Chapter 31: No Longer Alone

Chapter 31: Company

Ye Tian yawned, waiting boredly for his meal, while Alansa continued to giggle quietly. The burly man cast a glance their way; Alansa snorted and returned to her food. “Thank you for waiting,” the beautiful waitress said as she placed Ye Tian’s dish before him. “Oh, thank you,” he replied.

Ye Tian awkwardly picked up the knife and fork and began to eat, still not used to it. The waitress smiled and departed. Just then, the waitress who had been teased earlier approached with a sizzling steak on an iron plate. Suddenly, a foot sneaked out from beneath the table, blocking her path.

Someone called from behind, and the waitress turned to look, unaware of the mischief ahead. She stumbled. “Ah!” she cried out, and the hot steak nearly slipped onto her.

Ye Tian moved swiftly, catching the waitress before she could fall, then snatched the tray from midair. With cloud-like softness, he stuck to the scalding iron plate, gently flipped it, and caught the steak as it spun.

All of it happened smoothly and naturally. Amid the astonished stares of the crowd, Ye Tian completed the rescue. He steadied the waitress, smiled, and said, “I was just thinking of trying your steak. I’ll take this one. If you don’t mind, please prepare another.” With that, he placed the steak on his table and handed back the tray.

“Oh, oh, thank you, thank you,” the waitress blushed, sneaking a glance at Ye Tian. At once, whistles echoed through the restaurant. The waitress’s cheeks grew redder. She managed a shy thank you, covered her face, and hurried away.

Ye Tian acted as if nothing had happened, picking up his knife and fork to eat. The steak, now properly cooked from the flip, was just right; otherwise, it would have been only medium rare, which he disliked. The ingredients had mixed together in the air, infusing the flavor deep into the meat.

“Mmm, mmm! So handsome!” Alansa clapped for Ye Tian. “Miss Alansa, that was really embarrassing,” Ye Tian said helplessly. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? That was really cool!” Alansa’s eyes sparkled.

“Ah, let’s eat, let’s eat!” Ye Tian continued chewing his steak, admitting to himself that the beef was indeed top quality—so chewy! “Hey, Gehr, how did you do that?” Alansa asked curiously.

“What do you mean?” Ye Tian replied.

“I mean the move where you caught the steak with the tray,” Alansa tried to describe it. In that instant, Ye Tian’s tray seemed to have a magnetic pull, sticking to both wood and iron without budging!

“Oh, that’s called Cloud Hand. It’s quite simple,” Ye Tian said.

“Simple?” Alansa thought about it—there was no way she could manage that. “How do you learn it?” she asked.

“Cough, cough!” Taya coughed.

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“Oh, sorry,” Alansa scratched her head sheepishly.

“It’s fine,” Ye Tian smiled, glancing at Taya, who quickly turned her head away. “The simplest method is speed,” Ye Tian mused, picking up a table knife. “Watch closely.” He began to show off, his fingers moving nimbly.

“Amazing!” Alansa’s mouth hung open, and even Taya looked surprised. Ye Tian’s fingers performed various tricks, occasionally twisting his wrist, but impressively, the table knife never moved from its original position.

Finally, Ye Tian flicked the knife upward and caught it. “Did you get it?”

“No!” Alansa exclaimed excitedly.

“Sigh, wasted effort,” Ye Tian lamented.

“Speed, timing,” Taya suddenly spoke up.

“Oh, what a beautiful voice,” Ye Tian thought. Taya’s voice flowed like orchid fragrance in a secluded valley, refreshing and ethereal—what could have created such an unearthly charm? Taya blushed, quickly turning her face away.

“This is your malt ale, please enjoy,” a voice interrupted their conversation. “Oh, thank you. Wait, I didn’t order any ale,” Ye Tian turned to find the waitress from earlier.

“Thank you for helping me,” she said shyly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Are you alright?” Ye Tian asked.

“I’m fine, thank you for your concern. This is on me. My name is Lila. If you need anything, just call for me.” She gave him a shy glance and walked away.

“Ho ho!” Alansa laughed exaggeratedly. “She gave it to you!” Ye Tian hurriedly pushed the glass toward her.

“Really, thank you so much!” Alansa’s eyes gleamed; she grabbed the glass and drank it all at once.

“Wow, impressive!” Ye Tian noticed that the girls in this world must have great drinking tolerance. Alansa finished the whole glass of golden ale with no change in her expression. Ye Tian smiled and continued his lunch.

After eating, Ye Tian paid the bill and left under Lila’s gaze. “Do you need something?” Ye Tian asked Alansa and Taya, who were following him.

“Oh, nothing. We just wanted to ask if you’d like company to Feipuli Academy,” Alansa said with a smile.

“You’re going too?” Ye Tian was surprised.

“Yes, actually, it’s not me—it’s Taya who wants to go,” Alansa explained.

“And you know the way?”

“Of course, or how do you think we got here?” Alansa complained.

“That’s great! Let’s go!” Ye Tian said eagerly.

“What’s the rush? We haven’t bought any supplies yet. You’ll starve on the road,” Alansa grumbled. This guy really doesn’t know anything; how did he even make it here?

“Alright, how long will it take?” Ye Tian asked.

“About two hours. Aren’t you coming?” Alansa replied.

“No, I’m not,” Ye Tian said, puzzled. Alansa was about to protest, but Taya tugged at her and pointed to Ye Tian’s backpack.

“Oh, I see. But you still have to come with us,” Alansa insisted.

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Ye Tian soon regretted it. Alansa’s insistence on him coming along was simply to make him carry things. “Hey, are you done yet?” Ye Tian lost count of how many times he’d asked.

“What’s the hurry? Let me check if there’s anything useful for the road!” With that, Alansa dragged Taya into a shop Ye Tian couldn’t enter.

Looking through the window at the thin fabric pieces, Ye Tian realized what kind of store it was. After some time, the two girls came out, disappointed—though it was only Alansa who looked disappointed; Taya’s expression was unchanged.

Ye Tian’s chest twitched a few times. Alansa asked, “Gehr, what are you hiding in your chest?”

“Oh, it’s my pet,” Ye Tian replied. “Probably still asleep.”

“A pet? What kind of pet?” Alansa’s eyes sparkled, and she lunged at Ye Tian.

“Stop!” Ye Tian quickly used the bags to fend off Alansa’s attack. “Miss, mind your image. Do you really want to tear a man’s clothes off in the street?”

“Oh, right,” Alansa withdrew her claws. “Then we’ll check at the inn.”

“That’s not happening!” Ye Tian roared.

Though they’d said two hours, the afternoon passed in endless shopping. As dusk fell, Ye Tian felt tricked. “Hey, Miss, it’s evening.”

“I know.”

“It’s getting late.”

“I know.”

“It’s evening!” Ye Tian roared.

“I know!” Alansa shouted back.

“Heh, now you have an attitude?” Ye Tian frowned. Suddenly, his sleeve was tugged—he turned to find Taya pulling it.

“Sorry,” she said. Ye Tian’s anger vanished. He patted her head. “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

“Unfair!” Alansa pouted. “Hmph, someone just doesn’t know how to behave!”

Ye Tian shrugged. “You just lost track of time shopping.”

“I apologize, alright?” Alansa muttered.

“Such a child,” Ye Tian patted her head.

“Stop patting my head!” Alansa grumbled, swatting away his hand. “You’re not even older than me!”

“At least I keep my word,” Ye Tian said, making Alansa blush.

“Hmph, dinner’s on me tonight!” Alansa declared.

“Fine, you said it,” Ye Tian replied.

“Let’s go to the same place as lunch.”

“No.”

“Then where?”

“Uh…” Alansa thought but realized there was nowhere else.

So, the answer was clear.