Dinner Together

"Miss Le Ling, this way, please."

Steward Yao hurried ahead to lead the way.

Le Ling glared at him.

If the steward had not helped her before, she truly would have wanted to beat someone up just now!

Before long, she followed the steward into the dining hall.

The moment Qian Daoliu saw her enter, he stood and walked to the seat beside him, pulling out the chair for her.

Le Ling walked over expressionlessly and sat down.

Qian Daoliu glanced at her, then smiled and returned to his own seat.

At that moment, Steward Yao directed the servants to bring out the dishes.

Once all the dishes had been served, everyone swiftly left the dining hall, leaving the two alone.

Le Ling looked over the food. It really was all her favorite dishes, and she happened to be hungry as well.

Since she was already here, there was no need to be fussy. She silently picked up her chopsticks and began eating.

Seeing that she was willing to eat, Qian Daoliu's lips curved faintly upward. He picked up his chopsticks as well, occasionally placing food into her bowl.

Le Ling did not refuse the food he gave her, but she did not speak or look at him either, merely eating in silence.

Only after she was nearly full did Qian Daoliu speak. "It was my fault for pretending to be drunk to deceive you that night. I promise I won't do it again. Can you stop being angry?"

Le Ling said nothing and continued to ignore him.

Qian Daoliu took his own bowl and served her some soup. Once it was filled, he placed it in front of her.

"Who wants to drink from a bowl you've used?"

Le Ling lifted her eyes slightly to look at the bowl of soup before her, then shot him a disdainful sideways glance.

"Didn't we share things often when we were together before?"

The man looked at her with a soft chuckle.

Le Ling glared at him and pushed the bowl away, then picked up her own bowl to serve herself soup.

Qian Daoliu took the bowl from her hand. As he filled it with soup again, he said, "About your neck—I lost control of myself in the moment. How about you bite me back?"

"It stinks. Who wants to bite you!"

Le Ling looked at him with disgust again.

The man placed the bowl of soup before her once more, then leaned closer, his tone teasing. "Then I'll wash up first and let you bite me?"

"Get lost!"

At his words, Le Ling's cheeks instantly reddened as she pushed him away.

What an indecent, stinking man!

Qian Daoliu smiled and returned to his seat.

He knew that if she was willing to respond to him, then the matter of him pretending to be drunk that night had basically passed.

After dinner.

Le Ling rose, preparing to leave.

Qian Daoliu quickly stepped forward and hugged her from behind. "Don't go. Stay at the Worship Hall, all right?"

Le Ling braced her arms against him and said displeasedly, "Are you trying the same trick again?! You didn't drink a single drop just now. Let's see how you pretend this time!"

"I'm not pretending this time."

As he spoke, Qian Daoliu buried his head in the hollow behind her neck and murmured, "I just want you to stay here."

"Dream on!"

"Let go!!"

As she spoke, Le Ling tried to shrink away, wanting to avoid his breath against her neck.

The man held the back of her head with his large hand, refusing to let her dodge. He bit her earlobe and said, "Then promise to come here every night so we can have dinner together. Otherwise, I won't let go."

"Qian Daoliu!"

"I'm getting angry!!"

Startled by him biting her ear, she immediately shoved him away with force.

Things had only just begun to ease between them, and Qian Daoliu did not dare anger her too much, so he released her accordingly.

Le Ling turned back and glared at him.

Looking at her, Qian Daoliu asked again, "Then shall we have dinner together from now on?"

Le Ling gave a cold laugh. "Your steward just threatened to arrest every cook and stop me from eating. Do I even have a choice!"

With that, she turned and left the dining hall, heading toward the front courtyard of the Papal Palace.

The man flashed after her.

"I'll punish him later!"

"You master and servant are of one mind. I don't believe you at all!!"

Qian Daoliu suddenly grabbed her hand.

Le Ling was forced to stop. Expressionlessly, she looked at his large hand holding hers.

"I'm telling the truth."

The man explained, "Steward Yao said that on his own initiative. I never instructed him to."

Le Ling drew a deep breath. "Forget it. You don't need to punish him either. As long as you revoke the order banning carriages from passing through, I'll agree to have dinner together at the Worship Hall from now on."

"Fine."

Hearing that she was willing, Qian Daoliu immediately agreed with a smile.

Le Ling continued walking. Knowing that he certainly would not be willing to let go, she could only allow him to keep holding her hand as they walked.

The two strolled hand in hand beneath the moonlight.

Qian Daoliu deliberately walked a little slower so that he could spend more time alone with her.

But the road from the Worship Hall to the Papal Palace was only so long. No matter how slowly they walked, they soon reached the end.

Qian Daoliu escorted her to her door.

Yet he was unwilling to release her hand and let her go inside, his large hand still clasping hers.

"Ling'er, can't you really move to the Worship Hall? You can stay in the room next to mine."

"No!"

Le Ling turned her face away.

Seeing her reaction, Qian Daoliu knew that she still could not get past the hurdle in her heart.

He placed her hand against his firm chest and asked softly, "Aside from cultivating at the academy at noon, you were avoiding me too, weren't you?"

"I wasn't avoiding you. I just... just didn't want to see you."

"Ling'er, I..."

"You're not allowed to come in! I haven't forgiven you!!"

Before he could finish, Le Ling directly cut him off. At the same time, she shoved him away with all her strength, took the chance to pull free from his hand, turned to open the door, and entered her room.

She then quickly shut the door, refusing him entry.

Looking at the tightly closed door, Qian Daoliu smiled bitterly to himself.

He knew it was impossible for her to forgive him overnight.

Still, the fact that she had been willing to have dinner with him today and let him escort her back to her room was already very good!

He could not rush her. He could only take things slowly!

Qian Daoliu turned and left.

But he did not return to the Worship Hall. Instead, he circled around to the other side of the building.

Just as he had last night, he flew into a tree to admire the moon for a while. Once the person in the bedroom had fallen asleep, he would climb through the window to treat his Ling'er's Nightmare Affliction.

The next day.

Le Ling got up early and still felt especially energetic!

Could soaking in the bath really be useful?

If so, then she would soak for half an hour every night before going to sleep.

When she felt energetic, her mood improved as well.

She quickly washed and dressed. After breakfast with Hu Liena, they headed toward the side gate of the Papal Palace.

Outside the side gate.

When the carriage guard saw her arrive, he immediately smiled and cupped his hands. "Miss Le Ling, I received notice that all roads previously closed to carriages have been reopened. Shall we still take the route passing by the Worship Hall?"

There had been no need to ask this originally. Naturally, they should take the road closest to the Papal Palace.

But after what had happened yesterday evening, the carriage guard realized that Miss Le Ling seemed to have some sort of relationship with their Great Offering.

So he felt it would be better to ask!

Upon hearing that the roads had been reopened, Hu Liena immediately teased, "Oh~ Little Le Sister, you got the Great Offering to obediently listen to you after just one meal. Amazing!"

Le Ling shot her a sidelong glance. "Want to try it? With one word, I can have you locked up for a day!"

"Little Le Sister, I was wrong!"

Hu Liena immediately looked at her ingratiatingly.

Xie Yue and Yan, standing behind the two women, laughed.

Le Ling gave a huffing laugh.

She then said to the carriage guard, "From now on, take the road closest to the Papal Palace in the morning. When we return in the evening, take the route passing by the Worship Hall."

With that, she added to Hu Liena, "Oh, right. You can eat dinner by yourself from now on."

The moment Hu Liena heard that, she looked at Le Ling with a meaningful smile.

Thank you to everyone who voted yesterday.

Today is the last day of the second round of PK. The results will come out tomorrow, so everyone, please bless me and let me advance smoothly to the third round. Give me strength!

It may be a little childish, but I still wanted to shout it out like this.

Haha~ (￣▽￣~)~