Father, Mother Escaped Again

Arms can't beat legs is an expression meaning "the weak can't beat the strong".

Mental pressure - You know, like from the games and novels? Where you feel panic and are frozen in place.

Free of a certain somebody's harassment, Xia Yuqing was like a fish back in water in the following days. Her health improved, her stomach filled. In the blink of an eye, the day of the reception banquet arrived.

While gazing at the imperial gardens, which were being decorated as bright as day, Xia Yuqing offhandedly fished out a pastry from her pocket and stuffed it into her mouth. So many candles, so much chow. Such a waste. Don't you know there are starving children in Africa?

The maids stood aside, anxiously watching their mistress chew osmanthus cake with a grave expression. Sobsobsob, having a hard-to-read mistress isn't necessarily a good thing. It's just even more difficult.

As Xia Yuqing was internally railing against the depraved capitalists who were always exploiting the people, someone walked up towards her.

Xia Yuqing looked up. Her eyes widened, her lips parted. The osmanthus cake fell from her mouth and plopped into the paws of the man before her.

Xia Yuqing gaped at the grizzly bear besides her, or more accurately, the grizzly-like man.

He wore armor, the hard steel hiding the explosive power of his honed physique. His corded arm muscles were far bigger than those of the boxers she'd watched on TV before. Xia Yuqing swallowed with difficulty. She had no doubts that his upper arm was thicker than her thigh. The expression "Arms can't beat legs" was definitely nothing but a will-o'-wisp to him, a will-o'-wisp.

The most most important thing was his height. Even by a conservative estimation, it was at least two meters. Before such a pagoda-like giant, we mortals can only boweth in worship, aight! This dude must be on steroids. Can normal people even grow this big?

"You, you, need anything?" You can't blame her for being wimpy. Anybody would be quaking in their boots if they were being eyed by such a big guy okay?

The bear in question was named He Wenzhong. In response to Xia Yuqing, he tilted his face downwards and slowly raised his right hand….

Xia Yuqing went completely white. She squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to escape, but she was stuck in place. She couldn't move at all. She could only tremble under his shadow. Was she going to fall today by the claws of this grizzly? Nooooooooo!

Her eyes were shut for a long time, but nothing happened. Finally, she cracked open an eye. Freakily enough, a pot had appeared before her from nowhere.

Pot?! Xia Yuqing looked closer. Good lord!That's no pot, that's the grizzly's cupped hand!

"…."

"Miss, yer cake fell."

"…." Xia Yuqing was shocked again. So the white speck stuck between his fingers was her very own half-eaten osmanthus cake?!

She hastily plucked the remainder of the osmanthus cake from of his hand, "Uh, thanks." Xia Yuqing was already crying a river mentally. This "mental pressure" or whatever is too frigging unfair, aight.

He Wenzhong was somewhat embarrassed by this thanks. He scratched the back of his head, "Yer welcome. Um, um…."

"Yeah?" Seeing the grizzly act all shy like some kind of maiden, she couldn't help but go a little cross-eyed.

"Ah'm famished. Could ya share some o' yer cake with me?"

"…." Xia Yuqing was flabbergasted. So he was a hillbilly?

"Ya can't?" He Wenzhong, seeing that Xia Yuqing wasn't replying, thought that she didn't want to share. His ferocious expression shattered. The awe-striking eyes of a tiger instantly transformed into a kitty's teary gaze.

Having just witnessed a fierce tiger transforming into a big kitten, Xia Yuqing's feelings could no longer be encompassed by the word "flabbergasted". "No, you can have all you want. I have more here."

"Really?" He Wenzhong delightedly took Xia Yuqing's proffered cake and blithely munched in.

Xia Yuqing watched him alertly. She could've sworn she saw a big dog's tail wagging just now. Your moe appeal sucks balls, aight! Dude, you're a dangerous animal even with the moe appeal!

(t/n: What do you have against dogs…)

"Um…" Xia Yuqing poked the blissful grizzly in the arm, "Isn't there lots of food over there? Why didn't you eat there if you were hungry?"

"Eh, can't ya only eat them when the banquet begins tonight? Ah'm new here. If ah randomly go grab something, won't they think ah'm a thief an' arrest me?" said the hillbilly, scratching his head bashfully again.

Xia Yuqing's mouth dropped open. Since you're a guest, why would they arrest you for eating something? And even if you get arrested, you're huge! Who could beat you? What a waste of your size. You're just going to be a big naive dummy.

In a flash, Xia Yuqing's gaze became both compassionate and disgruntled.

He Wenzhong trembled under Xia Yuqing's stare. He thought it was because he'd eaten too many of her sweets and stiffened, "Um… If yer hungry, ya can eat too…."

"…." It's not always about the freaking food.