Li Xiaoyao has become a scumbag? Honestly, no one had ever called him that before, but Lin Tiannan's words were hard to refute.
Already married—to a princess no less—yet Li Xiaoyao still entered a tournament to compete for another bride. If that wasn't scummy, what was?It was like a modern man hiding his wedding ring, pretending to be single while chasing after other women.
Alex, standing nearby, opened his mouth, wanting to defend Li Xiaoyao.
But he couldn't find the words. Lin Tiannan's reasoning was too solid, too sharp to argue against. Now that news of Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Linger's marriage had been confirmed, the people of Lin Fort were quick to act, searching for them.
For Lin Tiannan, lending a hand cost nothing, but it could secure powerful alliances. Who knew? Maybe the kingdom itself would shower them with rewards, perhaps a thousandfold return.
Over the next few days, Lin Fort's forces spread out. Alex and Liu Jinyuan were also busy, chasing leads on Li Xiaoyao and the snake demon.
The snake demon had been wreaking havoc lately, leaving a trail of death, and Alex figured this was the perfect chance for Liu Jinyuan to gain real combat experience.
"Cousin Yueru, let me carry that for you…" Liu Jinyuan said as the group set out, his eyes drifting toward Lin Yueru with concern.
She had insisted on joining after learning they were going after the demon. As Lin Tiannan's daughter, she claimed it was her duty to help.
But the way she carried herself—with her heavy luggage and fine clothes—made it look less like a dangerous hunt and more like a countryside outing. Honestly, if it were easier, she'd probably have dragged her maid along too.
"Cousin, your bag's already huge. You should carry it yourself." Lin Yueru wasn't the type to act unreasonably. Seeing Liu Jinyuan's load, she couldn't bring herself to dump her burden on him.
"Don't worry, cousin Yueru. Training with extra weight will only make me stronger," he said, brushing off her refusal.
"Hmph…"
Lin Yueru's gaze shifted to Alex. He stood there calmly, carrying nothing but the sword strapped to his waist.
Compared to her and Liu Jinyuan, loaded down with bags, Alex looked far too carefree. A flicker of irritation crossed her face.
Look at him, empty-handed. If he ends up needing food later, I won't share with him. Well… maybe just a little. But only if he carries my bag afterward, she thought sourly.
Alex ignored her sulking.
After a long walk, the sun reached its peak, blazing overhead. Alex led them toward a nearby lake and dropped down onto the grass.
"Finally! Let's rest and eat," Lin Yueru said, happily setting her large pack down. She pulled out a food box filled with delicacies
"Cousin Yueru, I brought your favorite—Chicken," Liu Jinyuan said, sitting beside her with his own food box. Then, glancing at Alex sitting empty-handed, he hesitated. Of course, he couldn't just let Alex go hungry. He pulled out another box and stood, heading toward him.
"Hey! What are you doing? He didn't bring anything, and we broke our backs carrying all this. Why should we share with him?" Lin Yueru snapped, glaring at Alex.
True to her nature, she was still as stubborn and spoiled as ever. But unlike Li Xiaoyao, Alex didn't bother arguing with her.
He simply smiled, unfazed by her words.
After resting for a while, Alex casually pulled out a large picnic blanket and spread it neatly on the grass.
"Huh? Why's he carrying something like that?" Lin Yueru and Liu Jinyuan exchanged puzzled glances as they watched him.
Without a word, Alex placed his hands behind his back. When he brought them forward again, several fine porcelain plates appeared in his grip, which he calmly set down in place.
Next came the silverware—knives, forks, and glasses—produced as if by sleight of hand.
Liu Jinyuan was so stunned that the food box in his hands slipped to the ground. He simply stood there, frozen, staring blankly at Alex.
Lin Yueru wasn't faring any better. Her chopsticks hovered mid-air, forgotten, as she stared with wide eyes at the little display of "magic."
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Alex continued. Out came roast chicken, roast duck, a bottle of red wine, and even a neat arrangement of fresh fruit.
"Wait—where did he get all this from?!" Lin Yueru finally blurted, eyes darting between their humble lunchboxes and the feast Alex had just laid out. Even the abalone she had been proud of suddenly looked pitiful in comparison.
The cousins didn't even hesitate. They stood up at the same time and walked straight toward Alex's spread.
"Hmm… roast chicken with red wine. That's a clumsy pairing," Alex murmured to himself with a faint shake of his head. "A nice medium-rare steak would've gone much better."
Both Lin Yueru and Liu Jinyuan, just within earshot, froze mid-step. Their expressions darkened instantly.
All their lives, as children of wealthy and prestigious families, they had thought they lived in luxury. But compared to Alex's effortless extravagance, they suddenly felt like complete provincials.
"I always thought our family was treating Alex generously," Lin Yueru admitted after a moment. "But now… I can't help but feel we've been neglecting him."
"I feel the same. My family must've seemed so lacking when we first hosted him," Liu Jinyuan agreed with a sigh.