Dingxiang Tower’s dishes were exquisite, ranking among the very best of all the restaurants in the capital.

Since arriving in the capital, Fifth Master Ling had visited many renowned restaurants, but this was his first time at Dingxiang Tower. The restaurant attendant glibly began introducing the establishment’s specialty dishes, but Fifth Master Ling spoke up grandly, “No need for more introductions. Just bring us one of every signature dish your restaurant has.”

The attendant nodded and bowed eagerly, smiling as he agreed, and quickly withdrew.

Soon, hot tea, pastries, and cold dishes were brought out.

Ling Xiao watched with great interest, picking up a small pastry with his hand and popping it into his mouth, savoring it with relish.

Watching from the side, Ling Jingshu suddenly felt hungry too. “A’Xiao, is this pastry really that delicious?”

Ling Xiao blinked and smiled. “Usually when I eat pastries, you’re the one picking them up with chopsticks and feeding them to my mouth. Today I’m doing it myself, so of course it tastes different.”

Ever since his eyesight had been restored, Ling Xiao’s disposition had grown more cheerful day by day.

Watching Ling Xiao’s lively manner, Ling Jingshu felt an indescribable joy in her heart, and she too picked up a pastry and put it in her mouth. Sweet without being cloying, with a delicate texture — it truly was delicious.

“Cousin Jingyan, this pastry tastes really good, you should try some too.” Ling Jingshu said with a smile, then turned politely toward Zhang Jian. “I wonder if Young Master Zhang likes pastries? Please feel free to try a piece.”

Ling Jingyan and Zhang Jian, having been going back and forth bickering until they were famished and parched, didn’t hold back upon hearing this — each ate a pastry and drank a cup of hot tea. Their manner of eating had nothing whatsoever to do with refinement.

By comparison, Zhang Jian was far more composed. He ate the pastry at a leisurely, measured pace, and spoke to Ling Jingshu with particular gentleness and courtesy.

Such a hypocrite! Such pretense!

Ling Jingyan glanced at Zhang Jian, and no matter how she looked at him, she found him grating.

In truth, she herself was quite capable of putting on airs in front of strangers, normally — smiling without showing her teeth, walking without revealing her feet, gentle and demure, entirely proper. But faced with this Zhang Jian whom she’d only just met half a day ago, she had not the slightest urge to act like a refined lady. She even thought, with some mischief, that she should act rude and unreasonable on purpose, best if it drove Zhang Jian away entirely.

Soon, the dishes were served.

Fifth Master Ling specially ordered two pots of wine. Since Ling Xiao’s eye ailment hadn’t fully healed yet, he shouldn’t drink. Zhang Jian, not one to hold back, took the initiative to raise his cup and offer a toast.

The two of them traded toasts back and forth, drinking and chatting idly, the atmosphere reasonably cordial.

Ling Jingyan kept her head down, eating and drinking, paying no more attention to Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian, however, kept glancing at Ling Jingyan now and then.

Ling Jingshu noticed it all, finding it quite amusing in her heart. This Zhang Jian, shamelessly mooching this lunch — it was clear his true intentions had nothing to do with the meal itself!

···

An hour later.

Ling Jingshu, Ling Jingyan, and Ling Xiao had long since finished eating and sat chatting idly to pass the time.

Fifth Master Ling and Zhang Jian had drunk four pots of wine between them. Fifth Master Ling was already five or six tenths drunk, while “Old Tippler” Zhang Jian’s tolerance couldn’t match Fifth Master Ling’s, and his handsome face had already flushed red.

Just as Fifth Master Ling was about to have the attendant bring another pot of wine, Ling Jingshu stopped him in time. “Father, I think Young Master Zhang has already had too much. If he drinks any more, he won’t even be able to ride his horse. Perhaps it’s best not to drink any more!”

Zhang Jian rushed to respond, “I-I-I’m not drunk, two more pots wouldn’t be a p-p-problem at all.”

Everyone wanted to laugh but felt it would be impolite, and held it in with considerable effort.

Ling Jingyan had no such reservations, teasing him with a laugh. “You-you-you’re really not drunk? Then why are you s-s-stuttering when you talk?”

Zhang Jian: “…”

Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao finally couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

Only then did Fifth Master Ling notice that Zhang Jian’s whole face was flushed and his gaze unfocused — if he drank any more, he would undoubtedly end up completely drunk. He couldn’t help laughing. “Alright, alright, we’ve had quite enough drinking for today already, it really wouldn’t be wise to drink more. Let’s call it a day here. We’ll gather again another time.”

Zhang Jian immediately replied, “Good, in a few days I’ll definitely come visit you at the Ling residence, Fifth Master Ling.”

Fifth Master Ling: “…”

Everyone: “…”

Just a moment ago Zhang Jian had looked thoroughly drunk, but it turned out he wasn’t drunk at all! He’d seized the opening the instant it was given.

Ling Jingshu wanted to laugh but held it back.

Ling Jingyan stared with wide, astonished almond eyes, as though seeing Zhang Jian for the first time.

Fifth Master Ling cleared his throat and said, “Then I shall await Young Master Zhang’s visit at the Ling residence.”

Zhang Jian immediately cupped his hands with a smile. “Then it’s settled.”

···

“How can there be such a shameless person in this world!”

After settling the bill, everyone left Dingxiang Tower and went their separate ways. Ling Jingyan finally had the chance to vent the indignation pent up in her chest. “I only meddled and spoke out of turn once, and now he’s decided to latch onto me? I’ve already treated him to lunch, and yet he’s still not satisfied — he even wants to come eat and drink at our Ling residence. Just how thick can a person’s skin possibly be!”

Finding what Ling Jingyan said amusing, Ling Xiao laughed heartily. “Cousin Jingyan, it’s not nearly as exaggerated as you make it sound. I think Young Master Zhang has a frank disposition, speaks with humor and wit, and is easy and pleasant to be around — he’s a friend worth keeping.”

Ling Jingyan wrinkled her nose at Ling Xiao. “What ‘friend worth keeping.’ Don’t let him fool you! He’s nothing but a thick-skinned, black-hearted moocher!”

Ling Jingshu couldn’t stop laughing. “Cousin Jingyan, whatever else he may be, he’s still the son of a proper Vice Minister of Justice’s household. Living in luxury and comfort, why would he be greedy for food and drink? You hold a bias against him. Looking at it from another angle, a person like that is actually quite easy to get close to and get along with.”

“Hey, hey, hey, how did you get taken in too.” Seeing that the two siblings were both speaking up for Zhang Jian, Ling Jingyan felt quite displeased. “Are you even still my good friend or not.”

The more anxious and worked up Ling Jingyan got, the wider her round eyes opened, darting about ceaselessly — utterly adorable.

Ling Jingshu, deliberately teasing her, said, “The two of us are good friends, of course I’m on your side. But this Zhang Jian really does seem quite good. When he comes to visit in the future, you might as well spend more time with him, talk with him more — you may soon discover his good points, and even come to like him.”

“How could that possibly be!”

Ling Jingyan retorted without hesitation. “How could I possibly develop any fondness for him. That kind of joke isn’t funny at all.”

That was hardly certain!

Perhaps Zhang Jian was destined to be Ling Jingyan’s fated bickering sweetheart!

Ling Jingshu looked at Ling Jingyan with a beaming smile and reminded her meaningfully, “Cousin Jingyan, think carefully about it. Today Zhang Jian insisted on following us all the way to Dingxiang Tower, and then spoke up on his own to ask to come visit our Ling household. What could it really be for?”

What could it really be for?!

Caught off guard by the question, Zhang Jian’s handsome, smiling face suddenly surfaced in Ling Jingyan’s mind.

Strange — she had never even properly looked at him directly, so how did she remember his appearance so clearly? She even remembered that mischievous smirk at the corner of his mouth with perfect clarity…

Ling Jingyan immediately drove this improper thought from her mind.