You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 14

Qiao Yiying was first startled by the transformed inn’s decor, then immediately stunned again by the dishes that were served.

After gaining fame in Jiangnan, many had rushed to curry favor with her, so she had seen her share of extravagance. Jiangnan cuisine was renowned for its meticulous preparation and exquisite presentation, and she had witnessed countless refined dishes. But none could compare to the spectacle before her—these were mere apprentices compared to a master.

She felt she could be full after just sampling each dish once. The centerpiece, “Phoenixes in Flight,” was truly sculpted with a phoenix standing proudly in the center. Was this food or a work of art? The golden shimmer on top—could it be gold dust?

Qiao Yiying gazed at Wang Lianhua, feeling like she wasn’t looking at a person but a walking, sentient gold ingot. Good heavens, is Wang Lianhua really this wealthy?

Wang Lianhua sighed. “Time was short, so this is all I could manage. Please try it first. If you don’t like anything, just tell them to prepare something else.”

Qiao Yiying didn’t pick up her chopsticks. Instead, she grabbed the Water Tablet and brush, writing, “This is far too extravagant.”

“How could this be a waste?” Wang Lianhua’s gaze toward Qiao Yiying was gentle and warm. “I feel I haven’t put enough effort into it. My friends deserve only the best the world has to offer.” After yearning for her for so many years, he wished he could give her half of everything he owned. What he had done so far felt insufficient, not wasteful at all.

If anyone who knew Wang Lianhua were to witness this scene, they would surely exclaim, “I must be seeing ghosts!” While some might find his flamboyant behavior endearing, no one would ever describe him as a warm person. Yet now, he radiated warmth, making it seem like a ghostly apparition.

Qiao Yiying peered into Wang Lianhua’s eyes, seeing only sincerity. She wrote, “Do you consider me a friend?” Though the System had informed her of future interactions between her and the past Wang Lianhua, she still couldn’t quite grasp the reality of their friendship.

After all, he was the mercurial Thousand-Faced Young Master Wang Lianhua. Shen Lang and his companions had only become his friends after numerous encounters and shared experiences. Could he truly be her friend already? Qiao Yiying couldn’t quite believe it.

Wang Lianhua said earnestly, “You and I are naturally friends. Our bond is beyond comparison to others. I would share everything with you—we are the best of friends.”

Years ago, he had been drowning in confusion and pain, his bitter resentment threatening to bury him alive. Even under the bright sun, he felt trapped in darkness, unable to see a single ray of light. But her arrival had shattered the gates of his heart, allowing light to shine upon it and enabling him to maintain clarity amidst his confusion and hatred.

With such a deep connection, how could they not be friends? They were undoubtedly friends—the closest kind, sharing everything without reservation.

Qiao Yiying sensed Wang Lianhua’s genuine sincerity and felt immense admiration for her future self. The fact that the future her had earned such high regard from Wang Lianhua left her utterly impressed. With this thought, she wrote, “But I have nothing to share with you.”

All she possessed were some silver and a jade flute—nothing else. Wang Lianhua himself lacked for nothing; her meager wealth, though considerable to others, would likely be a mere drop in the ocean to him.

“Just watch,” Wang Lianhua said to Qiao Yiying with a smile. “Is that alright?”

Qiao Yiying blinked, feeling like something about his words was off. Was this just a conversation between friends? But then she remembered that even close friends could get jealous, so maybe it wasn’t so strange after all. She continued writing, “Alright.”

At that moment, she forgot what she had told the System—that she needed to observe Wang Lianhua carefully to see if they were compatible. But even if she had remembered, Qiao Yiying wouldn’t have worried much. In the future, she and Wang Lianhua would become such good friends that he would offer her half his family fortune. How could they not be compatible? They were destined to get along!

Seeing those two words, Wang Lianhua’s smile bloomed like a summer-blooming crabapple, radiant as brocade. “Can I have this?” he asked, pointing to the Water Tablet in Qiao Yiying’s hand. “I’d like to keep it as a memento.”

Huh? Qiao Yiying was a little dumbfounded. This can be a memento? Though she thought this, she still handed him the Water Tablet. After all, he was willing to share half his family fortune with her. Giving him a Water Tablet was nothing in comparison.

Wang Lianhua carefully tucked away the Water Tablet, thinking he would later use a carving knife to engrave the characters, ensuring they wouldn’t fade over time. He then presented Qiao Yiying with a newly crafted, more exquisite Water Tablet. “Since I took yours, I’ll compensate you with this.”

Qiao Yiying stared at the tablet, clearly made of purple sandalwood and adorned with intricate carvings around the edges, giving it an air of unparalleled opulence. She felt numb, as if she had traded a worthless pebble for an equal weight of gold.

“Let’s eat quickly before the food gets cold and loses its flavor,” Wang Lianhua said, ladling a bowl of soup for Qiao Yiying after securing the Water Tablet. “Try this.”

Qiao Yiying hesitated, then wrote on the purple sandalwood tablet: “Don’t order so much food in the future. Wasting food is wrong.”

The concept of cherishing food was deeply ingrained in the bones of most Chinese people. No matter how wealthy one became, wasting food was considered unacceptable. Their table was laden with nearly ten dishes—far more than they could possibly finish.

Wang Lianhua chuckled. “Don’t worry, Yiying. I can handle it.” She hadn’t changed at all; she had said the same thing to him years ago.

Qiao Yiying cast him a skeptical glance. With Wang Lianhua’s slender frame, he hardly looked like someone with a hearty appetite.

“Martial artists naturally eat more when they move more,” Wang Lianhua said, raising an eyebrow. “If you don’t believe me, just wait and see. We won’t leave a single bite.” He wasn’t lying; the ten dishes had been prepared according to their appetites. The side dishes didn’t count.

Qiao Yiying nodded and picked up her chopsticks. Hmph, if we can’t finish it all, I’ll roll my eyes at him later and give him a long, silent lecture when we get back. Even though she couldn’t speak, she’d make sure Wang Lianhua knew that wasting food was…

He actually finished it all. Qiao Yiying stared at Wang Lianhua in astonishment, then glanced at his waist. He was wearing a dark robe embroidered with auspicious clouds outlined in gold thread, cinched at the waist with a matching belt that emphasized his slender, toned figure.

How can someone with such a slim waist eat so much? Qiao Yiying wondered if she’d imagined this entire meal with Wang Lianhua.

Just then, Wang Lianhua tilted his head toward the inn’s entrance and said with mild surprise, “He’s arrived sooner than I expected.”