Chapter Thirty-Four: Shocking! This man actually threatened me by pinching my hand.
As dusk fell, the brightly lit Qingshui Manor emitted enticing aromas, and the crowd sat in the middle of the courtyard, staring at each other in bewilderment.
Without Li Bao'er present, the atmosphere was a little awkward. Ye Yun nervously tugged at Li Yu's sleeve and said timidly, "Brother Yu, I want to go find Sister Bao'er." The little girl's fingertips were cold, and even the hibiscus flower in her hair trembled slightly.
Li Yu swallowed hard. The Prince Jing's overwhelming aura was intimidating, not only to Ye Yun but also to him, the eldest son of the Prime Minister's family. Although they were all skilled in martial arts, they were still wealthy young men raised in the capital and had never truly experienced a life-threatening situation.
But the Prince Jing before him was different. He had lived in the wild borderlands since childhood, had fought countless battles, and was a war god who killed without hesitation. Mu Cenlin was just sitting there casually, but the oppressive aura emanating from him made people's spines go cold.
Li Yu gently patted Ye Yun's hand and said somewhat reluctantly, "It's okay, don't be afraid. We'll be family from now on, what's there to be afraid of..." But the last few words sounded very weak.
Mu Cenlin overheard their conversation and turned to look at them. Ye Yun gasped and quickly lowered her head, shrinking behind Li Yu. She felt as if she were being watched by a venomous snake.
Seeing this, Li Yu immediately shielded Ye Yun behind her, her neck stiff as she faced Mu Cenlin: "You... what are you going to do? No... don't bully Yun, or my sister will..."
"What will happen?" Mu Cenlin's lips curled into a dangerous smile. He hadn't done anything, yet she looked at him as if he were about to devour him. Was it his fault?
Without thinking, Li Yu blurted out, "He'll hate you."
"Heh," Mu Cenlin chuckled lightly, saying casually, "Hasn't your older sister always disliked me?"
"..." Li Yu was speechless, after all, he was right, his older sister did not like him before.
Li Qing couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Everyone turned to look at him, their expressions varied.
Li Qing lowered his head in frustration. He had been pinching his thigh muscles to try and bear it, but it was no use.
Another "plop" sound.
The guys stared at Li Qing in astonishment. Had he gone mad?
Li Qing covered his mouth tightly, his shoulders trembling, and his face turned bright red.
"Yes, no..." He waved his hands frantically, but broke down again when he met Li Yu's wide eyes. Li Yu's mother hen protecting her chicks was just too funny.
What's even more amazing is that he clearly saw the Prince Jing, who was rumored to be ruthless and decisive, roll his eyes briefly when Li Yu said, "My sister will hate you." This behavior, which was extremely inconsistent with his character, was actually quite bizarrely funny!
Li Qing pinched her thigh desperately, but the more she recalled that incongruous scene, the more she couldn't stop laughing.
It wasn't until he caught a glimpse of Mu Cenlin's narrowed eyes that he jolted and shrank back behind Zhang Chi.
Zhang Chi silently moved half a step to the side and mouthed: You're finished.
"Um, I was laughing at Li Yu for being too stupid."
Li Yu got angry as soon as she heard that. "Li Qing, I think you want to get beaten up!"
"I think you want to get beaten up!" A clear voice broke the silence as Li Bao'er came out carrying the prepared tools.
As soon as she came out, she heard Li Yu's loud and energetic voice. Li Bao'er was afraid that this kid would cause trouble in front of Mu Cenlin, and then the Great Demon King would increase his blackening value and destroy the world for fun if he was unhappy.
Seeing this, Li Qing immediately ran forward, took the tools from Li Bao'er's hands, and said with a fawning smile, "Good sister, I'm starving!"
Xiao Han, who had been silent all along, vacated the seat next to him, gesturing for Bao'er to sit down. At the same time, no one dared to sit in the seat next to Mu Cenlin.
Mu Cenlin looked at Li Bao'er with great interest, seemingly very interested in where she would choose to sit.
If she could ignore the pain in her hand, the seat Li Bao'er really wanted to sit next to Ye Yun was actually next to her. Under everyone's gaze, Li Bao'er reluctantly walked over and sat down next to Mu Cenlin.
"A good choice." Mu Cenlin toyed with the white jade wine cup, looking at her with a half-smile.
Li Bao'er didn't miss the hint of disappointment and loneliness that flashed in Xiao Han's eyes, but even without Mu Cenlin's "self-harm" of pinching his wrist, she would still have sat next to Mu Cenlin.
It was only recently that Li Bao'er discovered Xiao Han's special feelings for her. In the past, his emotions were too reserved, and Li Bao'er had never noticed them. Xiao Han was the eldest among them and took great care of everyone.
She transmigrated to this world simply to live a second life and appreciate it properly. Love was not a necessity for her; both Mu Yuan and Mu Cenlin were merely her targets for conquest.
Li Bao'er secretly rubbed her wrist, feeling gloomy. Besides, after the mission was over and she left, who would truly accept a discarded woman?
What she wants is family and money; men are just for entertainment.
The charcoal crackled and popped, and the meat skewers on the grill gradually turned golden brown.
Apart from Mu Cenlin, everyone else skillfully flipped through the bamboo skewers in their hands, having already experienced this novel way of eating many times at Qingfeng Courtyard.
Mu Cenlin's gaze, however, was fixed on the iron grill in front of him. This device had a unique shape, with a cleverly designed pull-out charcoal box under the iron mesh, which allowed him to adjust the heat at any time.
Such an ingenious design is something even the old craftsmen in the Ministry of Works might not have come up with.
He wondered who designed this. Such talent should be put to good use.
Out of the corner of her eye, Li Bao'er saw Mu Cen sitting upright like a pine tree, with the grill in front of him spotless.
She suddenly remembered that this way of eating was designed by herself based on a modern baking pan, so it was normal that Mu Cenlin had never seen it before.
"Would Your Highness like to try some?" Li Bao'er placed the meat skewers brushed with sauce on the grill in front of him. "Turn them three times to the left and two times to the right. This way, they will be heated most evenly."
"Which craftsman made this? I have never seen anything like it before."
With her mouth full of food, Li Yu mumbled, "It was my sister who drew the design! The blacksmith made three drafts before it was finally finished."
A hint of surprise flashed in Mu Cenlin's eyes.
As Mu Cenlin took the bamboo skewer, his fingertips brushed lightly against the back of her hand. He mimicked her gesture, turning the skewer around, and casually asked, "As a young lady, do you also know the ways of craftsmanship?"
"I can't let my disguise slip!" Li Bao'er smiled guiltily, "I don't have any other talents, except that I have some knowledge about food."
A night breeze swept by, scattering stray hairs at her temples. In the firelight, the girl was intently scoring chicken wings. With each flick of her slender wrist, the depth of the cuts was perfectly precise, a technique that suggested she was a seasoned cook.
Mu Cenlin's eyes darkened. No one knew that what appeared in his mind was the image of Li Bao'er being bullied by her aunt, not having enough to eat or wear, and being forced to cook for herself in the kitchen. Otherwise, how could the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion have such exquisite cooking skills?
He should continue to hate this woman who has opposed him time and time again... but she's incredibly cunning...
Ever since he learned that she was going to marry him, everything seemed to have changed...
Thinking of this, a strange bitterness welled up in his heart. Looking at her, so happy and carefree, he subconsciously said, "If you are bullied again, tell me."
"Huh?" Li Bao'er was surprised. What happened? What was causing the surge of heartache in her heart?
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