As Nangong Lingyun was studying Zhu Zhuqing, the little kitty's pupils also reflected the image of the young man opposite her.
She didn't know why, but despite never judging people by their looks or even paying attention to appearances, in this moment, her heart unexpectedly stirred with an inexplicable feeling.
There was a unique kind of attraction about that person.Graceful and elegant, handsome and carefree, confident and noble—every flattering word in the dictionary could be applied to him and still fall short of describing him.
Just a slight smile from him was more heartwarming than all the spring breezes and sunrises put together.And paired with that familiar face from her memories, she found herself dazed for a brief moment.
"Mm."
Coming back to her senses, the little kitty quickly nodded, letting out a sound as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Her usual cold, aloof demeanor completely crumbled on the spot. Her pretty face flushed slightly as she screamed internally in utter mental collapse.
"Zhu Zhuqing, what the hell are you doing?! Zoning out while staring at a man—and right in front of him, no less! How embarrassing can you get?"
Frustration aside, she also felt confused. She'd never experienced such emotional turbulence around anyone else before.
Not just losing her composure, but the anxiety and nervousness that followed—it was totally out of character for her.
Back when she hadn't escaped from that place,her heart was filled only with anger and urgency, every second spent on high alert. There was no room for anything extra.
Even if something embarrassing happened, she wouldn't care. She'd just block it out and return to her intense training in the next moment.
Was it just because he saved her?Fortunately, the other party didn't seem to notice her awkwardness.
With the same warm smile, he asked gently:
"How are you feeling?"
"Not... I mean, I feel great. Also, thank you—for saving me yesterday."
Using her usual icy tone to deal with her savior would have been extremely rude.
And being cold to a handsome young man who cared about her? Even more unreasonable.
Zhu Zhuqing berated herself again for her disgraceful behavior and quickly tried to explain,but since she wasn't used to normal conversations anymore, her words came out choppy and awkward.
"That's good. You slept for a full day and two nights—you must be starving. Go ahead and eat something. I ran into an unlucky little snake this morning and made some meat porridge. Hope it suits your taste."
"Oh, and don't worry about your clothes being changed. Xiao Wu helped clean and dress your wounds. I just finished up the treatment afterward."
Nangong Lingyun definitely had his eyes on the kitty's body, but he wasn't the type to go about it that way.
Especially since he had his "external cheat" (system), and as long as he followed the plan, he was guaranteed to get the girl in the end—there was no need to be impatient and screw things up for himself.
As he spoke,he walked over to the campfire. His hand turned golden as he reached directly into the flames and pulled out a clay pot.
The moment he lifted the lid, a rich, mouthwatering aroma burst forth.
Nangong Lingyun didn't know how to cook many dishes, but this snake stew was his specialty.
A random experience from his youth had left him longing for that taste ever since,to the point that he could now tell which culinary school a chef belonged to just by how they made this dish.
Zhu Zhuqing was a bit surprised. Though she hadn't paid much attention to details like this before, his thoughtful gesture somehow made her feel a little warmer inside.
When Nangong Lingyun served the porridge and handed it over, she was just about to politely decline,but the aroma hit her nose, and her stomach immediately betrayed her—growling loudly in rebellion. She had no choice but to accept the bowl and chopsticks, then obediently sat on a smooth stone near the fire and began eating.
The moment it entered her mouth, the rich, delicious flavor made it impossible to stop.
One bowl.Two bowls.Three bowls...
Half an hour later, the little kitty stared blankly at the now-empty clay pot. Her delicate white face was instantly covered by her hands, turning red like blood.
Her toes clenched tightly into the ground. Her emotions were in absolute chaos.
"Aaaaah! Zhu Zhuqing, where is your brain?! Did you leave it at home? How could you eat all his food by yourself?!"
While screaming inside, she hurriedly apologized out loud.
"S-sorry! I'll go catch another one for you right now! I'll be right back!"
Before she even finished speaking, Netherworld Civet possessed her body, and she dashed out of the campsite like she was fleeing from a crime scene.
As she ran, confusion boiled in her mind. This isn't how she normally acts.
Something's wrong.Seriously wrong.Zhu Zhuqing, you've been acting weird ever since you woke up. Do you even realize it?
The little kitty realized that something was off. Why did everything the other person did seem to tug at her heart so much?
She wasn't supposed to be this emotional or impulsive.
But even after realizing how odd her behavior was, she still followed her most primal instincts.
A few minutes later, Zhu Zhuqing returned with a century-old Soft-Boned Rabbit.
This type of soul beast had tender meat, almost no offensive power, and was easy to catch. It was a favorite among the nobility and a frequent guest on dinner tables.
But upon seeing it, Nangong Lingyun's expression turned awkward.
"Due to... special reasons, I don't eat rabbits."
Xiao Wuwas a rabbit. He'd have to be out of his mind to eat soft-boned rabbit in front of her.
Also, for the sake of future harmony in the Crystal Palace, it was necessary to be aware of certain taboos early on.
This wasn't about simping—it was just basic human decency.
Of course, he still intended to eat well tonight. Very well.
"I'm really sorry—I didn't know!"
Netherworld Civet vanished again in a flash, her face so red it looked like steam might burst from her head.
The second time, she took a bit longer to return.
And yet...
"This is a venomous snake, and its meat is toxic. Not really suitable for cooking."
"Ah—s-sorry! I-I'll be right back again!"
Another ten minutes passed.The little kitty came staggering back, both arms wrapped tightly around a deer's neck. Despite the creature struggling and letting out distressed calls, she was bent over, butt in the air, dragging it back to camp with great effort. Her face was both embarrassed and hopeful as she looked at the young man.
"This one... can we eat this?"
Nangong Lingyun tactfully didn't mention that deer meat wasn't ideal for breakfast.
But seeing her finally get his approval, Zhu Zhuqing let out a huge sigh of relief—though her face still looked unnaturally stiff.
Now she finally understood what it felt like to completely embarrass yourself in front of someone important.
It hurt.It hurt so much.It hurt down to the soul. She seriously wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.
Nangong Lingyun wasn't great at cooking deer, but thankfully his practical skills were strong—and his flair for showing off was top-notch.
With Diao Chan providing a recipe precise to the second and gram, system-grade seasonings, and help (or sabotage) from two bumbling assistant chefs, they finally managed to present a complete, delicious full-deer banquet.
After the meal, he casually brought up the assassination attempt from two days ago.
(End of Chapter)