219 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System
### Chapter 219: Mission Accomplished (Part 1/2) At the dining table, Su Qi felt that if her third brother were also present, their family would truly be complete. Nevertheless, Su Qi was already quite happy as things stood, at least having been months since she'd last had a meal with her mother. "Here, Qi, try some of the cola chicken wings I made," Lu Ran said, placing a piece on Su Qi's plate. Lu Ran was particularly cheerful at this moment. Ever since she returned to Su Qi’s room, she had noticed that her husband’s bad habits had vanished. He no longer spoke loudly or made overly dramatic gestures. To be honest, he now appeared to be a rather refined gentleman. To Lu Ran, Su Lujun’s temper had always been a concern. After all, at his age, maintaining a calm demeanor was more beneficial than any health supplement. Her husband had been notoriously short-tempered, so much so he'd once tried to deceive Su Qi into believing Su Lujun’s outburst had caused him a lung rupture. But now, seeing him so composed, Lu Ran decided he deserved some reward. She lightly stepped on his foot under the table. Su Lujun looked at his wife quizzically, only to see Lu Ran nod toward the plate of shrimp and then back at Su Qi. The hint was obvious—he should offer some food to their daughter. As Su Lujun watched his daughter eagerly devouring the chicken wing, he felt quite nervous. He sensed that Su Qi seemed less afraid of him today than she was yesterday. Imagining the happiness he'd feel if Su Qi actually accepted the food he offered, Su Lujun felt uplifted. However, he worried about what to do if she got upset and refused the food he picked for her. Stuck in indecision, Su Lujun held a piece of shrimp with his chopsticks, hesitant to move while caught in this mental battle. Thankfully, Su Qi was too focused on her chicken wing to notice. Su Siyang noticed his father's endearing struggle but chose not to comment on it. After all, he too wanted to serve his sister, hoping their father would test the waters first. Finally, when Su Qi finished her chicken wing, Su Lujun placed the shrimp in Su Qi’s bowl and quietly said, “Have some shrimp, it's nutritious.” Touched by the gesture, since it had been years since her father last served her food, Su Qi couldn’t quite figure out what expression to wear. She simply bowed her head and whispered, “Thank you, Dad,” as she directed her attention to the shrimp. Seeing Su Qi start peeling the shrimp, Su Lujun belatedly realized he should have done it for her. Still, watching her eat the shrimp he had given her made him feel like a weight had been lifted from his heart. Nearby, Su Siyang, observing his father's success, placed a freshly peeled shrimp into his sister’s bowl, announcing, “Try this one, it’s already peeled for you, courtesy of your brother!” With a meaningful glance at his son, Su Lujun recalled how earlier that day, his son had left him to face the press alone. And now, was he competing for his daughter's affection? It seemed like the boy was asking for trouble. Instinctively, Su Lujun reached for his belt, only to recall it had been discarded long ago. Observing his son once more placing peeled shrimp into Su Qi’s bowl, Su Lujun began peeling a shrimp of his own as well. Although Lu Ran initially intended the shrimp to ease the tension between father and daughter, it now seemed her husband was in competition with their son. And why only their daughter? Surely, his wife and the mother ought to receive some affection, too? With that thought, she let out a low humph. Hearing her mother’s voice, Su Qi glanced over and noticed the shrimp platter was empty while her bowl overflowed. Already too full to eat more, Su Qi found it hard to refuse the offerings, resulting in a towering pile of shrimp before her. Seeing that her mother seemed slightly annoyed, Su Qi decided to share the peeled shrimp from her bowl. She gently transferred some to her mother's plate. Lu Ran watched the scene unfold, thinking her daughter was truly the most considerate, the warmest presence in her life. If not for her greasy mouth, she surely would have planted a kiss on her daughter's cheek. The four of them shared a peaceful and harmonious meal, leaving Su Qi feeling as satisfied as a contented cat, gently stroking her full tummy. This sense of familial togetherness filled her with a profound sense of peace. The only regret was the limited space. If it were a two-bedroom apartment, perhaps Lu Ran and Su Lujun could stay a few more days. Seeing her father’s dark circles from his uncomfortable stay at the hotel, she hesitated to ask them to prolong their visit despite her longing for this secure feeling. The next morning, as sunlight streamed into the room, Su Qi awoke slowly. She couldn’t quite understand why, but her sleep quality here felt exceptionally high, her energy levels always full, leaving her feeling refreshed. Stretching contentedly, Su Qi realized her mother was already up and dressed, watching her with a warm smile.