Chapter 224: Chapter 177: Now That’s What I Call Attacking You

There was absolutely no room for retention.

For this group of thieves who would soon be causing trouble at others’ bases again, going to the Secret Realm for training was the most important business. Yan Qing couldn’t stop her by saying, ’You need to keep getting me meals,’ could he? No one said they wouldn’t eat together in the future, just that they’re busy these days and could meet when they’re free later.

However, often ’later’ equates to ’never’.

Alright then, looks like I’ll be eating lunch alone again in the future. Yan Qing composed himself and said, "Stay safe, I have plenty of Blood Replenishing Pills, just come to me if you need any."

But Shang Xinlei didn’t follow along and say goodbye; instead, she pointed to the three dishes in front of him and asked, "Is it good?"

"Hmm?" Yan Qing glanced at the almost finished fish-flavored shredded pork, minced meat with eggplant, and fried tofu, pondered for a moment, and commented, "Compared to other dishes, it’s rather ordinary. It doesn’t meet my expectations for the top chefs, more like decent home-cooked food, suitable with rice."

"So it’s still good, right?" Shang Xinlei pressed on.

"Decent home-cooked level good," Yan Qing emphasized, "Not worth it if it’s expensive."

"Would you accept eating this kind of food every day?" Shang Xinlei appeared a bit nervous.

"It’s not that I can’t, but—" Yan Qing was about to express that his current conditions allowed him to eat extravagantly, so there’s no need to be frugal in this regard. But then he suddenly realized something and pointed to the empty plates, asking, "Is this... something you made?"

"Yeah," Shang Xinlei felt a bit embarrassed, "I’ve been learning for a few days. Although my brother said it’s already very good, I know there’s still a big gap compared to the chefs at the Kitchen God Building."

"Why did you suddenly want to cook?"

"Because I’m going to Jingxin Small Residence, where the cooks usually prepare large meals for the staff, so they’re naturally less refined. I was thinking..." Shang Xinlei’s cheeks turned red as she stared at the fish head on the plate and said, "for the next few days, I’ll just cook for myself."

"...Oh."

"Oh, what ’oh’," Shang Xinlei was immediately displeased, putting her hands on her hips she asked, "Anyway, I am going to make such dishes from now on, do you want to eat together or not? Give me a clear answer, if not, it’s fine, I make a little less because of your huge appetite."

As if your appetite is small... Yan Qing thought for a moment and said, "Actually, someone in Jiangnan City helps me buy food."

"Who?" Shang Xinlei was shocked, "Xiaoyu? Impossible, she’s with me all the time... or is it Jie Yuan Shao? Did you use Jiang Shi to hook up with her?"

"What nonsense, of course, it’s one of my subordinates," Yan Qing complained, "Do you think every young miss loves to eat as much as you do?"

As if you didn’t eat anything... Shang Xinlei raised an eyebrow and said, "You wouldn’t be sending a subordinate to stay in Jiangnan City just to help you buy food, would you?"

"Of course, it’s not just to buy food in Jiangnan City!" Yan Qing said, "He’ll go to various places in the future and bring me something if there’s good food."

"But still buying food!" Shang Xinlei was amazed, "I didn’t expect a mysterious leader hiding in the Thief’s House to be so decadent, sending people to collect gourmet food all over the place! Yellow Dog you are the kind of person who... bring me a portion too!"

"Alright, alright, I won’t miss you."

"Hey, wait a minute, since you have someone buying food in Jiangnan City..." Shang Xinlei glanced at the food on the table, "Even if I go to Jingxin Small Residence, you can still get Jiangnan City’s food."

"Indeed," Yan Qing nodded, "but recently I’ve grown tired of rich food."

"Spit it out!" Shang Xinlei’s patience was wearing thin, "What on earth are you trying to say!?"

"If you must cook yourself, I don’t mind," he said leisurely, "But if you suddenly crave something or don’t feel like cooking, I can help get food from Jiangnan City for you."

Shang Xinlei looked at Yan Qing, and Yan Qing looked at her, exchanging glances.

"Are you teasing me on purpose?" she gritted her teeth.

"Weren’t you the same last time, mutual feelings." Yan Qing’s lips curled up.

"As the saying goes, ’Better to offend a gentleman than a cook,’ aren’t you afraid I’ll spit in the food?"

"Actually, since we’re not using public chopsticks, the saliva is already mixed with the food."

Shang Xinlei was so upset she gritted her teeth, turned her head to drink the cordyceps flower stewed black chicken soup. The subtle atmosphere dissipated, making it easier to speak the words previously left unsaid.

"Why have you been talking less lately?" Yan Qing asked curiously, "Does cooking have that kind of effect?"

"Weren’t you uninterested? If I talk too much, it’ll annoy you," Shang Xinlei pouted and mumbled, "and also..."

For some reason, after that day, whenever she came to the Thief’s House to eat, she couldn’t completely relax, starting to become mindful of her manners and naturally trying to maintain the poise of a refined lady, always concerned whether her best side was being shown.

Every time she wanted to say something, she’d wonder if it was too outspoken or unreserved, so she’d just hold her tongue.

"To be honest, I’m not really interested," Yan Qing said, "but I don’t mind listening to you talk, it’s rather interesting."

Shang Xinlei tilted her head slightly, "Will it kill you to say you like it? Be honest."

"It’s not quite at the level of liking..."

"So should I say it or not?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you have some kind of charm, hypnosis, brainwashing, or character distortion technique," Shang Xinlei asked earnestly, "Otherwise, how could you be so confident about having subordinates stronger than yourself, it can only mean you’re sure you can control people far more capable than you."

"I only let you talk, not to attack me."

"Making reasonable guesses is considered an attack on you? You’re hard to please."

After eating a few bites, Shang Xinlei suddenly remembered something, "By the way, what did you want to tell me earlier?"

"Hmm?" Since the topic had drifted far, it took Yan Qing a while to recall his initial thought, "Oh, I wanted to say that your legs look good."

Yan Qing realized it might have been too blunt as soon as he said it. When he looked up, he noticed Shang Xinlei staring at him wide-eyed, biting her chopsticks with a face full of shock.

Then she turned around silently and hid her legs where Yan Qing couldn’t see them. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Indeed I’m not suited to bring up topics actively, Yan Qing thought to himself.

Suddenly, he was lightly kicked twice on his outer thigh. Looking down, he saw a pair of feet in white tights pressing against his thigh.

"Now that’s what I call attacking you." Shang Xinlei withdrew her legs, eyes twinkling with mischievousness, a faint blush on her cheeks as she provocatively glanced at him.