Realizing her confusion, he explained to her, "See that no-logo drink bottle he's holding? It's food additive—sodium metabisulfite. Dissolved in water, it's used as a preservative and bleaching agent in food."
"Sodium metabisulfite can keep squid tender and prevent discoloration. The other bottle he's using is probably sodium tripolyphosphate, which makes squid soft and slippery. Consuming too much of these additives is very harmful to the liver."
Qin Yige: "..."
The aroma of the grilled squid instantly vanished, and she lost her appetite.
But, "How do you know?"
The drink bottles used by street vendors are usually unmarked, and the liquid inside is a normal color.
He continued to explain, "I've done and seen many market food surveys."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Qin Yige felt like crying.
Shang Sheng: "Would you have listened if I had?"
The few things she had eaten earlier were relatively better. Apart from hygiene issues and the use of frozen meat, they didn't contain food additives.
"..." It turned out she wouldn't have listened.
On the way back from the snack street, Qin Yige said, "I want to eat those boiled dishes, you know, mala tang."
Shang Sheng: "The broth is mixed with milk flavoring, and there's even creamer."
Qin Yige: "I want to eat grilled skewers."
Shang Sheng: "Ethyl maltol damages the liver and can lead to bone and joint cancer."
Qin Yige: "..."
She blocked his path, hands on her hips, "You're spreading anxiety. If you say that, then there's nothing in the world that's edible."
"Regular restaurants are generally fine."
"Generally, so you mean many restaurants still have problems?"
Shang Sheng: "It's not impossible, after all, people will do anything to make money."
Qin Yige: "..."
What he said seemed to have some truth to it.
And so, she returned home with him before she had finished eating to her heart's content.
It was already late when they got home. Wen Shuyao's door was tightly shut; she must have gone to bed early.
Qin Yige pulled Shang Sheng along as they tiptoed back to their room, "Don't disturb her. She has class tomorrow."
"Mm."
He looked down, sniffing his clothes, and frowned slightly. "Do you want to shower first, or should I?"
"Me first, me first." She couldn't stand the smell on her anymore; after wandering around the snack street, she had picked up all sorts of odors.
Qin Yige showered first. When she came out, Shang Sheng was working.
She urged him to shower, but he had some important work to finish. He told her to rest first and that he would shower later.
Qin Yige lay on the bed and played on her phone for a while. She was a bit tired today and soon put her phone down to sleep.
Before falling asleep, she glanced at the man not far away, who was wearing headphones and typing on his computer.
After an unknown amount of time, Qin Yige, who had long fallen asleep, was woken up by a stomachache.
She groggily sat up in bed. In the end, she couldn't hold it in, threw off the covers, and ran towards the bathroom.
However, at this moment, she had completely forgotten there was another person in the room.
Thus, as soon as the bathroom door opened, she simultaneously turned the doorknob and stumbled into the bathroom, crashing into the man who had just finished showering.
The familiar scent of shower gel hit her nose. Qin Yige froze for a moment, and a voice sounded from above.
"Are you... peeping at me shower?"
Qin Yige: "..."
How was she supposed to explain that she just needed to use the toilet?
Standing up straight, she took a deep breath. "You know I didn't do it on purpose. Shang Sheng, why didn't you turn on the light in the bathroom?"
"Just turned it off. I was about to come out."
"..." Fine, her stomach hurt, and she didn't want to argue with him.
Normally, she would have snuggled into his arms by now and at least felt his abs.
But at this moment, Qin Yige was not in the mood.
She pushed the man, who was wrapped in a towel, outward. "I'm in a hurry to use the toilet, get out quickly!"
Shang Sheng left. Qin Yige turned on the light and rushed to the toilet.
After a long while, the sound of a toilet flushing finally came from the bathroom. Qin Yige washed her hands and walked out of the bathroom listlessly.
The bedside lamp was on, casting a dim light. Shang Sheng was looking at his phone. Seeing her come out, he put his phone down and lay on the bed.
After Qin Yige lay down, he turned off the last light.
However, about five minutes later, Shang Sheng suddenly spoke, "Not sleeping?"
The woman, who was staring intently at him, replied faintly, "No. I'm afraid you'll stab me to death in the middle of the night."
He had been quite good to her lately; she suspected he was deliberately lulling her into a false sense of security.
Shang Sheng: "..."
He pinched his throbbing brow, his tone filled with helplessness. "Qin Yige, have I done anything that makes you think I'm ignorant of the law?"
She thought for a moment, "Not really."
"..."
In the darkness, he said calmly, "Since you're not sleepy, why don't we find something to do?"
As his words fell, he reached out, pulled her into his arms, and then pressed her down beneath him.
An atmosphere of intimacy instantly filled the room. Just as Shang Sheng lowered his head to kiss her lips, Qin Yige said painfully, "Get up quickly..."
Her voice clearly carried suppressed pain. Shang Sheng, who had already noticed something was wrong, immediately released her. "Stomachache again?"
"Mmm." Qin Yige sat up in bed, turned on the bedside lamp, clutched her stomach, and rushed to the toilet for the second time.
Shang Sheng: "..."
After going to the toilet three or four times in a row, Qin Yige was almost collapsed on the bed.
Shang Sheng glanced at the time; it was almost five in the morning.
He made a decisive decision, "To the hospital!"
When she went to the bathroom the second time, he had already suggested going to the hospital, but Qin Yige had refused.
This time, he was determined to go to the hospital, no matter what.
Qin Yige had no strength left to refuse. She had no choice but to let Shang Sheng get dressed and then carry her, still in her pajamas, to the door.
"Wait a minute." A very weak call came from within his arms.
Shang Sheng looked down.
"I need to change clothes..."
Who goes to the hospital wearing pajamas?
Shang Sheng looked at her suspiciously, "You can change clothes?"
"No." She looked up at him with a wronged expression, "Help me."
"..." He closed his eyes. "Do you want me to help you put on makeup too?"
"Can you? If you can, I can wait a bit longer."
"Shut up!" With a dark expression, he put the woman, who was pushing her luck, back on the bed and went to the wardrobe to find clothes for her.
Qin Yige, lying on the bed, weakly instructed him, "Just pick anything."
Shang Sheng casually picked out a pink dress. As he was about to help her put it on, Qin Yige covered her body and looked at him innocently, "You haven't gotten me underwear."
What was she supposed to do if she wore clothes without underwear? Wouldn't it be embarrassing if her nipples showed?
Shang Sheng: "..."
For the nth time, he wondered if he had dug up the ancestral graves of Qin Yige's family in his past life.
He grabbed another black piece of underwear and handed it to Qin Yige.
But the woman didn't move at all. She said weakly, "I have no strength at all. Can you help me..."
She felt like she was dying, where would she have the energy to be shy? Besides, Shang Sheng hadn't touched this item before.