Chapter 27

“What?” Lin Luo Sheng did not understand what she meant by “dad”.

Seeing the young girl eating silently with her head down, Lin Luo Sheng lightly bit his pink lips, slowly inching his body closer. He reached out his hand to tug at her sleeve again, quickly letting go when the young girl frowned in displeasure. He leaned towards her and asked softly, “Would you like to stay at my home?”

The few people at the table all had internal energy and keen hearing. Even though he spoke very quietly, they could hear him clearly.

Jiang Ming Yue nonchalantly glanced at the young man’s hand that had fallen to his side, with an eerie darkness in his eyes that sent chills down one’s spine.

Shen Yao Xing looked at the young man in bewilderment, “Why would I go to your home?”

“I…” Lin Luo Sheng’s face turned red with embarrassment, his gaze darting around. He stammered for a while before finally finding an excuse, “My mother said she wanted to meet you, so… so she asked me to invite you over!”

Shen Yao Xing blinked, finding it increasingly puzzling.

“What does your mother want to see me for?”

“It’s… it’s about you saving me. My mother said she wanted to thank you in person.”

By this point, the young man no longer dared to look at her. He bit his lower lip tightly, his moist doe eyes glancing to the side. His entire face was as red as the evening clouds on the horizon, carrying the unique innocence and naivety of youth.

This adorable demeanor of the boy next door could easily win others’ favor.

However, it would have been better if this springtime blossoming appearance wasn’t directed at her. Shen Yao Xing had absolutely no interest in such delicate and tender young boys. She immediately waved her hand in refusal.

“No need.”

“Why?” Lin Luo Sheng, who had been constantly rejected, couldn’t hide his disappointment. His eyes, which already looked pitiful, seemed as if they were about to shed golden tears the next moment, “Do you dislike me that much?”

Shen Yao Xing protected her bowl and moved to the side again, almost falling off the bench. She frowned, quite displeased with his behavior.

“This has nothing to do with liking or disliking. I’ve already said I don’t want to go, so I don’t want to go. I appreciate your kindness, but right now I just want to eat my meal in peace.”

So could he please stop looking like he was about to cry? She really couldn’t handle it.

Hearing the impatience in the young girl’s tone, Lin Luo Sheng quickly lowered his head to wipe away his tears. He ought not to make people dislike him. With reddened eyes, he carefully glanced at the young girl and said in a soft voice, “I’m sorry… You eat. I won’t say anything more.”

Shen Yao Xing let out a sigh of relief, her tone improving slightly, “You eat too. Finish quickly and go back.”

The young man automatically ignored the latter half of her words, taking it as her concern for him. His disappointment instantly vanished, and a smile bloomed on his clear and lovely face as he nodded vigorously.

The dining table became unusually quiet, quite different from the lively atmosphere at other tables. Shen Yao Xing held her bowl and ate small mouthfuls of rice, her eyes frequently darting towards Meng Xin Yi, who seemed a bit off. Usually, she would say a few words at the dining table, but now she was so quiet.

Could it be that she was shy because of the two additional people? Tsk tsk, her skin wasn’t as thick as before.

“Um…”

The young man’s voice was extremely soft. Shen Yao Xing’s gaze fell on him.

Having regained the young girl’s attention, Lin Luo Sheng’s ear tips turned red. He pondered for a moment, his eyes rippling like water as he looked at her, “Is this your first time in Meihua Town?”

Shen Yao Xing nodded, “What about it?”

The young man’s heart leapt with joy, finally finding a topic to get closer to her, “I… I grew up here, so I’m very familiar with this place. I can take you around to see everything!”

Afraid she would refuse, Lin Luo Sheng quickly continued, “There’s more to see here than just plum blossoms. There are other famous sights in this town, and I can take you to see all the delicious food and fun things!”

Shen Yao Xing was about to refuse, but upon hearing the words “delicious food”, she hesitated for a moment. She didn’t immediately agree, but instead looked at the silent Meng Xin Yi beside her, “Do you want to go?”

Meng Xin Yi raised her eyes in a daze, her gaze scattered for a moment. Her eyes moved between the two people looking at her, and she managed a forced smile on her pale lips, “Since it’s Young Master Lin’s kind offer, we shouldn’t refuse. We’re new here and unfamiliar with the place, so having someone to accompany and introduce us would be great.”

Shen Yao Xing felt the same way. After all, they weren’t in a hurry and had plenty of time to spare. Staying in this town for a few more days to look around wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Seeing the young girl agree, Lin Luo Sheng couldn’t contain his joy. His eyes sparkled like they had been washed by spring water. Catching a glimpse of the man wearing a light veil, his body stiffened slightly. Although he was reluctant in his heart, he still politely asked, “Would this gentleman like to join us?”

The other two also turned their gaze to the man.

Jiang Ming Yue unhurriedly wiped his fingers with a handkerchief. He slightly raised his eyelids, his eyes as dark as night, coolly glancing at the young girl. He said flatly, “Thank you for the meal, Miss Shen,” before standing up and walking away, bypassing them.

The expensive silk handkerchief lay lonely on the tea table. The cold and noble man didn’t spare it another glance.

At noon, the two followed the young man’s lead, strolling around the town. Before this, Meng Xin Yi had remained unusually quiet, only speaking when Shen Yao Xing occasionally asked her something.

As for Lin Luo Sheng, who said he would show them around, they stopped at this stall and that stall along the way. He would pick up an ornament and ask her if it looked good, as if she was accompanying him on a shopping trip.

“Does this look good?” The young man smiled shyly, his eyes curved, holding up some unknown object to ask her.

This scene seemed familiar. Shen Yao Xing couldn’t help but recall the time in the capital when that handsome man held up a jade hairpin and calmly asked her if it looked good.

The corners of the young girl’s mouth suddenly pressed downward, “If you came out to buy things, just buy what you want. We’ll be leaving first.”

With that, she patted Meng Xin Yi beside her, intending to change their route.

“Wait!” Lin Luo Sheng hurriedly called out to her, putting the item back on the stall. He wrung his hands on his clothes, looking at a loss, “I… I won’t look anymore…”

“What do you want to eat? I’ll take you there,” he added.

Only then did Shen Yao Xing not turn to leave. She thought for a moment and said, “What’s especially delicious in this town?”

Lin Luo Sheng perked up again, happily pointing in a direction, “This way, follow me!”

The two quietly followed behind the young man. Feeling that Meng Xin Yi was indeed acting strangely today, Shen Yao Xing turned her head to look at her, “What’s wrong with you?”

“What?” Meng Xin Yi, lost in thought, didn’t react immediately.

“You’ve been frowning and not talking. Did someone offend you?”

“It’s nothing,” the woman lowered her brows, but after a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but ask, “When… did you become so familiar with that Mingyue gentleman?”

Shen Yao Xing was taken aback by her words. Had she been in a daze all day because of this?

“We’re not familiar,” Shen Yao Xing pondered for a while, her expression rather reluctant, “We can only be considered acquaintances at best.”

Just acquaintances?

Meng Xin Yi’s gaze was probing. Many people knew him, but few were known by him. Moreover, such a proud and cold beauty was willing to sit at the same table with them.

As they were talking, Lin Luo Sheng had already led them to a stall. This was indeed a place they hadn’t been before, as it wasn’t in the market street. There were far fewer pedestrians compared to the bustling market, and as far as they could see, this was the only stall selling food.

And there were only the three of them at the stall.

“Are you sure the food here is good?” Shen Yao Xing expressed her doubt.

“Mm!” The young man nodded, walking to a spot where the sun couldn’t reach and sitting down. He waved at the two of them, “Come quickly and sit!”

Before Shen Yao Xing could move, Meng Xin Yi curved her lips and whispered rather ambiguously in her ear, “Sit down. Don’t disappoint Young Master Lin’s kind intentions.”

That mischievous air had returned. Seeing the woman back to normal, Shen Yao Xing secretly let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t mind her tone and leisurely sauntered over to sit down.

“There’s not even a shadow of a person here. How good can the food be?”

Lin Luo Sheng poured her a cup of tea and, hearing her words, said somewhat defiantly, “It’s really delicious. I used to come here every day to eat a bowl of sweet glutinous soup. Besides the sweet glutinous soup, they also have steamed vegetarian buns, which are very tasty!”

Seeing that the two didn’t seem to believe him, Lin Luo Sheng bit his lip, looked back at the stall, and seeing no one there, he leaned in and lowered his voice, “The reason there are few people is because the stall is run by a man.”

A man?

Shen Yao Xing was confused, “What’s so strange about a man running a stall?”

Although more women ran stalls, it wasn’t uncommon for men to do so. There was no need to act all mysterious about it.

“No, that’s not it,” the young man looked troubled, as if unsure whether he should say it. He looked back at the stall again and lowered his voice even more, “It’s because this man is extremely ugly, so no one wants to patronize him.”

Huh?

Shen Yao Xing was even more confused. How ugly could he be?

Lin Luo Sheng sat up straight, his brows showing sympathy, “A man who looks like a woman, covered in coarse flesh and unattractive. He’s in his twenties, and even if he offered himself for free, no one would want him.”

“…” Shen Yao Xing listened with a bewildered expression.

Meng Xin Yi was equally puzzled. After hearing the young man’s description, she became somewhat curious about this man’s appearance.

Just then, a burly man stood behind the young man, backlit by the sun. His enormous shadow enveloped them. Shen Yao Xing looked up in a daze, and when she saw the man’s appearance, her entire body froze.

That rugged face, those taut biceps, even though he was wearing tight clothes, they couldn’t hide the muscles that seemed about to burst out of his shirt. The beads of sweat on his tanned skin glistened in the sunlight. The overwhelming pheromones left Shen Yao Xing unable to react.

“What would you like to eat?” The man’s voice was deep and rich, perfectly matching his physique and build.

Caught badmouthing someone, Lin Luo Sheng’s neck turned red. He turned around, stammering for a long time, trying to explain. Intimidated by the man’s imposing physique, his eyes reddened. Finally, he sniffled and mumbled, “I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine. What would you like to eat?” the man asked again.

Lin Luo Sheng turned back pitifully, looking at the two stunned women, “What do you want to eat?”

Meng Xin Yi was the first to react. She quickly averted her gaze, her appetite disappearing as soon as she saw the man, “Anything is fine. You can order.”

Even with her extensive experience, she had never seen such an… such an ugly man!

Lin Luo Sheng called out to the dazed young girl again, but she didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the person behind him.

“Yao Xing,” Meng Xin Yi pulled the young girl back to her senses, seeing her expression, she thought she must have been frightened by the man.

“Ah?” Shen Yao Xing came back to her senses, feeling her whole body heating up. She unconsciously uncrossed her legs, putting them together, straightening her back. Her posture had never been so proper.

“Any-anything is fine,” the young girl’s eyes flickered, her gaze uncontrollably drifting towards the man, looking like someone who hadn’t seen a man in over a decade.

Seeing this, Lin Luo Sheng stood up unhappily, blocking the young girl’s line of sight, “What are you staring at him for!”

Realizing her gaze had been too obvious, Shen Yao Xing coughed lightly, unable to hide her excitement, “Nothing.”

Heaven still favored her; there were actually “men” in this world!

This thought didn’t last long before it was shattered. Just as the man came over with a tray of dishes to serve them, Shen Yao Xing mustered up the courage to stand up and try to strike up a conversation. However, she saw a woman with an even more robust build walk out from behind the man.

Her rugged face was full of tenderness as she comforted the man with a few words. The man’s tanned face deepened in color, his stiff mouth corners slightly turning upward, his shy tiger-like eyes full of deep affection.

The two walked back to the stall, lost in their own world.

Shen Yao Xing heard the sound of something unknown shattering in her ears. She sat back down weakly.

“Even the extremely ugly have their perfect match. How wonderful,” Meng Xin Yi sighed beside her.

“Yes, his wife-master is actually the town’s blacksmith. Many people go to her for weapons, so even though his stall doesn’t do good business, he doesn’t have to worry,” Lin Luo Sheng responded.

Shen Yao Xing spoke with a lot of resentment, “Then why did you say no one wanted him even in his twenties?”

She thought it was heaven’s favor!

“That’s right. He was in his twenties before, looking for a place to marry into, but no one wanted him. Now he’s just over thirty, and the blacksmith married him,” the young man said, his eyes full of envy. “I heard people say that the blacksmith really dotes on him, repeatedly telling him not to run the stall and just enjoy life at home, but he’s unwilling.”

“…”

Luckily, she was a step late in trying to strike up a conversation earlier, otherwise, she would have embarrassed herself to death.

..