Fear of food

Chapter 6 Why Not Eat Bread?
Xiaoru facepalmed, speechless. Who would hit on someone like that?!

Try someone else's bread?
Someone who didn't know better might think you were talking about some kind of bread.

However, this younger sister does have quite a large belly... Xiaoru looked down and saw her own lower abdomen without any obstruction, and couldn't help but feel very envious.

But to her surprise, Xu An'an actually stopped and turned around as soon as Chen Qi said those words.

Chen Qi strode forward and said meaningfully, "It seems you, like me, don't like eating in the cafeteria."

Xu An'an glanced thoughtfully at the identification band on Chen Qi's wrist and asked in a low voice, "What illness do you have?"

"Anorexia, the inability to eat normal food."

Chen Qi emphasized the word "normal".

Xu An'an raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, then took out her phone, opened WeChat QR code, and said, "Okay, scan me."

Chen Qi said awkwardly, "I didn't bring my phone. Add me, and I'll accept your request when I get back."

Xu An'an didn't say anything, but simply handed over her phone, letting Chen Qi enter the phone number himself and then search and add it.

Chen Qi returned the phone to Xu An'an and watched her turn and leave.

Nurse Xiaoru was quite confused when she saw Chen Qi add the other person on WeChat so easily, but she was also shocked: Is this even possible?
She moved closer to Chen Qi, patted him on the shoulder, and teased, "Well done, kid. Even when you're sick, you still insist on dating."

Chen Qi smiled but didn't explain further, simply asking, "Xiao Ru, have you finished eating?"

"Let's go, let's go. I'm on a diet, so I can just eat whatever I want."

As the two left the cafeteria, Xiaoru was still chattering: "You have good taste, kid. That girl was pretty and young. She's probably a student at Jinghai Medical College. You should make a move on her. Should I go and find out if she has a boyfriend?"

Xu An'an's name tag reads "Intern Doctor," but she is actually a medical student who came to the hospital to study.

Chen Qi gave a few casual words of evasion; his mind was completely focused on saving himself, and he had no interest in romance.

The two strolled around the hospital. The hospital had nice landscaping, and some areas were built like small parks.

After being locked up for so many days, Chen Qi was able to occasionally come out for a walk and he did feel refreshed.

Under his deliberate guidance, the two passed by a flowerbed full of cosmos flowers.

Chen Qi glanced discreetly into the flower bed and, sure enough, saw a large, half-hidden jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe).

However, in his eyes, the jianbing guozi was well packaged, with a paper bag inside and a plastic bag outside.

Only a third of the paper bag was visible, its golden color appealing and indicating its freshness.

Chen Qi swallowed hard, and his stomach growled loudly.

As he got closer to the jianbing guozi, the allure became even stronger, making him want to pick it up and take a couple of bites right there.

But while Nurse Xiaoru seemed to be chatting idly, her eyes never left him.

Chen Qi passed by twice but couldn't find an opportunity to make a move. He was also afraid that if he made too obvious a move, Xiao Ru would notice the jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe).

So in the end, they had no choice but to give up.
-
Back in his ward, Chen Qi leaned against the bed, pondering what he needed to do that day.

"The test is tomorrow at noon, and I don't have much time left."

"Tonight, just tonight! Let's go out and forage again, and then eat all the wild food we find at once."

"But where to eat? I need to think about it carefully. I'll look for a suitable place when I'm looking for food tonight."

If he finds food well tonight, he should have at least five or six pieces of wild food.

It takes quite a while to eat this much food at once.

Previously, he hid in the hospital ward bathroom, which was blocked by two doors, and he only had enough time to eat one rice ball. Even if he sped up his eating, he could only eat two dishes at most. Therefore, the location and timing were very important for this meal!

He chose to eat in the early morning because there were fewer nurses and security guards at the hospital then, so there would be fewer people to stop him from eating.

But where to eat remains a headache.

Where in this hospital building is there a safer or more secure place than a toilet?
A short while later, Nurse Xiaoru brought the day's nutritional fluids and also brought Chen Qi's cell phone.

It's time to play on my phone again.

After receiving the IV fluids, Chen Qi found a comfortable position leaning against the headboard and then turned on his phone.

He immediately opened WeChat, but apart from a friend request, there were no other messages.

"Neither my parents have messaged me. Are they planning to abandon my main account and create a new one?"

This sudden estrangement made Chen Qi very uncomfortable.

He clicked on the friend request from Xu An'an and saw that her nickname was simply the character "Xu," and her profile picture...

The profile picture is a dried-up loaf of bread!
Just how much does she love him?

After accepting the friend request, Chen Qi took the initiative to say hello.

Chen Qi: Dr. Xu, I am Chen Qi. We just met in the cafeteria.

After a moment, Xu An'an replied: Just say what's on your mind. I like efficient communication.

Chen Qi naturally had no objections. After pondering for a moment, he replied: "I think we should be the same kind of people. You should be able to see that too. I was referring to the food."

Chen Qi was certain that Xu An'an had something unusual about her, just like him, so he didn't hide anything and spoke frankly.

A few minutes later, Xu An'an replied: What does food look like in your eyes?

Chen Qi: Disgusting, bizarre, strange, all sorts of things, in short, none of them look like they can be eaten.

Xu An'an: Then we're about the same.

Chen Qi: So... you can see it too, right?

Xu An'an: Yes, it started about a month ago.

Chen Qi's heart suddenly raced. Although he had guessed it before, he still couldn't help but feel excited when he heard Xu An'an admit it herself.

He is not alone!

He doesn't have a mental illness!

There are people in the world who can see the same scene as him.

If there is one Xu An'an, then there must be many more!

Chen Qi took a deep breath and gradually calmed himself down.

The appearance of Xu An'an only proves that the abnormality he exhibits is not an isolated case, but it does not mean that what he sees is the truth.

Chen Qineng can find a bunch of reasons to prove that there is something wrong with the world, but he can also find a bunch of reasons to prove that there is something wrong with himself.

Therefore, he still has no idea who is right and who is wrong.

He wanted to ask Xu An'an what she thought, wondering if she was also as conflicted and confused as he was, or if she was also caught in a vortex of self-doubt and feeling dizzy.
However, Xu An'an answered Chen Qi's question in a very casual manner.

Xu An'an: I don't know who is right and who is wrong, nor do I know whether what I saw is true or false, but it doesn't matter, as long as I have bread to eat, that's enough.

Xu An'an: Speaking of which, why did you develop anorexia? Why don't you eat bread?
Xu An'an: Don't you know how to make bread?
(End of this chapter)