After a busy day, the sun finally set into the North Sea and the last ray of orange light in the sky faded away.

At the end of an old alley in Duyou East City, in a small tavern called Xia Chong Zhai, a group of men and women finally started eating.

Zhao Rong, Zhao Lingfei and eight others sat around the table.

In the hall, perhaps to save some gas money, only half of the lights were on, barely illuminating the dining table and everyone.

A middle-aged woman named Bingniang came back from the kitchen holding a candle. She smiled gracefully, exchanged a few words with Concubine Zhao Lingfei, and asked Zhao Rong and others if there was anything missing on the dinner table.

Bingniang just thought that she had a bad memory and often forgot things, so Xiao Zhao had to remind her of many things. He was the one who took care of most of the things in the tavern.

At this point, the elegant and graceful lady sighed in self-pity, "I am just a useless person. Sometimes I am confused and forget this and that. Please don't be surprised."

Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei looked at each other, smiled and waved their hands to comfort her.

Bingniang looked at the dining table which was finally a little more lively today, her face brightened up and she wiped her hands on her apron.

She looked at the old candle in her right hand, and then at the dim and empty hall. She looked dazed, as if she remembered what she had to do. She turned around with the candle, and quickly went to the oil lamp in the hall to light it.

At the side, Shopkeeper Zhao, who was engaging in a battle of wits and courage with Xiao Qian'er and fighting for the wine jug, turned around and glanced at the back of his woman who was running excitedly to light the lamp.

After watching silently for a while, he curled his lips and looked impatient.

The next second, Zhao Xifu let go of the wine jug and gave it to Xiao Qian'er, who was glaring at him while playing tug-of-war, and said:

"Only one glass, little girl. We agreed on one glass of ice wine. If you dare to pour more, I'll make you stay here and wash the dishes!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards Bingniang who was lighting an oil lamp.

"Bingbing, seven lamps are enough. Why order so many? It's not like they can't see the food clearly. It's a waste of lamp oil. Hey, you just like to do useless things. You won't listen to my advice. You're just stubborn... Hey, get out of the way and let me do it."

"Don't come, I'll do it." Bingniang ignored him, moved a wooden stool, stepped on it, stood on tiptoe and stretched out her hand, trying to grab the lamp high up.

"You... I really admire you. I need to give you a hard fall before you know the pain... Hey, be careful."

The unshaven-bearded shopkeeper muttered complaints, but when he approached, he bent down silently.

He pressed the stool under her feet with one hand, supported her waist with the other hand, lowered his head, and said nothing.

At a table not far away, Xiao Qian'er raised her chin in the direction where the black-hearted shopkeeper left.

"Tsk, you stingy guy, you deserve your bad business." She wrinkled her nose and muttered.

Zhao Lingfei, who was handing out chopsticks to the guests invited by her husband, frowned slightly and said, "Qian'er."

Xiao Qian'er quietly stuck out the tip of her pink tongue.

She held the wine jug, twisted her petite body and shook it.

Xiao Qian'er lowered her head, closed one eye tightly, and opened the other eye as wide as possible. She looked at the wine foam swaying on the water in the wine jug in the orange candlelight.

Looks smart and playful.

After looking at it for a moment, she nodded as if satisfied, and at the same time, she quietly defended herself:

"I... I was only talking about him. I wasn't talking about Aunt Bing. Aunt Bing is such a nice person, gentle, beautiful and considerate, but she married a miser who likes to swear. I don't know what he was capable of when he was young to have such great luck... Brother Rong'er, don't you think so?"

Zhao Rong had stood up on his own initiative to help his wife before, and now, as the host, he was helping the guests take turns serving hot white rice.

Hearing this, he smiled and did not respond to Qian'er's words.

"Thanks."

At this time, Concubine Zhao Lingfei was handing a pair of chopsticks to a quiet little fox demon at the table. The latter took the chopsticks, looked away from her, but whispered something.

Concubine Zhao Ling looked up at her, smiled and shook her head.

"You're welcome."

Zhao Rong on the side didn't look at the two of them, as if he didn't notice them, and turned his side face towards them.

He looked relaxed. While serving food to Fan Yushu, Jia Tengying and others, he made jokes and livened up the atmosphere.

But his ears were quietly pricked up.

"Where is Miss Su from?"

Concubine Zhao Ling said casually.

"Qiantang Mountain."

"Qiantang... Mountain? What is this place and where is it?"

"Qiantang Mountain is Qiantang Mountain, in the vast mountains." When talking about the place where she grew up, Su Xiaoxiao's face became less reserved and her tone was serious:

"There are peach blossoms in spring, jujubes in summer, osmanthus in autumn, and plum blossoms in winter."

But... there is no Zhao Lang.

After she finished speaking, she silently said something in her heart.

Concubine Zhao Ling turned her head, looked into her eyes without blinking, and listened carefully.

Su Xiao's eyelashes trembled slightly. She felt that Zhao Lang's childhood sweetheart liked to look into the other person's eyes when talking, which sometimes gave people a sense of oppression, especially since she was... so powerful, with all kinds of halos around her, and just stared at you straight.

A bit like him, except that Zhao Lang likes to stare at other people's noses while listening to them. This way, the other person can feel that he is listening carefully and it can also reduce some pressure, and both parties will not be so embarrassed... The little fox demon thought silently in his heart.

In the past, Zhao Lang had said many things that she didn't understand or only half understood. Although she was confused, she foolishly remembered them in her heart...

At this moment, the woman with long eyes like autumn water seemed to be reminded of the romantic memories of her childhood in the back mountain of the Duke's Mansion by Su Xiaoxiao's words.

The corners of her lips curled up in a sweet smile.

"Miss Su, that place must be a good place with green mountains and clear waters, spring rain and winter snow. Only in this way can a beautiful and spiritual girl like you be born."

The little fox demon was slightly stunned by Concubine Zhao Ling's praise, and then slightly looked away, a little embarrassed to look at her.

But the next second, Su Xiaoxiao plucked up the courage to raise her eyes, and imitated someone else, staring at the tip of Zhao Lingfei's delicate nose.

"Thank you for the compliment, Fairy Zhao."

The two women were facing each other, and to outsiders, they seemed to be staring at each other.

This scene was seen by many people nearby.

One person in particular couldn't help but have his heart beat faster.

He had dreamt of the scene of Qingjun and Xiaoxiao facing each other countless times.

After simulating countless possibilities, it finally appeared before our eyes today.

Although only one party knows about it, it is kept secret from Qingjun for the time being.

But Xiaoxiao's performance looks good, as if... it has passed smoothly?

But why do I feel like... when Xiaoxiao and Qingjun are together, there seems to be some strange chemical reaction slowly happening?

What on earth is this… um, illusion?

Zhao Rong frowned slightly and decided to wait and see what happens...

At this moment, after being praised, Su Xiaoxiao had no idea what Zhao Lang was thinking.

The little fox demon just suddenly felt that the genius from Taiqing Prefecture, who was luckier than her and met Zhao Lang earlier than her, did not seem to be as domineering and arrogant as she had imagined, but rather somewhat... approachable and generous.

Before I met her, I just felt that Concubine Zhao Ling was someone to be admired from afar but not to be touched.

Only after contact did I realize that it was right in front of me.

This is very different from what Su Xiaoxiao thought when she was sad and scared on the way here.

The little fox demon had already carefully thought out two future scenarios in his mind, and gritted his teeth to prepare for them:

One is that she is the type of heroine described in vernacular novels, a cute, kind, and weak heroine in the early stages, who is helpless in the face of the noble and powerful fiancée who suddenly appears beside her lover, the protagonist.

I have to go through some growth and setbacks. I will never be able to sleep in again. It is certain that I will have to work very hard to make myself stronger. I have to get up earlier and go to bed earlier than learning needlework for Zhao Lang...

Well, how terrifying is the self-disciplined little fox demon!

In the end she will become strong and beautiful, with a lot of suitors in the world, but Xiao Xiao won't even look at them. Well, okay, she has to pretend to look at those men, just pretend, to make someone jealous. She will hug her chest proudly, hold her head high and wait, so that Zhao Lang will come to his senses, spoil her desperately, and then live happily together.

Another thing is that she turned out to be the second female lead who was a vixen who interfered with the male and female protagonists. She was pure and innocent in the early stage, but ended up being jealous and cold-hearted. She turned hatred from love and became cruel...

There was a lot of nonsense afterwards, and finally she turned into a black yandere. Anyway, she couldn't wear the red clothes she was used to, and had to wear a black dress and a cold smile. Just think about it... Hmm! I want to eat Zhao Lang, the stinky unfaithful man.

Well, of course, in the end, he would definitely fail because of his hesitation or something, and be chased and beaten by Zhao Lang and the heroine, with lumps all over his head...

Su Xiaoxiao had already seriously thought about the future script, but now facing such a Zhao Lingfei, she was a little confused.

If Zhao Rong knew that the little fox demon was seriously thinking about these messed up and bloody plots in her mind, she would definitely be in a mess.

Without saying a word, he gave Su Xiaoxiao a hundred big chestnuts to eat.

With a stern face, he lectured her, "What are you thinking about? We want all the male-centered novels," "If you dare to peek at those bloody romances about talented men and beautiful women again, I will throw them to dust."...

"Miss Su."

At this moment, Su Xiaoxiao, who had been thinking about the "fox" a lot, came back to her senses in an instant.

She saw Concubine Zhao Ling looking at her with her head tilted slightly:

"You can call me Sister Zhao or Sister Lingfei. Don't be so distant. Besides, the word 'fairy' is so common now. In the teahouses and restaurants on the mountain, the prostitutes and singing girls are all fairies. Miss Su, are you scolding me?"

She narrowed her eyes slightly, pretending to be angry on her pretty face, and her tone was slightly cold.

"No, no." Su Xiaoxiao felt a little aggrieved and waved her hands quickly.

Concubine Zhao Ling was handing a pair of clean chopsticks to the sullen Jia Tengying. She then smiled at him and turned back to look at the fox-eyed girl who looked a little silly and like a punching bag.

She raised her hand, as if to do something, but put it down again as soon as she raised it.

Concubine Zhao Ling turned to Su Xiaoxiao and snorted twice, narrowing her eyes and pretending to threaten:

"Miss Su, don't learn from the Jade Tree and Vine Eagle. They tease you, but they don't want to compete with men. But you can't allow it, otherwise..."

She has a cold temperament, but at this moment she looks both dominant and overbearing.

“Hehe.”

Full of offensive energy.

"Oh, I don't learn... No, I really didn't learn from them, Sister Zhao, don't misunderstand Xiaoxiao."

The little fox demon who originally wanted to fight the second female lead probably thought of the horrible scene of being beaten with lumps on her head, and shook her little head like a rattle.

Live like a little bottom.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Rong's eyelids suddenly twitched.

Finally figured out what was wrong.

This can't be one of those weird female protagonist stories, where the heroine number one and the second female protagonist meet, fall in love with each other, and spark true love in the Shura field, and finally join forces, kill the hero, wander around the world, and live together forever!

Men only affect the speed of that thing?

The corners of Zhao Rong's mouth couldn't help but twitch violently.

I was very alarmed.

While he was carrying Fan Yushu's bowl to serve rice, he glanced at Qingjun and Xiaoxiao who were talking and laughing, and thought to himself:

No, this is a weird script that carbon-based creatures can come up with?

This young master must not let this happen!

...Well, okay, only half of it will happen. For example, the top and bottom part is fine, but you can't take his life.

Ahem, I have to take him with me.

Hiss, it seems a bit exciting...

At this moment.

"Tzuyu, Tzuyu? Stop shoveling. I can't eat so much. I'm already full and you're still pressing. Hey, Tzuyu, did you hear me? What are you thinking about?"

Fan Yushu looked at Zhao Rong in confusion.

The young scholar in front of him was looking down and pursing his lips, as if he was staring at the rice bucket on the table, but he didn't know what he was thinking. He held the rice spatula tightly and shoveled rice into his bowl desperately, with powerful and continuous movements.

Inside the hall, everyone looked at Zhao Rong and Fan Yushu, who had a bitter face, after hearing what was said.

Including Qingjun and Xiaoxiao who seemed to be having a happy chat.

"Ah?" Zhao Rong came back to his senses immediately, forced a smile to meet everyone's gazes, and quickly explained:

"Oh oh. I was thinking about Nu Tong, bah, bah, and Dali. I was distracted just now. Sorry, sorry, brother Yushu. Haha, it's okay. You can finish these meals. Believe in yourself. Eat a full dinner, haha."

Fan Yushu: “???”

Everyone: “…”

Zhao Rong, who was speechless, laughed it off.

Just at this moment, the voice of a curious baby suddenly came from the side.

"Brother Rong'er, shouldn't I eat less for dinner? You always said this to me before." Xiao Qian'er put her hands behind her back and looked at him with a pout.

"Um, is... is this true? Maybe you remembered it wrongly."

Zhao Rong smiled and shook his head. The next second, he glanced at Xiao Qian'er, who loved to eat, calmly, then looked at her sincerely and said in front of everyone, "Think about it again."

Xiao Qian'er: "..."

Humph, how can I dare to say a word when you look at me like that? Hmm... Xiao Qian'er, who was very familiar with someone, pursed her lips, nodded, and bowed to the evil forces.

On the side, Fan Yushu shook his head, preparing to take the full porcelain bowl, and said in a speechless tone:

"Okay. But, Tzuyu, you just said female bronze..."

The next second, Fan Yushu's voice stopped abruptly, like a duck with its neck strangled, and his eyes widened slightly.

The bowl of rice was almost close to his hand, but then it shrank back with a whoosh.

Someone continued to shovel rice with a smile on his face.

Fan Yushu: “……!!!”