Seeing Xia Zhijin suddenly burst into tears, Li Yuan quickly put down his chopsticks and handed her some tissues.
"Zhijin, please don't cry," Li Yuan asked nervously. "I didn't mean to bully you."
Large, bean-sized tears welled up in Xia Zhijin's eyes. Like pearls from a broken string, they dripped into her bowl. She bowed her head, trying her best to stifle her sobs, not daring to cry out loud.
Li Yuan's heart shattered. Watching her cry so quietly, he felt a sudden pang of guilt. This gem of a girl is so kind-hearted and timid, yet I forced food on her...
"Zhijin, please stop crying. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have forced you."
Xia Zhijin lifted her head, glanced at Li Yuan, and said in a whisper, "I... I don't... blame you!"
Li Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that you don't blame me. Your tears would have made me feel guilty for a lifetime."
"Come on, eat up. You must be hungry."
