Tortoise and the Hare Pt 2

Xiao Màn and Xiao Kuài Part 2

Xiao Kuài and Xiao Màn, the two known for being besties, began to avoid each other as each one began to seek her own path to losing weight. Their different habits, lifestyle, and backgrounds led them to make drastically different choices.

Xiao Kuài, being the one from the rich family, decided that her best solution to any problem, like always, is money. With that in mind, once Xiao Kuài got home, she ordered her chef along with her servants all to help her find ways to lose weight, the quicker the better. Xiao Kuài also convinced her parents to find prescription drugs that can help her lose weight quickly. Her parents were happy to oblige as it was a simple request, and price simply didn’t matter for them. They also want their daughter to lose some weight as it would be better for their parental image once they decide to introduce her to their upper class connections on her 21st birthday.

Hence, Xiao Kuài began her quick weight loss program. With drugs at her beck and call, Xiao Kuài introduced lots of different foreign medicinal compounds into her body. Even with the servants watching over her, there were still some cases where Xiao Kuài secretly overdosed in hopes of losing weight faster. Fortunately, Xiao Kuài did not experience any life threatening health conditions for now. As for Xiao Kuài’s meals, Xiao Kuài’s chef decided to find all sorts of diet recipes for Xiao Kuài to try, usually consisting of ones that required a payment of some sort like The Smoothie Diet. Of course, these diets still had to fulfill Xiao Kuài’s sweet tooth as she demanded that she must not lose her sweets even when she loses her weight. As for exercising? Xiao Kuài deemed that too demanding for her after a brief trial, and hence decided to neglect that for her usual routine.

On the other hand, Xiao Màn did not have access to all the resources that Xiao Kuài has. Nor did Xiao Màn knew how to get started. When Xiao Màn consulted her parents, her mother told her to simply eat healthier, exercise more, work hard, and wait it out. Although Xiao Màn felt like that would take too long, but Xiao Màn believed that slow and steady was the way to go. Well, Xiao Màn didn’t really have any options anyways.

Hence, the household’s food source went through a makeover. Xiao Màn took charge of purchasing the groceries at the nearby supermarket. Although it was a fairly short walk to the market, Xiao Màn was exhausted and sweating once she had reached there. This was Xiao Màn’s first time walking a fairly longer distance in a long time because Xiao Kuài usually came to pick up Xiao Màn with Xiao Kuài’s car, which had Xiao Kuài’s family chauffeur driving it. Xiao Màn finally realized how inconvenient being fat was, and resolutely decided that she must lose weight, even if it takes a lot of hard work and a long time to do it.

Xiao Màn bumbled around in the grocery market, selecting healthy options such as greens, fruits, vegetable oil, and whole wheat. Although the pricing was a bit more expensive than buying junk food at a glance, Xiao Màn’s food portioning skills that she picked up from cooking practice told her that this purchase of groceries would allow her to cook much more meals to consume than the number of junk food meals she could buy. Although it was more time consuming to cook a full meal from scratch, Xiao Màn believed that for a healthier option, it is worth it. Plus, Xiao Màn had plenty of time she was willing to invest to lose her weight as Xiao Màn had already set losing weight as her long-term goal.

Lugging the groceries home was a difficult process which exhausted Xiao Màn as she had to stop multiple times. Not only that, due to how fat Xiao Màn was, it was difficult to even hold the groceries. Xiao Màn even thought she would not make it home with the groceries at this rate. Fortunately, when Xiao Màn was halfway through and was about to give up, a slim teenage boy with fairly long bangs covering his eyes walked up to her. He introduced himself as Xiao Zhēnxīn.

Xiao Zhēnxīn revealed Xiao Màn that he actually had been living in the house right next to hers for years and goes to the same school as hers, coincidentally being the same grade also. Xiao Màn was shocked that she didn’t realize that someone her age was her neighbor to which Xiao Zhēnxīn responded that he usually walks to school alone, much earlier than when Xiao Màn probably goes to school on Xiao Kuài’s car. Xiao Zhēnxīn also told Xiao Màn that he doesn’t have much of a presence at school, so it would be a surprise if Xiao Màn recognized him. Then, Xiao Zhēnxīn offered to help Xiao Màn to carry her groceries home as they were going the same way.

Xiao Màn was elated and hurriedly agreed. Xiao Màn then bumbled along the way home while speaking occasionally with Xiao Zhēnxīn. Xiao Màn learned that Xiao Zhēnxīn also came from a poor family, and he also has been eating junk food. When Xiao Màn asked Xiao Zhēnxīn about the secret of not getting fat even when eating junk food, Xiao Zhēnxīn replied that he doesn’t eat junk food all the other. Xiao Màn then excitedly ask what other food Xiao Zhēnxīn eats for his meals besides junk food which in turn caused Xiao Zhēnxīn to lower his head as he hesitantly replied, “Nothing.”

At that moment, Xiao Màn’s heart suffered a sudden jolt of shock as she realized how fortunate she was to have leeched off Xiao Kuài’s food. Xiao Màn’s heart also gave her another set of difficult to understand, bubbly feeling, a feeling that compelled Xiao Màn to do what she only does with her best friend. Arriving outside Xiao Màn’s home, Xiao Zhēnxīn placed down the groceries and gave Xiao Màn a little bow before he headed off towards his house. Xiao Màn knew she could hesitate no longer as she stopped Xiao Zhēnxīn in his tracks with an offer, “I-I will be cooking today. Xiao Zhēnxīn, do you want to come in for a meal?”

Xiao Zhēnxīn turned back to glance at Xiao Màn with a surprised yet questioning face. Xiao Màn then hurriedly clarified, “It’s going to be my first time cooking something besides junk food, I would appreciate it if I had someone else to try my cooking with me.”

Xiao Zhēnxīn silently thought about it for a bit before he silently nodded meekly. Xiao Màn elatedly welcomed him inside her home as she headed towards the kitchen. As for the dangers of letting a stranger, especially one of the opposite sex, into your home? Please, Xiao Màn knows there’s a higher chance of someone kidnapping poor thin Xiao Zhēnxīn rather than herself because small Xiao Zhēnxīn is much easier to carry off than big Xiao Màn.

Then, Xiao Màn began to cook. For her first attempt, Xiao Màn stir-fried some greens, cooked some brown rice, and sliced some fruits for desert. It was a very simple meal and Xiao Màn didn’t find it too appetizing; however, Xiao Màn believed that she had to start somewhere and eventually she will get there with practice. Xiao Màn brought the dishes out to serve Xiao Zhēnxīn who was sitting quietly at the dining table watching her.

“Have a try Xiao Zhēnxīn,” Xiao Màn said with a happy smile as she sat down to eat her portion.

Xiao Zhēnxīn nodded silently before beginning to eat. Then, tears began to flow down his face, shocking Xiao Màn. Xiao Màn felt sorry deep down inside for offering Xiao Zhēnxīn such a simple meal for his efforts in helping her. Now with him crying, Xiao Màn frantically tried to apologize, “A-ah?! Is it that horrible tasting? I’m sorry, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to-“

“N-No, it’s delicious,” Xiao Zhēnxīn interrupted.

Xiao Màn froze in disbelief. Is her cooking really that good? Then, why was Xiao Zhēnxīn crying? Xiao Zhēnxīn wiped the tears away with his sleeves and as if he knew what Xiao Màn wanted to ask, he answered her first, “I’m just happy because this is first time someone cooked for me.”

Xiao Màn felt embarrassed at this moment. At the same time, Xiao Màn had a fluttery, yet elated feeling inside from being praised. Xiao Màn then couldn’t help but offer, “Since you like my cooking so much and no one cooks for you, how about I cook for you from now on? You can come over and try my cooking with me.”

Xiao Zhēnxīn looked at Xiao Màn in shock before he had his head down as if struggling inside. Then, Xiao Zhēnxīn asked, “B-but, I have nothing to pay you with, and I can’t help but feel guilty if I simply ate free meals.”

Xiao Màn paused to think about it while remembering everything that Xiao Zhēnxīn had told her about himself. Then, Xiao Màn came up with the perfect plan and offered once more, “How about this? I will cook for you. In exchange, you help me carry the groceries. Also, I plan to lose weight so I will be walking to school to exercise. So, you can walk me to school everyday and show me the way since you’ve been doing it for years already.”

Xiao Zhēnxīn didn’t have to think long before nodding in agreement excitedly. Hence the agreement was final. Finishing the meal, Xiao Zhēnxīn went home after his offer to wash the dishes was denied by Xiao Màn because she told him she would exercise a bit by washing the dishes. After Xiao Màn finished everything, she sat down and began to write down a diary to help motivate herself on her long-term efforts to lose weight.

Then, the next day began. Early in the morning, Xiao Zhēnxīn came over to Xiao Màn’s house, waking her up by ringing the bell. Then, Xiao Màn trudged along on her long, arduous walk to school with Xiao Zhēnxīn supporting her the entire way while learning lots of new information, info one can’t see from driving, about her living area from Xiao Zhēnxīn. After school, Xiao Zhēnxīn waited for Xiao Màn at the gates to walk home together, after which Xiao Màn would cook and go to the groceries with him if needed.

Hence, the cycle continued. Xiao Màn continued putting effort into losing weight, while Xiao Kuài paid her way to losing weight. Time passed as Xiao Màn and Xiao Kuài rarely met; however, a victor needs to be decided sooner or later, and what better time to decide that than Senior Prom time.