Chapter 40: The Arrogant Girl

No one naively believes that everyone in the world is genuinely benevolent. When someone on the street casually offers help, people instinctively suspect that there might be ulterior motives.

The old man had lived for many years and encountered numerous people. Even though the young man in front of him seemed younger than his granddaughter, he found it hard to let go of basic caution.

Sensing the old man's inexplicable gaze, Cheng Xiao immediately gestured with his hands, "Old sir, please don't misunderstand. I recently arrived in Tian Dou, and wandering alone in the city can be quite boring. I just want to make more friends, no other intentions."

Friends?

The old man smiled without saying a word. On this continent, countless people wanted to befriend him but couldn't find a way. Those who could genuinely call him a friend were renowned figures in the world.

This young man, who happened to cross paths, wanted to be friends?

Seeing the lack of response from the old man, Cheng Xiao could not ignore the implied rejection. He sighed lightly, realizing it might not be possible to establish a connection with him. He had already noticed that the old man was not an ordinary person. Cheng Xiao had the intention to make friends, hoping to tap into his network and find a reliable force to rely on.

Cheng Xiao didn't insist; he knew building his own connections in an unfamiliar place was challenging. The casual attempt, successful or not, didn't matter much. His main focus was on Moon Pavilion.

"Well, I should..." Cheng Xiao was about to take his leave.

Suddenly, the young girl beside the old man gently tugged at his sleeve.

The old man glanced at his granddaughter, feeling somewhat amused. Surprisingly, his granddaughter was pleading for this young man. After a moment's thought, considering her lack of same-age friends while wandering around, he softened and agreed.

"Alright, my granddaughter has never been to Tian Dou City. Since you claim to be familiar with it, why not accompany us? You can also share some insights about Tian Dou City with her."

Cheng Xiao's words of farewell got stuck in his throat. He glanced at the girl, partially hiding behind the old man, and saw her ears turn slightly red. She buried her head, drawing circles on the ground with the tip of her foot.

Huh? Did he take the wrong approach? Should he have started by getting closer to the girl?

Oh, well, can't be too hasty!

Various thoughts flashed through Cheng Xiao's mind. He smiled and said, "I'd be honored."

For the next half a day, Cheng Xiao guided the grandfather and granddaughter around Tian Dou City, introducing various landmarks and features. Fortunately, he had gathered information about Tian Dou City in the days before, making his explanations fluent and not giving away his status as an outsider. With anecdotes from his past life mixed in his explanations, he managed to amuse the young girl.

As they walked, the old man, who had been silently listening, gained a new perspective on Cheng Xiao. Having visited Tian Dou City many years ago, he had never gained such detailed knowledge. This young man had some unusual talents.

By noon, the old man suggested, "Let's find a place to eat something. We can continue sightseeing in the afternoon."

The young girl was still eager, but feeling her somewhat empty stomach, she nodded in agreement, "Okay."

"Well, let me take you to a particularly famous restaurant. It should suit your taste," Cheng Xiao suggested.

Realizing the girl's importance, Cheng Xiao set his sights on her for his strategy. Thus, he intentionally inquired about her preferences while on the way.

Now, it came in handy!

Cheng Xiao led the way, and the three of them arrived at a restaurant. After introducing a few famous dishes and placing their orders, they took their seats.

"May I ask where the old sir's friend lives? Do you need me to guide you?"Cheng Xiao took the opportunity to inquire after they were seated.

The old man shook his head and decisively refused, "No need. My friend doesn't like strangers, so there's no need to trouble you."

Cheng Xiao didn't dwell on it and shifted the conversation to other matters. The dishes also arrived one after another.

"How is it? Is it delicious?" Cheng Xiao asked with concern. He realized that making progress with the old man would be difficult, and the breakthrough point had to be the young girl.

"Yeah." The young girl bit her chopsticks, nodded shyly. Apparently, she didn't expect Cheng Xiao to remember her preferences.

As long as she enjoys the meal! Cheng Xiao smiled like a fox. Dealing with a little girl was like taking candy from a baby.

Just as he was about to increase his favorability, suddenly, a series of smashing and banging sounds came from the next table.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The three of them were startled. Following the sound, they saw a girl overturning the entire table of dishes onto the floor. All eyes in the restaurant converged on her.

"Ptui, Ptui, Ptui! What kind of food is this! It's disgusting!" The girl, dressed quite decently but with an air of arrogance, stood on the table after smashing the dishes on the floor. She scolded, "Is this what they call the Seven Marvels of Tian Dou? Ptui! Even my dog at home wouldn't eat this!"

The people in the restaurant looked displeased, and Cheng Xiao wrinkled his brow, putting down his chopsticks, losing his appetite.

What's going on? So, you're saying your dog wouldn't eat it, implying we're worse than your dog? People were instantly disgusted, scolding the girl one after another.

"What does a girl like you know? If you don't want to eat, then don't!"

"Which wild girl dares to be so arrogant outside? Looking for trouble, aren't you? No one will pamper you here!"

"Hmph, who are your parents? I'd like to see which dog eats so well every day. Probably feasting on delicacies every day?"

Faced with the accusations, the girl remained unafraid, sneering at everyone, "My family's dog eats soul beast meat every day. Can you afford it?"

People choked, their faces turning red.

At this moment the restaurant staff reacted. The head chef, accompanied by a group of burly men, surrounded the girl menacingly and said, "Little girl, are you here to ruin our reputation? Don't you see where you are?"

"This place is like a royal palace, the food must be terrible, just like always," the girl retorted, wrinkling her nose at the head chef and making a face.

 The head chef almost exploded with anger. Pointing at the girl, he shouted angrily, "Capture her! Capture her for me!"

"Wait!"

Suddenly, a low voice came from outside. As the voice fell, a group of soldiers in armor entered in an orderly manner, and a handsome man strode into the restaurant.

The moment Cheng Xiao saw the man, his pupils shrank. How could it be her?!

The entire restaurant fell silent, and the soldier, standing tall near the entrance, emitted a bloody aura that made everyone's scalp tingle. No one dared to make a sound. Some even recognized the man and couldn't help but swallow their saliva, beads of cold sweat forming on their foreheads.

Seeing the man, the girl, who was standing on the table, rolled her eyes like a mischievous spirit and quickly jumped off the table, slipping towards the window.

"Rong Rong, don't run. I've already blocked the windows," the man said helplessly.