Chapter 33.1
In the inn’s main hall, both tables were filled with people waiting for Lu Yao and Yu Le.
“Why haven’t they come back yet?”
Cheng Xiwu circled back to his seat for the third time, asking casually but drumming his fingers impatiently on the table.
“They’re the main characters,” Wen Yuan explained seriously. “There are many more procedures to follow. It’s not like us just sneaking a peek and coming back.”
With a simple expression, Wen Yuan then asked Cheng Xiwu, “Why are you so anxious? Is something wrong while you’re waiting for them?”
“No,” Cheng Xiwu denied. “I’m just worried that something might have happened to them on the way.”
Wen Yuan laughed. “Something might happen? Haha, don’t be ridiculous. This entire mountain is Lu Yao’s territory. Which part hasn’t he been to? Which part is he unfamiliar with?”
Wang Wenyan was folding red plastic paper from firecracker packaging into hearts, and Su Hui’s gaze was drawn to it. Wang Wenyan noticed, leisurely finished folding, and handed the heart to Su Hui.
Su Hui, surprised, said, “Is this for me?”
Wang Wenyan, supporting her chin with her hand and lazily nodding, replied, “Uh-huh.”
“Thank you.” Su Hui received it, unable to put it down.
Wang Wenyan saw this and suddenly laughed softly, “Fortunately, I’m not a man.”
Su Hui asked, “Huh?”
Wang Wenyan said, “Sister, you’re so easy to deceive. If I were a man, I might have tricked you too.”
Her words had a hidden meaning that Su Hui didn’t understand. Just as she was about to ask more, Wen Yuan suddenly pointed to the doorway, “Look, they’re back!”
Everyone turned their heads to the door, where the long-awaited main characters finally appeared, heading back to the inn.
Yu Le was wearing Lu Yao’s shoes—grass-woven slippers. The soles were soft, so they didn’t feel rough or scratchy, but the size was too big, making his heels nearly at a ninety-degree angle with each step.
Lu Yao followed barefoot, holding a Mountain God mask with a red veil.
There seemed to be something odd about the two.
Lu Yao’s short hair didn’t show much, but Yu Le’s longer hair was noticeably messy. He was hugging a crumpled red garment, looking younger than his actual age.
They walked side by side, not very close or doing any affectionate gestures, but somehow appeared unusually intimate.
Cheng Xiwu couldn’t help but frown.
“What are you all sitting here for?” Yu Le stepped through the threshold and saw everyone behind the screen.
“Waiting for you,” Wen Yuan said, resting his face on the back of the chair and joking with Lu Yao, “Lu Yao, how old are you to still walk barefoot on mountain roads?”
Lu Yao didn’t say anything, but Yu Le kicked his foot and said, “No, his shoes are with me.”
His expression seemed to imply: What are you talking about? Our boss Lu is mature from head to toe, not childish at all.
As they got closer, Cheng Xiwu finally noticed what was wrong, “Yu Le, why are your hair and pants wet?”
Yu Le, in a good mood, replied, “We took a shortcut and swam in the pool.”
Cheng Xiwu asked, “You didn’t follow the procedures in the main hall?”
Yu Le said, “There’s no procedure in the main hall, just a ritual and burning some mugwort, then it was over.”
“…”
A ritual?
Cheng Xiwu’s mouth twitched, and his frown deepened.
Wen Yuan’s eyes widened, “Wow, so you went swimming without telling us? We waited here so long, and you were happily playing in the water on the mountain!”
Yu Le smiled and casually patted Wen Yuan’s head, “Next time, for sure. And the water in the mountains is really refreshing.”
“Go take a shower and change your clothes first.” Lu Yao pinched the back of Yu Le’s neck, reminding him, “Isn’t it uncomfortable to wear wet clothes?”
Yu Le’s ears flushed again, and he mumbled, “Oh,” as he turned and walked toward the backyard.
Lu Yao’s comment, “After all, it’s our first time performing the wedding ceremony,” had such a strong impact that even now, Yu Le still felt a bubbling sensation in his stomach.
Lu Yao continued to follow him, glancing sideways. He saw Cheng Xiwu silently observing him with a complex expression.
Lu Yao showed no extra emotion. After a brief glance, he nonchalantly looked away and left the hall with Yu Le.
“Still watching?” Zhou Fei finally spoke up, daring to make a remark with a sideways glance at Guan Zheng, in a volume only they could hear, “They’re all gone.”
Guan Zheng asked, “What does it have to do with you?”
Zhou Fei said, “It doesn’t really matter. I was just mentioning that someone’s been staring at the Mountain God bride since morning, practically willing their eyes to fall out. I just found it curious.”
Guan Zheng’s face darkened. “What are you really trying to say?”
Zhou Fei said, “Don’t you get it? Or do I need to spell it out? Heh, it’s obvious something’s off. Every time the topic is about Yu Le, you—”
Guan Zheng’s face turned dark as he stood up abruptly. “I warn you not to spread rumors, or I’ll make sure you regret it!”
He said this and strode out of the hall.
Zhou Fei rolled his eyes and sneered, “All talk, no action. Coward.”
Zhao Xiaosong’s ice powder stall was set up at the entrance of Lu Yao’s inn. At six yuan per bowl, it was clean and generously portioned, and business was booming. He could even help Grandpa Lu sell some bamboo locusts.
Because of the advantageous location, he noticed that one of his regular customers brought his girlfriend to the boss’s place every day.
The frequency was excessive.
“Is that person a friend of Yu Le’s?”
One morning, while handing a bowl of freshly made ice powder to Lu Yao, he curiously asked, “Otherwise, why does he come looking for Yu Le every day?”
“Sort of,” Lu Yao answered vaguely.
Zhao Xiaosong responded with an “Oh” and then asked, “If I said I don’t like him, would I offend Yu Le?”
Lu Yao looked up. “Why?”
“Do you know the sixth sense of an underage person?” Zhao Xiaosong said confidently, “Besides, I noticed he’s a bit too much. Yesterday, when his girlfriend came, she almost tripped over the threshold, and he didn’t even help. He just asked, ‘Are you okay?’ If it were Ms. Zhang, she’d have been fussed over for three days and nights.”
Seeing Lu Yao’s indifferent expression, Zhao Xiaosong pouted, “Really? Boss, you’re friends with him too? Your taste is terrible.”
Lu Yao replied, “Are you saying that Yu Le’s taste is bad?”
Zhao Xiaosong said, “I didn’t say that. Yu Le’s just well-liked. He’s charming wherever he goes!”
“Good at sweet-talking, I see.” Lu Yao casually picked up a peppermint candy from the counter and tossed it over. “Not a friend. I don’t like him either.”
Zhao Xiaosong was pleased. He unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth, giving Lu Yao a thumbs up. “As expected of our Daiwa Gang, great minds think alike!”
As soon as he turned around, the subject of their conversation appeared at the inn’s entrance.
Zhao Xiaosong turned back and, where Cheng Xiwu and Su Hui couldn’t see, made a vomiting gesture at Lu Yao.
Lu Yao raised an eyebrow and lifted the ice powder to his face.
“Good morning, Boss Lu,” Su Hui said politely. “Sorry for bothering you again.”
“It’s okay.”
Lu Yao smiled nonchalantly. After responding to Su Hui, he sat down and got busy with work, completely ignoring Cheng Xiwu who was also there.
The latter didn’t say much, merely nodding and then heading to the backyard with Su Hui.
After they left, Lu Yao called Wen Yuan.
Lu Yao: “When are you planning to clean up the public kitchen in your inn?”
Wen Yuan: “I don’t provide meals here. Why should I clean it up? Is Mr. Cheng coming over to your place for a meal again?”
Lu Yao: “What do you think?”
Wen Yuan chuckled: “Why the annoyance? Did they eat for free without paying?”
Lu Yao: “They did pay.”
Wen Yuan: “Then it’s settled. If you don’t want to monopolize the money-making part, don’t forget you’re still a capitalist tyrant, okay?”
Lu Yao responded lightly: “Do I lack that little bit?”
Wen Yuan: “Is that so?”
Lu Yao: “It’s simply annoying.”
It wasn’t likely to cause any waves; it was just irksome.
In the backyard kitchen.
“Hey, young man, young lady.” Aunt Zhang, who saw them every day, was familiar with them, “What would you like to eat today?”
Cheng Xiwu: “Noodles, please. Thank you.”
Su Hui noticed Yu Le eating shumai, each piece steamed to a glistening perfection, which made her appetite increase, “Then I’ll have shumai like Yu Le.”
