Chapter 529 - 0316 Makes People Feel An Xin (Two in One)

In the mortal world, it’s often said that to win a man’s heart, you must first win his stomach.

After all, men in this era don’t cook.

But with Zhu Pingniang, it’s the other way around.

She tilted her head, savoring the sweetness on her lips and her slightly accelerated heartbeat, and softly said, "Chang’an, you’ve got your sister’s stomach."

"...?"

To Zhu Pingniang’s surprise, Xu Chang’an listened to her words without the slightest hint of shyness and instead looked at her helplessly.

Zhu Pingniang was stunned for a moment, then realized she had teased Xu Chang’an too many times in the past, so he was probably used to such words.

She felt a bit helpless at that moment.

A rare moment when she wanted to say a genuine heartfelt thing... should she call it self-inflicted?

"Tsk."

Zhu Pingniang clicked her tongue, then spread her hands, pointing at a bag of candied fruits on the table and said coyly, "I don’t care... let’s phrase it another way."

Zhu Pingniang paused slightly, and asked, "Chang’an, do you want to win your sister’s stomach?"

"..."

"?"

Xu Chang’an was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhu Pingniang, who was shining and expectant, and a question mark floated above his head.

This Ms. Zhu, what does she actually want to say?

What’s all this about stomachs?

Seeing Xu Chang’an was confused, Zhu Pingniang pursed her lips: "Heartless man, you listened to my song just now, didn’t pay silver, came seeking my help... yet you didn’t even want to offer anything?"

Zhu Pingniang leaned closer to Xu Chang’an, pretending to be pitiful as she reached for Xu Chang’an’s clothes.

Xu Chang’an instinctively wanted to dodge, but when Zhu Pingniang was serious, there was no way he could escape... so he was caught by the hem of his clothes.

Those who didn’t understand might really think Zhu Pingniang was pitiful and asking him for something.

"Ms. Zhu, you... just say what you want directly." Xu Chang’an had no way to handle Zhu Pingniang, clearly she was a senior, but sometimes she acted just like a young girl.

The thing was, he knew very well this demeanor of Zhu Pingniang’s was feigned, so besides feeling helpless, he had no other thoughts.

"Hey, you scoundrel." Zhu Pingniang stopped pretending, pulling at Xu Chang’an’s clothes with one hand and pointing at her delicate face with the other: "You want a free ride?"

Xu Chang’an: "..."

"Stop acting dumb." Zhu Pingniang scoffed: "A gentleman may despise the act, those who maintain themselves despise hearing about it, but freeloading is freeloading, and it requires giving silver."

"??" Xu Chang’an suddenly felt as if a bucket of dirty water had been dumped on his head.

"Ms. Zhu, words shouldn’t be used so carelessly..."

"Did you listen to the music?" Zhu Pingniang asked.

"...I did." Xu Chang’an’s eye twitched slightly; even if he was dull, he knew he absolutely shouldn’t say he listened because she made him.

"Did you pay silver?"

"...No."

Zhu Pingniang smiled: "Even my family girls come asking me for tea, and they know to give silver."

"...Is it too late to pay now?" Xu Chang’an took out a silver note.

"What do you think?" Zhu Pingniang slightly bent over, still holding onto Xu Chang’an’s clothes without letting go, she squinted her eyes, looking very much like a charming fox.

"Also, I’m a girl from the Flower Moon Building... Are you sure you want to make a transaction with me using silver?"

"No problem." Xu Chang’an immediately put the silver note back into his pocket.

"Jus... jok... king..."

Zhu Pingniang let go of his clothes, grumpily saying, "You knew to give some benefits when seeking help from others, why is it when it’s me, you think of freeloading?"

She pointed at her face: "Do I look easier to bully than those girls on the mountain?"

"..."

Xu Chang’an looked at Zhu Pingniang’s appearance of asking for benefits; only then did he realize what Zhu Pingniang was talking about.

He stayed stunned for a while, covering his face with one hand.

So that’s what it was.

Yes, because it was Zhu Pingniang, Xu Chang’an hadn’t thought about this, it wasn’t that he was stingy, but that he remembered all these favors in his heart.

Mainly, Zhu Pingniang helped him too much, with his current abilities, any repayment would be too cheap.

"Ms. Zhu, even if I give you the best of things I have... wouldn’t it just be for you to ridicule?" Xu Chang’an thought in all his possessions combined, he couldn’t afford a Middle-grade Elixir, what else was there to say.

"Didn’t I say I’m hungry?" Zhu Pingniang said, picking up a candied fruit and putting it into her mouth, eating happily, after savoring it for a while she came back to her senses and said: "Candied fruits can’t serve as a meal."

Listening to Zhu Pingniang emphasize the word "meal," Xu Chang’an pondered for a while and tentatively said.

"Ms. Zhu, I... invite you to a meal?"

Zhu Pingniang ignored him, just asked: "Has Ah Bai eaten your cooking?"

"Hmm, there was a family feast once." Xu Chang’an nodded.

"For what reason?" Zhu Pingniang frowned: "She’s not someone who joins in the fun."

"It’s for my Miss Yun at home." Xu Chang’an said.

"Oh, to check her Elixir Field, right." Zhu Pingniang cast Xu Chang’an a sidelong glance: "Qian Cheng has eaten your cooking, Ah Bai has eaten, you see me holding this bag of candied fruits, doesn’t it make your heart ache?"

She extended a finger, her gaze alluring: "I’ve heard, while you were in the elegant room listening to music earlier, you ate the snacks on my table... Chang’an, you know girls care the most about reciprocity, don’t you?"