Chef Hua
Chapter 383: Episode 214: Seeking Discipline

Chapter 383: Episode 214: Seeking Discipline

The summer in Tong’an City arrived earlier than in Fire Knife Village. Before May had even fully kicked in, standing beneath the blazing sun during the day would douse one with steamy heat, only for the night breezes to gradually ease that smothering oppression.

Two red lanterns hung in front of the entrance to Dong’an Inn, fluttering and clattering in the wind, their flames flickering and swaying. Before curfew, the city still saw pedestrians, and not far down the street, a dessert stall with a hanging lantern stretched shadows long and skewed.

Meng Yuhuai had spent the entire afternoon lingering at Yuan Family’s residence, where matters were nearly settled. He had intended to leave early but was unexpectedly treated to a table full of drinks by the hospitable hosts. Being a man of few words and unable to resist persuasion, he had a couple more drinks than intended. Now, as he returned to Dong’an Inn, his steps were still steady, but his body reeked of a strong alcoholic scent, and his eyes felt slightly glutinous.

Normally disinclined towards sweets, he wouldn’t have given a dessert vendor a second glance under regular circumstances. However, that evening at Yuan’s, having had too much to drink and barely touched the food, the lingering taste of alcohol in his mouth was so bitter that he urgently craved something sweet to dilute it. Seeing the vendor seemed about to close up, he quickly walked over and hesitated only briefly before asking for a small bowl of lily and mung bean soup.

"I’m staying at Dong’an Inn. Once I go in and pour out the dessert, I’ll bring the bowl back to you," he negotiated with the vendor. Hearing the lanterns rattling from behind, he casually turned his head to look around, and just by chance, he caught sight of an enlarged silhouette at the inn’s window-side table.

It was nothing but a shadow, its features indiscernible, yet he felt an inexplicable suspicion and couldn’t help but stare a bit longer, chuckling to himself for having such fanciful thoughts. He took the mung bean soup from the vendor and headed into the inn.

Hua Xiaomai had been waiting in the inn’s lobby for over an hour. Originally, the place was bustling, but now the diners had long since left, leaving it empty and hollow.

After a whole day of exhausting travels, staying seated for so long inevitably induced drowsiness. Propping her chin with her arm, she began to doze off. The young attendant at the counter, who had yawned several times, shuffled over with a sleepy slant, whispering apologetically, "Lady, your food has gone cold. Shall I have the kitchen heat it up and send it up to your room..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard footsteps from behind. Turning, he saw Meng Yuhuai and immediately felt relieved, exuberantly saying, "Leader Meng, you’re finally back! There’s a lady here who claims to be your family, waiting all evening for you!"

Hua Xiaomai jolted awake, the drowsiness instantly dispersing. Glancing up, she indeed saw the tall figure standing at the doorway. She quickly pushed her chair back to stand up, grinning broadly at him.

Meng Yuhuai stopped in his tracks, and upon turning his head and seeing her, his first reaction was utter disbelief. Once he recognized it was indeed her, a surge of warmth shot through his heart. He strode over, not rushing to speak, first looking left and right to see that no one else was with her. His brow furrowed, and without minding the young attendant still standing there, he lowered his voice and admonished, "Did you come here by yourself? Utterly reckless!"

He wasn’t truly angry, perhaps even pleased deep down, which Hua Xiaomai knew all too well. Why would she be afraid of his temper? She smiled even wider and cheekily said, "You’ve been drinking, haven’t you? Such a strong smell of alcohol, and scolding people the moment you arrive, without even showing your good side first?"

"And you still have the nerve to smile?" Meng Yuhuai struggled to keep his lips from curling into a smile, staring at her seriously, "It’s such a long journey, and as a woman, what if you encountered danger or arrived in the Provincial City but couldn’t find me? What then? You’d be in deep trouble with no one to turn to. You’re too bold! Didn’t Chun Xi and La Mei try to stop you at all?"

"Not really, I’m too clever for that!" Hua Xiaomai proudly raised her eyebrows, "Before leaving, I asked Uncle Ke specifically where the Yuan’s residence was. If I hadn’t found you tonight, I planned to wait outside their home tomorrow. No way I wouldn’t have met you! As for Chun Xi and La Mei..."

Her eyes shifted, and with a mischievous smile, she continued, "They actually did try to dissuade me vehemently, but I was so set on finding you that I wouldn’t listen. It’s not just them, even ten bulls couldn’t have stopped me!"