The room remained silent.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The steamed bun sat on the table between them.
Warm.
Soft.
Tempting.
The smell filled the room.
Kelly stood quietly.
She didn't rush them.
She didn't force them.
She simply waited.
Lu Cheng stared at the bun as though it were a trap.
His dark eyes were full of suspicion.
"Why?"
Kelly blinked.
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
His voice was cold despite his young age.
Kelly opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
How could she explain?
That she wasn't the woman they knew?
That she wasn't the vicious stepmother written in the story?
That she knew their future?
None of it would make sense.
So she simply answered:
"Because you're hungry."
Silence.
Lu Cheng's eyes widened slightly.
As though he had never expected such an answer.
Beside him, Lu Tuan swallowed visibly.
His gaze kept drifting toward the bun.
Even Lu Chuan couldn't stop staring.
His little stomach suddenly growled.
The sound echoed through the room.
Lu Chuan's face turned bright red.
Lu Tuan quickly looked away.
Lu Cheng clenched his fists.
Kelly felt her heart tighten.
These children were starving.
Yet none of them dared touch the food.
As if they feared punishment more than hunger.
Finally, Kelly sighed.
She broke the bun into three pieces.
Then placed them on the table.
"One for each of you."
She stepped back again.
The children exchanged nervous glances.
Several moments passed.
Then—
Lu Chuan slowly stepped forward.
Tiny.
Cautious.
Like a frightened rabbit.
His small hand reached toward the bun.
Then stopped.
He looked up at Kelly.
Waiting.
Waiting to be shouted at.
Waiting to be hit.
Kelly forced herself to smile.
"It's okay."
The boy froze.
Then quickly grabbed the piece and retreated.
He took one bite.
His eyes widened instantly.
For a moment—
pure happiness appeared on his face.
A child's happiness.
Simple.
Innocent.
Before fear returned again.
As if he wasn't allowed to enjoy it.
Kelly's chest ached.
Lu Tuan finally took his piece.
Then Lu Cheng.
The eldest still looked suspicious.
But he accepted it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As though accepting food meant accepting a debt.
The system suddenly appeared.
[MISSION COMPLETED]
[FIRST FATE NODE ALTERED]
[REWARD ISSUED]
Kelly froze.
A small golden light appeared inside her space.
Then vanished.
Before she could investigate—
another notification appeared.
[WARNING]
[THIEF ACTIVITY DETECTED]
The temperature inside the room dropped.
Kelly immediately looked toward the window.
Nothing.
No one.
Yet she felt it.
A gaze.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hungry.
Then—
Lu Chuan suddenly spoke.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Stepmother..."
Kelly turned toward him.
The boy lowered his head quickly.
As if afraid he had spoken out of turn.
Then he quietly asked:
"Will... will there be food tomorrow too?"
The room became silent.
Lu Cheng and Lu Tuan froze.
Both boys stared at their younger brother.
Kelly's heart skipped a beat.
Because she understood what he was really asking.
Not about food.
Hope.
He was asking if today was real.
Or if it was just another cruel trick.
Kelly slowly knelt down.
Until she was at eye level with him.
Then she answered softly:
"Yes."
The boy's eyes widened.
A tiny light appeared in them.
The first tiny crack in the wall around his heart.
And at that exact moment—
a loud knock echoed from outside.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The three children instantly turned pale.
Lu Cheng moved in front of his siblings.
Protecting them.
Kelly stood.
Her eyes narrowed.
Another knock shook the door.
Then a voice called out from outside.
A voice that made her blood run cold.
Because she recognized it from the Script.
The voice of the reborn female lead.
"Comrade Kelly."
A pause.
Then came the words that made the system erupt violently.
"I think it's time we talked."
[CRITICAL STORY CHARACTER HAS ARRIVED]
[HIGH-RISK EVENT INITIATED]
[THE THIEF'S CHOSEN PIECE HAS ENTERED THE BOARD]
Kelly's heart sank.
Outside the door—
the female lead smiled.
And the game truly began.