“Let’s go; if we delay any longer, we’ll miss the morning shoppers,” Kay said as he pushed Scarlett’s bicycle ahead. Scarlett had no choice but to follow.
The two walked in silence until they reached the noodle stall Scarlett frequented. The stall owner recognized Scarlett immediately. When she saw Kay pushing Scarlett’s bike, the noddle Seller thought about teasing her but hesitated, unsure if she was reading the situation correctly.
From a distance, Aunt said, “The usual for breakfast today?”
Scarlett shook her head. “Aunt, I already ate this morning.”
Kay parked the bicycle carefully. “You’ve walked a long way—you should eat something even if you’ve already eaten. Please make us two bowls of noodles, with eggs in both!”
Afraid Scarlett might refuse, Kay added, “Even if you’ve eaten, keep me company while I eat. I was on the road waiting for you since 5 a.m., and those dumplings might not have been enough for me—I mean, not because you brought too little, but because I have a big appetite.”
Scarlett blushed. If she hadn’t indulged in a few dumplings earlier, Kay probably would have had enough.
The two sat down, and the woman thoughtfully reheated the dumplings and brought them out with the noodles.
Kay took a bite of a dumpling, savoring the tangy and spicy flavor. He nodded approvingly. “You’ve got talent—these dumplings are delicious.”
People in the north loved dumplings, but these pickled radish and meat dumplings had a distinct flavor. Kay couldn’t help regretting that he had given half of them to Leo.
Scarlett blushed slightly. “My mom made the dumpling skins. I’m not very skilled at making dough.”
“Oh,” Kay responded.
Though he hadn’t said much, Scarlett inexplicably needed to clarify. “But I made the filling.”
Kay didn’t reply, but he started eating the dumplings faster.
Scarlett realized she hadn’t eaten enough earlier. Back then, people had big appetites, as they were constantly doing physical labor and didn’t have much rich food to sustain them. The few dumplings she’d eaten earlier hadn’t been enough.
She finished the entire large bowl of noodles, including the broth. Although she ate efficiently, her movements were elegant and refined. Kay found her manner of eating pleasant to watch. Only after Scarlett put down her fork did Kay finish the rest of the dumplings and noodles quickly.
When Scarlett tried to pay, Kay beat her to it this time.
Observing the dynamic, the woman accepted Kay’s payment and said with a knowing smile, “Scarlett, your boyfriend is really handsome, and he treats you so well.”
“He’s not my…” Scarlett started to explain.
But Kay cut in smoothly, “Thank you for caring for Scarlett, Aunt. You’ve got great cooking skills—one day, you’ll run a big noodle shop.”
She beamed, her grin stretching from ear to ear. Hearing such a compliment so early in the morning was a wonderful start to her day. A handsome young man with a sweet tongue—Scarlett had good taste!
Kay didn’t let Scarlett finish her explanation, and they left after paying. Scarlett was annoyed.
Kay was infuriatingly presumptuous and self-assured, deciding things on his own without consulting her. His behavior was disrespectful to her wishes and downright chauvinistic!
Seeing her anger and delicate face tinged with indignation, Kay didn’t feel intimidated at all. On the contrary, he found her irritation endearing, giving her a unique charm. But he hadn’t intended to upset her. Calming himself, he explained sincerely:
“These are strict times. If Aunt misunderstood, so be it. If I, as someone unrelated to you, dared to walk around town with you, the next person Greenfield County’s police arrested might be me.”
Scarlett’s expression softened.
Considering what had happened yesterday, the town’s law enforcement did seem particularly strict today.
Crimes of hooliganism were no laughing matter. Even young men and women standing too close in public could be deemed inappropriate.
However, when they arrived outside the farm equipment factory, a group of middle-aged women buying vegetables crowded around, all brimming with curiosity.
“So, you’re Scarlett’s boyfriend, huh?”
“Young man, it’s your first time here. You should accompany your girlfriend more often. Look how pretty she is—no wonder troublemakers would target her.”
“Young man, where are you from?”
While the eggs sold quickly, the women were overly nosy. Kay didn’t outright admit to being Scarlett’s boyfriend, but he didn’t deny it either. He calmly answered their questions, and soon, the women had pieced together the story: Scarlett was dating a guy from the capital who drove a big truck and had a coveted city residence.
One regular customer pulled Scarlett aside and whispered, “Oh my goodness, what a catch! I was thinking of introducing you to my nephew, but now there’s no chance.”
What could Scarlett say to that?
She felt like she’d been set up!
