This change of subject really did bring Liu Xizhen's memories flooding back, and she slowly recounted some of her past to Liu Zhiyi.
Liu Xizhen's mother had died of illness while she was still in elementary school, leaving her father to raise her. Liu Xizhen's father had once been the head of a fairly well-known company in Hangzhou. He was also an expert in external martial arts. "Thunderclap Hand" Liu Zhiyi had once been a prominent figure in both the underworld and the legitimate world. Sadly, not long after Liu Xizhen returned to China, he too passed away from illness. Helplessly, the orphaned Liu Xizhen watched as her uncles divided up the family fortune, leaving her only the villa beside West Lake. Through her own hard work, Liu Xizhen had managed to build the modest business she had today. Since Liu Zhiyi had been a loyal and honorable man of the jianghu, people in the underworld still gave him face. Although he had passed away, no one had ever come to cause trouble at his daughter's bar or demand protection money. Otherwise, how could Liu Xizhen possibly have kept the bar running alone? As for what had happened abroad, and Liu Feifei's biological father, Liu Xizhen did not mention them. Zhang Hupan was very curious, but he did not feel it would be appropriate to ask.
Perhaps because she had recalled her deceased father, Liu Xizhen had become especially fragile. Tears slipped unconsciously down her fair, delicate face. Seeing Liu Xizhen, who usually looked like such a strong woman, now appearing so vulnerable, Zhang Hupan felt a pang in his heart and tenderly drew her into his arms.
Leaning against Zhang Hupan's broad, solid shoulder and breathing in the strong masculine scent radiating from him, Liu Xizhen felt exceptionally comfortable and secure, as though she had returned to her father's embrace as a child—so warm, so safe. Liu Xizhen's sorrowful, troubled heart gradually calmed. She stopped thinking about unpleasant matters and simply gazed quietly at the rippling waters of West Lake and the streams of people moving back and forth like ants.
The two of them remained nestled together in silence, neither willing to break the beautiful harmony. Unfortunately, beautiful things rarely went as planned. Several clueless young people came noisily up to the spot, interrupting the unspoken tenderness between them.
"Do you know why I asked you to accompany me today?" Liu Xizhen asked softly.
"I don't know."
"Take a guess!" Liu Xizhen actually spoke coquettishly.
Although Zhang Hupan had not been in the secular world for very long, he had already learned about some of its holidays. Since today was not any particular holiday, it was obvious that it must be Liu Xizhen's special day.
"Oh my God, today is the birthday of our incomparably beautiful Miss Liu Xizhen!" Zhang Hupan cried out exaggeratedly.
Zhang Hupan's exaggerated voice drew the attention of the young people who had just come up. Although Liu Xizhen was no longer a girl, being loudly called a beauty in front of so many people still made her extremely bashful. She angrily stamped her foot and fiercely twisted Zhang Hupan's arm with her jade-like hand. Though Zhang Hupan had protective immortal qi, he naturally did not dare fake his appreciation of a beauty. He resolutely used his mortal flesh to endure the torment of her delicate hand, naturally yelping and grimacing in pain.
Watching Zhang Hupan clutch the arm she had twisted and hop around while shouting, Liu Xizhen giggled happily. She lowered her voice and said fiercely to Zhang Hupan, "Let's see if you dare to speak without thinking again."
Zhang Hupan looked innocent and said aggrievedly, "Is it wrong to say you're beautiful?"
Seeing Zhang Hupan's bitter expression, Liu Xizhen burst out laughing again. That smile was filled with indescribable allure and charm. Zhang Hupan actually forgot his pain as he stared foolishly at Liu Xizhen, then foolishly said, "So beautiful!"
This time, Liu Xizhen did not twist Zhang Hupan. A rosy blush spread across her lovely face as she turned away and ignored him. However, her heart brimmed with sweetness and happiness.
"Oh no! I didn't prepare a gift!" Zhang Hupan cried out in alarm.
Seeing Zhang Hupan looking so regretful and anxious, Liu Xizhen felt another wave of warmth. She could clearly feel that this big boy genuinely wanted to give her a gift, unlike many men who went out of their way to please her merely because of her beauty and body.
"Then you'll have to be punished!"
Women really are unreasonable creatures by nature, Zhang Hupan thought. You never told me today was your birthday. How would I have known? How unreasonable! Of course, he did not say any of that aloud. Instead, he nodded repeatedly with utmost sincerity and said, "Yes, yes, I deserve it. Xizhen, I'll accept any punishment you give me. It's my fault for forgetting your birthday! Even if you want me to perform like a monkey for you today, I'll do it. As long as you're happy!"
"I never would have guessed that you had learned to coat your words in honey like Hu Zhiming and the others. All right, I know this isn't your fault. I never told you today was my birthday!" Liu Xizhen shot Zhang Hupan a coquettishly reproachful look.
Although Zhang Hupan wholeheartedly agreed with Liu Xizhen, he did not dare be careless with his words. He hurriedly said, "It's still my fault for not paying attention to your birthday, Xizhen."
Seeing Zhang Hupan looking so frightened and uneasy, Liu Xizhen burst out laughing again. Pretending to be annoyed, she said, "All right, stop copying Hu Zhiming and the others. That doesn't work on me. I won't punish you today. Instead, I'll reward you by having you accompany me shopping and eating!"
Although Zhang Hupan did not agree with all women believing that accompanying a beauty shopping and eating counted as a reward, he still put on an expression of immense gratitude and delighted surprise.
It soon reached ten o'clock. Although there was a slight chill in the air, climbing the mountain had left Liu Xizhen, who rarely exercised, drenched in sweat. Few women were without some degree of cleanliness obsession, and Liu Xizhen was no exception. Once she felt they had exercised enough, she took Zhang Hupan's hand and prepared to return home for a shower before going out to eat and shop.
Zhang Sanfeng also had another nickname, the Wine-Crazed Daoist, which showed just how much he loved alcohol. Although he later achieved great accomplishments in the Dao, he never gave up that hobby. Anyone who loved fine wine naturally loved fine food as well, and Zhang Sanfeng was no exception. As Zhang Sanfeng's disciple, Zhang Hupan had naturally taken on the side job of chef without complaint. He did not dare claim that his culinary skills transcended mortality and reached sainthood, but at the very least, he would not lose to an imperial chef. That was Zhang Sanfeng's personal assessment, and he had eaten no small number of royal dishes, which showed just how exceptional Zhang Hupan's cooking was.
Today was Liu Xizhen's birthday, and Zhang Hupan suddenly felt like cooking a meal for her. If he had known that this momentary impulse would lead to his becoming the Liu family's personal chef in the future, he definitely would not have said what came next. After all, cooking meals for over a century was one thing—occasionally trying his hand at another meal or two was no big deal—but taking up the profession again would be rather frightening.
"If Xizhen doesn't mind my poor cooking, how about I prepare a feast for you at noon today?" Zhang Hupan was very confident in his culinary skills, but he still spoke with great modesty.
"What? You can cook?" Liu Xizhen circled around Zhang Hupan and looked him over exaggeratedly, as though he were an alien.
"Is it really that strange that I can cook? If you don't want it, then forget it!" As the disciple praised by his master as the best cook among all the disciples, Zhang Hupan felt his self-esteem hurt by Liu Xizhen's disbelief and spoke in embarrassed anger.
"Hehe, I believe you. Let's go buy ingredients right now. My kitchen hasn't been used in ages. This is wonderful—we can actually eat at home today! Come on, hurry up! We're going to the supermarket for a big shopping trip!" Liu Xizhen's excitement turned her pretty face red. She had been complaining that she could barely walk just moments ago, but now she was striding along briskly.
Watching Liu Xizhen hurry ahead like a happy little girl, waving constantly for Zhang Hupan to catch up, Zhang Hupan shook his head and sighed inwardly. Women really are impossible to understand. It's only one meal. Is all this really necessary?
Before Zhang Hupan could figure it out, Liu Xizhen, who had grown extremely impatient waiting, quickly turned back, grabbed his hand, and flew down the mountain with him. (To be continued)
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