Xiao Xiao Could Play More Than Just the Nine Phoenix Court Flute...

Jiang Ziming picked up a piece of braised pork, chewed it slowly, then set down his chopsticks. Seeing her listless expression, he smiled.

"Once we're done eating, want me to take you out for a walk?"

Xiao Xiao's eyes immediately lit up.

"Really?"

"Mm. There's a market nearby. It's pretty lively—we can go take a look."

Xiao Xiao immediately sat up straight, picked up her bowl, and hurriedly shoveled down a few bites of rice. Then she set the bowl down, wiped her mouth, and impatiently grabbed Jiang Ziming's sleeve.

"Let's go, let's go! I'm full!"

Jiang Ziming glanced at the bowl that was still more than half full, shaking his head helplessly. Still, he did not call her out on it, rising to leave with her.

After greeting Jiang Yi and Xiao Zhentian, the two slipped out of Jiang Residence one after the other.

The market was not far from Jiang Residence, only about fifteen minutes away on foot.

It was an old commercial street with a long history. The bluestone pavement had been polished smooth and bright by time, while shops stood shoulder to shoulder on both sides, their banners fluttering in the breeze.

The moment Xiao Xiao entered the market, she came alive.

Although Shrek City was prosperous, the students there were all fiercely competitive. She could only occasionally drag Wang Donger and Jiang Ziming out shopping.

She tugged Jiang Ziming through the various stalls, looking at jewelry one moment before being drawn to a stall selling sugar paintings the next. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, like a little bird freshly released from its cage, interested in everything.

"Ziming, look! Doesn't this dough figurine look a little like you?"

"How does it look like me?"

"Here! The eyebrows! And the nose! It really does!"

Jiang Ziming was speechless. If dough figurines could capture even a fraction of his handsomeness, that vendor would have achieved financial freedom long ago.

After wandering around for a while, the two stopped at a snack stall.

The owners were an elderly couple selling little pastries made from glutinous rice flour. Once steamed, they were coated in sesame seeds and powdered sugar. One bite was soft, sticky, fragrant, and sweet, steaming hot.

Xiao Xiao had not eaten nearly enough lunch to begin with. She immediately tried one, and her eyes lit up. She promptly bought two more, stuffing one into Jiang Ziming's hand while holding the other to eat herself.

"Street stalls like this are still the tastiest!"

With her cheeks puffed out, she praised them through a muffled mouthful.

Further ahead, an old artisan had set up a small stall by the roadside, displaying all kinds of handicrafts.

There were woven bamboo baskets, little carved wooden animals, and several exquisitely crafted flutes and pipes.

Jiang Ziming stopped, his gaze settling on a small jade flute among them.

The flute was a lustrous white all over, about a foot long. A few sparse plum blossoms were carved into its body, their lines simple and elegant.

The jade was not of the finest quality, but the carving was meticulous. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, carrying a faint coolness.

"Boss, how much for this flute?"

The old artisan looked up, glanced at the jade flute in his hand, and named a fairly modest price.

Jiang Ziming did not haggle. He paid directly, then handed the jade flute to Xiao Xiao beside him.

"Xiao Xiao, this is for you."

Xiao Xiao froze for a moment. She accepted the jade flute, looked down at it, then looked back up at him. A flicker of surprise and delight passed through her emerald-green eyes.

"Why are you suddenly giving me something?"

"I just thought it suited you," Jiang Ziming said casually. "Don't you know how to play the flute? It goes well with your Nine Phoenix Court Flute."

Xiao Xiao held the warm jade flute, her fingertips gently tracing the carved plum blossoms. An indescribable warmth rose in her heart.

After all this time, their relationship seemed to have truly become far, far more than just "friends."

The girl lowered her head and softly said, "Thank you," then carefully put the jade flute away.

The two continued strolling through the market for a while, buying a few miscellaneous little trinkets.

Xiao Xiao held up a skewer of candied hawthorn and bit into one. The sourness made her squint, but the sweetness of the sugar coating soon smoothed her brow again.

"By the way, Ziming, have you ever been to a private cinema?"

She glanced at the private theater up ahead and suddenly asked.

The technological development of the Douluo Plane gave people a rather strange feeling.

Still, if fixed-installation soul-guided cannons could exist, then something as relatively modern as movies was hardly surprising.

Jiang Ziming thought about it. During his year in Shrek, he truly had not gone to a cinema.

He had watched quite a few films in his previous life, but in this world, movies seemed to be something from his childhood.

"No. Why?"

"Look, there's a cinema over there. The environment seems pretty nice."

Biting into her candied hawthorn, Xiao Xiao spoke as if she did not particularly care.

"Anyway, there's nothing to do this afternoon, so how about... we go take a look?"

Seeing how deliberately casual she was trying to appear, Jiang Ziming could not help smiling. He nodded.

"Sure. Let's go."

The private cinema's storefront was not large, but it was decorated quite elegantly.

Inside was a spacious lobby, with several posters for recently released films on the walls. Behind the counter stood a neatly dressed receptionist.

Xiao Xiao walked up to the counter like she knew the place well, took out a large-denomination banknote, and booked a private room.

"Two people, an upstairs private room. Thank you."

The receptionist looked at her, then at Jiang Ziming behind her. Without asking questions, he quickly handled the arrangements and led them upstairs.

The private room was not large, but it was very comfortably furnished.

There were two rows of soft sofa seats, with a small tea table between them. Fruit, pastries, and a pot of hot tea had been set on top.

Directly in front of them was a massive projection screen that covered the entire wall.

The lights could be adjusted freely, from bright to dim.

Xiao Xiao sat down on the sofa and let out a comfortable sigh, then patted the seat beside her.

"Sit here. The view's best."

Jiang Ziming sat beside her, accepting the tea she handed him. He took a sip. It was jasmine tea, fragrant and refreshing.

"What do you want to watch?"

Xiao Xiao picked up the program list from the table and flipped through it.

"There are adventure movies, romance movies, and even ones about soul masters..."

"You choose. I'm fine with anything."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Xiao picked an adventure film with a good reputation. Then she pressed the bell by the wall and had the attendant start it.

The lights gradually dimmed.

The screen lit up.

The plot was not particularly complicated, but the production was excellent. The fight scenes were smooth and thrilling, and the soundtrack was perfectly suited to the scenes.

Jiang Ziming had not had this kind of entertainment experience in a long time, so he became fairly engrossed. Every now and then, he discussed the plot with Xiao Xiao.

However, as he watched, he noticed that the girl beside him seemed a little distracted.

Although her gaze was fixed on the screen, her peripheral vision kept drifting toward him.

Whenever an intense fight scene appeared onscreen, she would secretly turn her head to look at him, then quickly avert her eyes before he noticed.

Jiang Ziming pretended not to notice and continued watching the screen.

After a while, he felt something lightly brush against his arm.

Then a second time, and a third...

He looked down and saw that Xiao Xiao's hand rested on the sofa cushion between them. Her fingers were slightly curled, as though she wanted to grab something but could not quite make up her mind.

Without drawing attention to it, he shifted his hand a little closer to hers.

The backs of their hands lightly touched.

Xiao Xiao's fingers trembled slightly, but she did not pull away.

She kept that position, letting the backs of their hands brush together now and then while staring at the screen.

Not long after, their hands were clasped tightly together, warmth passing between them.

Jiang Ziming could no longer quite remember what happened in the rest of the movie, because neither of them watched seriously after that.

As their emotions took over, Xiao Xiao held the jade flute Jiang Ziming had given her, and Jiang Ziming improvised several tunes for her.

After playing the jade flute, she could play other flutes as well—she played the Nine Phoenix Court Flute...

By the time they left the cinema, the sky had already begun to darken.

The setting sun cast its lingering glow over the bluestone street, stretching their shadows long.

Jiang Ziming walked ahead while Xiao Xiao kept pace at his side, still holding the jade flute in her hand. Her fingertips lightly traced its warm, smooth patterns.

"You play the flute with so much feeling."

Jiang Ziming spoke as they walked.

"No wonder you're a genius with the Nine Phoenix Court Flute."

Xiao Xiao's face reddened again. She turned her head away and muttered softly.

"If you keep saying that, I'm not talking to you anymore..."

Jiang Ziming smiled and did not tease her further.

The two walked back along the street. As they passed a small shop, Jiang Ziming stopped.

It was a dairy shop. A row of earthenware jars stood outside, filled with fresh yogurt. A thin layer of milk skin had formed over the creamy white surface, giving off a rich milky fragrance.

"Want to try some?"

Jiang Ziming pointed at the shop.

Xiao Xiao followed his gaze. When she saw the jars of pale, tender-looking yogurt, her cheeks puffed slightly, and she quickly looked away with a flushed face.

"I... I drank a lot of... water just now. I can't drink any more."

Her voice was a little muffled, carrying a trace of barely perceptible panic.

Jiang Ziming glanced at her without pressing the matter. He smiled.

"Then let's go. Time to head back."

Xiao Xiao nodded and quickly followed after him.