"Ha! That was easy, right?" Dan Zhang chuckled, dusting his hands with a satisfied grin. He beamed at Huan, a sense of camaraderie filling the air.
Nan Fang, however, was lost in his own thoughts. His eyes lingered on the girl beside him, a delicate beauty with captivating pale green eyes. Her cute nose, pinkish lips, and fluffy cheeks formed a picture of youthful innocence. He abruptly withdrew his hand from her arm and walked towards Dan Zhang, leaving Yiangyiang muttering to herself, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Ming Huan's heart thumped in his chest, a wild, frantic rhythm that mirrored the storm raging within him. The girl, dressed as a man with her playful bunny-like demeanor, had captured his attention. Her captivating smile, so full of life and energy, had pierced through his usual aloofness, leaving him slightly disoriented. He found himself unexpectedly drawn to her, a feeling that was both exhilarating and unsettling.
Ming Huan averted his gaze, unable to meet her bright, inquisitive eyes. Though he tried to maintain his usual cold, indifferent expression, the disarray within him was evident.
"Master is acting strange," Dai Yu mused, watching his usually composed lord struggle with his emotions.
Nan Fang, sensing the awkward silence, coughed slightly, a small gesture intended to break the tension. "Oh! You must be hungry and very thirsty," Dan Zhang said, a friendly smile gracing his lips.
With a chuckle, Dan Zhang seized Ming Huan by the arm, pulling him along with a playful grin. "Come on, let's go!" he exclaimed, oblivious to the subtle shift in Ming Huan's demeanor.
The others trailed behind. Ming Huan, despite his initial reluctance, allowed himself to be led, his usual dislike for physical contact momentarily forgotten. He found himself strangely accepting of Dan Zhang's touch, a stark contrast to his usual aversion. It was a confusing sensation, one that left him questioning his own feelings. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but one thing was clear: this girl, with her radiant smile and innocent gaze, had thrown him off balance in a way he hadn't anticipated.
Liguan felt a pang of dejection, unsure if it was due to the young man's playful demeanor or his obliviousness to Ming Huan's aversion to physical contact. "
Brother Nan, look," he pointed out, his voice laced with a hint of concern.
Dan Zhang, caught off guard, immediately dropped his head when he realized who he was holding.
"My apologies," he stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He quickly released Ming Huan and rushed to Nan Fang's side, his usual carefree demeanor momentarily subdued. "Brother, look!" he said, his voice eager, hoping to distract himself from the awkward situation.
Ming Huan, feeling a wave of disappointment, missed the warmth of the girl's hand on his arm. It was a fleeting sensation, yet it had left an unexpected void. The sweet, soft warmth, a stark contrast to the icy exterior he usually maintained, was gone, leaving him feeling strangely bereft.
Dai Yu, ever observant, witnessed the exchange with a subtle frown. The crease between his brows deepened as he witnessed the interplay between his master and that man, sensing the undercurrents of unspoken emotions.
They stepped into Qin's Inn, a bustling establishment filled with the aroma of spices and simmering broth. The innkeeper ushered them to a table, where they settled in. Liguan took his place beside Huan, Dan Zhang sat beside Nan Fang, and Dai Yu found himself seated next to Yiangyiang.
"Greetings and welcome," the waiter announced, approaching their table. "May I have your order please?"
Dan Zhang took charge. "Erm, we will have some rice, noodles, salmon, pork rib soup, ginger tea, chicken, dumplings, lotus soup, and some wine," he declared, his voice booming with enthusiasm.
"Anything else?" he asked, turning to the group. They all shook their heads, "Okay, sir," the waiter responded with a polite nod. "Please excuse me."
A comfortable silence settled over the table as they waited for their meal. Breaking the quiet, Dan Zhang leaned forward with a curious grin. "Uh, may I have the honor of knowing your names, maladies?"
"Ming Liguan," the older one said, a polite smile gracing her lips.
"Yiangyiang," the younger girl replied, her voice soft and melodious.
Dan Zhang was about to inquire further when Nan Fang nudged him discreetly, his expression a mixture of indifferent and sheer annoyance.
"Ouch!" Dan Zhang exclaimed.
"It's okay," Liguan chuckled, "we came to Bao Hall."
"Oh, you like scholar stuffs?" Dan Zhang chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes.
"We came to listen to the anecdotes," Yiangyiang chimed in, her voice filled with an infectious enthusiasm. "Oh, I see," Dan Zhang responded, his curiosity piqued.
Liguan turned to Ming Huan, her gaze lingering on his stoic profile.
"Brother Huan, what were you doing in the city?" she asked, a gentle warmth lacing her voice. Huan, sensing her gaze, glanced at her briefly before averting his eyes. Liguan, unable to sustain his intense gaze, lowered her own, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.
After a moment of silence, he simply replied, "Same."
Liguan smiled inwardly, a sense of satisfaction washing over her. He hadn't forgotten.
"You didn't mention your name," Yiangyiang pointed out, her voice light and playful.
"I'm Dan Zhang, and this is brother Nan Fang," he introduced, gesturing towards his companion with a warm smile.
"He's a man of few words and sometimes grumpy, but he's a good person," Dan whispered, a playful wink directed at Liguan as Nan Fang shot him a warning glare.
The waiters arrived, laden with steaming platters of food.
"Let's eat!" Dan Zhang exclaimed, he expertly dished out food into Nan Fang's bowl, while Liguan, with a gentle smile, served Huan. Dai Yu and Yiangyiang helped themselves. Suddenly, Dan Zhang and Huan, their chopsticks outstretched, were both holding the same fish. A moment of awkward silence descended as they locked eyes.
Everyone's gaze shifted, drawn to the unusual sight. Dan Zhang and Ming Huan found themselves reaching for the same chicken, then the same piece of pork, and finally, the same dumpling. The awkwardness hung heavy in the air until Nan Fang broke the tension. He took the disputed chicken, pork, and dumpling, which was abandoned onto his plate. Dai Yu and Liguan were taken aback by the sudden turn of events. Ming Huan, known for his unfussy appetite, was a curious case. From childhood, he'd devoured everything placed before him, never expressing a preference for one dish over another. Moreover, he had a strong aversion to spicy food, typically favoring mild and bland flavors. Yet, today, he craved spicy fish and seasoned pork soup. This was a significant departure from his usual culinary preferences.
"Here," Dan Zhang said, offering him a piece of fish and a serving of pork soup. "Brother Huan doesn't like..." Liguan began, but her words died in her throat as she witnessed something astonishing. Ming Huan accepted the food from Dan Zhang, not even glancing at the dish Liguan held out. He devoured the offered food with elegance, ignoring Liguan completely. This was strange, deeply perplexing.
"Brother, you have a good appetite," Dan Zhang complimented, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"It's Huan, Ming Huan," he corrected, his tone flat, but his eyes gleamed with an unusual intensity as he continued to eat.
"Okay, Huan gege then," Dan Zhang said. Simultaneously, he and Liguan offered him dumplings. He accepted Dan Zhang's, nibbling it slowly, savoring each bite. Liguan, though initially stung, beamed when he eventually ate hers as well.
"Here," Dan Zhang offered a cup of wine, while Liguan presented a cup of ginger tea. Wine would have been a welcome complement to the meal, but Ming Huan wasn't a heavy drinker. The ginger tea seemed more appealing, so he opted for Liguan's offering, earning him a bright smile from her.
"You need a bodyguard," Huan stated, his voice devoid of emotion. Liguan nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed in concern.
Yiangyiang, ever the impulsive one, blurted out, "What do you do for a living?" She directed the question at Nan Fang, then covered her mouth in embarrassment, realizing the bluntness of her query.
"Nothing much, just odd jobs for a living," Dan Zhang answered smoothly, deflecting the question.
"Like assassination?" Dai Yu interjected, a hint of amusement in his voice as he nonchalantly picked at a few dumplings.
Nan Fang, unfazed by Dai Yu's remark, simply replied, "No, just manual labor."
"Yes, like packaging, errands, protecting..." Dan Zhang began, but Yiangyiang interrupted, "Why don't you become our bodyguards? I mean, my mistress's bodyguards!" She quickly apologized, flustered by the stares she received.
"No, I don't think that's advisable," Dai Yu stated firmly, his gaze fixed on Nan Fang. "Besides, we don't know much of their background."
Nan Fang, unperturbed, casually picked up a cup of wine and sipped it, his expression unreadable. Dai Yu's suspicion was palpable. He didn't trust a single word that came out of Nan Fang's mouth, his gut instinct screaming caution.
"Besides, it's the princess's safety we're talking about," Dai Yu pointed out, his voice laced with uncertainty . "I don't see why not, right brother Huan?"
Huan gave a slight, dismissive nod, much to Dai Yu's displeasure. "Your Highness!"
"Enough, brother Dai. His Highness approves," Yiangyiang pleaded, her voice rising in desperation.
Dai Yu shook his head at Ming Huan, but the latter ignored him, his gaze fixed on the food. "If brother here doesn't agree, why not supervise it?" Dan Zhang suggested between bites, his voice calm and measured.
"Yes, he has a point. Please, brother Dai," Yiangyiang begged, her eyes pleading. Ming Huan met Dai Yu's gaze and nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Alright, fine," Dai Yu conceded, his voice laced with reluctant agreement. "Brother, we wouldn't be homeless again!" Dan Zhang cheered, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Yiangyiang, witnessing the exchange, felt a pang of pity for Nan Fang. He was homeless all this time? Moving from place to place, without a safe haven to call his own? How sad.
Dai Yu, his skepticism lingering, placed a silver stone on the table, leaving with the others.
In the market, a vendor's voice boomed, "Pit pot, come play with your loved ones, family and friends!"
Liguan looked at Ming Huan shyly, "Brother Huan, I want to try it too."
They walked towards the stall, Yiangyiang's curiosity piqued.
"Oh!" The owner smiled apologetically as he consoled a young couple. "Sorry, but next time you will be fortunate." He then spotted Ming Huan and Liguan, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Welcome, welcome! Whoa, you had a pretty wife indeed, young master. Please come this way."
Liguan blushed at the compliment, while Huan's expression remained stoic. The owner, mistaking them for a couple, led them towards the game with a flourish.
"Ha, here!" The owner helped them, tying their wrists together with a thin cord and handing them a set of five arrows. Ming Huan held the front of the arrow, while Liguan held the back, their hands intertwined. With a coordinated motion, they shot the arrow, their hands moving as one. "Whoa!" The crowd erupted in cheers, their arrow finding its mark, hitting the pot on their first try.
"Whoa, they are so beautiful together, a pair made in heaven!" A bystander exclaimed, awestruck.
"Yes, they think in sync," another added, their words echoing the sentiments of the crowd as Ming Huan and Liguan continued their winning streak, arrow after arrow finding its target. Liguan flushed brightly, her cheeks warming at the whispers of the crowd, even as she tried to ignore their comments.
"Oh, they lost the third," a voice chirped, breaking the spell of their success.
But the cheers returned, louder than before, as they won the fourth and fifth rounds. "Good, very good! There you go," the owner beamed, presenting them with a small, adorable, baby bunny.
As Ming Huan glanced at the fluffy creature, it brought back a memory, a familiar face, a familiar person. He quickly averted his gaze, his thoughts momentarily lost in the past. He looked up to see Dan Zhang applauding their victory, standing among the cheering crowd. But Dai Yu and Nan Fang were nowhere to be seen.
"Brother Dai," Yiangyiang said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Why don't you try it with him?" He gestured towards Nan Fang, a subtle blush creeping onto her cheeks. She quickly covered it with a snort, but her gaze remained fixed on Nan Fang. She walked towards him, pulling him towards the game array. The owner, a jovial man with a wide grin, tied their wrists together and handed them the arrows.
"Whoa!" Yiangyiang exclaimed as their first shot hit the target. "Good," Dai Yu muttered, his eyes keenly observing Nan Fang. The man was skilled, his strength undeniable, yet there was a calmness to his movements, a sense of restraint. He wasn't overreaching, a trait Dai Yu found both intriguing and suspicious.