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Seeing the happiness and satisfaction on Zhao Yang and Ling Xi’s faces, Liu Hai couldn’t help but look at them with mild disdain. He couldn’t believe that neither of them had ever eaten something as common as candied hawthorn before.
It was honestly a little pitiful—so much so that even Liu Hai felt a twinge of sympathy.
“Zhao Yang, Ling Xi, have you two really never had this before?” he asked. “You’re both gobbling it down like you haven’t eaten in days. It’s hard not to be curious.”
Zhao Yang, too focused on the candied treat to care whether Liu Hai’s words were teasing or concerned, simply nodded enthusiastically.
“I’ve seriously never tasted anything this good before! Sweet and sour, with sugar wrapped around hawthorn—who comes up with stuff like this?”
Liu Hai fell silent for a moment. His gaze toward Zhao Yang shifted, softening with a mix of pity and affection.
So pitiful, he thought. Even something this simple is new to him.
At that moment, Zhang Nu, observing how the group’s relationships were gradually growing warmer, felt quietly pleased. Their little team was finally starting to take shape. He wasn’t sure if more members would join later on, but for now, the bond between them was the most important thing.
“All right, enough chatting,” Zhang Nu said. “Let’s find a place to stay. It’s getting late, and we haven’t had a proper rest in days.”
Everyone nodded at once and followed Zhang Nu to a nearby inn. Once inside, the entire group agreed on one thing: they desperately needed a bath. They’d been traveling nonstop, sleeping in the wild and eating whatever they could scavenge. A proper wash was long overdue.
“You all brought spare clothes, right? Let’s get cleaned up first, then we’ll eat,” Zhang Nu instructed.
The group nodded again and began sorting out their belongings. After about half an hour, everyone had reappeared—except Ling Xi.
An entire incense stick’s worth of time passed, and their stomachs were starting to growl. No one wanted to wait anymore.
“Zhang Nu, why don’t we just go get food ourselves?” Liu Hai suggested. “Ling Xi’s taking forever.”
“Yeah, if we wait much longer, I think I’ll pass out from hunger,” Zhao Yang joked.
Zhang Nu hesitated. If they left Ling Xi behind and she came out to find them gone, she might worry. After all, she was still new to the outside world—a young, inexperienced YaoGuai, easy to deceive and quick to trust. If she ran into trouble, they might not be able to find her again.
Sensing Zhang Nu’s dilemma, Lin Xiao stepped forward.
“They’re not wrong. Ling Xi really has been taking too long. And we’ve already waited a while,” he said. “I’m not hungry yet, so let them go eat. I’ll stay here and take her to meet up with you once she’s out.”
Zhang Nu finally relaxed and nodded, reassured. Lin Xiao’s offer was just the thing he needed to hear. “Alright. Ling Xi’s in your hands, then. I’ll take the rest of them to eat.”
Lin Xiao watched as the others left the inn, then remained seated in the lobby, patiently waiting for Ling Xi.
Finally, after another incense stick’s time, Ling Xi emerged from her room.
The moment he saw her, Lin Xiao froze.
She wore a flowing white robe, ethereal and light, the occasional jingle of bells dancing from her wrist. A radiant smile bloomed on her face, as warm and vivid as spring sunshine. She looked like the embodiment of life itself—an image of vitality completely opposite to Lin Xiao’s own cold temperament.
But when Ling Xi noticed that only Lin Xiao was waiting, a small frown creased her brow, slightly ruining the harmony of her appearance.
Lin Xiao quickly averted his gaze, his deep, somber eyes settling into calm once more.
“You’re finally out. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?” he said flatly.
Ling Xi had been about to ask him something herself.
“Why are you the only one here? Where are the others? Did they already go eat?”
Lin Xiao looked at her like she was an idiot.
Of course, they’d gone to eat. Did she expect them all to wait forever? He was the only one foolish enough to stay behind.
“What do you think? We waited for two incense sticks’ worth of time,” he said.
Ling Xi wilted instantly, like a frost-struck eggplant. She hadn’t realized she’d taken that long—and now Lin Xiao had been left to wait alone because of her.