Chef Hua
Chapter 144 - 96 You Go (First Update)

Chapter 144: Chapter 96 You Go (First Update)

The girl stood right at the entrance of the Jing Family’s small courtyard, her feet bathed in the stream of warm light that spilled from inside. She was wrapped in a fuzzy halo, her round eyes wide open and shining, her mouth slightly agape, staring at him unblinkingly, as if he were a monster who had popped out of the ground and had no business being there at all.

Meng Yuhuai only then realized that the girl no longer looked as skin-and-bones as she did when she first arrived at Fire Knife Village. Her cheeks had filled out a bit, and there seemed to be some curves to her body now. She didn’t look so rigid, except for her back, which still instinctively held itself ramrod straight.

The two of them stood face to face for a long while, with the big black horse beside them growing impatient. It pawed at the ground with its hooves and let out a low whinny. Almost at the same time, Luo Yuejiao burst out from behind Hua Xiaomai, pointing straight at Meng Yuhuai and covering her mouth with her other hand, screaming in shock, "Yuhuai... Brother Yuhuai, you’re not dead?!"

"Tch." Hua Xiaomai quickly turned her head to glare at her, "What are you saying? Who curses someone to death like that?"

Her heart felt as though a great weight had been lifted, and her entire demeanor relaxed. Despite the fierceness in her voice, there was a hint of a smile on her face.

Luo Yuejiao twisted her arm innocently and mumbled softly with her head down, "I wasn’t cursing... everyone in the village said..."

"Indeed, I encountered some trouble, but thankfully, it all ended without any real harm." Meng Yuhuai’s words seemed to be directed at Luo Yuejiao, but his eyes were looking at Hua Xiaomai beside him, "I’m also aware that these recent events have caused concern among our neighbors and fellow villagers."

Concern? What kind of concern? There were indeed those who truly worried about him, but weren’t most of the villagers simply using the situation as idle gossip over tea and meals?

While it was none of their business, and they had no real reason to fret day after day, thinking back on the attitudes of the villagers she came across while setting up her stall by the river in recent days, Hua Xiaomai was indeed not pleased—however, this supposed "displeasure" was not something she needed to express in front of Meng Yuhuai.

She paused for a moment and then followed his lead, "Yes, that’s right, not to mention others, just my brother-in-law and Great Saint alone have been so worried these past few days that they couldn’t eat or sleep well. You might not believe it, but my brother-in-law, usually so slow-paced, actually got so anxious that he developed canker sores! Just the other day, they went to Lianshun Escort Agency to inquire about your news. If they knew you’ve safely returned now, they would be overjoyed!"

In fact, Lianshun Escort Agency had learned of Meng Yuhuai and the other escorts’ whereabouts a few days earlier and had discreetly sent help to the site of the incident. Worried about gossip spreading if too many knew, they outwardly maintained they were clueless. Ke Zhenwu, seeing Jing Taihe and Great Saint anxious as ants on a hot pan, felt truly sorry but clenched his teeth and didn’t reveal a word.

"Brother Taihe and Great Saint...," Meng Yuhuai was slightly moved and heaved a low sigh, "I really owe them so much, causing them such worry. Tomorrow I must visit them to..."

"Why don’t you go right now?" Hua Xiaomai blurted out, not even considering whether it was proper for a girl to invite a man to her home late at night. She pointed to the Jing Family’s courtyard just a short distance away, "Seeing you return safe and sound would surely ease my brother-in-law’s mind, and at least he could sleep well tonight."

Meng Yuhuai bowed his head in thought, hesitating to immediately agree.

Firstly, it was somewhat late in the day, and barging into someone else’s home was rather impolite; secondly, he was also worried about his own mother, who was known for her impatience. He feared she must have been beside herself with worry these past couple of weeks, probably shedding tears more than a few times. Although he had his criticisms of his mother’s behavior, she was still his mother. In both feeling and duty, it was right for him to show his face to her as soon as possible to put her mind at ease.

Seeing he did not respond, Hua Xiaomai took a step forward and said, "You should go. I’ll prepare some food for you to fill your belly, so you won’t have to bother Madam Meng with cooking when you get home—By the way, my chili plants have bloomed, tiny white blossoms, really cute, do you want to see them?"

...See them again? Meng Yuhuai almost couldn’t help but chuckle, quickly composing himself before nodding, "All right, then I’ll go see Brother Taihe first and tell him to be at ease."