Chapter 258 - 255: Performance Revealed

Chapter 258: Chapter 255: Performance Revealed

"My dad did that on purpose."

Ye Ling said with a casual chuckle, not seeming to mind at all.

"On purpose?"

Ning Ruoxi blinked, her wide eyes full of confusion.

"He probably wanted to give us some time alone."

Ye Ling said offhandedly.

In fact, he could tell what his father was thinking from the look Ye Feng had given him.

’So it’s not just "no one knows a son like his father," but also "no one knows a father like his son"?’

"Oh, so that’s it..." Ning Ruoxi said, sticking her tongue out playfully.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected this side of Ye Feng.

’What a surprising side to him!’

"Come on. Since he’s given us this chance, we should make the most of it and explore. Besides, I’ve never been to a temple fair before," Ye Ling said with a smile, wrapping his arm around Ning Ruoxi’s waist.

"Okay!"

Ning Ruoxi rested her head against Ye Ling’s chest, her reply adorably docile.

’To be honest, I really did want to walk around with just Ye Ling. I’d feel a little shy if Ye Feng were here.’

’After all, being all lovey-dovey with Ye Ling right in front of his dad would be a bit inappropriate, to say the least!’

With his arm around Ning Ruoxi, Ye Ling walked and chatted with her, just like any other young couple on the street.

Ning Ruoxi listened with great interest as Ye Ling told her stories about Pingjiang, her bell-like laughter ringing out from time to time.

"Hey there, handsome, want to buy a candied hawthorn skewer for your girlfriend?"

Suddenly, an old woman on the side of the street called out to them with a smile.

"Candied hawthorn?!"

The moment she heard those two words, Ning Ruoxi’s eyes instantly lit up.

Without waiting for Ye Ling to say a word, she stopped dead in her tracks. She turned her head, her eyes glued to the skewers of glistening red candied hawthorn.

"Want some?"

Ye Ling looked at Ning Ruoxi in his arms and asked with a smile.

"Mhm!"

Ning Ruoxi nodded, her expression adorably earnest. "I do!"

"You’ll get cavities if you eat too much," Ye Ling reminded her.

"No, I won’t! I won’t! I just wanna eat it..."

Hearing this, Ning Ruoxi pouted and wheedled, hugging his arm.

Ye Ling looked down at the girl before him.

Her brow was slightly furrowed.

’That pouty, aggrieved look is just too adorable!’

"Oh, come on, young man. It’s the New Year! How is one treat going to give her cavities?"

The old woman at the stall chimed in.

"That’s right, that’s right!"

Ning Ruoxi nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at grain.

"Alright, fine. One skewer of candied hawthorn for the three-year-old."

Ye Ling said with a smile, "Go on, pick one out yourself."

Ning Ruoxi’s cheeks flushed, and she shot him a playful, reproachful glare.

She knew, of course, that he was teasing her about the time she’d pestered him to build a snowman, claiming to be a three-year-old.

Still,

she went ahead and picked out the biggest skewer she could find.

’Oh, whatever!’

’I’ll forgive him—for the sake of the candied hawthorn!’

"Young man, your girlfriend is so cute. She reminds me of my own granddaughter."

The old woman laughed.

"Hahaha, you’re right. She’s like a kid who never grows up."

Ye Ling paid and ruffled Ning Ruoxi’s hair, his eyes full of adoration. A sweet smile spread across Ning Ruoxi’s face in response.

Seeing how sweet Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi were together, the old woman’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

"Here, here. Seeing you two so in love, let me give you another one on the house. Consider it a blessing for a long and happy life together."

The old woman took down another skewer and handed it to Ning Ruoxi.

"Thank you, Grandma!"

Ning Ruoxi cheered in pleasant surprise.

"Thank you, Grandma."

Ye Ling also said with a smile.

’Small towns are like that. Compared to the big cities, they have a little more heart.’

’Something like this would never happen in a huge metropolis like Modu!’

’It’s a fundamentally different situation. The vendors at a temple fair like this are mostly locals just setting up a stall for fun...’

’A temple fair in a big city?’

’Forget about it!’

’If you want to set up a stall there, a single spot could cost you over ten thousand for just one day.’

’So of course everything is expensive!’

Ye Ling had his arm around Ning Ruoxi, who now held a skewer in each hand, a look of pure satisfaction on her face.

"Is it good?"

Ye Ling asked with a chuckle.

"Mhm!"

Ning Ruoxi bit off another hawthorn berry, her cheeks puffing out like a little frog’s. It was ridiculously cute.

"You have some too!"

Ning Ruoxi suddenly held a skewer to Ye Ling’s lips, her words muffled.

An idea sparked in Ye Ling’s eyes. He ducked his head and chomped down two of the berries in one go.

"Hey, you ate two of them!"

Ning Ruoxi’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Ning Ruoxi had eaten two, and now Ye Ling had eaten two more. The skewer had only started with five!

Staring at the nearly empty skewer, Ning Ruoxi felt incredibly wronged.

"You didn’t tell me how many I could eat."

Ye Ling replied, looking perfectly justified.

"Hmph! You jerk!"

Ning Ruoxi shot Ye Ling an indignant glare, wriggled out of his arms, and jogged a few steps ahead of him.

A smile played on Ye Ling’s lips as he caught up. Walking beside her, he blinked innocently. "Mad at me?"

"Hmph!"

Ning Ruoxi let out an indignant huff and ignored him, turning her attention to her other skewer of candied hawthorn as if she was afraid he’d snatch it away.

"Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Take your time, they’re all yours."

Watching the way she protectively guarded her food, Ye Ling couldn’t help but find it amusing. He reached out and pulled her back into his embrace.

’Fine!’

’I guess this is the legendary scenario where a boyfriend is less important than a skewer of candied hawthorn.’