Green Tea? I've Got It Down Pat

Facing Ye Lingling's questioning, Goreya's eyes widened in bafflement. "What did I do?"

He questioned Ye Lingling right back. He wanted to know what this little girl had done, too.

Ye Lingling was the daughter of an imperial noble, her status no lower than Goreya's. Naturally, he spoke to her differently than he did to others.

Besides, they had known each other since childhood and grown up together. They could be considered childhood sweethearts.

Ye Lingling frowned, displeased. "You're asking me?"

Ye Lingling's voice suddenly turned cold.

Though she was usually quiet and not good with words, she was not someone who could be bullied.

Goreya had not expected Ye Lingling to turn against him for the sake of a newly arrived junior. He felt deeply uncomfortable, but he still looked innocent. "I really didn't do anything. She knocked over my food, and I hadn't even gone after her over it before she fell down on her own."

As he spoke, Goreya pointed at the food on the floor, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

"..."

Ye Lingling glanced at Ning Weiyang.

Ning Weiyang pursed her lips. Everything was left unsaid.

Ye Lingling pressed her lips together, then raised her cold gaze toward Goreya.

Goreya shuddered all over.

Ye Lingling had never looked at him like that before.

Just who was this little girl?

Goreya's gaze fell on Ning Weiyang.

"Big Sister, I'm fine..."

Avoiding Goreya's gaze, Ning Weiyang quietly spoke to Ye Lingling.

She had watched plenty of palace-intrigue and household-drama shows before. Playing the green tea girl? She had it down pat!

Ning Weiyang reached out and tugged at Ye Lingling, shaking her head. She did not want Ye Lingling to clash with Goreya.

Ye Lingling fell silent for a moment.

In public, there was indeed no need for her to clash with Goreya.

After all, if things really blew up, she would not come out of it unscathed either.

"Can you still walk?"

Ye Lingling asked Ning Weiyang gently.

Ning Weiyang nodded and answered softly, "I can."

Ye Lingling helped Ning Weiyang up, then went to get their prepared food. She passed Goreya by without even giving him another glance.

Goreya watched Ye Lingling head to a corner and sit down, his eyes darkening.

They had grown up together, yet she would not give him even a shred of face.

Ye Lingling...

And that girl...

Goreya snorted unwillingly, turned around, and left the cafeteria.

He was going to investigate that girl properly!

Only after Goreya left did the cafeteria return to normal. The students went back to eating their own meals as though nothing had happened.

Ye Lingling served Ning Weiyang meat and soup. As Ning Weiyang ate, Ye Lingling asked, "What exactly happened just now?"

Goreya had always been rather lawless, so Ye Lingling would not have found it strange if he had stirred up trouble for no reason. Still, she wanted to know exactly what had happened so she could tell Dugu Yan later.

Ning Weiyang shoveled food into her mouth, her cheeks stuffed full. "He couldn't hold it properly himself, dropped the bowl, then blamed me and made me pay him."

"..."

Though it had been difficult to understand, Ye Lingling still got the gist.

She comforted Ning Weiyang, "You don't need to be afraid of him in the future. If he dares bully you again, we'll go find Sister Yanzi and make him regret it!"

Ning Weiyang nodded repeatedly. "Okay~~~"

Ye Lingling smiled faintly. "Mm."

Seeing how heartily Ning Weiyang ate, Ye Lingling's appetite also grew. Rarely, she ate an extra bowl of rice that day.

The two finished all three dishes. After clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, Ye Lingling took Ning Weiyang to stroll around the training grounds and digest their meal.

The sun was setting behind the western hills.

The dim golden sunlight shone over the vast training grounds as though draping them in a layer of golden gauze.

Groups of students walked and chased one another across the field, playing and laughing.

"Lingling!"