Century Square is one of the landmark attractions in East Sea City. Only older locals knew that Yuhua Alley, just two streets away, was once the city’s most prosperous street. Of course, that was fifty years ago.
Later on, Yuhua Alley became a distinctive pedestrian street, lined with snacks from all over the country. Even on non-holidays, the place was packed with people, mostly out-of-town tourists sightseeing and checking things off their list.
Fortunately, the continuous drizzle today meant that although the street was busy, it wasn’t as packed as usual.
"Xu Lai, hurry up." Ruan Tang’s eyes lit up at the sight of the street food.
Xu Lai quickened his pace, falling into step shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Due to the crowd, Ruan Tang’s cheeks would flush uncontrollably whenever she bumped into Xu Lai’s shoulder while navigating the throng of people. Every time it happened, she was reminded that the two of them were on a date.
Although they already had a daughter, Ruan Tang had focused so intently on her studies from high school through university that she’d never had time for romance. She had only been to a bar once, the first time she ever got drunk, and that was when she saw Xu Lai sitting beside her and made a move.
Remembering this embarrassing part of her past, Ruan Tang couldn’t help but cringe and cover her face. A single misstep can cause a lifetime of regret!
So, strictly speaking, even though Ruan Tang was a mother and the ice queen CEO in her employees’ eyes, when it came to romantic relationships, she was as inexperienced as a young girl who had never even dated, a completely blank page.
"This is East Sea’s famous stinky tofu. You should try it." Ruan Tang bought a portion and pushed it all into Xu Lai’s hands. Googlᴇ search novel※fire.net
"I don’t eat stinky tofu."
Xu Lai was at a loss for words. So much for being the perfect wife. And to think I was actually touched for a second.
Although the stinky tofu smelled foul, its taste was... strange. So, Xu Lai prepared to throw it away.
Ruan Tang glared at him with her beautiful eyes. "Don’t waste food!"
"...I’m a germaphobe. I don’t eat other people’s leftovers."
"I’ll buy you a new one. You finish yours, and I’ll finish mine," Xu Lai said with a teasing smile.
Ruan Tang pretended not to hear him and pointed to a milk tea shop ten meters away. "Tea Talk, their drinks are delicious!"
After waiting in line for half an hour, they finally got their two cups of milk tea. Ruan Tang took a sip, her eyes closing like a little girl’s as she murmured, "Yummy."
For the rest of the morning, Xu Lai and Ruan Tang strolled through Yuhua Alley. Although they mostly just ate and drank with little conversation, to any onlooker, they looked just like a couple.
"Young man, how about a bouquet for your girlfriend?" a white-haired woman in her sixties asked, approaching Xu Lai with a large bunch of gardenias.
Xu Lai stopped and smiled. "Ma’am, she’s not my girlfriend."
For some reason, Ruan Tang felt a pang of discomfort hearing those words, only to then hear Xu Lai add, "She’s actually my wife."
Ruan Tang pursed her lips but didn’t refute him.
"Oh, I see." The old woman looked a little disappointed. Based on her experience selling flowers on this street, it was usually young couples who were more willing to spend money.
Xu Lai chuckled. "Ma’am, I’ll take all of these gardenias. How much?"
"Three yuan each. There are thirteen flowers here, so just give me thirty-five," the old woman said joyfully.
Xu Lai pulled out a one-hundred-yuan bill and handed it to her. "Here’s a hundred. Keep the change."
Taking the gardenias, Ruan Tang flashed a radiant smile and walked away side-by-side with Xu Lai. As for the old lady behind them shouting, "Oh, you mustn’t, you mustn’t," and insisting on giving them change, they didn’t stop. In fact, they walked away even faster.
"I didn’t realize you had such a kind heart," Ruan Tang said, cradling the flowers and inhaling their sweet fragrance.
"That’s the whole point of our date, isn’t it?" Xu Lai said with a laugh.
Ruan Tang let out a soft huff, an incredibly adorable gesture, and Xu Lai couldn’t resist ruffling her hair. The motion was exactly like how he ruffled Xu Yiyi’s hair.
Ruan Tang was fuming. I take the initiative to ask you out, and you’re patting my head like a child? In public? Have I no pride?!
She swatted his hand away. "Keep your hands to yourself," she said irritably.
Xu Lai’s expression suddenly turned serious. "Ruan Tang..."
"I just noticed your hairline is a little high. Based on my analysis, you might go bald after you turn fifty."
You’re the one who’ll go bald, you big pig’s trotter!
Her face darkening, Ruan Tang stomped hard on Xu Lai’s foot and stormed off ahead of him.
Xu Lai grinned. He was starting to figure it out: Ruan Tang’s temper was like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.
He quickly caught up to her. After he promised to cook spicy stir-fried crayfish and a variety of other delicacies for dinner, Ruan Tang’s anger finally subsided.
But she added one more request—stewed pig’s trotters! The warning was clear: if he messed with her again, he’d be the one getting stewed.
For lunch, they ate at a teahouse in Yuhua Alley. The vegetarian dishes here weren’t great, and they were expensive. On top of that, the location was terrible, tucked away in the farthest corner of Yuhua Alley’s seven streets.
"This teahouse probably only stays in business because of the Storyteller, and he only shows up once or twice a month."
"We’re lucky we caught him," Ruan Tang said happily.
The teahouse had modern decor, and the staff all wore contemporary clothing. In the center, however, was a small stage where a blind elderly man sat, sipping tea to moisten his throat. Scattered around the room were a dozen or so customers, munching on sunflower seeds and drinking tea as they waited for the story to begin.
The wait stretched for over an hour.
The old Storyteller suddenly slammed his waking stick on the table. "Now, where did we leave off last time?"
"Which story are you talking about?" a customer grumbled from below the stage. "You’re a tricky old coot! All you do is start stories without finishing them. I’ve heard at least seven of your abandoned tales. You’re the king of cliffhangers!"
The other customers, clearly regulars, all laughed. The young woman leaning against the cash register nodded repeatedly. Elder Zhang’s storytelling was top-notch; it was just agonizing to listen to.
The blind Storyteller chuckled. "Well then, today let’s begin a new tale. We’ll call it ’Otherworlder.’"
SNAP! He struck his waking stick again.
His raspy voice filled the room. "The martial arts world of three hundred years ago was a realm of bloodshed and incessant conflict among the major sects. There was a young man with the surname Xu who yearned to be part of the Jianghu. Since childhood, he’d fumbled his way through understanding things like the governor and conception vessels, practicing a cultivation technique he invented himself. Perhaps his efforts moved the heavens, because he actually became a Martial Artist."
"And our story begins as this Xu Yanyang, having become a Martial Artist, takes up his blade and sets off to roam the Jianghu."
The Storyteller’s voice was neither fast nor slow, yet his first few sentences silenced the entire teahouse. Everyone held their breath, completely drawn into that world of contending heroes.
Xu Lai also listened with keen interest.
In the story, Xu Yanyang was exceptionally gifted—no, that wasn’t it... he was a heaven-sent prodigy.