Feng Guang thought about maybe just tackling Xue Ran right there, but her stomach growled loudly at the worst possible moment. She hadn’t eaten, and after throwing up everything in her stomach earlier, she was now even more hollowed out. Looking up at him pitifully, she said, “I’m so hungry…”
Xue Ran found her pitiful look amusing but held back from teasing her, clearing his throat to hide his laughter. He handed her a paper-wrapped package and said, “Here, eat this.”
“It’s a steamed bun!” She eagerly bit into it, talking with her mouth full, “I was wondering why there wasn’t even one steamed bun in the kitchen. Turns out you took it!”
“I figured you hadn’t had dinner and would be hungry, so I made a trip to the kitchen.”
“Xue Ran, why are you so nice?” She gazed at him admiringly, eyes sparkling like stars.
Under her intense gaze, Xue Ran’s face began to feel warm. “When I didn’t see you in your room, I thought I’d come find you… then ended up seeing you getting captured.”
“And the mask?”
“I borrowed it… from a little girl from the Tang Clan.”
“Little girl? How little?”
In response to her questioning, Xue Ran chuckled, “Oh, about six or seven years old.”
He couldn’t help feeling a little childish, thinking back to when he’d bartered a piece of osmanthus cake to get the mask from the little girl. He hadn’t done it out of fear of being recognized by the Demon Sect’s leader—he’d just thought it’d be fun to surprise Feng Guang by showing up masked and mysterious. Maybe she’d even joke about repaying him with her life!
Thinking back now, he felt a bit silly, almost like a young boy.
Hearing that the girl was only six or seven, Feng Guang laughed happily and took his hand. “Alright, let’s go find our way out!”
“Alright.” Xue Ran held her hand, and together they walked deeper into the chamber.
Gradually, the sound of dripping water echoed as they ventured further. The Tang Clan’s mastery of traps was legendary, and this secret chamber was one of the most guarded places within it, filled with all kinds of deadly devices.
On high alert, Feng Guang followed Xue Ran closely, nerves wound tight. Suddenly, she noticed him pull out a piece of parchment. After a moment, she asked, “What’s that?”
“A map of the Tang Clan’s secret chamber. Senior Sun gave it to me.”
“…Why didn’t you say so earlier?” She’d been worrying for no reason!
Xue Ran replied matter-of-factly, “You never asked.”
This exchange suddenly reminded her of a conversation she’d had with Shan Ya in the bamboo grove. One person said it was fine, but two? She was starting to wonder if maybe the problem was her.
She fell silent, which Xue Ran wasn’t used to, as he preferred her usual chatty self. “What are you thinking about?”
She answered offhandedly, “Thinking about how handsome you are.”
“Mm.” He nodded and kept holding her hand as they walked.
Feng Guang’s eyes widened. His reaction was just “Mm”? That’s it?! Every other time she complimented his looks, he’d look like a flustered little wife, making her feel almost like she was harassing him. But thinking about it, lately, he’d been handling her teasing with more calmness, sometimes even flirting back.
When someone calls you handsome, and you can accept it without so much as a blush, it almost feels a bit… self-absorbed, doesn’t it?
Feng Guang felt like she might have uncovered a hidden side of Xue Ran.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1