20. Hurt

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The steamed buns we made look delicious, but I guess we made too much. I hope there are no leftovers. Yu Zeng looked around and saw an empty seat between Mei Shu and Wei Shun. He also saw two empty seats next to Ai Jin. Where should I sit? Yu Zeng flinched when he felt someone touched his hand and held it tightly. Though he was already familiar with the touch of that person, it didn't take away his fear when he saw the serious look on the villain's face while looking at the two empty seats.

Heng Guiying was about to sit next to Ai Jin when Dong Fang hurriedly sat on the chair while holding Yu Zeng's hand and forced him to sit on an empty chair next to him. Heng Guiying clenched his fist and walked towards the empty seat next to Mei Shu.

Yu Zeng glanced at Wei Shun and apologized in his heart.

Ai Jin who witnessed what happened blushed and controlled her face from smiling widely. I also want to sit next to you Guiying but this Bo Chang is sitting next to me. Better luck next time, Heng Guiying.

The grandmaster sat on his chair and motioned for everyone to start eating. He looked at the steamed buns on the table and saw some flower-shaped steamed buns and intricate leaf-shaped steamed buns. There were also some heart-shaped steamed buns. Zhou Zhihao decided to get one of the heart-shaped steamed buns and slowly ate it. Probably, the person who made this is a sweet and kind person. He thought.

Yu Zeng got two steamed buns with leaf designs and ate them fast. The grandmaster saw it and smiled subtlely.

How dare he sit next to Dong Fang and he is eating like there's no tomorrow. Mei coldly looked at Yu Zeng and began eating the flower-shaped steamed bun on her plate. This tastes good but probably Yu Zeng didn't make this. My Dong Fang did.

Dong Fang noticed that Yu Zeng was only eating the leaf-shaped steamed buns, he looked at the large circular bamboo containers and saw that there was only one flower steamed bun left.

Dong Fang placed the last remaining piece of the flower-shaped steamed bun on Yu Zeng's plate along with a heart-shaped steamed bun next to it.

"For you." Dong Fang seriously looked at Yu Zeng before continuing to eat.

"Thank you, Dong Fang." I love to eat and these steamed buns are delicious but Mr. Villain, can't you see that I already ate ten steamed buns ah. Yu Zeng managed to smile at the villain with his mouth still full.

Too bad, there's no flower steamed bun left. If there is, for sure Dong Fang would also place one on my plate. Ai Jin thought and was surprised when Bo Chang placed a steamed bun with leaf design on her plate.

"What's this?" Ai Jin couldn't help but glare at Bo Chang.

"For you." Bo Chang winked at Ai Jin.

Fan Chun who was silently eating just rolled his eyes while Heng Guiying clenched his teeth while looking at Dong Fang.

Yu Zeng, don't think too full of yourself. Mei Shu was about to get another piece of the flower-shaped steamed bun when she noticed that all that was left were those heart-shaped steamed buns. Why do Dong Fang and Heng Guiying keep eating those steamed buns? Maybe they also made those? Maybe, that Yu Zeng just bossed them around and did nothing.

After they ate all the dumplings. There was a pregnant silence in the room and the grandmaster looked at everyone with a stoic expression on his face.

"Tomorrow is the official start of the second stage. For those who will face their opponents tomorrow, prepare yourselves." Zhou Zhihao said and took a quick glance at Yu Zeng before leaving.

Yu Zeng lowered his gaze and stared at his cup. The grandmaster ate the steamed buns I made. Did he know I made those? That's why he looked at me?

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"Thank you for the meal, big brothers." Wei Shun approached Yu Zeng and Dong Fang when they went out of the dining room. They walked together to their room.

They were about to go inside their room when Mei Shu suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Dong Fang, I requested another bed for you." She smiled sweetly but Dong Fang just passed in front of her like he didn't hear anything.

"Thank you, Mei Shu." Yu Zeng was very thankful.

"Don't pretend that you are happy." She coldly said to Yu Zeng before turning her back against him and walked inside the room.

I am really happy ah. Waking up next to the villain is quite frightening ah. Now, there are enough beds in our room and I hope I won't sleepwalk again. Yu Zeng sighed while looking up at the sky where he saw lots of stars. Why does she always treat me coldly?

Why is big sister angry at big brother Yu Zeng? Wei Shun held Yu Zeng's hand and worriedly looked at him.

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Yu Zeng lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. He was very nervous just thinking about his fight tomorrow. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Yu Zeng heard someone calling his voice softly. He felt a light shake on his shoulders. When he opened his eyes he met a pair of golden eyes just two inches away from his face.

"Let's go." Dong Fang said.

"Where?" Yu Zeng covered his yawn and gently pushed Dong Fang away from him. He looked around and saw Wei Shun who was still sleeping soundly in the other bed. The villain's bed seemed untouched, doesn't he move when sleeping? or has he already tidied his bed?

"To prepare for breakfast." Dong Fang said and walked towards the door to open it.

"What about Heng Guiying?" Yu Zeng looked outside and noticed that it was still very dark. There was no single light in the sky.

Mr. Villain, we have a fight today, ah and I'm so sleepy ah. He stepped out of the room and looked at the door next to their room and saw that it was still closed.

"Let's go." Dong Fang held Yu Zeng's hand and dragged him towards the kitchen area.

His hand is so warm. Yu Zeng thought. But this is unfair, Heng Guiying is still sleeping and I don't know how to cook.

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Yu Zeng was standing in front of the table where the cooking utensils were laid when Dong Fang suddenly stood behind him.

"What do you like to have for breakfast?"

"Anyth---"

"No. Name it and I will cook it." Dong Fang interrupted what Yu Zeng was about to say.

Wow! I'm so lucky. Yu Zeng thought. Okay, this only comes once in a Blue Moon, having the villain cooked for and I really like to eat dumplings.

Dong Fang touched Yu Zeng's shoulder to make him face him.

His face is so close to mine. My heart almost skipped a beat. "I want to eat vegetable-filled dumplings." Yu Zeng tried to hold his breath.

Dong Fang had a subtle smile on his face and looked him in the eyes.

Yu Zeng averted his eyes and walked passed by Dong Fang, trying to distance himself away from him.

"So, what are the ingredients?" Yu Zeng took a deep breath.

"Come here. I'll teach you." Dong Fang held his hand and taught him how to make the soft dough.

After making the soft dough. Dong Fang cut the vegetables finely.

There was a little light in the sky when they finished placing all the dumplings they made in the bamboo steamers. Dong Fang used his element to create the fire. Both of them heard footsteps walking towards the kitchen area, they looked at the door which suddenly opened revealing a serious-looking protagonist.

"Good morning, Heng Guiying!" Yu Zeng greeted the protagonist but he was ignored.

"So, you already started preparing breakfast." Heng Guiying said but there was a hint of hurt in his voice.

"Yes." Yu Zeng was puzzled as to why Heng Guiying was so serious.

"Let's make it into dumpling soup." Heng Guiying placed his arm over Yu Zeng's shoulder.

Oh... That sounds delicious. "Okay." Yu Zeng looked at Dong Fang who just nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll teach you how to make it." Heng Guiying whispered to Yu Zeng's ear.

"O-okay" Both Yu Zeng and Heng Guiying failed to see the fire on the bamboo steamers turned blue.

Heng Guiying handed some vegetables to Yu Zeng to wash them.

Yu Zeng looked at the villain who was staring intently at the fire.

Maybe, he was focusing on those dumplings so the taste would be perfect. Yu Zeng continued washing the vegetables.

Heng Guiying handed him the knife and instructed him to cut the vegetables.

Yu Zeng carefully cut the vegetables but he ended cutting them in big chunks.

Suddenly a large handheld his hand and helped him cut the vegetables finely.

"Dong Fang!" Yu Zeng let go of the knife he was holding but Dong Fang gripped his hand again to hold the knife.

"Relax." Dong Fang said in his husky voice.

How can I relax ah? You are too close. Yu Zeng didn't dare to turn his head towards Dong Fang and tried to calm himself.

Heng Guiying just chopped the spices silently.

"Are you alright Guiying." Yu Zeng worriedly looked at Heng Guiying when he noticed the teary-eyed protagonist.

"Yes, the onion just got into my eyes."

Dong Fang smirked but it faded when he saw Yu Zeng taking a clean piece of cloth from his interspatial ring and gently wiped the face of Heng Guiying with it.

"'Thank you, Yu Zeng." Heng Guiying smiled widely.

After cooking, they carried the food to the dining room where everyone except for the grandmaster was present.

"I love dumplings!" Ai Jin loudly said.

Heng Guiying was about to sit next to her when Dong Fang beat him to that again, dragging Yu Zeng to sit next to him.

Again? This villain really wants to sit next to the heroine ah. Yu Zeng thought.

A disciple from the main sect arrived in the dining room informing them that the grandmaster couldn't join them and they should start eating.

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"This dumpling is really good!" Ai Jin loudly said that earned her a cold look from Fan Chun.

"Have some more." Bo Chang who was sitting next to her put more dumplings on her bowl.

Yu Zeng was just silently eating next to Dong Fang when Dong Fang put a dumpling into his bowl.

"You should eat more." Dong Fang said to Yu Zeng.

Yu Zeng just nodded and smiled. This villain is so caring ah, even for someone like me. If Bo Chang didn't put some dumplings on Ai Jin's plate, for sure Dong Fang would personally put some dumplings on her plate. So caring. If I were a girl, I would surely fall for him. Yu Zeng thought. Yu Zeng unconsciously smiled while holding his chopsticks.

After they ate, he immediately went outside with Wei Shun to cultivate. They still had two hours before the match.

They decided to go to a place full of different kinds of flowers near the hot spring.

No one was there when they arrived at the place,

Just as they were about to begin cultivating, a tall figure appeared between them wearing a white robe.

Again? Yu Zeng couldn't believe his luck.

(... to be continued.)

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... reviews are welcome! :)

Author's Notes:

"Tomorrow is the official start of the second stage. For those who will face their opponents tomorrow, prepare yourselves." Zhou Zhihao said and took a quick glance at Yu Zeng before leaving.

Zhou Zhihao: "..." This disciple really loves steamed buns.

Spoiler for the next chapter:

With a speed like lightning, Dong Fang appeared in front of Yu Zeng scaring the living daylights out of him.

"I told you I won't be hard on you, right?" Dong Fang smiled at Yu Zeng.

Feel free to check my other stories. 💕