cold clothes

Zhao Qun led Leng Yi into the dining hall, asked Leng Yi to sit down, and then took off the bamboo hat from Leng Yi's head.

The moment Zhao Qun removed Leng Yi's bamboo hat, he met her deep blue eyes and felt a strange shock rise in his heart. His expression was slightly surprised, and he stared at Leng Yi without blinking.

Leng Yi also looked at him, and after a while, a question appeared in her eyes.

Zhao Qun blinked as if he had come to his senses, and coughed lightly while covering his mouth with his hand, saying, "I was just checking if your head injury was serious, don't misunderstand."

The person wearing the cold clothes actually had a bandage wrapped around their head.

"What misunderstanding? You were clearly staring at my face," Leng Yi thought to herself.

However, this made Leng Yi less nervous around Zhao Qun. Since Zhao Qun was after her beauty, it meant he had a weakness.

Soon the steward entered with several maids carrying dishes, and a table was filled with a dazzling array of food.

Zhao Qun sat opposite Leng Yi, her eyes like stars, and smiled, "I don't know what you like to eat. These are all the chef's specialties. See if you like them?"

"What will happen if I don't like it?" Leng Yi suddenly wanted to be cheeky, but her facial expression didn't match, and she asked coldly.

"What do you mean, how?" Zhao Qun asked, puzzled.

"It's...the kind of plot you often see in storybooks..."

"What plot?" Zhao Qun asked, resting his chin on his hand in confusion, his expression filled with even more curiosity.

Well, he didn't understand his own joke. It seems he needs to tone it down when interacting with the Third Prince. Leng Yi quickly said, "It's nothing, Your Highness, please pretend you didn't hear anything."

How embarrassing!

"Oh, you mean if you don't like it, I'll slam my fist on the table in a rage and yell 'Drag the chef out and give him fifty lashes!'" Zhao Qun suddenly realized.

"..." It was even more awkward! The Third Prince said it so seriously, making Leng Yi look like a fool. Leng Yi couldn't say yes or no.

"Haha, is that the kind of person you see me as?" Zhao Qun laughed heartily, looking at Leng Yi with great interest.

"Of course not," Leng Yi hurriedly said. "I just... Your Highness, please just assume I've lost my mind." Leng Yi tried to explain, but couldn't find any excuse, and could only lower her head in shame.

"It doesn't matter if she's really silly. If she's beautiful, being silly is still beautiful."

This was a bit uncomfortable to hear, but Leng Yi forced a smile to ease the awkward atmosphere: "I'll just take it as Your Highness praising me."

It was indeed a compliment. Zhao Qun smiled inwardly. He could sense that Leng Yi was always somewhat obsequious and reserved in front of him, which he could understand, but he preferred her unconsciously revealed eccentricity, uninhibitedness, and carefree nature, which he found quite novel.

In Zhao Qun's eyes, Leng Yi was like a rare and unique antique that suited his taste. Just like when he first saw the Akhal-Teke horse from the Western Regions, his sense of novelty towards Leng Yi had not yet faded, and his fondness for it was growing day by day.

Unfortunately, it will take some time before I can have her.

They ate in silence, neither speaking nor sleeping. Afterwards, Leng Yi hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke:

"The chef's skills are excellent."

"Is that so? Manager Wu, reward the head chef with a year's salary."

"Yes," Manager Wu replied with a smile.

Leng Yi's cheeks flushed slightly. Wasn't this a practical way of saying that he wasn't cruel but rather kind and compassionate? How embarrassing! She would never be abstract again; no one understood her humor.

"Would you like to play chess?" Zhao Qun invited Leng Yi.

"It is an honor to be invited by Your Highness."