Chapter 30 - 28: That’s Hard to Say

About a stick of incense later, Yun Ran was pushing Nangong Mo through the crowd. The customs of Tianchu were different from Rouran, and Yun Ran was full of curiosity and interest in the bustling marketplace. "Osmanthus cake, freshly baked osmanthus cake, come and take a look!" "Peach Blossom Brew! Finest grade, don’t miss out as you pass by!" "Ice tanghulu! Big and round! Not tasty, no charge!" On the long street, people were coming and going, and the various vendors’ stalls were dazzling. The cries of the small vendors could be heard everywhere. Yun Ran’s eyes lit up when she saw the bright red ice tanghulu, and without a second thought, she left Nangong Mo behind. But halfway there, she turned back, "Master, would you like a skewer too?" The man snorted coldly, a look of disdain written all over his incomparably handsome face, "Only an idiot would like such childish things." Yun Ran: "..." Who’s he calling an idiot? Hmm? How utterly unlovable! Very soon, Yun Ran came back happily holding two skewers of ice tanghulu, and Nangong Mo glanced indifferently at the tanghulu in her hand, slightly straightening his body with an expression of ’I don’t eat, so don’t give it to me’. Yun Ran passed the tanghulu in her left hand to... behind Nangong Mo, "Guard Feng, here!" Nangong Mo: "?!" It wasn’t for him?! Feng Xuan was a bit flattered, instinctively glanced at his master, feeling a bit uneasy, but still decisively reached out to take it. "Thank you, princess!" Nangong Mo narrowed his black eyes, casting a cool glance at Feng Xuan. Feng Xuan immediately straightened up like a pine tree, holding the tanghulu, neither eating nor not eating. Feng Xuan: "..." Master, please stop looking, I’m really nervous inside... Retracting his gaze, Nangong Mo saw Yun Ran had already squeezed in front of a fan vendor. The vendor was a young man, scholarly in appearance, with delicate, refined features and a gentle elegance. He heard Yun Ran say, "Did you paint all these fan surfaces? You made all the fan bones by yourself? Sir, your talent and craftsmanship are truly impressive!" He also saw the scholar’s face turn red, slightly lowering his head, "I’m not worthy! The lady is too kind with her praise! Which one does the lady fancy?" Yun Ran chose one with an ink landscape painting, "This one. How much?" "This one is a gift to the lady, no charge." "Ah?" Nangong Mo saw the scholar’s face turn even redder, his ears blushing too, as he said, "In this vast world, it’s a kind of fate that the lady has navigated through the bustling crowd to my stand and likes this fan, so I will gift it to the lady." Yun Ran did like the fan, and since the scholar was sincerely offering it, plus he had a demeanor as gentle and polished as jade. Yun Ran thought for a moment, then handed over the untouched ice tanghulu, lightly smiled, "I can’t just take it for free! How about exchanging this with you, is that okay?" Just as Yun Ran finished speaking, there was a ’smack’ sound as a stack of silver notes fell on the vendor’s stall, accompanied by a languid, chilly voice like a midnight ghost wind passing through, "Since Madam likes the fans, let’s buy them all." Yun Ran: "???" Blinking in astonishment, she noticed Nangong Mo, at some point, had arrived by her side, gazing at the scholar with an inscrutable expression. The scholar stood there dumbfounded, looking at the suddenly appearing man, his previously flushed face paling somewhat to white. Yun Ran took a glance at the stack of silver notes, estimating there were at least ten thousand taels, and immediately couldn’t stay calm. [This extravagant fool!] [Buying so many fans to cook and eat them?] Just as she was about to retrieve the silver notes, her hand was grabbed by the man, "Didn’t you say earlier you wanted to look at rouge and powder? I’ll accompany you." Yun Ran: "???" Looking at the man’s enchanting face, Yun Ran seriously wondered if he was possessed? When did she say she wanted to look at rouge and powder? And his tone... why did it feel a bit sinister? The man didn’t give her any chance to refuse, grabbing her hand and directly pulling her away. "Hey, hey, hey, I haven’t taken the silver notes, let go." "Guard Feng will handle it." Yun Ran: "..." Handle? How? Buy the whole stall?! But that’s exactly what happened. Soon, Feng Xuan came chasing after them, each hand carrying a sack. Yun Ran looked at the bulging sacks, her heart clenched in agony, feeling heartache! Meat pain! Body pain! [Nangong Mo, this prodigal dog of a man!] [Bird, you tell me, with him squandering like this, won’t there be nothing left when it’s my turn to inherit the family fortune?!] [Well...that’s really hard to say.] Yun Ran fell silent, suddenly finding even the tanghulu in her hand lost its taste. [How about this, on some dark, windy night, you just do this and that, at least you’ll get either wealth or beauty, right?] [... Get lost, you liar!] Just as Yun Ran was at a loss for words, she suddenly felt her hand empty. Looking down, she saw her tanghulu had ended up in Nangong Mo’s hand. Yun Ran: "..." "Master, are you robbing me now?" Nangong Mo fixed his deep gaze on the tanghulu in his hand, his gaze chilling. She actually intended to give it to that pretty boy? But not to him! "And what if I am?" Yun Ran: "..." Arrogant! Utterly arrogant! Not only that, the man even ate her tanghulu right in front of her, leaving not a single one for her. Yun Ran: "..." If only she could string his dog head onto the tanghulu skewer! While sulking, she suddenly caught sight of an old lady making sugar figurines ahead. Her stall was filled with lifelike sugar figures, from flowers and birds to fish and little people. Yun Ran blinked, a bright and cunning smile slowly emerging on her lips. "Grandma, can you make me two little sugar figures?" The old lady had kind eyes and a good-natured face. Looking at Yun Ran, she smiled affectionately, "Young lady, what would you like made? Flowers and birds? Or small animals?" "Grandma, I’d like one..." Yun Ran tiptoed, leaning in to whisper a few words into the old lady’s ear, even gesturing toward Nangong Mo a few times. The old lady chuckled understandingly, "Alright, alright! Grandma gets it, just wait a moment, and I’ll make it for you." The old lady crafted carefully, occasionally glancing up at Nangong Mo while she worked, then resumed her crafting. Nangong Mo: "..." That imp! Don’t think he didn’t hear what she said just now. The old lady was skilled and soon finished one, handing it to Yun Ran with a kind smile, "Young lady, see if you’re satisfied? If not, Grandma will make another for you." Yun Ran held the little sugar figure next to Nangong Mo’s handsome face, comparing carefully, and was utterly satisfied! Nangong Mo: "..." This cheeky girl! So blatant! "Grandma, it’s perfect! Just like this; make another one, no, make two more." "Alright!" Yun Ran generously handed the sugar figure to Nangong Mo, her eyes curving as she smiled, "Master, this one’s done, for you." Nangong Mo squinted at the miniature version of himself before him, "What are you giving me?" Yun Ran, her eyes twinkling mischievously like a fox that had stolen a bite of fish, replied, "A sugar figure! Isn’t it great! And the figure... it’s a dog, and it’s so lifelike! Master, why don’t you take a bite and try it?" Nangong Mo: "..." A dog?! Very well!