“To eat,” answered Ling Yichen smoothly. Before Ling Chuxi could answer, he added, “Together.” His tone presented this invitation as if it were a fact.
“If you’re treating, then sure!” blurted out Ling Chunxi awkwardly. ‘What a reaction. Who am I right now?’ Ling Chunxi wondered to herself.
“All right then.” Ling Yichen’s words were as precious as gold. It’d be a waste to say no to a meal when someone else has offered to pay! Ling Yichen led the way with Ling Chunxi eagerly trailing behind.
Both of them took their seats within the same private dining room. Ling Yichen ordered a few dishes, and then Ling Chunxi ordered more without feeling the need to be particularly courteous. A trace of astonishment flashed through Ling Yichen’s eyes when Ling Chunxi removed her hat, but he didn’t say a word.
The dishes were served very quickly. What surprised Ling Yichen the most wasn’t the sight of Ling Chunxi’s beautiful face, but her voracious and carnivorous appetite for meat. Although the restaurant served vegetable dishes as well, Ling Chunxi and Ling Yichen had ordered seven beef dishes and only two vegetable ones… and Ling Chunxi had not paid any attention to the vegetable dishes at all. She had specially set aside a plate for the small fox she brought along with her and kept serving it meat.
“Eaut, why aren’t you eathung? Youh aref treafting, if youh don’t eaut, iaufll feel embarraffed,” said Ling Chunxi to Little White in between hearty mouthfuls of beef.
“Eat. Why aren’t you eating? If you don’t eat, I’ll feel embarrassed.” To Ling Yichen’s amazement, he could understand what she was saying.
“Please indulge, I will follow after you.” Ling Yichen made sure to speak politely even as a cold drop of sweat slid down the back of his head. Quietly, he steered his chopsticks away from a newly empty plate of beef towards a plate of vegetables instead.
Once the meal was finished, Ling Chunxi put a hand on her full belly and asked the waiter for the bill. She was incredibly satisfied. In her mind, Ling Yichen was officially labeled a good guy. “Ling Yichen, you’re a good person. You’ll live a long life.”
“Thank you.” Ling Yichen’s unchanging poker face finally cracked a little. He kept a calm demeanor even though he knew Ling Chuxi’s words were just perfunctory.
“I will go for a walk to digest my food and buy a weapon. I bid you farewell.” Ling Chunxi gathered Little White into her arms and stood to leave.
Ling Yichen rose from his seat. “I’ll go with you.”
“Huh?” Ling Chunxi stared at Ling Yichen questioningly with eyes as wide as saucers. She must have misheard. “Why is that? Are you also looking to buy a weapon?” One glance at the sword hanging from Ling Yichen’s waist told her this couldn’t be the case. His sword was no ordinary sword. Anyone could see that. One with such a weapon at his disposal wouldn’t be so inclined to buy the weapons available at White Stone City. Rumor had it that the sword was given to Ling Yichen by his master. Who was his master again? Never mind. She couldn’t recall at the moment. Anyway, rumor had it that whoever this master was, it was a person with a lot of pride.
“To accompany you,” stated Ling Yichen succinctly.
“Okay, then. Thank you. You really aren’t so bad at all Ling Yichen. You’ll definitely have a long life,” said Ling Chunxi with a smile.
Ling Yichen’s lips twitched slightly, but he remained silent.
So it was that these two people made their way to the iron shop, with one leading the way and the other following behind. A salesperson came out to greet them as they entered the shop. Ling Chunxi was wearing one of the new garments Aunt Wang had bought her. Aunt Wang had spared no expense. She felt a lady of the house should be dressed beautifully, so she had bought clothes made from elegant material with exquisite embroidery for Ling Chunxi. The salesperson’s eyes lit up. Indeed, the lady and the gentleman were not dressed like commoners. The rare sword on the gentleman’s person was especially notable. ‘If these two wanted to buy weapons, they would not be satisfied with normal offerings. This is good. I sense a big transaction about to happen.’