Just before they reach the downtown, Lu Xinyi stopped the car and stepped outside to look around. She was sure there was a bike rental shop nearby. When she saw Lu Feiran stepped out, w.a.n.g Zhuyi followed him. Her gaze scanned the area around her. It was her first time being in a place like this. She looked down on herself, glad that she didn’t wear something so eye-catching.
“Brother Fei, why did we stop?” she inquired. She moved beside him to calm her nerves.
“Ahh, Miss w.a.n.g. I’m sorry for troubling you, but we need a change in transportation. Using that slick car would sure get everyone’s attention. If we use this car, we wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable by others gazes.” Lu Feiran said before leaning forward to whisper to her ear. His warm breath tickled w.a.n.g Zhuyi’s skin. “And I will rather be the only one looking at you.”
Lu Feiran stepped away in a good distance from her as if he had never uttered those flirtatious words to her.
“Oh, found it! Let’s go, Miss w.a.n.g. I can’t wait for you to try some of my favorites.” He exclaimed and held out a hand at w.a.n.g Zhuyi.
w.a.n.g Zhuyi’s fingers slightly trembled and hesitated to offer her hand, but before she could make up her mind, Lu Feiran s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand and intertwined it with his. Lu Feiran led her towards the biking rental shop, and w.a.n.g Zhuyi could only look down on her hand that was clasped against his.
She noticed then that Lu Feiran’s hand was a little calloused, but there was a weird softness on his palm. She also noticed that there were horizontal scars on his finger. Even his little pinky had a bandaid on it.
“Brother Fei…” She was tempted to ask what happened and where he got those injuries.
Lu Feiran released her hand to talk to the shop owner. In less than five minutes, a bicycle was set for them to use.
“Thank you, Mr. Owner! We promise we’ll take care of it!”
Lu Xinyi got on the bicycle and had it steady. “You may get on now, Miss w.a.n.g,”
w.a.n.g Zhuyi hesitated again but decided to go with the flow. It wasn’t every day that she’d be given a chance to spend time with such a charming and handsome man. If she couldn’t have President Shen, then she will just turn her feeling to this prince who can smile bright like the sun.
She sat behind Lu Feiran and wrapped her slender arms into his slim waist. She could feel her face heating up again from the close proximity she had with him.
“Hold on tight, Miss w.a.n.g.” His smooth baritone voice was enough to make her blush.
Their bike left the main street and took turns into smaller ones. Lu Xinyi was thankful that the woman behind her was pet.i.te and not heavy so she had no problem pedaling the bike. If she had her husband behind her, she knew she would need heroic strength to pedal off.
Since the weather was a little chilly, using the bike wasn’t uncomfortable for Lu Xinyi. She just hoped that the woman behind her wouldn’t complain about the sudden change of their plans.
“The first place we’re going to try is very popular in this neighborhood. I a.s.sume you have tried hand-pulled beef noodles before?” Lu Xinyi asked. She felt w.a.n.g Zhuyi s.h.i.+fted in her seat to get closer to her back and wasn’t surprised to feel her head against it.
“I’m ashamed to admit, but I haven’t tried it, Brother Fei,” the woman responded behind her.
“What? Then, you are truly missing out something, Miss w.a.n.g! Let me give you a tour then. I’ll make you experience the taste of the commoner’s snack so you won’t have to say you haven’t experienced it in the future.”
“Then, Brother Fei, if you put it that way, can I pay for my share instead?”
“Oh, no, dear. I can’t possibly let a beautiful girl as you pay for her meal.”
w.a.n.g Zhuyi chewed her lip and didn’t protest any longer.
“The place I picked is considered clean so don’t worry about getting stomach flu. It’s just it is located in the roadsides and small alleys.”
“I’m fine as long as Brother Fei is sure and will guard me anytime.”
Lu Xinyi smirked at that. “I wouldn’t mind being your bodyguard today. I can even give you a full-body inspection anytime.”
She cursed inwardly when she heard what she just said. Her husband was rubbing off his perverseness into her too much. Lu Xinyi bit her tongue, hoping she could stop herself for saying indecent remarks. She wouldn’t want w.a.n.g Zhuyi to think that he was some kind of pervert hitting on her.
“Shouldn’t you be giving others an inspection and not me?”
‘Brother Fei, please have pity on my poor soul,’ w.a.n.g Zhuyi cried mentally.
“Ahh… silly me. Of course, you are right, Miss w.a.n.g.” Her stomach chose to growl at that moment, making w.a.n.g Zhuyi laughed behind her. “Aiya, it seems my tummy couldn’t wait for too long.”
Lu Xinyi rode the bike faster and finally reached the noodle stall. An old granny welcomed them with a smile and led them inside. w.a.n.g Zhuyi checked the shop. It wasn’t bad at all. Just like Brother Fei claimed, it was deemed clean and safe although she could tell that the shop itself needed some renovations.
There were few customers already, and Lu Xinyi led her guest to her favorite spot. She lifted a hand to get the owner’s attention.
“Aunty! Two bowls of hand-pulled noodles, please! And also some steamed dumplings for my date.”
Minutes later, two huge bowls of noodles were served in front of them. Lu Xinyi placed some dumplings on w.a.n.g Zhuyi’s plate.
“Miss w.a.n.g should be careful not to scald her tongue.”
“Thank you, Brother Fei.”
The aroma of this noodle dish was really tempting. w.a.n.g Zhuyi picked up her chopsticks and leaned her head down to check her noodles before lifting her eyes only to see her Brother Fei eating.
In this close range, w.a.n.g Zhuyi could see his thick eyelashes sweeping across the top of his cheeks, and his nose wasn’t that tall but didn’t look bad at all. His features even turned softer as he ate his share. This was the first time that she’d seen a man this up close.
When Lu Feiran ate, his movements were sure and elegant. It was slow but didn’t show a hint of pretentiousness. It seemed like he was truly enjoying his meal. w.a.n.g Zhuyi then admitted to herself that she’d truly blessed to meet someone like him.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like the taste?” Lu Xinyi asked in confusion.
w.a.n.g Zhuyi panicked. Afraid that the man caught her ogling at him. She shook her head and start eating by dipping her spoon first to the broth to give it the taste. As soon as the broth met her tongue, it was a.s.saulted by such flavors that she didn’t know existed.
She was so used dining at fancy restaurants that she barely paid attention to try the local cuisine. In truth, Lu Feiran was the first one who convinced her to eat at a commoner’s place, and she didn’t regret agreeing to his request.
Such broth that burst with meaty flavors that were accompanied by the freshest colorful vegetables. The noodles were not overcooked. How was it that in her twenty years of existence, she wasn’t able to eat such a delicious dish if it wasn’t for her Brother Fei?
She picked up some noodles, gently placed it in her mouth, and—without thinking—slurped it in one go. Realizing what she had done, she worriedly lifted her head only to see Lu Feiran lazily cupping his chin with one hand, watching her eat her noodles.
“I’m so sorry… I…”
‘”No need to apologize. What you did was right, Miss w.a.n.g. You are supposed to slurp it to show the cook you truly enjoyed his cooking.”
“Really?” She never heard such a thing before. In her training as a proper lady, she was forbidden to act recklessly and slurping a drink or a meal too loud would make other people look at her with disgust.
“Of course, Miss w.a.n.g. Don’t you trust my words?”
“I trust you, Brother Fei! I believe you!” w.a.n.g Zhuyi exclaimed.
“If you love it, you can try these steamed dumplings. I know they don’t look special or anything, but I a.s.sure you, it’s better than what you’ve tasted before.”
Lu Feiran smiled back at her, and it was then w.a.n.g Zhuyi realized that she wanted all his smiles only for herself. She followed Lu Feiran’s suggestion and took one dumpling to taste. In just one bite, it released a mouthful of hot, juicy broth that reached every sense on her tongue, creating an explosive mixture of flavors.