After Being Hopeless at Singing and Dancing, I Exploded in Popularity Due to My Appetite - Chapter 20

Well… how to put it.

When Tao Nian saw Doubanjiang rubbing Ding Yiyi’s ankle, she didn’t feel anything special.

But now that she was rubbing Lin Qianman’s, she suddenly thought of more things.

The barbecue stall master in the cafeteria also roasted meat skewers this way, holding a small brush, applying a layer of oil, then a layer of seasoning. The roasted skewers were tender and delicious, absolutely heavenly with one bite.

It was the same at the roast duck restaurant. A plump, white duck, brushed with a layer of seasoning, placed in the oven to roast. It would come out a golden-brown, the duck skin crispy and delicious, a bite would make you hear the sound of the duck skin, laden with fat, bursting in your mouth.

As Tao Nian thought, feeling the smooth touch under her hands and smelling the fragrant scent, she couldn’t help but swallow again.

This time, the hairs on Lin Qianman’s back stood completely on end. She endured the pain in her ankle, kicked Tao Nian to the ground, then dragged her leg and darted to the door.

Tao Nian was originally holding Lin Qianman’s leg, lost in her thoughts, when she was suddenly kicked. Her lower body unstable, she swayed while squatting, pulling at her sore leg muscles. Tao Nian grunted, uncontrollably swayed, and finally crashed into the corner of the table with a thump.

The letter on the table fluttered down, landing on Tao Nian.

The room was empty, so Tao Nian’s collision echoed particularly loudly.

Lin Qianman heard it and felt her own arm ache.

She looked at Tao Nian, trembling.

Tao Nian took the paper off her body, rubbed her bumped arm, and looked up at Lin Qianman with a wronged expression.

Lin Qianman thought of how she had been squatting at her feet like a little wife, helping her rub her ankle, and felt a little soft-hearted. But then, thinking of that gulp she just swallowed, she wasn’t so soft-hearted anymore!

Lin Qianman, trying to sound fierce but inwardly weak, said: “If you haven’t eaten, go to the cafeteria! Hurry up and leave!”

Tao Nian silently walked away, clutching her arm.

Her dance moves this time were very complex, and she had no basic foundation. After practicing for so long, her muscles were sore every day. Now, as she walked out, her calves ached, and her arm hurt. So she walked very slowly.

Lin Qianman watched her walk towards her, couldn’t help but move aside, and as Tao Nian reached the door, she reached out, pushed her out, and then quickly closed the door.

Afterward, still worried, she peered through the peephole for a while.

Tao Nian was still clutching her arm, walking slowly, passing through the corridor towards the stairs.

Lin Qianman felt a little soft-hearted, thinking she shouldn’t be angry with someone who didn’t understand anything. Furthermore, although Tao Nian swallowed, she didn’t bite her, which was a huge improvement! She had bumped her arm, and Lin Qianman not only didn’t comfort her but was also so harsh with her. It was a bit inappropriate.

Why else would it be said that Qilins are always gentle and generous? Similarly, as divine beasts, when the Taotie’s intelligence hadn’t yet developed, it often bit the Phoenix. Although the Taotie was merely an infant then, if it dared to bite the Phoenix Lord (Feng Jun) even once, the Phoenix Lord would hit it every time, never showing mercy, and managed to beat Tao Nian until she no longer dared to bite. Even when she grew up and didn’t remember her childhood, smelling the Phoenix Lord’s scent daily would make her stir with desire, but her body dared not move.

But Lin Qianman had a good temper.

This matter was originally Tao Nian’s fault, but seeing Tao Nian’s pitiful look, she couldn’t help but soften. She rubbed her still-sore ankle, wanting to comfort Tao Nian. At the very least, she should check on her arm, so it wouldn’t develop any problems.

After hesitating for a while, she thought of Feng Jun’s instructions, her mission, the Taotie clan’s nature, and the cause of Tao Nian’s father’s death… Lin Qianman gritted her teeth, changed out of her pajamas, and decided to go to the cafeteria to coax Tao Nian.

It was already very late. After descending the dorm building, looking out, tall buildings stood in the distance, their large screens flashing colorful lights. Under such lighting, in a gap between the buildings, a round moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by grayish-blue clouds.

The cafeteria was mostly empty, and there was no more food.

When Lin Qianman arrived, the cafeteria auntie was pouring leftovers into the trash can. Half of the cafeteria lights were already off.

Tao Nian sat on the steps on the side of the cafeteria, eating and looking up at the moon.

On the steps behind her, a neat row of boxed meals was laid out.

…

Seeing Lin Qianman approach, Tao Nian glared at her angrily, then turned away with her plate of stir-fried rice noodles, refusing to look at Lin Qianman.

Lin Qianman asked: “Are you angry? Why?”

Circumlocution is a speaking skill for adults. The little taotie hadn’t learned such complex things yet. Some things can be asked directly.

However, circumlocution needs to be learned, but tsundere (being outwardly abrasive while inwardly affectionate) is an instinct and can be self-taught perfectly.

Tao Nian took another bite of stir-fried rice noodles, glanced at Lin Qianman, snorted angrily again, then turned away, only showing Lin Qianman her back.

Lin Qianman walked around to face her, counted the boxed meals on the steps, and asked her: “How much did all these cost?”

Upon this, Tao Nian grew even sadder: “One hundred and forty!”

One box of stir-fried noodles was fourteen yuan. When Tao Nian went, that’s all that was left. The owner was already planning to close up, and seeing Tao Nian come to buy, he simply stir-fried all of it. It filled twelve boxes, but he only charged Tao Nian for ten portions.

It was already a very good deal, but Tao Nian didn’t know that. Tao Nian only knew that one dish in the cafeteria was two yuan. One hundred and forty yuan was enough for her to eat so many, many dishes!

Lin Qianman looked at Tao Nian like this and couldn’t help but smile again. Seeing Tao Nian about to glare at her again, she held back and asked: “Does your arm still hurt?”

“It hurts!” Tao Nian scooped the last bit of broken noodles, bean sprouts, and scrambled eggs into her mouth, then said to Lin Qianman, very aggrieved: “I bumped it!”

Lin Qianman reached for her arm, saying softly: “Let me see?”

Tao Nian extended her arm towards Lin Qianman. Before Lin Qianman could see it, she suddenly pulled it back as if she had thought of something else. Not only did she refuse to show it, but she also said sarcastically: “You told me to leave. I’m not letting you see it, you can let me just hurt to death!”

Lin Qianman looked at Tao Nian like this, suspecting she had watched some melodramatic drama. Otherwise, there was no way to explain where she learned this Mary Sue protagonist act.

For a moment, Lin Qianman even felt that if she really tried to explain, Tao Nian would cover her ears and say, “I’m not listening! I’m not listening!”

Fortunately, Qilin was already a mature Qilin. She asked the Taotie: “I just told you to leave. I wasn’t angry when you bit me before. Now I just said one sentence, why are you angry?”

Tao Nian, wronged: “I didn’t mean to bite you, I was hungry! You all wouldn’t let me have a bite!”

This brat.

Lin Qianman gritted her teeth, wanting to hit someone.

You say it was just a light bite.

With your maw, if I let you bite me, would I still be alive?

Tao Nian became a little disheartened, still with that sarcastic tone: “You all complain about how much I eat. Even Master kicked me down the mountain. You said you’d take care of me, but you still made me leave.”

The little Taotie turned the tables, and because she didn’t realize she was wrong, she spoke righteously: “I’m angry!”