Chapter 283: Stomach Rumbling with Craving

For some reason, an unprecedented flutter of unease suddenly stirred in her heart.

"You... give me one." The voice was timid, yet arrogant.

Ye Qianning turned her head to see Gao Qi standing before their table.

Seeing Ye Qianning look at him, Gao Qi lifted his chin haughtily. "My family’s chef makes the best pastries."

"Then go home and eat them." Because of the issue with Prime Minister Gao, Ye Qianning had little desire to associate with Gao Qi.

"I just want to see if the pastries from Nianyunjian are as good as you all claim," Gao Qi said, his tone haughty.

"..."

’The only tough thing about him was his mouth.’

Gao Qi held out his small hand.

Ye Qianning remained still. ’Although Gao Qi isn’t a bad person, he’s the very reason Prime Minister Gao asked for an arranged marriage. The only reason Prime Minister Gao had gone to the palace to request the marriage from the Emperor was because Gao Qi had told his father how much he liked her. If she wanted to nip his crush in the bud, she couldn’t be on such good terms with him.’

When Gao Qi saw that Ye Qianning wasn’t going to move, he simply reached out and grabbed a pastry for himself.

"..."

’Oh, well.’

’He’s just a child, after all. When one person is eating, it makes everyone else’s mouth water.’

Qian Zhuye scoffed, pursing his lips at Gao Qi.

Gao Qi took a bite of the pastry, and his eyes instantly lit up. He paused mid-chew, then finished the entire piece in a few quick mouthfuls before reaching for another.

Ye Qianning pretended not to notice and grabbed two pieces for herself. ’Otherwise, this boy will eat them all in the blink of an eye.’

"Aren’t the pastries from your Gao family’s chefs supposed to be the best?" Qian Zhuye couldn’t help but needle him.

Gao Qi snorted. Ignoring the stares from the others, he calmly finished off the few remaining pastries, though it seemed he still hadn’t had his fill.

"You’d think he’s never eaten a day in his life," Qian Zhuye muttered, stuffing the remaining half of his pastry into his mouth.

At that moment, Sang Qi’s stomach, in the front row, let out an inopportune rumble. It wasn’t loud, but the others heard it crystal clear.

All eyes instantly darted to the front.

Sang Qi clutched his brush, his cheeks flushing crimson with embarrassment. He didn’t need to turn around to feel the burning stares on his back.

The study hall fell silent in an instant.

Sang Qi shot to his feet, gathered the papers from his desk, and stalked toward the door. At the threshold, he turned back and glared at the stunned group. "So noisy."

’So noisy?’

’So noisy!’

"PFFT-AHAHAHA..." Qian Zhuye burst out laughing. ’I wonder who’s really being noisy here.’

"He really takes the cake for making a fool of himself," Ye Qianning chuckled.

The corners of Sang Zhi’s own stern little face quirked into a smile. ’He’d never seen the Crown Prince lose his composure like that.’

Even Gao Qi couldn’t help but laugh.

Sang Zhi set down his brush and stood up.

"Are you finished with your writing?" Ye Qianning asked, getting up as well.

"Mm."

"Then let’s go. Time to eat."

"Mm."

Sang Zhi had a small appetite and was already full from the pastries, but he wanted to spend a little more time with her.

"Let’s go, let’s go! It’s almost dark. If we wait any longer, there won’t be any food left," Qian Zhuye said, sweeping up the assignment he had barely written a few words on.

"I’m coming too," Gao Qi said, tagging along.

Qian Zhuye looked down at him. "Don’t you get your own special meals? Why are you following us?"

Gao Qi didn’t feel like answering him, instead looking at Ye Qianning. "Why have you been ignoring me for the past few days?"

’Just a few days ago, when he was copying the Dizigui for her, they were getting along perfectly fine. How could she change her tune in just a couple of days? Girls are so hard to figure out.’

Ye Qianning turned back. Seeing his earnest expression, tinged with a hint of hurt, she thought for a moment before saying to Sang Zhi and Qian Zhuye, "You two go on ahead. I need to have a word with him."

Sang Zhi nodded.

"What are you going to say to him?" Qian Zhuye asked, confused.

Ye Qianning didn’t answer.

"Let’s go," Sang Zhi said, taking the lead and walking out the door.