Chapter 87: He Wouldn’t Let Her Talk and Madame Sun’s Recommendation

The next day morning somehow felt different to Yu Liang, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. Sunlight streamed into the small sitting area attached to his quarter, Meihua moved around the table, pouring tea as she usually do at morning. He had seen her countless times before, but knowing she was now his made her seem even more beautiful. Just looking at her was enough to put him in a good mood.

She caught him watching and smiled with a touch of shyness. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No," he said, accepting the cup. "Just thinking about how can a person be so beautiful."

Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Don’t say things like that so early in the morning."

He just laughed and teased her even more, only stopping when her pout became impossible to ignore.

They ate a simple breakfast together which contained steamed buns and a simple soup, that one of the kitchen staff had left outside the door. Once they finished, Yu Liang pulled Meihua into his arms and let her settle against him.

Meihua immediately became flustered. Her cheeks slowly turned red as she glanced frantically towards the door.

"People are going to come looking for us," she muttered.

"Hm? So what about it?"

"We still have work to do you idoit. The restaurant isn’t going to manage itself, you know."

"I know."

"A-And you have to prepare for your return trip to the sect. You said you were leaving soon, didn’t you?"

"I did."

"So stop sitting there and teasing me."

Yu Liang couldn’t help but smile. Her flustered expression was far too entertaining.

"I’m not teasing you."

She said firmly. "You are."

"I don’t think I am."

"Y-Y-You’re literally smiling right now."

"I just like seeing you like this."

Meihua opened her mouth to argue, but before she could get a word out, Yu Liang leaned down and gave her a quick kiss.

"Yu Lia–"

Before she could finish he kissed her again.

"Wait, I was–"

Another quick kiss landed on her lips.

"–trying to tell you that we–"

Then another one.

"Sto–"

Another one.

"Wai–"

Again one more landed.

By this time, Meihua had completely lost her train of thought. She stared at him for a few seconds, her face bright red, before finally giving up.

With a quiet sigh, she leaned back against his chest and stopped resisting.

"Fine," she mumbled. "Do whatever you want."

Yu Liang smiled and wrapped his arms around her.

"I was thinking," Meihua said seeing he finally stopped, "we should go out today before you leave. I heard Fragrant Cloud Pavilion just received a new shipment of Soul Nourishing Purple Tea Leaves from the Southern ridges. We could take a look it and the private rooms could also use a few better varieties."

Yu Liang raised an eyebrow. "Is that your way of asking me on a date, Manager Lin?"

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "Be serious Young Master Yu Liang, It’s for business mostly. And maybe a little bit of... spending time together before you disappear for months."

Yu Liang grinned and suddenly scooped her into his arms, carrying her like a princess.

"Yu Liang!" Meihua immediately protested. "Put me down! Right Now!"

He sighed dramatically. "Okay, okay. I’ll listen to you this time."

He delicately put her down on her feet again, getting a angry look from her in return.

.

.

.

The walk to the market district took them through many familiar streets. Yu Liang kept his senses open out of habit, but with five Nascent Soul cultivators constantly taking turns guarding Heaven’s Table and them too, he no longer felt to be on edge all the time.

So, he simply enjoyed the walk with Meihua.

When they arrived at Fragrant Cloud Pavilion, it was busier than usual. The two story shop specialises in Rare Herbs, Premium Ingredients and High Grade Tea Leaves. Several of their own people were already inside, Yue Ling carefully examined a bundle of dried spirit herbs while one of the Qi Condensation guard was comparing prices on preservation jars.

The moment Yu Liang and Meihua entered together, they immediately drew a few curious glances.

The shopkeeper, an older woman named Madame Sun, looked up from behind the counter. Her eyes moved from Yu Liang to Meihua, then to their joined hands, and her face broke into a warm and knowing smile. "Young Master Yu. Manager Lin. Good Morning to both of you."

Several other customers turned to look. A couple of regulars from Heaven’s Table exchanged knowing glances, while one of the aunties who sometimes helped with the afternoon service covered her mouth, her eyes filled with amusement.

Meihua noticed the looks almost instantly and held his hand a little tighter.

"They’re looking at us," she murmured.

Yu Liang glanced around before smiling. "Let them be."

Still, he felt little awkward. He wasn’t exactly embarrassed, but having so many people watch them like this was making him a little self-conscious.

He cleared his throat and looked away.

From near the shelf of storage talismans, Yan Ruo watched them quietly.

It was hard to believe this was the same Yu Liang she had seen in that warehouse.

But now, that same man was standing beside Meihua, looking almost embarrassed because people were watching them.

Yan Ruo couldn’t help but smile.

’He really is different around the people he cared about.’

She glanced at Hei Lang, who was pretending to examine a large sack of spirit rice but clearly paying attention to the couple.

Chen Lu, standing near the back examining incense, caught Yan Ruo’s eye and gave the smallest nod. His usual slight smile had deepened as the man seemed to be genuinely pleased by the scene.

Madame Sun approached them with a tray of sample teas. "We received a fresh batch of Silver Needle buds from the Misty Peaks yesterday. Here, give it a smell. It’s really fragrant, and perfect for calming the mind after a long cultivation session."

She glanced between the two of them again, "Though I have a feeling you two aren’t here just for business today."

"It’s for the private rooms," Meihua said, trying hard to sound casual. "We need to restock the tea and the customers in the new wing seem to prefer lighter flavors."

"Of course, of course," Madame Sun said, but her next words were completely off the topic. "Young people should enjoy their time together. The tea can wait a moment."

Yu Liang gave a small smile. "We’ll take two catties of Silver Needle, and some of the Jade Fragrance leaves from the southern ridges as well."

As Madame Sun moved to prepare the order, from across the shop, Yue Ling waved shyly, her rabbit ears twitching with obvious delight.

Hei Lang passed nearby supplies to a gaurd and looked toward Yu Liang with an amused look. "Never thought I’d see the day our boss would actually get embarrassed over something like this."

Yan Ruo shot him a warning look. "Be respectful."

Hei Lang only chuckled and kept walking

After some time Madame Sun returned with the neatly wrapped packages, she placed them on the counter one by one. Then she added a small tin to the pile.

"This one is a new blend of Rose and Spirit peach."

Meihua looked at the tin curiously.

"It’s sweet, but not overpowering," Madame Sun continued, her eyes moving between the two of them. "It’s very nice for... special occasions."

She gave them a knowing wink.

Meihua immediately understood what she meant.

"Madame Sun!"

Madame Sun laughed. "What? I’m only recommending tea."

Meihua quickly accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Madame Sun."

Then she quickly grabbed Yu Liang by the arm and dragged him out of the store before Madame Sun could say anything else.