But at this moment, Song Huaizhi quickly turned his head away, avoiding Meng Ruyi's gaze. He casually cast his eyes out of the window, watching the passers - by on the street coming and going, each wearing a different expression.
"Two esteemed guests," the waiter knocked on the door very cautiously and said outside, "The dishes are ready. Shall I serve them now or keep them warm for a while?"
"Bring them in," Song Huaizhi said, then turned to Meng Ruyi. "You've been tired today. Let's finish the meal quickly and go back to rest."
"Okay," Meng Ruyi nodded. As the waiter pushed the door open and came in, the empty table was instantly filled with all kinds of dishes. The plum juice that Song Huaizhi had poured earlier was removed and replaced with a small bowl of steaming soup.
The dishes were delicious. Even Meng Ruyi, who didn't usually indulge in food, couldn't help taking a few extra bites. After she finished, she sat aside quietly, waiting for Song Huaizhi to finish his meal.
Song Huaizhi ate with great elegance but at an astonishing speed. Every time Meng Ruyi saw him, she couldn't help but sigh. From time to time, she would pick up some dishes for him with chopsticks and tell him to eat more slowly.
[Oh my god, why do I feel like they're an old married couple?]
[... What are you talking about upstairs? Yu Yu is only fourteen! And Song Huaizhi is just seventeen! How can they be an old married couple!]
[They've known each other for four years. It's indeed like an old - married - couple relationship.]
When Meng Ruyi saw these bullet - screen comments, she was just sipping the soup. Hearing that, she almost spat out the soup and choked herself half to death.
What old - married - couple! What on earth was this thing called the bullet screen always thinking about!
Song Huaizhi noticed that Meng Ruyi almost choked. He immediately took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. Frowning, he said softly, "Don't rush. Drink slowly."
Meng Ruyi was already distracted by the words on the bullet screen. Now, seeing Song Huaizhi's fair and slender hand holding out the handkerchief in front of her, there was even a hint of indescribable ambiguity.
Looking up, Meng Ruyi met Song Huaizhi's worried eyes again. The young man was looking at her gently. When he saw her looking up, he even slightly curved his lips, showing a faint smile.
"I..." Meng Ruyi quickly took out her own handkerchief from her bosom and said to Song Huaizhi, "Brother Song, you eat quickly. Don't worry about me. I just choked accidentally. It's no big deal!"
As she spoke, she lowered her head again, no longer looking directly into Song Huaizhi's eyes. She wiped the corner of her mouth and then continued to sip the soup in small sips.
Song Huaizhi retracted his hand a bit stiffly. The tips of his fingers pinching the handkerchief were slightly white, but his expression remained unchanged, not letting Meng Ruyi sense any other emotions.
"That's good," Song Huaizhi's eyes showed an unclear look. He shifted his gaze to the dishes and said casually, "Be careful, Yu Yu. As long as you're okay."
The meal was a bit quiet. Fortunately, Meng Ruyi was concerned about Zhang Yunyun, so she kept an eye on the bullet screen and didn't notice Song Huaizhi's odd behavior.
After they finished the meal and walked home, Meng Ruyi saw an unfamiliar face running up to Song Huaizhi in a hurry. The man whispered a few words to him and then ran away, leaving only a hasty figure.
After listening, Song Huaizhi frowned slightly, but still looked up and curved his lips into a familiar smile. He said to Meng Ruyi, "Yu Yu, do you want to know what he just said?"
Meng Ruyi definitely wanted to know. She was a person with a strong sense of curiosity, but the person in front of her was Song Huaizhi.
Song Huaizhi had too many and too complicated things to deal with every day. Meng Ruyi didn't dare to bother him and always kept her distance, worrying that she might hold him back. So, in response to Song Huaizhi's question, she just frowned and slightly shook her head to refuse.
The smile on Song Huaizhi's lips froze. He didn't expect that Meng Ruyi would refuse him twice today. So he stopped talking and walked while thinking about what on earth had happened to make Meng Ruyi so strange.
There was nothing different today, except for meeting the Third Prince?
Song Huaizhi thought he knew Meng Ruyi quite well, so he didn't think that the still - cowardly and deluded Third Prince could arouse any emotional fluctuations in Meng Ruyi.
So where was the problem? Was it because...
The moment Song Huaizhi thought of that possibility, his breath caught in his throat. He subconsciously touched the small brocade bag on his waist.
The brocade bag was a gift that Meng Ruyi had given him a few years ago. There was a small brocade carp embroidered on it, and it only contained a few copper coins to weigh it down so that it wouldn't accidentally fall off while he was walking.
Was it because his actions this time were too extreme and his methods too harsh that Meng Ruyi was afraid of him?
Although the Third Prince's wet - nurse had betrayed him, after all, she was the Third Prince's wet - nurse and could barely be regarded as a relative in his eyes. Did his directly helping the Third Prince kill this person...
Song Huaizhi didn't dare to think any further. For a moment, he felt a bit lost and unconsciously looked at Meng Ruyi.
Meng Ruyi was walking while pretending to be in a daze, looking at the bullet screen. Occasionally, when she saw a few comments about Zhang Yunyun, she would frown and ponder. In Song Huaizhi's eyes, it seemed that she was hesitating about him.
Meng Ruyi was like a newly - bloomed summer lotus, looking brightly beautiful. Wearing a light - green dress, her fair skin and good looks were even more prominent.
She was different from him. Song Huaizhi suddenly realized this and swallowed back the question that was about to blurt out. He shifted his gaze away.
Meng Ruyi didn't know what her companion was imagining. When she noticed Song Huaizhi's increasingly obvious low - spirited mood, she was shocked. She watched him turn around and go back to his small courtyard.
What was going on?
Meng Ruyi felt completely confused. What had happened to Song Huaizhi? Why did his expression change all of a sudden? Could something have happened on the Third Prince's side?
It was already dark at this moment. Since she was no longer a child, it was impossible for her to go to Song Huaizhi's courtyard and pester him like before.
But could she really just turn a blind eye to his current mood?
Meng Ruyi couldn't do that. So she went back to her room and found the lotus - seed candies that Xu Fanglian had brought back from the neighboring county a few days ago. She asked Lianqiao to wrap them up and then wrote a small note and stuffed it in.
I wonder what Brother Song is worried about?
Thinking of Song Huaizhi's dejected look when he turned around, Meng Ruyi couldn't help being affected by his mood. Although it was so hot that it was hard to breathe, she still felt as if it was drizzling in her heart.
Song Huaizhi was too busy.
Since the Gu Ling family left, Song Huaizhi had become busier and busier. Meng Ruyi used to see him almost every day, but now it was no longer so easy. Song Huaizhi left too early in the morning and came back too late at night.
Meng Ruyi could have waited for him on the way, but she was also worried that she might bother Song Huaizhi, so she gave up this idea. She just told the kitchen to send the soup that had been simmered for a whole day when Song Huaizhi came home at night.