Chapter 20: Barbecue of Hearts – Untangling the Knot of Love
Wu Feng responded bluntly:— "Oh? Really?"
Ji Lin fixed his gaze on Ning Tian, his words sharp and clear:— "Can you both face your true feelings?"
Ning Tian froze for a moment, then a strange expression appeared on her face:— "What business is it of yours?"
Wu Feng spoke coldly:— "You just defeated us, so how can you know another's heart? You're only trying to draw attention, hoping to win the heart of the young master!"
Ji Lin smiled quietly, then continued deliberately and pointedly:— "Some openly pursue love, while others bear the pressures of the world, refusing to give up their status. The result is that they achieve nothing. You only gain through loss, and relationships endure only through loss."
— "People like you don't understand the meaning of love."
Ji Lin's words struck Ning Tian and Wu Feng like lightning; it felt as if his eyes pierced through everything, seeing hearts and revealing hidden secrets. His words were not nonsense—they were precise, deliberate, and reflected exactly the dilemma they were living.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng loved each other, but they could not be together because of their positions: as heirs of the Glazed Nine Treasures Sect, Ning Tian could not abandon her status, while Wu Feng feared ridicule if they were seen together.
They had to hide their love deep within their hearts, unable to express it. But Ji Lin… how did he know? Was he merely guessing, or did he truly understand the truth?
Caught in confusion, they wanted to ask questions, but Ji Lin suddenly turned and said:— "If you trust me and want to find a solution to your problem, I'll see you tomorrow at Ji Lin's barbecue party in the academy's back street!"
After saying this, he fell silent and left, leaving Ning Tian and Wu Feng stunned and bewildered.
In the back street of Partner Academy, Ji Lin sat behind his small barbecue stall, quietly watching the glowing charcoal.
Ma Xiaotao was busy that night, so he was alone running his modest stand, but his mind was not occupied solely with selling sausages… he was waiting for some very important guests.
He recalled the old saying: "Jiang Taigong fishes, and those who wish fall into the hook."
He smiled faintly to himself, confident that his trap would work tonight.
In a dark corner of the academy, Wu Feng hesitated, whispering:— "Young master, do we really have to go to him?"
But Ning Tian did not hesitate, giving Wu Feng a warm smile full of gentleness:— "Perhaps he really has a way to untangle that knot… for our happiness, why not give it a try?"
Wu Feng's heart pounded at her words. If Ning Tian were not a woman, they would have met long ago. But the restrictions had postponed their love, leaving it as a desire waiting for a miracle.
By midnight, the back alleys were empty, and only Ji Lin was at the stall, scattering the fire and flipping the sausages.
Suddenly, two familiar figures appeared before him.
— "Vendor, give us two grilled sausage legs!"
He lifted his head calmly, and his eyes met Ning Tian and Wu Feng.
A hidden smile appeared within him: the big fish had finally fallen into the net.
— "Miss Ning Tian, Miss Wu Feng, welcome! Please have a seat—the sausages will be ready shortly."
Ji Lin immediately invited Ning Tian and Wu Feng to sit, and as soon as they settled, the two golden sausages had finished cooking over the embers. Their outer skins were crispy with an enticing roasted aroma, while inside they were tender, bursting with juicy flavor.
He smiled lightly as he turned them on the skewer, then said confidently:— "This is your first time visiting me; surely you've never tasted my sausages before. Try them… you'll find the fat melting in your mouths, and the aroma lingering in your memory just as it clings to your lips."
His words carried a bold sense of pride, causing Ning Tian and Wu Feng to exchange surprised glances.
Despite their caution, they could not deny that the slightly charred exterior and tender interior stirred a wild desire in them just to taste it.
Ji Lin noticed, chuckled lightly, and crossed his arms in a relaxed manner:— "What's the matter? Do you think I've poisoned them?"
Then he waved the skewer in front of them with even more confidence:— "Don't worry… my sausages won't kill anyone—they only enchant them!"
Ning Tian shook her head and said, "Well then… I'll try it myself."
Wu Feng, however, was still hesitant. Despite her deep love for food, she had never seen such golden, perfectly grilled sausages before, having only rarely eaten barbecue in her life.
But the moment Ning Tian took her first bite, her eyes widened in astonishment, and she stared so intently that she forgot to chew and swallowed it immediately!
"This is…"
Watching Ning Tian's reaction, Wu Feng could no longer hold back. She grabbed a sausage herself, sinking her teeth into it, and in an instant, her entire face lit up with a sparkling golden glow.
She no longer cared about restraint or composure. Swiftly, she picked up the last piece on the bamboo skewer and shoved it into her mouth, her eyes shining with amazement.
"Delicious… absolutely delicious! I've never tasted sausages like this in my life! This is a hundred times better than any sausages I've had before!"
Wu Feng shouted with joy and excitement, her beautiful eyes sparkling like shining stars.
"Exactly! I never imagined Ji Lin sausages could be this amazing—I can't believe it!"
Ning Tian added, completely forgetting her usual restraint, unable to stop praising the taste.
Ji Lin chuckled softly, saying, "Haha, if you like the taste, eat as much as you want. I have plenty here, and if it's not enough, I'll grill more."
At his words, Ning Tian and Wu Feng quickly reached for the sausages, as if they wanted to devour everything in front of them at once.
Ji Lin, however, did not stop them. He stood quietly, enjoying the sight of these two pampered ladies transformed into greedy food lovers.
Ning Tian shook her head and said, "Well then… I'll try it myself."
Wu Feng, however, was still hesitant. Despite her deep love for food, she had never seen such golden, perfectly grilled sausages before, having only rarely eaten barbecue in her life.
But the moment Ning Tian took her first bite, her eyes widened in astonishment, and she stared so intently that she forgot to chew and swallowed it immediately!
"This is…"
Watching Ning Tian's reaction, Wu Feng could no longer restrain herself. She grabbed a sausage as well, sinking her teeth into it, and in an instant, her entire face lit up with a sparkling golden glow.
She no longer cared about restraint or composure. Quickly, she picked up the last piece on the bamboo skewer and shoved it into her mouth, her eyes shining with amazement.
"Delicious… absolutely delicious! I've never tasted sausages like this in my life! This is a hundred times better than any sausages I've had before!"
Wu Feng shouted with joy and excitement, her beautiful eyes sparkling like shining stars.
"Exactly! I never expected Ji Lin's sausages to be this amazing—I can't believe it!"
Ning Tian added, completely forgetting her usual restraint, unable to stop praising the taste.
Ji Lin chuckled softly and said, "Haha, if you like the taste, eat as much as you want. I have plenty here, and if it's not enough, I'll grill more."
Upon hearing his words, Ning Tian and Wu Feng quickly reached for the sausages, as if they wanted to devour everything in front of them at once.
Ji Lin, however, did not stop them. He stood quietly, enjoying the sight of these two pampered ladies transformed into greedy food lovers.
On the other hand, Wu Feng didn't seem entirely satisfied.
She had indulged in the delicious food she had just tasted until she felt full, yet a trace of worry lingered in her eyes.
Ji Lin watched them quietly, the faint smile on his face concealing his inner relief. It was fine… as long as their feelings were genuine, it was worth it.
Suddenly, as if she had remembered something she had almost forgotten amidst the eagerness for food, Ning Tian lifted her head and stared at Ji Lin with full seriousness:— "Ji Lin… do you remember what you told me today?"
The remnants of her old hostility vanished, replaced by a sense of trust mixed with curiosity.
Ji Lin nodded steadily and said calmly:— "Of course, I remember."
A sparkle appeared in Ning Tian's eyes, while Wu Feng's heart raced with an intensity she could no longer suppress.
Ning Tian asked eagerly:— "Then… tell us. How can we overcome this knot?"
Ji Lin contemplated for a moment, then smiled mysteriously:— "Before I answer… I must first ask you, Miss Ning Tian… what is your ultimate goal?"
The words resonated in her ears like a heavy, profound bell… even Wu Feng could only look at her young master in anticipation.
— "The ultimate goal?" whispered Ning Tian, as if she were questioning herself more than she was questioning Ji Lin.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng exchanged glances, Ning Tian's face flushing deeply with embarrassment.
She kept opening and closing her mouth, yet no words came out.
Then Wu Feng stepped forward, his voice trembling as if breaking a long silence:— "What we want… is to live like any ordinary couple. To be together without fear, without restrictions."
Ning Tian's heart trembled, but she did not oppose him; instead, she nodded shyly.
Ji Lin was momentarily surprised. So this was the knot that bound them—the desire for a normal life, yet obstacles stood in their way.
He smiled calmly and said:— "If you trust me, I have a way… it won't be easy, but it will lead you to what you desire."
The two looked at him with eyes full of hope and almost in unison said:— "Tell us… what should we do?"