I Just Fear My Appetite Is Too Big for You to Feed Me

Seventeen years have passed since Joy Zheng left the Zheng family.

During those seventeen years, she endured many hardships. Thanks to her stubborn resolve, Joy Zheng never bowed her head or admitted fault to the old patriarch.

But now, when this choice could affect Evan Lin's future, Joy Zheng can't help but treat it with utmost seriousness.

No matter what, the Zheng family can offer Evan Lin an incredibly high starting point, helping him avoid many detours in life. No matter how headstrong Joy Zheng is, she still has to think of Evan.

7 p.m.

Inside a private room at Whitewood Grand Restaurant.

Gavin Pan and Claire Zheng are seated inside, quietly waiting.

Faye Zheng sits next to Claire Zheng, glancing at the time. "It's already seven. Are they coming or not? They sure know how to make people wait!"

Faye Zheng looks visibly annoyed, arms crossed over her chest.

She was always the one others waited for. When had she ever needed to wait for anyone else?

"Don't be so impatient. The agreed time is seven thirty, and besides, Whitewood Elementary School just finished its final exams today. It's normal to be a bit late," Claire Zheng shook her head.

"Fine, you guys wait here. I'm going next door to eat with my fellow disciples instead." Faye Zheng rolled her eyes, got up from her seat, and headed toward the neighboring room.

Tonight, two private rooms were booked: one specially reserved for those Oceanport rich kids, and the other for the dinner and discussion with Joy Zheng.

It was already rare for Joy Zheng to bring her son over. Claire Zheng had wanted to stop Faye Zheng from leaving, but then worried that Faye's sharp tongue might end up offending Joy's son and ruin everything.

Thinking of this, Claire Zheng simply nodded.

After Faye Zheng left, Gavin Pan took a sip of hot tea. "That nephew your sister raised probably doesn't have a great temperament. What if he's too timid to go to Oceanport?"

Claire Zheng said nothing and kept waiting.

Around seven twenty, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Outside the door, Joy Zheng wore a slightly apologetic expression. "Sorry, we're a little late."

"It's fine, come on in and sit. I've already ordered some dishes, but take a look and order anything else you'd like." Seeing Joy Zheng arrive, Claire Zheng quickly stood up, her eyes complicated.

Gavin Pan, meanwhile, stayed seated like a big shot, not even planning to get up. He glanced at Evan Lin, who was standing behind Joy Zheng, and gave a fake smile, putting on a bossy air. "This is your son, right? He's grown so tall already, and looks pretty impressive too."

Although Gavin Pan said this, the flippant tone in his words was all too obvious.

Claire Zheng was displeased and frowned slightly. She kicked him under the table, then put on a smile, walked over to Evan Lin, and looked him over. She couldn't help but sigh, "This kid has grown up so much. Come, sit down, just treat this place like home."

Claire Zheng invited Evan Lin and Joy Zheng to take their seats.

She sat down next to Evan Lin, handed him the menu, and let him order.

Evan Lin wasn't shy at all. He took the pen and circled a bunch of seafood dishes. When he finished, Claire Zheng handed the menu to the waiter.

"You've had a tough time all these years, kid."

Claire Zheng sighed, her gaze lingering on Evan Lin. She glanced at Joy Zheng, a little reproachful: "Joy, you too. You left home for more than ten years without contacting your sister. Even if you don't think of yourself, you should at least think of your child."

"By the way, what's your name?"

Remembering this, Claire Zheng looked at Evan Lin and asked gently.

"Evan Lin."

Evan Lin replied calmly.

On the way here, Joy Zheng had briefly explained the situation: basically, the visitors were wealthy folks from Oceanport—her own family from back in the day.

Years ago, Joy Zheng left the Zheng family alone because of some issues, moved to Whitewood, and raised Evan Lin by herself.

The woman in front of him was Claire Zheng, Evan Lin's aunt. Faced with these suddenly appearing relatives, Evan stayed pretty calm.

"Evan Lin, that's a good name," Claire Zheng nodded.

Soon, the waiter began serving the dishes.

The first dishes were all vegetarian and cold plates, which Claire Zheng and Gavin Pan had ordered earlier.

After that came all sorts of oysters, shrimp, and scallops—the seafood Evan Lin had just picked.

"Kid's got an appetite, not bad."

Seeing the table full of seafood, Gavin Pan clicked his tongue in surprise and gave Evan Lin another look, his gaze even more condescending.

"He probably never had the chance to eat this kind of stuff before, so now he ordered so much seafood at once. But this kid really doesn't know how to behave—who picks only the expensive items when someone lets you order?"

This thought flashed through Gavin Pan's mind.

It wasn't that he cared about the money; he just felt that Evan Lin, by ordering like this, was acting like a country boy trying to take advantage—a small-minded attitude, not fit for big things. Gavin Pan mentally downgraded Evan to the lowest rank.

"Just order whatever you want to eat," Evan Lin glanced at him, his tone calm.

"Exactly, just order whatever you want. Come on, eat while it's hot," Claire Zheng kept her eyes on Evan Lin, unconsciously getting a little teary-eyed.

She used to be very close to Joy Zheng, her younger sister. The whole family adored Joy, but Joy hadn't contacted anyone for seventeen years. Now, after all that time, to see her again—and Evan Lin, all grown up—Claire couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, thinking of all the hardships Joy must have faced raising him alone.

"I'm Claire Zheng, your aunt. Did your mom tell you why we're here this time?" Claire Zheng looked at Evan Lin gently and asked in a soft voice.

"Yeah, she told me," Evan Lin nodded and took a bite of shrimp.

"So, have you thought about it? Do you want to come back to Oceanport with us? If you say yes, you'll be able to eat as much of this stuff as you want from now on!" Gavin Pan boasted, waving his hand grandly.

He was sure that Evan Lin would absolutely choose to go back to Oceanport.

After all, someone like Joy Zheng, who could turn down a comfortable life with the Zheng family and choose hardship, was a rare exception.

Evan Lin was still young. Faced with a golden opportunity from a wealthy family, wouldn't he grab it with both hands?

"Is the food in Oceanport really that amazing?" Evan Lin asked calmly, picking up a napkin to wipe his mouth.

"Of course, there's tons of good stuff to eat there—way more than in Whitewood, that's for sure." Gavin Pan nodded, full of city-dweller pride.

"I'm just afraid my appetite is too big, and you wouldn't be able to afford to keep me."