Many studies have shown that food can affect the brain's reward and pleasure centers. If this effect persists, it will lead to food addiction.
Just like drug use, delicious food stimulates the brain to secrete a chemical called "dopamine."
This substance makes people feel happy!
And in order to continuously obtain this feeling, they will keep eating.
Normally, when you are full, you will have a feeling of satiety, which is actually a kind of satisfaction.
But some foods, such as:
Sweets!
They make the brain release more dopamine, resulting in a pleasure that exceeds the feeling of satiety.
The result is that even if you're not hungry, you'll keep eating.
…
Nakiri Mana.
Due to the curse of the God's Tongue, she has always suffered from anorexia.
But after a long time, this symptom can lead to the opposite — bulimia.
The reason is that anorexic patients, after prolonged extreme dieting, may experience a strong rebound both physically and psychologically!
On the one hand, the body may crave food due to long-term nutritional deficiencies.
On the other hand, psychological factors such as stress and anxiety may also lead patients to seek temporary comfort or satisfaction through overeating.
Mana's personal world was once gray and tasteless.
Anorexia, like an invisible shackles, bound her desire for delicious food.
However.
The turning point of fate occurred when she met Chu Yang!
At first, when facing those extremely delicious dishes, she would be very afraid, afraid that she would feel repulsed or uncomfortable as before.
But as time went by, Chu Yang's cooking was like a spring breeze, slowly dispelling the gloom in her heart.
Yes!
Those seemingly simple but profound dishes.
Every bite directly touched the softest part of her heart, making her feel unprecedented satisfaction and happiness.
So much so that Mana found herself overly reliant on and craving Chu Yang's cooking.
She began to unconsciously look forward to the arrival of every meal, and sometimes, this anticipation would even evolve into an almost crazy impulse.
…
Soon.
The Rainbow Porridge gradually ran out.
But Mana's enthusiasm did not diminish in the slightest. She scraped the bottom of the bowl even more carefully, afraid of missing any remaining deliciousness.
Her expression was very focused, and every subtle movement revealed her deep understanding and infinite respect for the ingredients and Chu Yang's cooking.
Finally.
When the last drop of porridge.
She gently licked it clean before putting down the spoon and letting out a long sigh of relief.
From beginning to end, her face was filled with the lingering aftertaste of satisfaction and happiness. Then she looked at the empty ceramic bowl, and her mind quickly entered a particularly dreamlike state!
She saw.
In the vast and boundless sky.
A brilliantly colorful rainbow bridge gently spanned across the Milky Way.
Chu Yang, dressed in coarse cloth, stepped on auspicious clouds, his eyes sparkling with the joy and determination of a long-awaited reunion.
His steps were slow, but each step conveyed his endless longing and deep affection for Nakiri Mana!
Mana, dressed in a magnificent celestial robe, light and ethereal, with the brightest stars of the Milky Way adorning her hair, was like a fairy walking down from the nine heavens, beautiful and sacred.
Her eyes held both the excitement of reunion and a faint sorrow for the years of separation in the past.
The two walked towards each other.
The distance between them gradually shortened on the rainbow bridge.
And the Milky Way under the rainbow bridge, sparkling, seemed to be gently singing for the reunion of these lovers… Oh no, it was mother and son!
When the two finally stood, their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Chu Yang reached out and gently brushed Nakiri Mana's cheek. Mana smiled slightly, and that smile was more dazzling than any starlight.
She leaned on Chu Yang's shoulder, as if the whole world had quieted down, leaving only each other's heartbeats and breaths.
…
"Hmm?"
"What… what's wrong with me?"
Mana, who suddenly woke up.
Her face instantly flushed, and her somewhat dazed autumn eyes exuded strong shame.
She had obviously entered some kind of state, so she wanted to struggle, but her body couldn't muster any strength.
"No!"
"Don't… don't!"
Finally, Mana couldn't help but tremble slightly, rolled her eyes, and lost consciousness.
Seeing Nakiri Mana become like this because of a bowl of Rainbow Porridge, Chu Yang, who had been silent for a long time, was a little stunned.
Good heavens!
I did put some medicinal herbs in the rice porridge.
But is the medicinal effect of this Rainbow Porridge so strong?
…
Subsequently, Nakiri Mana's consciousness gradually cleared.
She gently licked her dry lips, the anticipation for the feast of flavors almost overflowing from her eyes, turning into words that were only gently spoken: "Chu Yang, I want another bowl of Rainbow Porridge!"
Her voice remained soft and firm.
It carried an irresistible magic that made people involuntarily want to fulfill all her wishes.
"Okay!"
"I'll ladle you a bowl of Rainbow Porridge right away."
Seeing this, Chu Yang just chuckled.
Finally, in this kitchen, as the night deepened and people quieted down, the large pot of Rainbow Porridge gradually ran out.
But the warmth and happiness lingered for a long time.
…
The moon, like a silver plate, hung in the night sky.
It cast a soft and cool light, draping the earth in a thin silver veil.
Stars dotted the sky, like diamonds scattered in the universe, shimmering with distant and brilliant light, inspiring endless imagination.
Occasionally.
A meteor streaked across the sky.
Leaving a brief and brilliant trail, making people unable to help but make a wish.
Chu Yang sat alone on a wooden bench in the courtyard corridor, holding a glass of amber liquid in his hand. The aroma of the wine intertwined with the fragrance of flowers in the night breeze, forming an indescribably intoxicating scent!
He looked up, his gaze piercing through the sparse bamboo leaves, straight to the vast and boundless night sky.
Hmm!
In this tranquil night scene.
His thoughts couldn't help but drift to the past.
He remembered his past life, how arrogant and high-spirited he was as a five-star hotel chef!
He remembered how he accidentally came to this world due to an accident.
And he also remembered the days with Nakiri Mana, from meeting, to getting to know each other, and finally to being "mother and son."
Every detail was so clear, as if it had happened yesterday.