Chapter 18: The Emperor of Shadows Has a Black-Hearted Fox Tamed at Home

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Su Tang obediently nodded. “Mm…”

In a good mood, Song Heqing ruffled Su Tang’s hair. “You all think too highly of me. There are plenty of things I can’t do either—for example, beggar’s chicken.” By “you all,” Song Heqing was referring to his fans as well.

Su Tang single-mindedly gnawed through all the chicken legs in her hands and said indistinctly, “But compared with other people, Brother Song, you really are outstanding. You’re already incredibly capable. Still, your standards for yourself are too high. Living like that must be exhausting.”

Song Heqing paused faintly, then gave a bitter smile and murmured, “I can’t help it…”

The people nearby were chatting merrily while the two of them spoke in low voices.

Talking did not slow Su Tang down at all. “Still, I really admire people who hold themselves to high standards. It feels as though there’s nothing you can’t do well.”

Watching how quickly Su Tang ate, Song Heqing inexplicably found his own appetite improving as well. “Actually, all it takes is a little self-discipline.”

At that, Su Tang sighed. She was precisely the sort of person who had the least self-discipline.

The two of them were still talking when Wen Tian came over and forcibly inserted herself into their conversation.

“Wow, did Brother Song make this entire table of food? You really can excel both in the parlor and in the kitchen.” She squeezed her way over and found a gap to sit in.

The only space left was between Su Tang and Shen Lu. If Song Heqing had not been leaning forward, Wen Tian might shamelessly have wedged herself between Su Tang and Song Heqing.

Before either of them could speak, Shen Lu was already displeased. “Hey, Wen Tian, why are you squeezing in here?”

He glanced disdainfully at the shoulder pressed against his own, quickly shifted his stool, and moved aside.

Wen Tian pouted aggrievedly. “I just saw how happily you were chatting, and sitting over there by myself was so boring…”

Shen Lu suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. “You’re not even eating. What did you come over here for?”

Seeing this, Chang Qinghua could only step in once more to ease the tension. “All right, all right. It’s pitiful enough that Wen Tian can’t eat, so let her sit with us and chat for a while.”

Shen Lu was willing to give Chang Qinghua that much consideration, but he clearly had no intention of talking with Wen Tian. He simply turned around, presenting his back to her.

Wen Tian did not care. After all, her target was Song Heqing.

“Brother Song, it must have been hard making this entire table of food by yourself, right? Let me help you with dinner tonight.”

Song Heqing took a sip of his drink and glanced at Wen Tian indifferently. His face still wore his usual gentle smile. “It was all right. Everyone helped, so I didn’t feel particularly tired. We can all pitch in for dinner tonight.”

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While they chatted, Su Tang continued diligently eating.

“Oh dear,” Wen Tian exclaimed softly.

Su Tang instinctively looked up and found Wen Tian staring at her.

Su Tang blinked. “Sister Tian, what’s wrong?”

Wen Tian hurriedly pulled out several tissues and made as if to wipe away the food that had gotten onto Su Tang’s face.

Su Tang turned her head slightly and avoided her hand.

Wen Tian’s movement halted. Smiling, she said, “Tang Tang, you got something on your face while eating. Let me wipe it off for you.”

Su Tang frowned slightly and muttered, “I got something on it again?” She lowered her head once more. “Forget it. I’ll wipe it after I finish eating, otherwise I’ll just get more on it.”

Su Tang was eating the fish Song Heqing had made and found it perfectly suited to her taste, so she quickly picked out several pieces with fewer bones.

Once she reached the lower part of the fish, she basically stopped reaching her chopsticks toward it.

Su Tang wondered whether, if she and Song Heqing really started dating, she would be able to ask him to cook for her often.

The thought alone filled her with satisfaction. She turned to glance at Song Heqing beside her, who was eating elegantly while responding to Wen Tian’s remarks now and then.

She felt she had to speed things up. Then the good life would not be far away.

When Su Tang, who had been burying her head in her meal, turned to look at him, Song Heqing immediately noticed. He looked back as well.

Unexpectedly, Su Tang gave him another dazzling smile, and Song Heqing froze once again.

But with other people around, he did not reveal anything unusual.

Why was Su Tang’s face still the same face as before, yet somehow seemed different in certain ways? And what was the meaning of this heart that pounded violently every time?

Song Heqing felt that if he reacted this way every time he looked at Su Tang, a trip to the hospital could not be far off.

Yet after observing himself for an entire day, he still could not figure out the pattern behind his racing heartbeat.

“Brother Song? Brother Song?” Wen Tian called out to Song Heqing, who had suddenly fallen into thought in the middle of their conversation.

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“Hmm? What is it?”

Wen Tian pursed her lips slightly, a trace of displeasure showing in her expression as she looked at Song Heqing. “Brother Song, why do you have to space out while you’re talking to someone?”

Song Heqing smiled apologetically at her. “Sorry. I received a script a couple of days ago and have been studying it. I just got lost in thought when something occurred to me.”

“All right~ Did I interrupt your train of thought?” Wen Tian’s brows drooped as she gazed at Song Heqing pitifully.

“Mm.” Song Heqing honestly nodded.

Wen Tian froze. She had not expected that. She had assumed he would considerately shake his head and say that she had not.

She gave an awkward smile. “D-Did you?”

By then, Su Tang had nearly finished eating. She picked up a tissue and leisurely wiped the corners of her mouth, then began unhurriedly picking up more food with her chopsticks.

“Once your train of thought is disrupted, it’s hard to pick it up again~”

Wen Tian laughed awkwardly twice without responding to Su Tang. She merely turned back to Song Heqing. “Brother Song, don’t think about work while you’re eating. It’s good to take a proper break once in a while.”

“Exactly, exactly.” Su Tang agreed, placing a piece of the beggar’s chicken she had made into Song Heqing’s bowl. “Brother Song, have some more of this beggar’s chicken. I’ll teach you how to make it next time.”

Song Heqing’s eyes held a smile as he nodded. “All right.”

No one knew whom he was answering, but watching him lower his head and continue eating, everyone felt that he seemed to be responding more to Su Tang.

Sunny-Side-Up Isn’t a Sheep: “Wen Tian is so awkward, forcing her way over just to steal the spotlight…”

Tian Tian’s Precious Darling: “What are you talking about? Our Tian Tian would never care about stealing the spotlight. Besides, the Film Emperor Song clearly looks like he’s having a wonderful chat with our Tian Tian, all right?”

Cheering for Brother Song: “=-= The person above is shameless beyond belief. Our Song Song was eating perfectly peacefully, and Wen Tian was the one who forcibly came over and dragged him into a conversation, okay?”

Song Song Is My Little Darling: “=-= Exactly… After all that chatting, doesn’t it seem obvious that our Song Song barely reacted? He’d be better off talking with Su Tang. At least he could eat a hot meal.”

Song Darling: “=-= Exactly. Thank goodness Su Tang rescued Song Song. Otherwise, the food would have gone cold and Song Song wouldn’t even have been able to eat. Wen Tian is honestly making people speechless.”

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