If she had known it would take so long, Ling Xi never would’ve spent so much time carefully picking out her outfit.
"Sorry, Lin Xiao... I didn’t expect to take this long," she apologized softly. "So now what do we do to find the others? I’m really hungry too!"
Lin Xiao sighed. He was honestly defeated by her innocent, almost coy, tone. She sounded like she was whining, but there was an unintentional charm to it—a soft coquettishness that Lin Xiao hadn’t yet realized was slowly rooting itself in his heart. One day, by the time he noticed, it would’ve already grown into a towering tree.
"Come on. I’ll take you to eat."
The moment Lin Xiao said that, Ling Xi’s eyes lit up, sparkling like she’d just discovered treasure. She followed him out eagerly.
Meanwhile, Zhang Nu and the others were still at the table, enjoying their long-awaited, flavorful meal. When Ling Xi and Lin Xiao arrived, the others were so busy devouring their food that they barely noticed.
Ling Xi wrinkled her nose in distaste as she watched Liu Hai and Zhao Yang eat like they hadn’t seen food in days. Only Zhang Nu managed to maintain some semblance of dignity—though his chopsticks never once slowed.
When he saw the two arrive, he spared them a glance. "You’re here. Sit down and eat quickly, before there’s nothing left."
Lin Xiao frowned deeply, the lines between his brows forming a sharp cross. He had a touch of cleanliness obsession, and watching Liu Hai and Zhao Yang scarf food like wild animals made his skin crawl.
"Forget it. Ling Xi and I will get another table. You three can keep eating here."
Zhang Nu nodded in understanding. He knew Lin Xiao’s quirks well enough not to argue.
Soon, Lin Xiao and Ling Xi were seated at their own table. As their dishes arrived, Liu Hai and Zhao Yang had already wiped their plates clean and were now eyeing their meal like starving wolves.
Sensing the danger, Ling Xi immediately stood to guard the table. "You two already ate a whole table’s worth of food. That’s more than enough. No stealing ours!"
She even bared her tiny canine teeth in an attempt to look fierce. But to Liu Hai and Zhao Yang, the display was anything but intimidating.
"Ling Xi, are you trying to make us beg for it? That was so cute, it’s like you're offering us food on purpose."
"Yeah, if you want us to eat with you, just say so. I’d never say no."
As Zhao Yang reached out with his chopsticks, Lin Xiao’s pair clamped down on his with precision. He lifted his gaze— calm and icy.
Zhao Yang instantly froze, a chill running through his spine. That look—it was like standing in a frozen wasteland. He quickly backed off, his hunger momentarily subdued. But he couldn’t hide the pitiful glance he threw at Ling Xi, silently pleading.
Zhang Nu chuckled to himself. He couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Zhao Yang. If the boy were still back in that little mountain village, he’d never be reduced to this.
"Don’t take it to heart," Zhang Nu said gently. "Lin Xiao just has a thing about cleanliness. If you two are still hungry, I’ll order more food for you."
At that, Liu Hai and Zhao Yang immediately perked up, eyes gleaming like hopeful puppies.
Zhang Nu shifted uncomfortably. "Alright, alright. I’ll order more. Just…stop looking at me like that."
He waved a hand, and another round of food was brought to their table. This time, Liu Hai and Zhao Yang ate slowly, chewing carefully, as if trying to match the table manners of Lin Xiao and Ling Xi.
Compared to the others, the atmosphere at Lin Xiao and Ling Xi’s table was far more refined. The two of them ate gracefully, like nobles trained in etiquette, worlds apart from the others.