Chapter 30: A Hearty Appetite, A Truly Hearty Appetite

According to the medical staff, although Chu Sijin was suffering from acute gastritis, it was actually not serious. It wasn't caused by a virus or bacterial infection, but rather appeared to be a condition induced by her emotional state.

Much like how many people get stomach pains or liver aches when they are enraged, Chu Sijin was likely experiencing the same. Furthermore, Chu Sijin mentioned that this had happened before; whenever she craved snacks and couldn't get her hands on any, she would become incredibly distressed.

From this, one could conclude that when she reached a state of extreme longing for snacks, the failure to satisfy that craving could trigger a stress response in her stomach.

It felt rather magical. Rather than a physical stress response, it seemed more like a neurological or psychological issue, after all, emotions are influenced by the brain... Qin Luo frowned, though he didn't delve deeper into it.

He looked at Chu Sijin and, seeing that she was nearly finished with another bag of snacks, said, "That's enough. You can't live on snacks alone. I'm taking you to eat a proper lunch."

Chu Sijin replied, "Snacks can be my proper lunch too! I ate snacks every single day when I was a kid!"

*So you really are a snack bag reincarnated,* Qin Luo thought, casting her a look of pitying concern.

Suddenly, Chu Sijin’s movements froze. As if she had just remembered something, she exclaimed, "Ah! Oh no!"

"What's wrong?"

"I forgot something very important!"

Her expression suddenly turned serious, tinged with a hint of nervousness and anxiety, as if she had just recalled a major crisis.

It was the first time Qin Luo had seen her look this anxious, so he couldn't help but become serious himself. "What is it?"

Chu Sijin pointed at the clock on the wall. "Look! It’s already one o'clock!"

Qin Luo glanced over. "So?"

"So it’s almost too late!" Chu Sijin’s pace of eating potato chips slowed, and she said hurriedly, "The Gourmet Club is having an event this afternoon. Lots of people will be there cooking delicious food on the spot, and whoever wins first place gets a voucher for the Gourmet Club, which lets you eat there for free every day. I can't miss this!"

After hearing this, Qin Luo's expression lost its composure, and his voice turned somewhat strained. "This is what you call... something very important?"

Chu Sijin said earnestly, "Getting to eat all sorts of delicious food—of course it's important!"

Qin Luo: "..."

*I’m such a fool. Really, I foolishly thought she was just a snack bag reincarnated, just purely greedy and fond of eating. But I never imagined she was actually a glutton reincarnated. Her world revolves entirely around food, and only things that can be linked to "eating" count as important to her...*

Qin Luo suddenly felt exhausted and stifled, harboring a sudden urge to just fall asleep and never wake up.

Seeing this, Chu Sijin hurried over and nudged his body, pleading, "Will you take me, please?"

"No."

"Please, I’m begging you..."

"I said no, and I mean no."

"Please, just this once..."

Chu Sijin, acting like a child, tugged gently on Qin Luo’s sleeve. Her voice was sweet, sticky, and soft, paired with those adorable, mesmerizing eyes; the way she acted like a spoiled brat could melt anyone’s heart.

Qin Luo found it impossible to ignore her like this, so he sighed and said, "Can't you just go by yourself? Why drag me along?"

Chu Sijin said weakly, "I can't carry all these snacks by myself right now, and what if I get sick again suddenly..."

"Then ask your roommate to go with you. Xu Ke doesn't have class this afternoon."

"It's too late for that, the event is starting soon. Please, I’m begging you. If you go, I’ll share my snacks with you later..."

Hearing Chu Sijin say this, for some reason, a feeling of being moved welled up in Qin Luo.

For someone like Chu Sijin, being willing to share her snacks with someone else was probably no less significant than an ordinary person being willing to lend money to another... No, perhaps it was even more significant.

With a helpless sigh, he stood up and said, "Let's go."

Chu Sijin beamed with joy. "Thank you! You’re a good person!"

*No, I’m not. I’m just a heartless scoundrel.*

Qin Luo glanced at her expressionlessly and began walking out of the infirmary.

...

[Name: Chu Sijin]
[Beauty: 96]
[Figure: 93]
[Special: 96]
[Hobby: Eating snacks]
[Specialty: Huge appetite]

Qin Luo: "..."

On the way to the Gourmet Club’s event, Qin Luo carried a bag of potato chips in his left hand and slowly took off his "magical" glasses with his right, unable to stop himself from sighing.

He wasn't surprised that Chu Sijin’s hobby was "eating snacks," but for "huge appetite" to be listed as her specialty was just a bit ridiculous.

Chu Sijin carried a pink bag stuffed with a few more bags of chips, holding one in her hand as she ate and skipped along, bouncing every few steps.

She was like a child full of innocence, with every detail about her embodying the very definition of naive, youthful, and lively.

"Cute" was her synonym, and "foodie" was her true nature... but no matter how much Qin Luo wanted to complain, he had to admit that Chu Sijin was a beauty on par with any of the others in the "Goddess Group."

In fact, when he was with her, Qin Luo felt more relaxed and cheerful. It was as if he had been infected by her mood, and the previous feelings of depression and speechlessness were swept away.

He couldn't help but ask, "You said the Gourmet Club event is about competing for first place based on how delicious the food is. Do you even know how to cook?"

Chu Sijin answered without hesitation, "Nope!"

*How remarkably straightforward of you...* He looked at her, speechless. "Then why are you going to join in the fun?"

Chu Sijin explained, "Even though I can't cook and can't participate in the competition, I can go for the tastings! People who compete have to offer their food for others to try, and then the people who eat it cast votes to determine the score."

After listening to this, Qin Luo was silent for a long while before saying, "As expected of you."

Chu Sijin gave a cheeky grin, her bright face shining even more brilliantly than the sun above.

The weather in Magic City was already getting quite hot in June. Chu Sijin sucked on her fingers, which were stained with potato chip crumbs, tossed the empty bag into a nearby trash can, and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

She tilted her head to look at Qin Luo and noticed that his white shirt was soaked through with sweat in several places. The sunlight hit him, making the beads of sweat on his hair glisten.

As if remembering something, Chu Sijin said embarrassedly, "I’m sorry. I was eating my chips so intently back at the infirmary that I think I bit your hand a few times."

*It's fine. Next time you want chips, just look for me anytime...* Qin Luo glanced at her, shook his head, and remained silent.

Then, Chu Sijin said, "Lower your head."

"What for?" Qin Luo asked, though his body had already lowered before he finished speaking.

Chu Sijin didn't answer; instead, she used her delicate, fair hands to wipe the sweat from Qin Luo’s brow.

The gesture left Qin Luo stunned, and his gaze toward Chu Sijin became increasingly subtle.

After wiping away the sweat from his forehead, Chu Sijin pulled back her hand and smiled with satisfaction. "Thanks for earlier. I saw you were sweating a lot, so I helped you wipe it off."

Qin Luo squinted at her for a moment, didn't respond, and said instead, "Let's go, the Gourmet Club is just ahead."

Chu Sijin nodded and followed closely by his side, walking step by step behind him.