Chapter 3: 第3章 艳遇来了挡都挡不住

Feng Jinmo’s mouth formed an "O" shape after listening. He pressed a hand to his forehead in speechless exasperation. Whether he spoke or remained silent, he was in the wrong; were this mother and daughter really this eccentric? They were practically passing judgment and sentencing him to death. That being said, the interest in the depths of his eyes grew a fraction more intense.

"Xiao Bai, since he knows he was wrong, shouldn't we give him a chance to reform?" Shangguan Ruoyu's eyes flashed, and the severity of her expression showed signs of softening.

"Right. The Master said that Heaven possesses the virtue of benevolence toward life. We cannot let him carry a criminal label just because of a small mistake made without intent," Shangguan Bai said with a look of total agreement.

Feeling like he wanted to cry without tears, Feng Jinmo hurriedly said, "In that case, I shall be the host today and invite you both to lunch. Consider it my way of apologizing. How does that sound?"

Shangguan Ling, who was utterly bewildered by her family's words, felt her eyes light up instantly. "For free?"

"Really?" Even within the cold gaze of Shangguan Bai, a faint light flickered.

The previously solemn Shangguan Ruoyu immediately turned her head. Just like her children, her eyes shone brightly as she stared straight at Feng Jinmo. "Oh my, how could I possibly accept such a gesture?"

...

At the dining table, Shangguan Ruoyu devoured all the expensive food on the table with lightning speed. Only after the vegetables were left did she lazily lean back against her chair. Holding a teacup in one hand, she took a sip and let out an extremely refreshed exclamation: "Top-grade Pre-Rain Longjing. Good tea!"

"Longjing that costs ten taels of silver for half a tael?" Hearing her mother say this, Shangguan Ling instantly tossed the matter of flirting with handsome men to the back of her mind. In this world, money was the greatest thing of all. If a handsome man was gone, she could find another, but if the money was gone, it would be a massive loss. "Pretty Brother, I have never tasted Pre-Rain Longjing before. Could you perhaps..." Her small hands fidgeted, pointing at each other in front of her chest, her slightly curled eyelashes fluttering gently. She looked incredibly adorable.

Feng Jinmo felt as if his heart had been pierced straight through by an arrow, turning soft to an almost unreasonable degree. With words laced with faint doting, he blurted out, "Ah, if you like it, you can take some more back with you."

"It doesn't cost money?" The corners of Shangguan Ling's mouth curled up so high they nearly reached her earlobes.

"Shangguan Ling, do you even know what it means not to covet another's wealth? A person should not bend their waist for five pecks of rice!" Shangguan Bai advised solemnly, her expression serious.

Shangguan Ruoyu nodded repeatedly. "That's right. We cannot accept expensive gifts."

"It's alright. It is a rare coincidence; consider it a small token of my sincerity."

Hearing this, Shangguan Bai immediately changed her tune. "In that case, we can only reluctantly accept it."

"Waiter! Bring out all the good tea you have here. We will buy it all!" Shangguan Ruoyu waved her hand grandly and gave the order loudly toward the outside of the room.

Shangguan Ling went even further, grasping Feng Jinmo's wrists with both hands, feeling immensely grateful. "Pretty Brother, you are truly a good person. You are the best, best person I have ever met!"

"Is... is that so?" Feng Jinmo felt somewhat lost in the wind. Hadn't they just been speaking so righteously? Hadn't they said they would rather die than compromise?

However, when he caught a glimpse of Shangguan Ling's blissful, sweet expression, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Shangguan Bai hugged the packaged Longjing tightly to her chest. Shangguan Ling tried to snatch it several times without success, so she sat to the side with a resentful pout, her heart full of grievance.

It was like this again! Clearly, she was the one putting in both the effort and the work every time, so why did all the sweetness end up in the hands of this cold-faced deity?

Having eaten and drunk their fill, Shangguan Ruoyu slowly set down her teacup and raised an eyebrow toward Feng Jinmo. "This young gentleman."

"My surname is Feng," Feng Jinmo said with a smile. A faint charm rippled through his features; within his seemingly wicked and unrestrained eyes, a deep, dangerous light was hidden.

*Gulp...* Shangguan Ling swallowed hard. Her palm quietly brushed against her chest, which was as flat as a plain. What was happening? Why was her heart beating so fast? Could this be... the "love" often mentioned in plays?

Feng?

Shangguan Ruoyu's smile did not reach her eyes. If she remembered correctly, that surname should be one possessed only by the royalty of the Beihai Kingdom, which was located to the north and bordered the sea adjacent to the Nanshang Kingdom. A sharp glint rapidly flashed through her deep black eyes. "Oh, so it is Young Master Feng."