Chapter 112: There Are No Couples in “Couple’s Sliced Beef”

Yin Buqi casually threw out this remark, causing Zhao Anming across from him to stiffen. He lowered his gaze to his teacup and said nothing more.

Silence fell between the two.

When Jiang Niannian returned to the private room, she saw the two sitting in silence and asked, “Finished talking?”

“Nian Nian,” Yin Buqi looked up at her, his expression innocent and well-behaved.

Zhao Anming gazed at her and, after a long pause, asked, “Nian Nian, does he treat you well?”

Without hesitation, Jiang Niannian took Yin Buqi’s hand and said, “No one treats me better than he does… And, after we return this time, we’re going to get married.”

Hearing this, the light in Yin Buqi’s eyes grew brighter, and he gently squeezed her soft hand.

Zhao Anming’s pupils contracted, and he stood frozen in place.

Suddenly, he let out a laugh: “…That’s good.”

He stared intently at Jiang Niannian and asked, “Nian Nian, can I hug you? Just once, just for a moment.”

At this moment, the mature facade peeled away, revealing the somewhat rebellious boy from sixteen years ago.

Jiang Niannian didn’t speak, so Yin Buqi answered for her: “In your dreams.”

Zhao Anming’s eyes turned red. He took a deep breath, his lips moving, but his throat choked with emotion.

Finally, he repeated, “Nian Nian, can I hug you?”

Jiang Niannian looked at him and, for some reason, suddenly thought of Yin Buqi as a child.

That expression had also been so helpless and despairing.

Even carrying a hint of death.

It was just a comforting hug between friends. If she refused even this, she would be too cruel.

Jiang Niannian broke free from Yin Buqi’s hand and stepped forward to hug Zhao Anming.

“Nian Nian, you’re so kind,” Zhao Anming’s eyelashes trembled slightly, half-covering his moist eyes, but his tone was lighthearted as he said, “When I die, I’ll give you all my family’s wealth.”

Jiang Niannian was amused by his words: “What would I do with your family’s wealth? I don’t need it.”

Before Zhao Anming could say anything more, Yin Buqi, suppressing his anger and jealousy, spoke in a low voice: “It’s time to go.”

With that, he bent down and scooped Jiang Niannian into his arms. As they left, he draped the black cloak over her.

Seeing this, Jiang Ziyou, Coalball, and the others didn’t linger and followed them out.

On the long street, the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.

Buzhou City was magnificent and grand, its size and completeness of facilities awe-inspiring.

The Flower Deity Festival had already begun, with horse-drawn flower carts slowly passing by.

Falling flowers danced in the air alongside people, while green birds and cranes flew together.

The person playing the role of the Flower Deity had flowing sleeves and a slender figure; their long green dress trailed like verdant mountains, a post-rain sky, or a deep, tranquil pool.

Amidst the flurry of falling flowers, they looked like a peerless immortal stepping out of a painting.

The dance was both majestic and enchanting.

The crowd was large, and Jiang Niannian, wearing a bamboo hat, couldn’t see clearly. She quietly released a small vine that extended to the giant flower cart, allowing her to see everything in detail.

Yin Buqi held her in his arms, noticing how intently she was watching.

His expression grew darker, a thin layer of frost silently covering his eyes as he coldly stared at her. He leaned close to her ear and asked, “Nian Nian, is that person good-looking?”

Jiang Niannian snapped out of her trance and, seeing Yin Buqi’s expression, quickly replied, “No, not as good-looking as you. Our Buqi is the most handsome man in the world.”

Yin Buqi lifted a corner of her veil and bit her lip. He spoke slowly, each word clear and deliberate: “Then why is Nian Nian so focused on watching another man?”

Jiang Niannian’s heart trembled: “The person playing the Flower Deity is a man?!”

“Yes, he used a voice-changing technique and a beauty-enhancing spell.”

Jiang Niannian pursed her lips. Was there already a cross-dressing trend in this era?

How impressive!

She turned to look at Yin Buqi again. His eyes held a hint of amusement, as if asking, “Is it interesting?”

But Jiang Niannian saw another layer of meaning in that smile:

—I’m indulging Nian Nian now, but when we get to **, I won’t be so lenient.

“It’s not interesting at all,” Jiang Niannian answered decisively.

Coalball seemed intrigued by the scene, his eyes darting everywhere.

“Back when my master was still around, he took me to see the Flower Deity Festival once,” Jiang Ziyou glanced around and sighed, “I miss my master…”

Back then, he had loved the Flower Deity Festival, but now he realized it was just the feeling of having his master by his side that he cherished.

As he sighed and listlessly glanced around, he suddenly froze, sitting up straight like a cat with wide eyes, staring at a particular spot.

In the crowd was a person wearing a cloak, their face obscured. They wore a snow-white robe, and their slender, delicate hands peeked out from the wide sleeves, their fingers long and tapered.

Jiang Ziyou stared at the person and murmured, “Master…”

Suddenly, he pushed through the crowd and sprinted toward the figure, shouting “Master” as he ran.

Yin Buqi and Jiang Niannian also noticed this and followed in pursuit.

Jiang Ziyou saw the person turn into an alley, but when he caught up, the alley was empty.

Yin Buqi asked, “What’s going on?”

Jiang Ziyou looked at the empty alley, somewhat dazed, “I thought I saw my master…”

Jiang Niannian was puzzled, “Wen Shili? But isn’t he already…”

“It’s the Puppetry Technique,” Yin Buqi said, “The fish has taken the bait.”

As night fell, the group found an inn to stay at.

The innkeeper was sharp-eyed and, seeing that the group’s demeanor and attire were anything but ordinary, immediately gave them the most comfortable and best rooms.

Every time the Linglang Pavilion held an auction, countless people would come to Buzhou City to stay, so the city’s cuisine was diverse, encompassing various regional dishes to suit the tastes of its guests.

The group booked a private dining room, so they no longer needed to hide their identities under cloaks.

Soon, the waiter brought all the dishes they had ordered, and each person had a cup of high-quality immortal tea by their side.

Coalball was an honest child. He picked up a slice of pork belly, put it in his mouth, and then looked at the bowl, asking, “I saw on the menu that this dish is called ‘Couple’s Sliced Beef.’ Where’s the couple?”

“Pfft!” Jiang Ziyou couldn’t help but spit out the rice in his mouth.

Jiang Niannian: “…” Don’t get angry, it’s just a beast. Be kind to the intellectually challenged.

She explained, “Couple’s Sliced Beef is just the name of the dish! There are no couples in it, but besides beef, there are also beef tendons, tripe, and so on. It’s like how Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork doesn’t have any fish in it.”

Coalball seemed to understand and asked, “I get it. It’s like how Lion’s Head Meatballs don’t have any lions, right?”

“Right.”

“And Mapo Tofu doesn’t have any Mapo, right?”

“…Right.”

“And Buddha Jumps Over the Wall doesn’t have any Buddha, right?”

Yin Buqi shot him a cold glare and said sharply, “Can’t eating shut your mouth?”

“…Oh.”

Coalball didn’t dare ask any more questions and buried his head in his food, eating obediently.