Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Beauty, Delicacies, and Fine Wine
The sky gradually darkened.
Humming an unfamiliar tune, Zhang Lexuan strolled casually out of her office, heading straight toward Sea God Lake with practiced ease.
There was no need to search deliberately. From a distance, the flickering flames marked the boy's location, prompting her to quicken her steps instinctively.
As she drew closer, Huo Yuhao's busy silhouette became clearer in her sight.
A gentle breeze passed by, and his deep blue eyes seemed to shimmer faintly, reflecting the flickering flames. The orange glow lit up his breathtakingly cold and elegant face.
His ink-black hair cascaded down his shoulders, and Zhang Lexuan had no doubt that if not for his fair skin and the new student uniform he wore, the strands of hair swaying with the wind might blend seamlessly into the night, making it difficult to discern them.
Noticing her presence, Huo Yuhao instinctively raised his head. When his face broke into a smile, the icy aloofness that kept others at bay melted away like snow under the sun, replaced by an indescribably gentle aura.
In that moment, an invisible force seemed to strike her heart, making Zhang Lexuan's heartbeat falter briefly.
Though she saw Huo Yuhao every day, perhaps it was the tranquil surroundings sharpening her focus, or maybe it was the moonlit lake's silvery glow, but she felt an even deeper appreciation for the boy's appearance in this instant.
Who wouldn't be captivated by this sight?
"You're quite early, Sister Lexuan. Just wait a bit longer—the roast meat is almost ready," Huo Yuhao said cheerfully.
Zhang Lexuan swallowed, and a soft hum escaped her throat before she realized it. Her eyes flickered momentarily, and she suddenly pulled out an exquisite-looking bottle of wine from her storage space, waving it toward Huo Yuhao.
"Mind if I have a drink?"
"Huh?"
The amber liquid in the transparent glass bottle swirled enticingly, its shimmer under the moonlight resembling countless stars, dazzling and tempting.
"What? Is it so surprising that I drink?" Zhang Lexuan asked, noticing the slight astonishment in Huo Yuhao's gaze. Her lips curved into a faint smile as she offered a low explanation.
"I used to have a drink occasionally when under a lot of pressure, though I haven't touched alcohol much in the past two years."
Her gaze shifted to the roasting meat in Huo Yuhao's hands. Sniffing lightly, she added, "Today, I just thought it'd be nice to pair a drink with good food."
Huo Yuhao shook his head with a light laugh. "It's not strange, just unexpected. I didn't think someone like Sister Lexuan would drink."
"Oh?"
Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Lexuan took out a glass from her storage, poured herself half a cup, and curiously asked, "So, what kind of person do you think I am?"
"Hmm..."
Lowering his gaze as if in thought, Huo Yuhao stared at the dancing flames. He recalled his impressions of Zhang Lexuan from his previous life. After some time, he handed her a freshly cooked skewer of roasted meat, answering earnestly, "I think Sister Lexuan is someone who exudes courage."
In his past life, Zhang Lexuan had possessed a determination unmatched by others. She always seemed to know exactly what to do, unfaltering in her resolve.
Her ability to remain steadfast on her chosen path without caring about gains or losses earned her such high praise from Huo Yuhao.
Surprised by his answer, Zhang Lexuan's hand paused as she accepted the skewer. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she took a moment to scrutinize Huo Yuhao under the moonlight.
After a prolonged silence, her shoulders relaxed, and she took a casual sip from her glass.
Moments later, a faint smile played on her lips—whether due to something amusing or Huo Yuhao's response, it was hard to tell.
"That's quite the unexpected answer. I thought you'd say, like the inner court disciples do, that I'm gentle."
Savoring the wine's rich aroma, Zhang Lexuan clicked her tongue and remarked, "Though I don't know what you were thinking, the word 'courage' has never been used to describe someone like me."
With that, she took a bite of the roasted meat. The flavors bursting in her mouth made her eyes curve into crescents with delight.
Huo Yuhao merely smiled at her words, neither refuting nor agreeing, as he also picked up a skewer of meat and took a bite.
For a while, the only sounds were the gentle breeze from the lake and the sizzling of oil dripping onto the coals.
When she finally swallowed her meat, Zhang Lexuan glanced at her wine glass and then at Huo Yuhao, shaking her head with a hint of regret.
"Such a pity. If you were older, you could've joined me for a drink."
Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes at her teasing, his tone resigned. "Sister Lexuan, if those admirers of yours in the inner court saw you like this, their jaws would drop. Am I going to be silenced afterward?"
"That depends on you," Zhang Lexuan quipped with a sly grin. "I wouldn't go as far as silencing you, but if word gets out, don't blame me for making your life difficult in class."
As if suddenly remembering something, she reached for her storage soul tool. "Want some juice?"
"Sure. It'd be a shame not to toast with Sister Lexuan at a time like this," Huo Yuhao replied.
She retrieved a cup and a bottle of deep red juice, holding it up proudly. "This is my favorite juice. Try it."
Huo Yuhao took the bottle, uncapped it, and poured himself a full glass. A single sip filled his mouth with a delightful mix of tartness and sweetness, making his eyes light up.
"This is amazing!"
"If you want, I can pretend not to notice if you decide to sneak a drink," Zhang Lexuan teased, her tone mischievous.
Huo Yuhao chuckled, savoring the flavor before replying, "Bring out all the drinks, Sister Lexuan. Let me impress you today."
"Oh?"
Intrigued, Zhang Lexuan arched an eyebrow but said nothing more. She began pulling out bottle after bottle of expensive-looking wines, their varied colors dazzling under the firelight.
"What are you up to?"
"You'll see soon."
A mysterious smile played on Huo Yuhao's lips as radiant icy scales emerged on his hand, covering it entirely.
With swift, fluid movements, he mixed various liquors into a cup made entirely of ice, creating a drink whose rich aroma tantalized the senses.
Finally, after adding a snow lotus petal as a garnish, Huo Yuhao presented the shimmering, frosty drink to Zhang Lexuan.
"Try it, Sister Lexuan."
Intrigued, she took the glass, her gaze flickering with curiosity as she took her first sip.
(End of Chapter)
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Tingfei
Tingfei In the next period, the chapters may be posted unevenly because I am currently quite busy with exam preparation and essays.
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