22. Bittersweet Feeling

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Ai Jin stood at the center of the stadium facing Dong Fang. Both Yu Zeng and Heng Guiying were worried about the match for Dong Fang might hurt their precious Ai Jin.

When they heard the gong, none of them moved. Both of them seemed like waiting for whoever would attack first.

Dong Fang suddenly sent a huge fire dragon towards Ai Jin. It was so large that it could cover the whole stadium but instead of hitting her. It just flew above her.

Everyone in the tournament ground was shocked.

As expected, you can't hurt me. She smiled inside but outside her ocean blue eyes showed fear. She summoned a huge fire phoenix and hit Dong Fang with it who easily went outside the ring.

"The winner for this competition is Ai Jin from South Sect." Zhou Zhihao loudly announced.

Mei Shu who saw the fight couldn't help but grit her teeth.

--- excerpt from the novel "Daybreak"---

Dong Fang looked at the figure in his arms with a subtle gentle expression on his face. He didn't mind the strange gazes by the other disciples.

"Dong Fang, is Yu Zeng alright?" Ai Jin came running towards him. I should get close to him, that blue flame I saw during his match is indeed magnificent. I should let him teach me that technique. Did he purposely learn that technique because it matches my eyes?

Dong Fang just nodded and walked past her. Wei Shun who was worried about his big brother followed Dong Fang.

Did he just ignore me? Ai Jin was confused. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She saw Mei Shu with an "I told you" look on her face.

Ai Jin just ignored her and continued looking at Dong Fang. She decided to go to Heng Guiying who remained sitting. She didn't notice his clenched fist.

"Heng Guiying, help me practice." Ai Jin said softly. Mei Shu rolled her eyes and walked away from the place.

Heng Guiying was suddenly awakened in his thoughts and smiled at Ai Jin.

"I would love to but I still have to prepare lunch. Would you like to help?"

Help? I don't know how to cook. Ai Jin felt conflicted for she didn't want to turn down Heng Guiying's offer but she didn't want to let him know that she couldn't cook either.

"As much as I would like to help you Guiying, I need to practice for my upcoming match with Dong Fang. I will go ahead." Ai Jin left him with great hesitation.

It's okay, I don't need your help and I don't want to practice with you. I only want to have Yu Zeng by my side. Heng Guiying decided to go to the kitchen.

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Dong Fang laid Yu Zeng on his bed. Then, he looked at Wei Shun who was standing next to him.

"Can you get a glass of water for Yu Zeng?" He softly said to the child. "He may be thirsty when he wakes up."

The child nodded his head and went out.

Seeing that they were alone, Dong Fang gently caress the other's face and slowly move his face closer to Yu Zeng. He could smell the crisp and refreshing scent coming from the person who was lying on the bed.

I will win the match for you. His face was already an inch away from the other. But before he could move any closer, Yu Zeng's eyes slowly opened, and was extremely shocked to see how close the villain was to his face.

Dong Fang just moved away as nothing happened.

Yu Zeng was frozen and tried to calm himself. His face was so close!

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Wei Shun met the protagonist on his way to the kitchen to get a cup and remembered that his big brother's element was water. Will big brother really ask for a cup of water once he wakes up?

"Wei Shun, why are you here? How's Yu Zeng?" Heng Guiying saw the cup Wei Shun was holding.

"He is in our room with big brother Dong Fang." The child innocently said.

"Only the two of them, alone?"

Wei Shun nodded his head.

"You should return quickly. Yu Zeng may wake up anytime soon and would feel extremely thirsty."

Wei Shun's eyes widened.

"Okay big brother, I will leave now." He slightly bowed and left Heng Guiying.

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"Was I too hard on you?" Dong Fang suddenly asked.

Huh? Yu Zeng was caught off guard with his question.

"No. Thanks for the match. Good luck for tomorrow." Yu Zeng tried to sit.

The door suddenly opened revealing a small child with a worried expression on his cute face.

"Big brother, I'm glad that you are awake now." His hand was still holding the cup and he went near to Yu Zeng. "I brought you a cup of water."

"Wei Shun is really thoughtful, ah." Yu Zeng gently nuzzled the child's hair and drunk the water. I'm not really thirsty but this child really went out to get this water for me? So thoughtful.

"It's almost lunchtime, we should prepare the food now." Yu Zeng suddenly said while holding the empty cup. He looked at Dong Fang.

"You should rest, I will go and help Heng Guiying prepare the food." Dong Fang said coldly.

No, I'm fine now. I should help them. Yu Zeng was about to stand but before he could open his mouth. The villain looked at him coldly and said, "Rest."

Yu Zeng just nodded his head. The villain and protagonist working hand in hand together in preparing lunch? Their relationship is indeed getting better.

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Heng Guiying was busy chopping some vegetables when the door suddenly opened. His face turned sour when he saw the person who opened it.

"I can manage without your help." He said to Dong Fang.

"So do I. I will be cooking congee." Dong Fang said.

"I'm cooking vegetable soup." Heng Guiying said. This is for Yu Zeng.

Dong Fang didn't answer and began preparing the ingredients. With the help of his flame, the congee easily gets creamy and silky. He then added the spices.

Yu Zeng really ate a lot of those dumplings. Dong Fang began making the soft dough.

"I'm done. I will return later." Heng Guiying said.

Dong Fang didn't spare him a glance, so, he didn't notice that Heng Guiying was holding a bowl of vegetable soup when he left.

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Heng Guiying entered the room and saw Yu Zeng sitting on the bed while talking to Wei Shun.

"I cooked vegetable soup." When Heng Guiying opened the lid of the ceramic bowl he was holding, the aroma of the food immediately permeated the air in the room. This quickly caused the mouth of Yu Zeng to water.

"Sorry Wei Shun, this big brother only brought one bowl but let's eat a lot at lunch. Okay?" Heng Guiying felt apologetic.

"No problem big brother. I understand." Wei Shun also felt his mouth water. "You should regain your energy big brother." The child said with a face full of sincerity while looking at Yu Zeng.

Yu Zeng ate the bowl of vegetable soup with gusto and finished the entire bowl in no time.

"I'm sorry Guiying, I wasn't able to help you in preparing lunch." Yu Zeng looked at the empty bowl in his hand.

"It's okay. You should regain your energy." Heng Guiying smiled at Yu Zeng.

Heng Guiying reached for the empty bowl in his hands. He felt happier when their fingertips touched. "Are you still going to join us later for lunch?"

Yu Zeng nodded. Although his stomach was already full, he still decided to go and joined the others.

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Yu Zeng was surprised to see congee and vegetable soup on the table. So, did the villain and protagonist make different dishes?

"Remember, leftovers will be eaten by those who prepared the food." The grandmaster said indifferently before he motioned for everyone to eat.

Yu Zeng who already ate before joining them for lunch could only eat a piece of dumpling but Dong Fang put a bowl of congee in front of him.

I wonder what Dong Fang made. Mei Shu contemplated hard before he saw Dong Fang putting some congee in Yu Zeng's bowl and she decided to get some congee and dumplings.

Not bad. Mei Shu thought while taking a sip of the congee. My Dong Fang is talented indeed.

"Don't you like the soup I made?" Dong Fang whispered to Yu Zeng when he noticed that Yu Zeng was just stirring it and would occasionally take a sip.

"It's good." I'm sorry, Mr. Villain. I have already eaten before coming here.

Heng Guiying smiled when he saw Yu Zeng's reaction to Dong Fang's soup.

"Dong Fang, I also want to eat soup." Ai Jin said in a sweet voice.

"Help yourself." Dong Fang didn't spare her a glance and just looked at his own food. He felt bitterness slowly creeping into his heart.

(...to be continued.)

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...reviews are welcome! :)

Author's Notes:

Did he just ignore me? Ai Jin was confused.

Author: Yeah? (^^♪

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Thanks for reading. I hope you like this chapter. 💕

Spoiler for the next chapter:

"Don't worry. I will win." Dong Fang looked at Yu Zeng.

"..." It has nothing to do with me. I don't care if you win or if you win.

Feel free to check my other stories. 💕