The Classic Stewed Beef Incident

After changing into their casual clothes, the four figures stepped out of Eastsea Academy with light, brisk strides.

The snack shop Xie Xie had been raving about was not particularly close, taking a full half-hour of walking to reach.

The three followed Xie Xie to a braised beef pot shop. The storefront was small, with a few wooden tables arranged simply and black clay pots bubbling away on the stoves.

Gu Yuena subconsciously leaned half a step closer to Linchen, her nose twitching slightly; clearly, the enticing aroma had piqued her interest.

Tang Wulin's eyes were already shining, fixed intently on the pots simmering on the stove.

As the four took their seats, a kind-faced middle-aged man walked over. It was clearly the owner, and upon seeing Xie Xie, he smiled familiarly. "Xie Xie, you brought three friends today? The usual?"

"Yes, thank you, Uncle Li," Xie Xie replied with a smile.

Soon, four pots of braised beef were served, along with two side dishes.

"Xie Xie, this is your first time bringing friends over. These two side dishes are on the house." Uncle Li reached out and patted Xie Xie on the head.

This scene left Tang Wulin stunned, his entire expression blank with bewilderment.

He knew well that Xie Xie was a germaphobe, yet facing Uncle Li's intimate gesture, he showed no resistance at all, instead wearing a bright smile.

A flicker of faint curiosity crossed Gu Yuena's eyes before she turned her head to look at Linchen beside her, seemingly surprised that Xie Xie had such a side to him.

Xie Xie coughed lightly and waved his hand, urging them, "What are you all staring for? Hurry up and try it, this braised beef is delicious."

Tang Wulin, unable to restrain himself any longer, immediately picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of beef, and popped it into his mouth.

The tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat dissolved on his tongue, and the rich, savory broth exploded across his palate. His eyes lit up instantly as he mumbled in praise, "Soooo good!"

He began to eat voraciously, his chopsticks darting into the pot repeatedly, looking completely captivated.

Seeing this, Xie Xie lifted his chin triumphantly, looking at Linchen and Gu Yuena across from him with a "told you so" expression. "How is it? You two should hurry up and try it too."

Gu Yuena picked up a small spoon and gently scooped up a small piece of beef to taste. The delicious flavor softened her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled upward involuntarily.

Linchen also picked up his chopsticks, thinking, Is it really that good? He took a piece and tasted it; it was indeed as the others had described.

He turned to Gu Yuena and said softly, "Na'er, I'm going out to buy some drinks. You guys take your time."

With those words, he stood up and walked out of the small shop.

Once Linchen's figure had completely disappeared around the corner of the alley, Xie Xie immediately put down his chopsticks. His face was full of gossip as he lowered his voice and asked Gu Yuena, "Gu Yuena, do you like Linchen?"

At these words, the hand Gu Yuena held her spoon with froze. A crimson flush stained her fair cheeks, and she feigned composure, knitting her brows as she snapped, "Xie Xie, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you want me to tell Teacher Wu to give you extra training?"

The panicked, darting eyes and her involuntarily racing heart had already betrayed her true feelings.

Tang Wulin, who had been burying his face in his food, looked up and blinked in confusion, clearly just as curious.

Before Gu Yuena could speak, Xie Xie, playing the part of a helpful friend, continued to goad her: "Don't be stubborn. Wulin and I can help you pursue Linchen. I guarantee it'll be foolproof."

The blush on Gu Yuena's cheeks deepened. Just as she was about to retort, footsteps sounded at the entrance.

Linchen had just returned to the shop carrying milk tea. Sensing the atmosphere at the table was off, he noticed Xie Xie and Tang Wulin both avoiding his gaze.

He walked to the table and handed one of the cups to Gu Yuena—it was her favorite flavor. "Here, your favorite."

Holding the cold milk tea, Gu Yuena, still embarrassed by Xie Xie's prying, could only lower her head and take small sips.

Linchen's gaze fell on Gu Yuena, and he immediately noticed her ears glowing with an alluring crimson hue. "Na'er, what's wrong?"

Gu Yuena's body stiffened. Her fingers tightened around the milk tea, her eyes drifting as she dared not meet his gaze, and she stammered a panicked explanation: "It's... it's hot."

No sooner had she spoken than she turned her gaze to Xie Xie across from her and said slowly, "When I just walked in, I thought I heard someone talking about something being 'foolproof.' What were you guys chatting about?"

Xie Xie's heart skipped a beat. He dodged her gaze, shoveling beef into his mouth while mumbling, "Nothing, you must have misheard."

Tang Wulin, beside him, lowered his head even further, burying himself in his braised beef and pretending he hadn't heard a thing, attempting to make himself completely invisible.

Seeing they wouldn't talk, Linchen didn't press the matter, deciding to ask Gu Yuena privately later about what they had been discussing.

After Tang Wulin finished his tenth serving, they finally paid the bill and left the beef shop.

Uncle Li watched the four of them leave and sighed, "Kids these days can really eat."

Tang Wulin displayed his prowess as a glutton to the fullest, eating his way from one end of the street to the other.

Xie Xie reached out to lean on Tang Wulin's shoulder. "I'm so full, I can barely walk."

Linchen, by contrast, hadn't eaten much; his appetite simply couldn't compare to the Golden Dragon King.

Gu Yuena was a bit different. Since her martial soul had awakened, her massive appetite seemed to have diminished significantly. She leaned slightly to the side, resting naturally against Linchen's shoulder, her soft voice tinged with laziness: "I'm so full, Linchen."

As her warm breath brushed against his shoulder, Yun Linchen tilted his head slightly to look at the girl's slightly puffed-out cheeks. Subconsciously, he raised his hand to gently stroke her back, helping her soothe the discomfort of overeating.

Xie Xie caught a glimpse of this and wanted to tease them, but remembering how his gossip had almost been exposed earlier, he swallowed the words and rolled his eyes in resignation.

Linchen's gaze sharpened as he looked toward the street not far ahead, and he said softly, "It looks like something is happening up ahead."

Hearing this, Gu Yuena and the others followed his line of sight.

A commotion was unfolding ahead, surrounded by many passersby. The location appeared to be the very same braised beef shop they had just eaten at.

"Let's go take a look," Linchen said in a low voice, already walking toward the scene.

The group hurried through the crowded onlookers. Once they got close, a cry of despair reached their ears—it was Uncle Li from the beef shop.

"You can't do this! This is how I make my living!"

Xie Xie immediately stepped forward, pushing through the gathered crowd. The sight before them made their anger flare instantly.

The stove that had been steaming just a short while ago was overturned. The black clay pots were shattered everywhere, and boiling broth and charcoal were scattered across the ground in a chaotic mess.

Uncle Li lay on the ground in a sorry state, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, one eye swollen shut, his face etched with grief and rage.

Linchen's brows furrowed tightly. His aura sank instantly, and he took a steady step forward, his voice calm yet laced with bone-chilling coldness: "Stop."