Chapter 37 The general who treated us to dinner will treat us often in the future.
Dinner won't be just a simple plate of cold lotus root salad and Longjing tea; those two are just appetizers before the main course.
Jing Yuan handed the menu to Shen Mi and waved his hand politely, saying to her, "Miss Shen Mi, just order whatever you want to eat. Don't be shy with me."
Shen Mi accepted the menu with embarrassment, then looked at the dazzling array of dishes on it, feeling overwhelmed by the choices.
After flipping through a few pages, Shen Mi placed the menu on the table, closed it, and pushed it towards Jing Yuan: "General, you should order. I don't know what's good to eat."
"Is there nothing you like to eat?" Jing Yuan asked, taking the menu with a puzzled look.
"No, no..." Shen Mi quickly waved his hand and explained, "There are just too many, I really don't know what to order."
Jing Yuan suddenly realized what was going on, handed the menu back to the waiter standing next to him, and asked Shen Mi in a low voice, "Then can I order according to my taste?"
"Sure, sure!" Shen Mi nodded. "I'll follow your arrangements."
Clearly understanding, Jingyuan said to the waiter, "Please bring us a serving of sweet and sour pork ribs, a plate of scallion rolls, a bowl of chicken and egg drop soup, and stir-fried bamboo shoots with wood ear mushrooms, but don't put too much oil in them."
He paused slightly, looked at Shen Mi, and added, "Bring us another serving of cold-dressed crispy lotus root."
After saying that, to Shen Mi's surprise, he explained in a calm tone, "I noticed you didn't eat much just now. Are you worried that I won't have enough to eat?"
Shen Mi was stunned, speechless for a moment, even her breathing became lighter. She thought she had hidden her little actions well, but she didn't expect him to see through them.
She chuckled awkwardly and whispered, "The general still found out."
“Since you like it, you should eat to your heart’s content.” Jing Yuan’s tone was unhurried, yet carried a touch of tender care. “There’s no need to keep offering to each other.”
Shen Mi lowered her head, unsure of what to say, feeling her ears burning and her fingertips twitching slightly. Amidst her embarrassment at being seen through, there was also a touch of satisfaction from being carefully cared for.
Jing Yuan didn't ask any further questions or say much. He simply turned his head slightly and instructed the waiter, "That's all. Oh, by the way, I remember you have a purchasing service. Could you go downstairs and buy two cups of hot goat milk? You can put them on the bill."
"Yes, sir!" the waiter replied with a smile, then turned and hurried away.
Shen Mi looked at Jing Yuan and asked worriedly, "Didn't we order too much?"
Jing Yuan turned his head slightly, glanced at her, and smiled faintly: "Are you worried about not being able to finish it?"
Shen Mi nodded and tentatively said, "It's just... it seems like we ordered a bit too much. I'm worried about troubling the restaurant and wasting food."
Jing Yuan nodded slightly and calmly replied, "This is a portion for two people, not much. Besides, it's not easy to come all this way, so it's good to enjoy the meal to your heart's content."
He spoke naturally and appropriately, neither appearing distant nor overly affectionate, but rather gracefully and considerately addressing her concerns.
Hearing him say that, Shen Mi couldn't refuse any longer and simply said softly, "Then... thank you, General."
"It was nothing, no need to be so polite." Jing Yuan replied casually, but his gaze was fixed on the steaming food stalls on the street, as if he was waiting for the aroma of the next dish to waft over.
The atmosphere between the two quieted down, but it wasn't awkward. There was a kind of restraint and tact unique to first meeting, yet it also concealed a sense of familiarity that was about to be revealed.
As night deepened, the lights of Chang Le Tian were still lively, but the crowds began to thin out. After dinner, Shen Mi and Jing Yuan walked side by side along the street. The night breeze, carrying a slight warmth and the lingering aroma of the street stalls, blew by. Neither of them spoke, but their steps were surprisingly in sync.
After leaving the bustling night market area, Jing Yuan led Chen Mi towards a more secluded neighborhood. That area was noticeably quieter, with soft lighting and low, neat residential buildings lining the streets—clearly where the residents of Xianzhou had lived for a long time.
"General, shall I stay here tonight?" Shen Mi asked cautiously, afraid that the more questions he asked, the more trouble he would cause the other party.
She doesn't even have money for food right now.
"Hmm." Jing Yuan said in a light tone. After a pause, he added, "I didn't expect Miss Chen Mi to arrive so quickly. I haven't arranged accommodation yet, so I'm sorry to trouble you to stay with me for the time being. I hope you can understand."
"Huh?" Shen Mi was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth.
Me, living with Jingyuan? System, pinch me right now, see if I'm dreaming.
[Reporting to host, I don't have hands, so I can't pinch. However, you are not dreaming right now.]
"Is there something you're worried about?" Jingyuan asked.
"No, no, no..." Shen Mi hurriedly waved her hands, her tone slightly flustered, "It's already very good that I can find a place to stay. If I have any concerns, the only one is that I'm afraid of troubling you..."
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, unable to look him in the eye.
"No. Danheng is my friend, and taking care of a friend of a friend is not a trouble. This is also my first time taking care of someone, so there may be some shortcomings in my hospitality. I hope you will forgive me."
Since Jing Yuan has already said so, wouldn't it seem pretentious for Shen Mi to remain timid and hesitant?
"Thank you for your help, General Jingyuan."
They walked through two alleyways and stopped in front of a house with a gray-white exterior. Jingyuan swiped his access card, and the door opened. The corridor wasn't wide, but it was clean and tidy, and the atmosphere was quiet; even the sound of their footsteps was almost too clear.
The room is softly lit and decorated in a simple, cool-toned style, much like Jingyuan's personality. The walls are a low-saturation gray-blue, the wooden floors are spotless, and the living room contains only a basic sofa, coffee table, and a wall-mounted bookshelf. There are almost no superfluous decorations, yet it doesn't feel cold; instead, it makes you feel at ease.
“The room is over there.” He pointed to the end of the living room. “There are three rooms in total. I’m staying in the one on the left. You’ll stay in the guest room, which is right across from mine. The sheets are all new, and the bath towels are ones I bought beforehand.”
Shen Mi nodded and replied, "Thank you, General. You've really gone to a lot of trouble."
Jing Yuan glanced at her, then suddenly frowned: "Are you this polite when you talk to Dan Heng?"
Shen Mi was taken aback for a moment, then honestly replied, "No."
Jing Yuan chuckled softly, his tone slightly teasing: "There's no need to be so polite with me. Don't be too reserved here, just call me Jing Yuan."
Shen Mi paused slightly, and seeing Jing Yuan staring at her, she subconsciously said, "Okay, I will..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw the expectation in Jingyuan's eyes and immediately realized she had made another small mistake. She coughed lightly, lowered her head slightly, smiled, and corrected herself, "Okay, Jingyuan."
Jing Yuan nodded slightly upon hearing her answer, seemingly quite satisfied with her change.
He then went into the kitchen, took a bottle of water from the cabinet and handed it to her. He then pointed to the row of low appliances on the wall and said, "The refrigerator, microwave, and water purifier are all over here. If you want to eat something, you can heat it up yourself. There are fruits and sweet soups under the refrigerator. Don't hold back your hunger."
Shen Mi took the water bottle and whispered, "Okay."
“There’s air conditioning in the living room, but the guest room is separate, so you can adjust the temperature yourself,” Jingyuan explained as they walked. “The washing machine is on the balcony. I found you a clean set of clothes and put it in the bathroom, but it’s probably a bit big. Tomorrow I’ll have someone take you to register your identity information, and then you can buy a more suitable one when you’re free to move around.”
As Shen Mi listened, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if she were listening to an elder in her family worrying about this and that. She dared not laugh out loud, and could only nod frantically, "I understand."
"This way to the bathroom." He led her to a door at the end of the corridor and turned on the light.
The room was clean and tidy, with newly changed bath towels and hair drying towels hanging on the walls. The toiletries were complete and looked brand new. Even the bathtub was filled with a thin layer of antibacterial powder foam.
Shen Mi stood at the doorway, then paused.
Jingyuan noticed her hesitation, turned to look at her, and said in a slightly softer tone, "The water temperature adjusts automatically, it won't be hot. You can wash in peace, I'll be outside, no one will bother you."
Shen Mi hummed in response, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
Jing Yuan nodded, said nothing more, and turned back to the living room.
Shen Mi stood there, looking at the unfamiliar yet surprisingly comforting house, a subtle mix of emotions rising within him.
In just a few months, it felt like a lifetime had passed. She couldn't quite remember the last time someone had arranged everything for her like this. All along, she had been hiding, testing, and being wary, and had long since become accustomed to dealing with survival issues on her own. Now, suddenly someone opened the door for her, laid out a bath towel, and said, "Take a bath in peace." That gentleness and naturalness left her somewhat at a loss.
She gently closed the bathroom door and turned on the hot water.
On the other side, Jing Yuan sat on the sofa, browsing documents on his communication terminal, his expression calm and composed, as if arranging everything just now was merely a routine matter. However, the moment he heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom, his fingers paused slightly, and his gaze gently swept towards the door.
He looked away, leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes to rest, and recalled the scene when Dan Heng contacted him saying he had something to ask of him.
It had been a hundred or two hundred years since Dan Heng left the Immortal Ship, and he had thought he would never have any further contact with this old friend. No, he couldn't even be considered an old friend; time had passed too quickly, so quickly that he had almost forgotten that Dan Heng was no longer Dan Feng. Those past events were like the hazy mist that shrouded their vision, and they weren't the only ones unable to escape them…
Little did they expect that the opportunity to reconnect would be because of a girl.
What did he say? A girl from a fairy boat accidentally ended up at his workplace. This girl helped him a lot, and he hoped that Jingyuan could create a file for her identity information.
Before welcoming her, he specifically went to Fu Xuan to have his fortune told. What did Fu Xuan say?
"The upper trigram is Kan, and the lower trigram is Gen. Although confusion and constraints have already appeared, everything is still unclear. Meeting at this time is extraordinary."
Not long after, Shen Mi finished washing up and came out of the bathroom. She had changed into the clean clothes that Jing Yuan had prepared. Her hair was still slightly damp, and a few strands of hair on her forehead clung to her cheeks, turning a light red from the heat of the bathroom. She looked like a freshly peeled peach, exuding a softness she didn't realize.
Hearing the noise, Jing Yuan opened his eyes, glanced at her, and asked gently, "Are you done washing?"
"Yes, thank you." Shen Mi responded softly, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, standing there somewhat awkwardly.
"That's good." He nodded, picked up a small bottle from the coffee table and handed it over. "This is a sleep-aid incense. It has a light, pleasant fragrance that won't bother you. Lighting a little before bed can help relax your nerves."
"Thank you." Shen Mi took the bottle, carefully held it in her palm, glanced down at it, and seemed surprised and grateful for the thoughtfulness.
Jing Yuan's gaze fell on her face, and he said slowly, "If you're not used to the place, or if you need anything, just tell me. I'll be in the living room tonight, not far away."
Shen Mi nodded and turned to walk towards the bedroom. Reaching the door, she suddenly stopped, as if making a decision, and turned back.
“Um… ‘Miss Shen Mi’ is too kind,” she said softly, looking at him earnestly. “From now on, just call me Shen Mi.”
Jing Yuan was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to speak up so suddenly. He looked at Shen Mi standing at the door, her eyes calm yet tinged with a little nervousness, as if she was afraid he wouldn't agree and had mustered up the courage to make her request.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his expression softening, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes. In that instant, the boundaries previously erected by social status and etiquette seemed to loosen subtly.
“Okay,” he replied softly, his tone gentle, “Chen Mi.”
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Author's Note: I was so excited reading the preview today, my friend and I were practically screaming about it for an hour. Am I late?
[doge][doge][doge]
Today is a delicious day at Jingmi.
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