"This portion is for Chili. Big Radish, you hold onto it for her." After that, Chu Feng produced some more treasures and handed them to Big Radish.
These treasures were even more numerous than what Big Radish and Little Radish had received. This wasn't because Chu Feng was playing favorites — it was simply that when he had scavenged other people's belongings, he had indeed acquired a portion of items that were specifically meant for women.
These things were of no use to Chu Feng, so he had decided to give a portion of them to Chili.
"Hehe, Brother Chu Feng, this… you really ought to deliver them yourself," Big Radish said with a chuckle.
"That's right — when you're giving someone a gift, you should do it in person. Don't tell me you're shy too?" Yan Xie chimed in.
"There's nothing in this world that could make me, Chu Feng, shy. I'm just worried that little Chili might be the one too embarrassed to face me," Chu Feng said with a grin.
"Who says I'm embarrassed?" At that very moment, Chili suddenly pushed open the door and stepped out. Though her words came out bold and defiant, her little face was still flushed red. Her gaze landed on Chu Feng for only a heartbeat before she hurriedly looked away.
"Ahem…" Yan Xie rose to his feet, cleared his throat twice, then shot a meaningful glance at Big and Little Radish before walking out.
Big Radish and Little Radish caught on immediately, both grinning as they filed out of the barrier-covered house, leaving only Chu Feng and Chili alone inside.
With Big Radish and the others gone, Chili found herself at a complete loss. She was too embarrassed to hide again, but she didn't dare look at Chu Feng either. The awkwardness in that moment was almost unbearable.
"Chili, why won't you look at me?" Chu Feng asked with a warm smile.
"I… I… I…" Chili stammered, unable to form a proper answer. But the way her delicate hands clutched at the hem of her skirt betrayed just how nervous she truly was.
"Sigh, it seems my face is simply too ugly for you to bear looking at. In that case, I'll just put this back on." Chu Feng produced the bamboo hat and placed it back on his head.
Pfft— Seeing Chu Feng do this, Chili burst out laughing. Then she said, "It's not like that at all. It's just that after learning your true identity, I felt a bit too awkward to face you."
"What's there to feel awkward about?" Chu Feng took the hat off again.
This time, Chili's gaze no longer darted away, though her cheeks remained flushed a deep crimson. She said with a sheepish look, "Earlier, I even told you to change your name, and all along, you were actually Chu Feng himself."
"Tell me — why didn't you just let me know you were Chu Feng? Now I feel so embarrassed," Chili added.
"Haha, if I had told you back then, you never would have believed me. You probably would have cursed me out," Chu Feng said.
Chili fell silent, because knowing her personality, she very likely would have done exactly that.
"Actually, things turned out perfectly fine this way. It's precisely because of all that that I find you so uniquely endearing," Chu Feng said.
"You really mean that?" Hearing his words, a look of genuine delight surfaced in Chili's eyes.
"Of course I do. Chili, we've long since become friends. And between friends, there's no need for all this dodging and hiding. From now on, whenever you see me, don't run away anymore," Chu Feng said.
"Mm, I won't anymore." Chili nodded, then broke into a radiant smile. She was discovering that talking to Chu Feng face to face like this felt genuinely wonderful.
"These are some gifts I prepared for you. You were put through a difficult spot earlier when you stood up to speak on my behalf." Chu Feng held out the gifts to Chili.