Chapter 106: Let Me Feed You

At dawn, light spilled over the inn’s rooftops, and a rich, fragrant aroma drifted out from the kitchen. Those who had been lazing in bed could not help but emerge from their rooms one after another.

“Hey, waiter, what are you making that smells so good? Bring me a serving!”

The innkeeper’s assistant wore a bitter look as he explained to the tenth guest who had asked that day, “Sir, this isn’t made by our cook. A guest borrowed our little kitchen and cooked for herself...”

If he had known that the young girl could cook so well, he would never have lent her the kitchen. Now their cook was being cursed to death by the guests!

Old Zhao came down from upstairs just in time to hear this. His eyes narrowed, and he strode toward the little kitchen.

Inside, the figure moving briskly about and humming a tune was indeed Chu Bing.

“Hongxiu, what are you doing?” Old Zhao asked as he entered with his hands clasped behind his back.

Three dishes were already set out in the kitchen, and a pot of soup was simmering on the stove. Hearing Old Zhao’s voice, Chu Bing did not turn around. She said at once, “Well, since I haven’t been around lately, the Young Master has grown thinner. I’m making him something good to nourish him.”

Old Zhao’s face darkened. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I haven’t taken good care of the Young Master?”

Chu Bing arched a brow and, without another word, picked up a chopstickful of vegetables and stuffed it into his mouth. “All right, all right. Uncle Zhao, you’ve taken excellent care of the Young Master. But I haven’t seen him in so long that I ought to put in a little more effort, so he won’t forget me.”

Caught off guard, Old Zhao had his mouth full before he could object. All his grievances vanished at once, leaving only the exquisite flavor spreading through his mouth.

Chu Bing ladled out the soup, set it on a tray, and carried it out.

The moment she stepped out of the kitchen, everyone turned to stare at the food in her hands.

Under so many watchful eyes, Chu Bing could hardly pretend not to notice.

“Miss, are you selling that food? I’ll pay you ten taels of silver!”

“Twenty taels! Little miss, just make me another serving!”

...

Chu Bing looked at the people before her in bewilderment. What was going on?

Old Zhao came out from behind her, scowling. “Move along! This is our Young Master’s maid. No amount of silver will make her cook for you!”

Then he glared at Chu Bing and said impatiently, “Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and go serve the Young Master!”

Chu Bing’s lips curved faintly. Though Old Zhao spoke to her harshly, he always defended her in front of others.

Smiling, she slipped through the crowd with the tray in hand. When she looked up, she saw Mo Han standing at the top of the stairs.

His cool, clear eyes were fixed on her, as though all the stars in the sky had gathered there for her alone.

The voices behind her faded into the background. Chu Bing froze, at a loss.

“What are you standing there for? Must the Young Master come down and fetch you himself?” Old Zhao snapped when he saw her still standing there.

Snapping out of it, Chu Bing stuck out her tongue in self-reproach and hurried up with a grin. “Young Master, I made you some nourishing soup. Let’s go back to the room and drink it slowly.”

She placed special emphasis on the words “back to the room.” Mo Han gave her a faint sideways glance, then lifted a foot and walked ahead.

Old Zhao watched the two of them go and let out a soft sigh. With the Young Master’s innocent nature, who knew whether he could withstand Hongxiu’s crafty little schemes?

In the room.

Chu Bing and Mo Han sat across from each other. Chu Bing propped her chin in her hands and looked at him with a smile. “Young Master, I got up early this morning to simmer this soup. Taste it carefully and see whether it has a special flavor.”

Mo Han raised a brow slightly. “A special flavor?”

The soup in his mouth was as savory and delicious as ever, with nothing unusual about it.

Chu Bing leaned a little closer, her eyes bright as stars. “It has my full and overflowing fondness for the Young Master...”

“Cough, cough...” Mo Han was so startled by her bold words that he nearly spat out the soup in his mouth.

Chu Bing seemed not to realize at all what she had said. Naturally, she took the spoon from his hand. “You’re such a grown man and you still don’t know how to drink soup. I’ll feed you.”

Before Mo Han could react, a spoonful of soup was already held before him.

He lifted his eyes slightly and looked at Chu Bing. The girl’s gaze was fixed straight on him. Though she said nothing, every glance from her struck him as dangerously alluring.

Ever since he had seen Hongxiu’s true appearance, he had found it difficult to look directly into her eyes.

Suppressing the restlessness in his heart, he reached out with a calm expression, intending to take back the spoon. But Chu Bing evaded his hand, and a rare streak of stubbornness appeared in her brows and eyes. “Young Master, just let me serve you this once.”

A trace of amusement flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Mo Han forced himself to appear indifferent... She was far too tempting.

Mo Han looked at Chu Bing, and the refusal that had reached his lips could no longer be spoken.

Stiffly, he opened his mouth and swallowed the soup she had fed him by hand. Strange to say, he really did seem to taste a hint of sweetness.

“Young Master...” Old Zhao came in from the doorway and immediately saw Chu Bing feeding Mo Han. The intimate scene darkened his old face. “Hongxiu, what are you doing?”

Chu Bing’s hand jerked, nearly spilling the soup onto the floor.

Mo Han looked toward Old Zhao. Old Zhao had already rushed in anxiously. “Young Master, you can’t keep indulging Hongxiu like this. Even if you don’t mind it, once you return to the manor and Master hears of it, what do you think he’ll do to Hongxiu?”

The Prime Minister would never allow the Young Master to marry Hongxiu. She would not even be worthy of being a concubine!

Mo Han gave Old Zhao a cool glance, his tone carrying a warning. “Uncle Zhao, this is not your concern.”

“Exactly, exactly! If anything goes wrong, the Young Master will handle it!” Chu Bing made a face at Old Zhao, then continued to rest her chin in her hands as she looked at Mo Han.

Even Mo Han, who had long since grown used to her, found it difficult to accept this at the moment.

Seeing that Chu Bing was acting this way without the slightest shame befitting a young lady, Old Zhao stormed in and shut the door, glaring at her. “Hongxiu, do you have no sense of propriety at all? Get up at once...”

“Oh dear, Uncle Zhao, haven’t you eaten yet either? What a coincidence, I’ve already prepared a bowl and chopsticks for you. Sit down and try some too?”

As soon as Chu Bing heard that Old Zhao was about to launch into his old lecture again, she immediately rose, pressed him into a chair, and shoved a pair of chopsticks into his hand.

She had learned that those who ate another’s food were not so quick to criticize. She refused to believe Old Zhao would still have the face to scold her after that!

Once his mouth was full of delicious food, Old Zhao indeed stopped scolding Chu Bing. His face, however, still looked rather dissatisfied.

Mo Han watched the two of them banter back and forth, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes before vanishing just as quickly.

It had been a long time since he had seen such a scene. He could not help feeling somewhat nostalgic.

“Hm? Young Master, there’s something on your lips.” Mo Han was still lost in thought when suddenly a slender, tender finger reached up and brushed the corner of his mouth.

The warm touch vanished in an instant, yet it seemed to have branded itself onto his heart, making his pulse race and his ears grow hot.