe…” Xi Fuhong deliberately exaggerated, but such a clumsy act could only fool the little girl in front of her.
The little maid turned pale with fright and quickly helped Xi Fuhong up.
“I, I…” The little maid panicked, quickly ran to open the window, and said, “Miss Xi, hold on, the butler has the key to the chain.
I’ll go get it! Don’t die! I’ll be back soon! Very soon!” With that, the small figure ran off like the wind.
Xi Fuhong sat on the bed, feeling a bit guilty, but hearing the little maid going to get the key from the butler suddenly boosted her confidence.
Could she really leave? Could she unlock the shackles? Subconsciously touching the cold iron ring, Xi Fuhong gradually smiled, but dreams are always beautiful, and who knows the cruelty upon waking?
The little maid ran all the way to the side courtyard but didn’t see the butler.
Her figure flickered, and she went to the front hall.
As soon as she stepped into the front yard, she was immediately spotted.
Luo Qingcheng, holding an account book, had just returned to her senses when she saw the little maid’s panicked face, her heart sinking, knowing it must be related to Xi Fuhong.
“What’s wrong? Why so hurried?” Luo Qingcheng asked, and the little maid was immediately scared stiff.
“I… I…” She had heard that the Luo Family Head had gone out early, but unexpectedly, the head was in the courtyard reading!
If the head knew she let Miss Xi suffocate, she would definitely be punished!
“Speak, what’s going on?” Luo Qingcheng put away the account book and asked sternly.
The little maid’s legs went weak, and she immediately knelt down, crying, “Head… Miss Xi… Miss Xi is almost out of breath… about to die, the iron ring is choking her, so I went to find the butler for the key, but the butler isn’t in the side courtyard, so… so… Head, don’t be angry, I’ll find the key… Head…”
