Zhu Zhuqing finished her grilled meat skewer without expression, nodded calmly, and said in an indifferent tone, "Not bad. Much better than the sausages Oscar makes."
Hearing Zhu Zhuqing actually offer praise, Ning Rongrong immediately smiled until her eyes curved, a trace of pride she could not hide in her voice. "Hehe, Zhu Zhuqing understands me best."
In front of others, Ning Rongrong was always poised and proper, and especially respectful toward Ye Lan, looking every bit the obedient, well-behaved student.
Yet whenever she was with Ye Lan, she seemed to shed all her disguises, speaking freely, laughing and joking at ease, without putting on any airs.
Ye Lan actually liked her this way. Rather than all those insincere pleasantries, he preferred seeing Ning Rongrong be herself without restraint.
To indulge Ning Rongrong's little bit of pride, and to keep her from continuing to use Zhu Zhuqing as a test subject, Ye Lan silently took her remaining skewers and ate them bite by bite, his expression unchanged.
"Just barely edible. Mostly, I didn't want to waste them." Ye Lan set down the bamboo sticks, his tone calm.
"Hmph, getting to eat something personally grilled by yours truly is your good fortune! Who knows how many people in the sect would line up and beg without getting any!"
"Not even my dad, Bone Douluo, or Sword Douluo has eaten anything I've made." Ning Rongrong planted her hands on her hips and pouted in feigned annoyance, but the corners of her eyes secretly curved, and sweetness filled her heart.
Ye Lan had eaten all her remaining grilled meat without leaving so much as a scrap. That made her happier than any praise could.
Ye Lan took a large gulp of fruit wine and turned to ask her, "Want some too?"
"No way."