She started the fire and cooked as usual, but first, she took some vegetable leaves and tossed the rabbit to the youth to hold and feed.
He seemed to crave everything, staring motionlessly as the rabbit ate the leaves.
It wasn’t until she was cooking that she saw him place a chili pepper and a green onion next to the rabbit.
She suddenly understood the look in his eyes.
It turned out he wasn’t craving the vegetable leaves, but the rabbit.
The weather had turned cool, and porridge was simmering in the firewood pot. She went and took the rabbit back. The usually bold little rabbit was much more well-behaved today, staying perfectly still in her arms, even trembling a little.
Could it be that “No-Talk” had bullied it? She checked it over and over but couldn’t find any wounds or pinch marks on the rabbit’s body. It was still strange.
Seeing her squatting at his feet with the rabbit in her arms, Song Qingyan offered the chili pepper in his hand again.
His hands were fair with well-defined knuckles, and they looked exceptionally good holding the green pepper.
Ning Jinyu frowned and slapped his hand away. She stood up, holding the rabbit, and glared down at him. “Bunnies are so cute, why would you want to eat a bunny? You’re not allowed to bully the little rabbit, or I’ll beat you up.”
The charming young girl and the rabbit were quite alike; beneath their soft exteriors, they both had a tough side.
For instance, although the rabbit was clearly terrified, it refused to eat the green pepper he offered, as if it would die if it did.
A rare smile touched his eyes.
Ning Jinyu had seen countless handsome men, but she was still stunned by that smile. He had always been cold and expressionless; who knew he could look so gentle when he smiled.
“Don’t think you can eat my rabbit just because you smiled. In your dreams. Go get the porridge.”
…
“Brother Zhou, it smells so good in there. It looks like someone’s here.”
“Someone’s still cooking at this hour? Good, that saves us the trouble of calling for someone.”
And just like that, the five of them were staring at each other.
It had been a while, but Ning Jinyu still remembered this thorny youth who had tried to steal her food when they first met.
She held her rabbit and sipped her porridge from a bowl, while the youth sat beside her, drinking from a basin.
“…” She hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said, “Senior Brothers, would you like some? There’s still more in the pot.”
After she spoke, she felt a gaze from her side and patted the youth’s head reassuringly. If it’s not enough, I can just make more. These troublemakers are not to be trifled with.
It had been a while, and she had grown even more beautiful. The inner sect and Personal Disciples didn’t have classes together, but Zhou Zhetian’s two followers weren’t Personal Disciples and had told him that Ning Jinyu was first in the alchemy class and last in the swordsmanship class. She hadn’t caused any trouble all this time.
Zhou Zhetian looked at her pretty face and blushed slightly. If he looked closely, she was indeed more beautiful than his senior sister. His senior sister was like the unattainable Moon Goddess Fairy in the heavens, while she was like a little fairy who had fallen to the mortal world, possessing a pitiable and endearing naivety.
“Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Junior Sister Ning!”
As Song Qingyan drank his porridge, he watched Ning Jinyu serve them one by one and felt an inexplicable irritation. Did these people not have hands?
What was even more annoying was that Zhou Zhetian, for some unknown reason, took his porridge, found a stool, and sat down next to Ning Jinyu, leaving his two followers to stare blankly from the side.
“Junior Sister! Did you make this porridge? It’s delicious!” Zhou Zhetian’s eyes lit up. He wasn’t exaggerating; the porridge was soft, sticky, and flavorful, not some watery broth. It was warming and sweet.
Ning Jinyu had already finished eating. She put down her bowl, held her rabbit, and shook her head. “I didn’t make it. I asked a senior brother from Elegant Bamboo Peak to make it.”
“Oh, I see. Junior Sister, you even have a rabbit. How cute.”
Seeing him trying to make small talk, Ning Jinyu knew the routine all too well. She said softly, “Thank you, Senior Brother. I have to go back to practice my swordsmanship. Please take your time.”
“Hey, Junior Sister Ning, I heard from Li San and Zhang Si that you’re not doing well in swordsmanship class. I can teach you.”
“Really? Thank you, Senior Brother. I’ll have to trouble you next time we have a chance. Bye, everyone.”
So annoying.
Song Qingyan had also finished eating and was about to leave at a leisurely pace.
Zhou Zhetian suddenly stood up and blocked his path, his spoiled-rich-kid aura returning. “Hey, are you close with Junior Sister Ning? Does she come here every day?”
Song Qingyan tried to walk around him, but the two followers stepped forward to block his way without hesitation. “Senior Brother Zhou is talking to you. What are you pretending for?”
Song Qingyan was extremely displeased. Unable to suppress the frustration and irritation in his heart, he grabbed their hands and twisted.
“Ahhh!” They were broken.
…
Ning Jinyu had thought she would be harassed for a few days, but unexpectedly, nothing happened. She even heard that Zhou Zhetian and his group had been beaten up so badly they couldn’t walk or talk, unable to even identify the culprit. The sect investigated for several days but couldn’t find the person. It was hilarious. Indeed, what goes around comes around. Her anger about him stealing her food before had finally dissipated.
Although she was a person who could bend and adapt, she was also an out-and-out petty person who held grudges. A gentleman has the magnanimity to tolerate others, but she was no gentleman.
There was going to be a sect competition during the winter solstice.
It was said that the top three could be promoted to Personal Disciples.
If she became a Personal Disciple, then Second Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Sister, Zhou Zhetian and his group, and Su Qingyue’s friends later on probably wouldn’t come looking for trouble with her anymore.
She had to work hard.
But her swordsmanship was truly terrible.
During this time, she had also made a few good friends in class.
There was the innocent and gossipy Ming Lu, the calm and outstanding Qi Mu, and the half-baked, fun-loving Zeng Rui Wen.
It was now autumn, only a few months away from the winter solstice.
Life didn’t seem so painful and difficult anymore. Everything was slowly getting better.
…
“No-Talk, I’ve taught you how to cook so many times, you should know how by now, right? From now on, you can cook for yourself. I’m very busy now, so I won’t be coming at this time anymore. This is our last meal. If you want to see me in the future, you can come find me at Sword Seeking Peak.”
Ning Jinyu was still memorizing the sword manual while eating. She had a small appetite and quickly finished, eager to leave.
For the first time, Song Qingyan took the initiative to grab her hand.
It was warm, soft, and her wrist was small and slender.
“Why?”
His voice was slightly hoarse but not deep, possessing a pleasant, youthful quality.
Ning Jinyu had been in a hurry, but now she had the time to look at him closely, pleasantly surprised. “You can talk.”
“Mhm.”
Ning Jinyu picked up the sword manual and shook it, her charming eyes drooping as she sighed. “I have to practice my swordsmanship. You wouldn’t understand. I’m an unprecedented failure at the way of the sword.”
Song Qingyan glanced at the book and released her hand. “Come find me tonight. I’ll teach you.”
Ning Jinyu was amazed. “For real? Are you kidding me? If not, why are you still an Outer Sect Disciple?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“…Alright then. Where do you live?”
“At the end of the bamboo forest.”
That was so far away. This area was quite desolate.
The outer sect disciples really had it rough.
“Alright, I’ll come tonight. If you’re any good, I’ll come in the afternoons to make you even better food.”
“Mhm.”
Watching Ning Jinyu happily skip away with the sword manual in her arms, Song Qingyan leisurely left the Kitchen.