Chapter 312 - 0201 Heartbeats Caused by the Young Couple (Combined into One)

Li Zhibai witnessed a scene of affection between the young couple, feeling a mix of emotions.

However, when she saw the extremely sumptuous dinner Xu Chang’an prepared, her mood suddenly improved.

Unexpectedly, for someone of her disposition, there came a day when she could partake in the family banquet of juniors like an ordinary woman.

The table was arrayed with delicacies, rich, fresh, and clear, with a variety of fragrances that were truly intoxicating, stimulating one’s appetite greatly.

It was all Xu Chang’an’s diligent handiwork, with some dishes Li Zhibai also knew how to make, all considered home-style dishes... However, the presentation of Xu Chang’an’s dishes was on a whole different level compared to hers.

The same greens, translucent and brilliant when made by Xu Chang’an, yet dull and lackluster when she made them, despite... her cultivation being so high, she should have been far superior in controlling the heat.

Li Zhibai naturally sat in the upper seat, and said softly, "This green dish you made looks so appealing; is it due to the ingredients?"

"Not really." Xu Chang’an walked over holding Yun Qian’s hand. After Yun Qian took her seat, he tenderly wiped Yun Qian’s fingers with a damp brocade as usual, casually saying, "It’s the heat. If the greens are cooked at high temperature, moisture is lost, making them appear dry, which greatly affects taste."

"..." Li Zhibai already noticed that Xu Chang’an truly did not avoid others; he cared for Yun Qian openly, without feeling uncomfortable.

In Xu Chang’an’s mind, the teacher seemed to be someone who didn’t need to be avoided.

It was as if she didn’t intentionally choose the upper seat; she simply saw that there was only one chair there when she arrived at the table, with Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian sitting together, close by.

Li Zhibai couldn’t very well separate the young couple, could she?

She watched as Xu Chang’an carefully washed Yun Qian’s hands before the meal, and glanced at her own fair fingers... sighing lightly.

Ms. Yun was indeed born a noble lady, knowing how to enjoy life.

Before Li Zhibai practiced cultivation, she was just an ordinary scholar’s daughter and didn’t have a thoughtful attendant.

"Teacher?" Xu Chang’an found Li Zhibai’s gaze a bit strange.

"It’s nothing." Li Zhibai shook her head, "Mastering the heat is something you need to personally experience with your own hands."

"That’s right." Xu Chang’an nodded and then went to serve a bowl of rice, handing it to Li Zhibai.

Li Zhibai naturally accepted the bowl.

She and Xu Chang’an had a great rapport. Despite this being the first "family banquet" she attended, there wasn’t too much fuss.

Li Zhibai quite enjoyed this natural comfort.

A golden vegetable glistened with oil, laid upon rice as white as jade, with a few glistening scallions sprinkled atop.

Yun Qian had a small appetite, so she didn’t eat any main dishes.

Li Zhibai glanced at Yun Qian, noticing that Yun Qian wasn’t bothered about not receiving the first bowl of rice, but instead reached for snacks in the corner of the table and picked a grain pastry apart, delicately biting into it, looking quite pleased with the taste.

But Xu Chang’an, upon sitting down, sighed helplessly as he looked at Yun Qian, "Miss, the snacks... you can have them later, otherwise you won’t be able to eat properly again."

Yun Qian blinked, obediently handed the bitten pastry to Xu Chang’an to help finish.

Xu Chang’an, used to this, smoothly took a few bites.

Li Zhibai: "..."

What kind of snack could taste so good to delight Yun Qian so much?

She didn’t hold back, picking up a piece of the pastry and, under Xu Chang’an’s amazed gaze, took a bite.

Feeling the soft, sweet flavor in her mouth, Li Zhibai nodded slowly.

Warm upon entry, soft and fragrant, yet mixed with the fresh bamboo aroma, sweet but not cloying.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if it were the pastry that was delicious, or if Yun Qian and Xu Chang’an’s lovey-dovey display before her had piqued her appetite.

"You truly have a knack." Li Zhibai said seriously, having to admit that these snacks surpassed her skills by far, akin to the gap between her cultivation and that of the sect leader.

"Teacher..." Xu Chang’an felt bashful being praised, so he said, "Let’s... enjoy our meal."

"Okay." Li Zhibai replied.

They didn’t have the rule of eating in silence, but since Yun Qian was hungry, and Xu Chang’an was serving Yun Qian food, Li Zhibai, not having a fitting topic, was constantly confronted with their affection.

In any case, the teacher’s appetite was great, but what puzzled her was, though the table had a balanced selection of dishes, there was an abundance of meat dishes.

Such as stew, green crab, beef brisket, and those delicate, transparent dumplings resembling shrimp dumplings.

In general, a young lady’s palate wouldn’t incline heavily towards meat dishes, and women not practicing cultivation would want to keep their figure; Yun Qian’s age was past the growth phase, so she should be watching her diet. But she didn’t seem to observe dietary restrictions.

After a while, Yun Qian leisurely ate two dumplings and drank half a cup of pear juice.

Li Zhibai sensed this lavish dinner wasn’t prepared just because of her visit, seeing how practiced Yun Qian was with this style of dining, likely a common occurrence.

Was he intending to fatten Ms. Yun up like a little pig?

But then...

Li Zhibai nodded slowly.

Miss Yun indeed had an exceptionally good figure, and who knows if Xu Chang’an could manage it.

"Teacher?" Xu Chang’an felt the other’s gaze fixed on him, getting up: "Would you like some wine? I’ve warmed some."