Ding Fan returned to his room and began alchemy.

For Ding Fan, alchemy was nothing special, let alone refining medicine. Thus, it only took him several hours to concoct the medicinal soup.

Unfortunately, the medicinal herbs he purchased were missing two varieties, Sirius Herb and Earth Star, both essential for foundation setting. Hence, lacking these two herbs, the effectiveness of the medicine was significantly reduced.

Perhaps the small size of the medicine shop he visited was why they didn't have them, Ding Fan thought, planning to look in larger medicine shops tomorrow.

The main reason why Ding Fan didn't wait until he had all the herbs to start refining the medicine was that he had sustained some internal injuries while saving the flower girl in the afternoon, and his True Qi had been depleted, so he needed to recover quickly.

After swallowing the herbs, Ding Fan sat cross-legged and began his breathing exercises.

After performing Xiao Zhoutian seven or eight times, Ding Fan opened his eyes, only to realize that it was already daylight outside. A night's cultivation had proved quite effective; his muscles and bones had become sturdier. To his surprise, he even encountered the barrier to the Second Level of Qi Cultivation.

Having such a speed in cultivation was unexpected to Ding Fan; but upon reflection, it made sense. The First Level of Qi Cultivation was merely about consolidating the foundation. He had brought along some True Qi at rebirth, then absorbed a substantial amount of Spiritual Energy from Fragrant Mind-Consolidating Grass, and had practiced Alchemy Cultivation the previous night.

Had he not been injured, perhaps he would have advanced to the Second Level of Qi Cultivation today.

Ding Fan stepped out of his room and glanced at the clock on the wall; it was only four-thirty in the morning, and Zhou Ruoran had not yet awoken.

After a night of cultivation, Ding Fan felt quite hungry, so he went to the kitchen to prepare some food.

Opening the cupboard, Ding Fan noted that the rice porridge and steamed buns he had left for Zhou Ruoran the previous day had not been eaten.

Recalling the expression on Zhou Ruoran's face when he had given her money yesterday morning, Ding Fan felt that she might have misunderstood something about him again, but he was too lazy to think about it or even explain.

He and Zhou Ruoran were clearly on different paths, so having misunderstandings about him might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Ding Fan ate the leftover rice porridge and buns from yesterday morning. After hesitating, he still made another pot of porridge for Zhou Ruoran. Given her poor health, skipping breakfast was not an option.

After preparing the rice porridge, Ding Fan bought several more buns for Zhou Ruoran, then checked the Fragrant Mind-Consolidating Grass in the flower bed before hurriedly leaving the house.

Today he had to carry packages at the dock again. After work, he planned to visit some larger pharmacies to see if he could find Sirius Herb and Earth Star.

...

Zhou Ruoran came home earlier last night, as the mean boss had let her leave work early, knowing this was to curry favor with the major celebrity behind Ding Fan. She didn't insist, and just went straight home.

With only a few days left before her postgraduate entrance interview, these days were crucial for preparation. Central University of Political Science and Law was her dream; for this dream, she had struggled for years and was now closer than ever, so how could she not prepare diligently?

Upon returning home, Zhou Ruoran noticed that the flower bed in the yard had been tampered with. On closer inspection, what had been a neglected flower bed since the Ding Family's downfall was now neatly tended and planted with some flowers...

Entering the living room, Zhou Ruoran did not see Ding Fan but was sure he was in his room, although she didn't know what he was concocting as the room was filled with the scent of herbs.

Planting flowers and brewing herbal medicine. Zhou Ruoran didn't know what this good-for-nothing was up to again, but she didn't have the energy to meddle. She had already eaten dinner at Phoenix Building, so she went straight to her room, took out her books, and began to study intensely.

She didn't realize how late it was, but eventually, Zhou Ruoran fell asleep at the desk. The next time she awoke, it was already the next morning.

Zhou Ruoran felt her stomach growling with hunger, and she thought of tidying up and going outside to find something to eat. However, as soon as she stepped out of her room, she was greeted by the fragrant aroma of white rice porridge.

Zhou Ruoran was certain that this porridge was again made by Ding Fan. She looked up at Ding Fan's room on the second floor, noticing that his door was locked, indicating that he had already left.

Recently, Ding Fan had been acting peculiar, leaving the house early to make medicines, tend to the garden, and even cook meals...

Perhaps because she was hungry, Zhou Ruoran suddenly remembered the rice Ding Fan had fried for her that night. Instantly, her mouth watered.

Having lived in the Ding Family house for many years, Zhou Ruoran had enjoyed plenty of fine meals, yet there were few dishes that lingered on her palate, making her crave for more. Even the crystal pork knuckle that the old woman specifically brought for her last night did not make her reminisce as much.

She figured that she must have been really starved that night. Wasn't it often said that when you're at your hungriest, even a simple pickled vegetable tastes incredibly sweet?

Zhou Ruoran walked into the kitchen and discovered a thermal box next to the cupboard.

She paused, certain that this thermal box was not there before. She approached it, opened it, and found it meticulously containing a bowl of rice porridge with several neatly placed buns on a plate beside it.

Zhou Ruoran was momentarily stunned. Due to being kept in the thermal box, the rice porridge was still warm, and the buns still steamed softly.

Had that prodigal son prepared this just for her?

Thinking of how only the two of them lived in this room, it was clearly meant for her.

Yet, Zhou Ruoran couldn't understand why Ding Fan would do this. Her appearance had been ruined; to outsiders, she was a monster. He had no reason to be this good to her.

For a moment, she recalled the pity in Ding Fan's eyes and the words Wu Min had spoken to her last night.

"To love is to feel even more pain than you when you're hurt; that's love"...

Love?

Zhou Ruoran gave a bitter smile and shook her head, touching the scar on her face. What was there about her that Ding Fan could possibly love? That big star was far more beautiful than she was.

"Perhaps that prodigal son feels too guilty, and he wants to make it up to me." Unable to think of another reason, Zhou Ruoran consoled herself with what seemed like a sensible explanation.

Zhou Ruoran picked up the bowl of white rice porridge. Since the porridge was kept in a thermal box, its scent was not emanating as it should, so the aroma filling the living room must have lingered from when it was being made.

If even the lingering scent was this sweet, the porridge itself must be excellent.

She didn't know why, but although she had once thought Ding Fan sleazy and had even refused to eat his food, she now felt that perhaps he wasn't like that.

Zhou Ruoran gently tasted a spoonful of the rice porridge. Instantly, bursts of sweet rice fragrance exploded in her mouth. Without hesitation, she took the spoon and devoured all the porridge.

Unexpectedly, that prodigal son indeed had a talent for making things...

…