After her rebirth
Chapter 32

Katniss didn't mean to gawk at his junk, but there she was, caught red-handed. It was so awkward. Her brain was scrambling for a way out!

Blushing like crazy, she blurted out, "Wow, your hands are like, art or something!" Maximilian just stared at his hands, totally baffled by the random compliment.

Katniss thought, if she dared to call Maximilian handsome, he'd probably flip out. She bit her lip, reminding herself to keep it cool.

Maximilian was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the golden boy of his family. Even with his chronic illness, people had been kissing up to him his whole life. He definitely didn't need her sweet talk. She still remembered the first time they met, Maximilian had told her not to bother trying to butter him up.

He probably hated that kind of stuff.

Maximilian coughed lightly, noticing Katniss's red face, and a small smirk played on his lips.

Even though he was as quiet as ever, she could tell he was in a better mood. The vibe around him was way more chill than before.

In her past life, Maximilian was like an ice king. Anyone who got too close would get the cold shoulder. Back then, she didn't dare say a single extra word to him.

Felix popped open the thermos, and the steam that rose up made everyone's mouth water.

Tempted by the smell, he took a deep breath, closing his eyes as the aroma filled his nostrils, making his taste buds do a happy dance and his mouth water like crazy. The bright colors of the ingredients and the mouth-watering smell were a feast for the senses.

Felix stared at the soup bowl with wide eyes, swallowing hard as his appetite kicked into overdrive. He felt pretty lucky to stumble upon such a treat.

Even though he'd had his fair share of tasty food, this soup was on another level, making him drool.

He thought it was gonna be some bitter medicinal soup, but it turned out to be better than anything from a five-star restaurant, with no weird herbal taste. Felix held back his hunger and served a small bowl to Maximilian first.

Maximilian gently blew on the soup, the warm steam brushing his lips. The fresh, savory taste spread in his mouth like a spring breeze, bringing a touch of comfort. Each sip danced on his tongue, telling a story of softness and richness. With each sip, he felt more relaxed, the tiredness and gloom on his face slowly fading, replaced by warmth and comfort. The nutrients and restorative properties in the soup started working their magic, making him feel a surge of energy he hadn't felt in ages.

After finishing the soup, he noticed Felix and Katniss both staring at him, and he paused for a moment.

Katniss eagerly asked, "How is it? Tastes good?" Maximilian smiled slightly, "Not bad."

Katniss wanted to say she wasn't hungry, but seeing Felix already had food ready, she kept quiet.

Felix led her to the living room, suddenly remembering the dessert in the fridge. "Katniss, want some dessert?" At the word "dessert," Katniss's eyes lit up.

She nodded excitedly and followed Felix to the kitchen, her eyes glued to the big fridge.

The fridge was a double-door one, way fancier than the old single-door fridge at The Manners Villa.

It only had some instant food and a piece of cake, which barely filled the huge fridge, leaving plenty of space inside.

Felix took out the cake, saying, "The housekeeper made this yesterday. She sometimes brings food for Maximilian, but he usually has a poor appetite and rarely eats it."

"Maximilian's sleep and mood are pretty bad, so it's no wonder his appetite isn't great. But with the medicinal soup, he'll start eating better," Katniss encouraged Felix.

Katniss continued, "You know, sleep quality really affects the body. Poor sleep can mess with hormones, affecting appetite and mood. Some ingredients in the medicinal soup are packed with nutrients and have restorative properties, helping to regulate sleep, improve mood, and boost appetite."

She added, "Plus, the medicinal soup has herbs that help with the spleen and stomach, boosting immunity and digestion. With the soup's restorative effects, his health will gradually improve, and so will his appetite."

Maximilian's health had always been poor, probably because of some kind of poison.

With her around, no one would dare mess with Maximilian!