AZI Volume 5 Chapter 9

Raising a sigh, Mo-laoban glances at the others, and says—

"Feel free to start eating. This is a wedding after all."

"Elder sister, did you clear the restaurant just for this?"

Towards Nuo'er's question, Mo-laoban chuckles, and answers—

"Who would want a bunch of faceless strangers attending their own wedding just to have a presentable number?"

"A wedding I didn't agree with…"

Towards Long Hua's remark, Mo-laoban returns her attention to him, and asks—

"And what exactly are you dissatisfied with, my dearest?"

Raising her right hand, Mo-laoban pinches Long Hua's chin—as if she is an examining a fragile gemstone.

"Surnamed Mo, we don't even know each other."

"Maybe that's the case right now, but the future is everchanging."

Shaking off Mo-laoban's hand, Long Hua replies—

"I don't have feelings for you."

"But I have feelings for you. If you like someone, you should stick to them, I'm only following what I believe in."

Despite being given permission to eat, not a single person is willing to take their eyes off the two's exchange.

Narrowing his eyes, Long Hua asks—

"What exactly is it that you even like about me? I don't mind changing it to something that you'd dislike."

"Does a person really need a reason to like someone else?"

Smiling while blinking her amber-colored eyes, Mo-laoban adds—

"Not to brag, but most men would get down on their knees, and beg me for my hand in marriage."

Appearance wise, Mo-laoban is well above average. As for status and wealth—

"Besides, marrying me means you become the proprietor of this restaurant."

"…"

With this restaurant serving as an auction house as well, it's inevitably going to be a place where items of high value will be swapped from one hand to another. Being its proprietor under these circumstances means—

(If I see any magic treasures being registered, I can negotiate with the seller ahead of time, and buy it directly off them. That would be convenient…)

(*-laoban, she kind of has you beat. Also, she's basically saying it's fine if you're just a gold digger. Honestly, she's a rare one.)

Ignoring the Tai Xuan Emperor's remark, Long Hua says—

"There's no such thing as a free lunch between Heaven and Earth. What do you get out of this, surnamed Mo?"

Maintaining her smile, Mo-laoban answers—

"As my husband, you have a duty to entertain me by playing the flute for me. Ideally, one tune a week. If you miss a week, you must make up for it."

"Anything else?"

"Since you're going into the ruins, you must naturally bring back as much loot as possible. Purchasing items directly from sellers isn't exactly cheap—even if the currency used is mortal realm currency. Sometimes NWDs—regardless of their amount won't ever be enough for a collector to part with one of their treasures; in that case, you can trade them for it with something else. Also, if you find any flutes in the treasure pile—be sure to bring it back to me in one piece. Finally-"

Leaning closer to Long Hua's left ear, Mo-laoban whispers—

"When we're alone, call me Wu Xiao."

"Hm…-?"

Before Long Hua can reply, Wu Xiao presses her index finger to his lips.

"…"

Watching Long Hua and Wu Xiao's exchange, Yao Ying thought—

(So, this is how a real woman would behave?)

"…"

Beneath the table, Nuo'er types out a text message, and sends it out before pocketing the device.

"…"

Towards Wu Xiao's mischievous smile, Long Hua shuts his eyes, while thinking—

(Can't be that simple. …If she's considered to be a part of the Ling Yuan family, is this a way to keep an eye on me? Tch...… Unpleasant bastard.)

Reopening his eyes, Long Hua looks to Mo-laoban, and receiving the harsh gleam that is emanating from the former's glare, the latter thought—

(There's that gleam again. …I see.)

Despite not knowing the entirety of the situation, Mo-laoban is still able to take a few guesses, as she playful remarks—

"I should add, don't just keep calling me surnamed Mo out in public. At least get a bit creative with how you'd address me as your wife."

"I can accept being proprietor, but I can't accept you as my wife."

Raising a frown, Wu Xiao asks—

"Are you certain that you want to be so difficult, my dearest?"

"Ahn…?"

"If word gets out about what you did to me when we first met, both of us will be made to lose face. Think about it, people will immediately assume that the rice has already been cooked between us. By that point, if you go out of your way in an attempt to clear things up, they'll only assume you're making an excuse, and label you as a womanizing scumbag. My reputation will suffer, yes, but yours will be worse—much worse. I'm pretty sure everyone who was here today see you as a complete lunatic; committing sex crimes isn't beneath you—is the impression everyone has of you right now."

"…"

As someone who cares about his own face and reputation greatly, this is probably Long Hua's worst nightmare.

"Due to my restaurant also serving as an auction house, I have plenty of connections with newspaper companies. It would only take a few calls, and our names will appear on the front headlines—the morning after."

As Long Hua's expression darkens, the Tai Xuan Emperor remarks—

(This woman, she's vicious…)

Blinking her eyes, Zhen Qing Huai thought—

(I didn't think even Long-xiong would be able to make a face like that.)

Chuckling lightly, Bai Wen thought—

(A vicious man, and a vicious woman, these two actually go together surprisingly well.)

Contemplating for a bit, Zhen Rong asks—

"Long-shao, should I call you Long-laoban from now on?"

In response to this question, Long Hua pinches the bridge of his nose, while Wu Xiao says—

"I guess our matter is settled then? From now on, you're the Lan Si Restaurant's proprietor. I've already informed all the workers of this ahead of time."

Picking up a cup of clear rice wine, Wu Xiao takes a sip out of it before offering it to Long Hua.

(An indirect kiss?)

(Is he going to accept?)

Waiting to see how Long Hua would respond to the situation, not a single person blinked their eyes.

Staring at the offered cup, Long Hua recalls a memory from his previous life. Within this memory, he was holding a woman by her neck.

"…"

Taking the cup, Long Hua turns it to the side that wasn't touched by Wu Xiao's lips.

Raising the cup, and tilting his head towards the ceiling, Long Hua pours the remaining wine directly into his mouth.

"Pfff, a method like that exists? Ai, I'm impressed."

As Bai Wen laughs aloud, Wu Xiao smiles with satisfaction, and says—

"As proprietor, the doors of the Lan Si Restaurant are always open to you. Here, you may dress and talk in whatever way you like."

Setting the cup down, Long Hua—who still feels a bit off about the situation, finds some comfort in these words. To be able to dress and talk in whatever way he likes, this might just be considered the greatest luxury in this world.