What a Pity He Didn't Read

"Thank you, miss."

Yi Feng rose as well and gave a slight nod.

With such golden lines of praise spilling forth one after another, he gladly accepted them...

Five thousand years of cultural heritage—this was merely the tip of the iceberg. Though those lines had not come from him, they still counted as one of the perks of being a transmigrator!

"Being around you is very comfortable, sir," Bai Piaopiao praised.

Yi Feng merely smiled. As they chatted, Bai Piaopiao had unknowingly finished tearing apart her chicken leg. Yi Feng tore off a few pieces of fish for her as well, returning her compliment.

Beside them, Maomao ate until her mouth was slick with grease, yet the conversation between the two left her utterly bewildered.

It was her first time seeing her young lady praise someone so highly.

"Judging from the poem you recited earlier, sir, you must not be from around here, right?" Bai Piaopiao asked again.

"Yes... and no."

At the mention of this, Yi Feng could not help sighing. Gazing at the bright moon, he thought once more of his hometown and took a long drink.

"Just as I thought."

"You are a man with a story, sir."

Seeing Yi Feng's somewhat forlorn profile, Bai Piaopiao found herself growing interested in this mortal. She softly asked, "Would you be willing to tell Piaopiao your story, sir?"

"No." Yi Feng refused directly.

"Uh..."

Bai Piaopiao's lips twitched. No one had ever refused her before, yet Yi Feng had rejected her so cleanly and decisively. Being refused truly did not feel good!

Yi Feng merely gave her an apologetic look and offered no explanation.

His story went back far, far too long.

That was another world, another civilization...

Besides, apart from that useless system, it was the greatest secret in his heart.

"It was Piaopiao who was presumptuous. Please sit, sir. I will not disturb you further," Bai Piaopiao said softly, then rose to leave with Maomao.

But just as she stood, she halted again.

Turning back, she asked, "By the way, do you read books, sir?"

"Books?"

"I don't."

Yi Feng shook his head apologetically.

"Oh, all right!"

Bai Piaopiao nodded. For the first time, her gaze toward Yi Feng dimmed with disappointment.

Though Yi Feng was a mortal, she had rarely encountered anyone like him. She would not even have minded becoming close confidants with him.

She had thought Yi Feng might have read those two works as well.

What a pity...

After eating and drinking his fill, after three rounds of wine, Yi Feng leaned against the railing and sat lost in thought for a very, very long time.

It was midnight.

Only then did Yi Feng return to his room. He took out the copy of Dream of the Red Chamber he had specially brought in his bamboo basket, placed it beneath his head against the hard bedboards, and gradually drifted into sleep.

The next day.

Yi Feng rose early, found Bai Piaopiao and Maomao, and prepared to bid them farewell.

"If you come into the mountains again next time and have nowhere to stay, you may come here," Bai Piaopiao said after weighing her words again and again as they parted.

"Thank you, Miss Piaopiao."

Yi Feng nodded to the two women, slung the bamboo basket over his back, turned, and set off down the mountain.

"Miss, why did you invite him to come back?" Maomao asked beside her, puzzled.

Bai Piaopiao smiled.

Yi Feng was only a mortal. He could neither affect their plans nor pose any threat to them.

Moreover, Yi Feng's cultivation and insight had earned Bai Piaopiao's heartfelt admiration. Though admiring a mortal seemed rather fantastical, that appeared to be the truth.

Therefore, she did not reject the thought of this mortal returning.

What a pity he did not read.

Otherwise, they probably would have had more topics in common!

"All right, but it would be nice if he came back. That fish last night was truly delicious." Maomao gave a playful smile, once again drooling over the tasty food.

"All right, hurry and clean up the room he stayed in!" Bai Piaopiao said irritably.

Maomao stuck out her tongue, then obediently went to clean the room.

But before long, she ran back, shouting, "Miss, Miss, come look!"