134: Chapter 14 Children Like Fathers

Having exchanged names, Guo Jing chatted with Huang Rong for a few more moments before the waiter arrived with a tray to serve the food.

Appetizers like Steamed Quail, Stir-fried Duck Webs, Chicken Tongue Soup, and Fried Mandarin Duck Tripe naturally couldn't be ready so quickly; what was served first were dried fruits, fresh fruits, salted pickles, and candied preserves.

Meng Li tasted them one by one and found the flavor to be quite good.

This was to be expected. After all, it was the most famous restaurant in the city; while it might not be the absolute best, it certainly wouldn't be bad, otherwise, it would be easy to ruin their reputation.

However, he only ate a little.

Because these weren't the main dishes and were mostly sweet; eating too much would spoil his appetite for later.

This was Guo Jing's first time eating such things, so he didn't think much of it and ate heartily, marveling at them constantly.

Huang Rong barely touched them.

Medicine Master Huang was an extremely particular and even fastidious person. Influenced by him, Huang Rong's palate was also somewhat picky.

The items before her didn't hold much appeal.

Meng Li noticed this, glanced over, but didn't pay much attention.

His main purpose for this trip was to eat; watching the drama was just incidental.

Whether Huang Rong ate or not had nothing to do with him.

Guo Jing was eating happily and didn't notice.

By the time the eight appetizers were served, he was once again exclaiming in surprise, but soon found he couldn't eat much more. It wasn't that he was truly full, but rather that the dried fruits and candied preserves he'd just eaten were mostly sweet, which had suppressed his appetite.

After a while, his movements slowed down, and he noticed that Meng Li was eating with great relish while Huang Rong had barely eaten anything.

Thus, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Brother Huang, why aren't you eating?"

Huang Rong took a sip of wine, set down her cup, and said, "I'm full."

Guo Jing became even more puzzled. "I saw that you barely ate anything. How can you be full?"

Then, as if thinking of something, he said in realization, "I know, you must be past the point of hunger. Once when I was in the Great Desert, I made a mistake, and my Master and mother punished me by not letting me eat for a day. I was starving then, but when they let me eat the next day, I couldn't eat anything."

"You must be just like me."

"But it's okay, you'll be fine in a little while."

After saying this, he took the initiative to serve some food into Huang Rong's bowl.

Seeing this, Huang Rong's eyes flickered slightly. "It's been a long time since anyone has been this good to me."

Guo Jing said, "Your life story must be very pitiful."

Huang Rong blinked and replied solemnly, "My mother died when I was one, and I angered my father to death when I was three. I grew up alone on a mountain, crawling around and eating tree bark. I ate every single bit of bark on that entire mountain."

Hearing this answer, Guo Jing lowered his eyes as if deep in thought.

A moment later, he stood up, went to his luggage, took out a scarf, and wrapped it around Huang Rong's neck.

Huang Rong asked in confusion, "What is this?"

Guo Jing replied, "You lost your mother at a young age, and I lost my father at a young age. This scarf was hand-knitted by my mother. I'm giving it to you."

"Just treat it as if your mother knitted it for you."

Huang Rong froze.

Meng Li turned his head away, desperately pressing down the corners of his mouth.

Immediately after, Guo Jing began to unfasten his belt.

Huang Rong was a bit dazed. "What are you doing?"

Guo Jing handed the belt he had removed to her and explained, "These are twenty taels of gold the Khan rewarded me with. They're yours now."

"For me?"

Huang Rong's expression was strange. Could this person be a fool?

Guo Jing affirmed, "That's right. Live a good life from now on."

Having said that, he reached out and touched Huang Rong's nose, wiping away the black soot on it, and smiled honestly, "Don't let yourself get so dirty."

Huang Rong was stunned by his action. "You..."

A second later, Guo Jing reached out and wiped her face again, then said, "See, don't you look much better now?"

Huang Rong was somewhat ashamed and annoyed, but seeing Guo Jing's clear and simple gaze, she realized he didn't do it on purpose. He hadn't even realized she was a girl and was merely caring for her as a little brother. She suppressed her urge to lash out, feeling a bit flustered instead.

Guo Jing's innocence and kindness made her unable to bear tricking him any further.

So, she dropped the words "I'm full" and turned to leave.

Guo Jing was a bit confused, not understanding why she suddenly left, and instinctively wanted to chase after her.

Seeing this, Meng Li reminded him, "It's about to rain, take an umbrella."

"Okay."

Guo Jing replied and didn't stop his pace.

Meng Li shook his head and continued drinking and eating.

To his surprise, not long after, he heard Guo Jing's shouts from the window: "Brother Huang! Brother Huang!"

Meng Li went to the window to look and saw Guo Jing holding a broken umbrella, searching everywhere for Huang Rong in the rain.

Seeing this, he drank a cup of wine and sighed softly, "In this world, there are naturally those obsessed with love; such matters have nothing to do with the wind or the moon. The ancients truly did not deceive me."

After his sentimental remark, Meng Li continued eating and drinking.

By the time he had eaten and drunk his fill, the rain had stopped.

Meng Li went straight back to the Inn and fell asleep immediately.

When he woke up, it was already dark.

He wasn't hungry for the moment, so he planned to take a walk around the Inn. Unexpectedly, not long after he started walking, he saw the Jiangnan Six Monsters scolding Guo Jing.

Meng Li found it strange, so he walked over and asked, "What's going on?"

When the Jiangnan Six Monsters saw him, they all greeted him but didn't answer the question, only leaving with sighs.

Finally, only Guo Jing was left standing there with his head lowered.

Meng Li looked at him carefully and saw that the four fingers of his clenched fist were dripping with blood. He couldn't help but say, "Did you lose a fight with someone?"

Guo Jing shook his head.

Meng Li changed the subject and asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"Not yet."

"That's perfect then, accompany me to find a place for a few drinks. If you're feeling down, drinking some wine will make you feel better."

"Okay."

A moment later, the two of them sat down in a Tavern.

After a few cups of wine, Guo Jing opened up and recounted the events in detail.

After he chased Huang Rong downstairs, she said some nonsensical things, then trampled the umbrella and left on her own.

Guo Jing didn't quite understand, but he was worried she would catch a cold in the rain, so he quickly followed her. However, he couldn't find her until the rain stopped. Just as he was about to give up, Huang Rong suddenly appeared again, followed by a group of people chasing and hitting her.

Out of necessity, he had to use his Lightness Skill to take Huang Rong over a wall to escape the pursuers.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Huang Rong disappeared again.

After searching in vain, he had no choice but to return to the Inn.

Hearing this, Meng Li couldn't help but ask, "You only met her today, didn't you? Why are you so good to her?"

"Not only giving her money and valuables but also worrying about her and helping her escape."

Guo Jing thought for a moment and replied, "Because I think he's quite pitiful and I want to help him."

Then, as if moved, he said to himself somewhat dazedly, "I've had no father since I was a child. My mother told me my father was a man of great Martial Arts, upright and indomitable, with deep affection and loyalty. Every time my mother and I were bullied, I would think how good it would be if my father could protect us."

"So, seeing Huang Rong in a pitiful state, you thought about stepping up to help her?" Meng Li asked thoughtfully.

Guo Jing nodded. "That's right."

Meng Li sighed in his heart and then asked, "Then why did your six Masters scold you, and what happened to your hand?"

...