Lin Xiaoxiao's teeth hurt just thinking about it—what was all this? Still thinking about your ex-boyfriend even after getting married？

Seeing Zhou Huai'an's face darken, she quickly waved her hands. "No, no, no. I know I'm not qualified enough for the job. Just assign it to someone who needs it more. I simply wanted to help you cook."

Zhou Huai'an glanced at her. "Not necessary."

Lin Xiaoxiao stood to the side and watched Zhou Huai'an cook. When he began stir-frying the dish, he noticed the oil container was empty. Frowning slightly, he went to the cupboard, took out a can of lard, scooped a portion into the wok, then added scallions, ginger, garlic, and dried red chilies.

The aroma instantly burst forth, wafting straight to her nose.

Lin Xiaoxiao thought she must have been too hungry—even a simple stir-fried cabbage made her swallow hard.

Lunch was simple: braised pork Zhou Huai'an had brought from the cafeteria—more fat than lean, and not particularly appealing in color—along with the stir-fried cabbage. The main staple was heated coarse grain buns.

Seeing Zhou Huai'an warm the buns, Lin Xiaoxiao actively cleared the table, set the stools, and fetched chopsticks.

Zhou Huai'an looked unexpectedly at the two pairs of chopsticks on the table. Today's Lin Xiaoxiao was truly unusual. Normally, she acted as though the very air he breathed dirtied the room with what she called "the stench of the countryside."

Without a word, he arranged the steamed buns and dishes. Lin Xiaoxiao had already seated herself opposite him, staring at the coarse grain buns. "They look so delicious. You're really skilled."

Zhou Huai'an's eyebrow twitched. He guessed Lin Xiaoxiao's change in behavior was just another strategy to get what she wanted.

Still silent, he sat down opposite her and began eating in large bites.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't take offense. Given the original owner's behavior, the man across from her was surely full of guard and suspicion, wondering what trick she was playing.

She took a small bite of the bun. It looked yellow and coarse, and tasted dry and hard—swallowing made her throat feel scratchy. It was nothing like the soft, sweet cornbread buns she'd had in restaurants.

She stretched her neck to swallow, quickly drinking two mouthfuls of water to wash it down.

Zhou Huai'an glanced at her, then lowered his eyes and continued eating.

As the two ate quietly, each lost in thought, a woman's voice called out anxiously from outside the door, "Captain Zhou, are you home?"

Her voice was strained, on the verge of tears.

Zhou Huai'an froze for only a second before putting down his chopsticks and rushing out.

Lin Xiaoxiao also quickly set down her chopsticks and followed. She saw Zhang Yimei—the round-faced woman she had seen earlier in the yard—holding a child and crying. The child's face was flushed dark purple, and it was unclear what was wrong.

A young woman in a white shirt stood beside her, also looking anxious.

Seeing Zhou Huai'an, Zhang Yimei seemed to see her savior. "Captain Zhou, my son Xiaoshan is choking! Dr. Xiao said we need to get to the hospital now, but my husband isn't here..."

As she cried, she patted the child's back. The boy was clearly struggling to breathe.

Without a second thought, Zhou Huai'an stepped forward and took the child. "Let's go. We'll head to the hospital now."

"Wait!!!"

Lin Xiaoxiao ran over. Seeing how uncomfortable the child looked, she knew the situation was critical—he could die from suffocation before they reached the hospital.

Her medical instincts took over. "The child can hardly breathe—he's turning purple! There's no time to get to the hospital. Press firmly one inch below his chest and squeeze hard. Quick!"

Zhang Yimei didn't trust Lin Xiaoxiao. After all, this malicious woman had once cursed her and even said she hoped her son would die.

Weeping, she urged Zhou Huai'an, "Captain Zhou, hurry! To the hospital! If we're late, it'll be too late!"

The girl in the white shirt, Xiao Yan, shot a hostile look at Lin Xiaoxiao and also urged, "Brother Zhou, hurry! Shanzi can't wait another second!"

Lin Xiaoxiao knew they wouldn't believe her right away. She rushed over, took the child from Zhou Huai'an's arms, turned the boy to face away from her, and held him firmly.

She positioned her hands below the child's chest to perform the Heimlich maneuver, aiming to rapidly elevate the diaphragm and increase thoracic pressure to expel the object stuck in his airway.

Zhou Huai'an was stunned for a moment. Afraid that Lin Xiaoxiao's recklessness and arrogance would cost the child's precious rescue time, he reached out and grabbed the boy back. In the process, he pushed Lin Xiaoxiao away and shouted in a harsh tone she had never heard before:

"Lin Xiaoxiao! Stop fooling around!"