Shangguan Linlang had only had a few bites before she lost her appetite again. It wasn't because the Empress wasn't hungry, but rather because the steak Shangguan Zifeng had ordered was medium-rare at best, so there were still traces of blood visible as she ate, which she truly couldn't stomach. She ended up simply pushing the plate away and sat quietly, waiting for Shangguan Zifeng to return.
"Wuji, she's just a little girl, how could she possibly be as mysterious as you claim? You couldn't possibly have taken a fancy to her and are trying to spook me into backing off, could you? That's not like you at all. Look, I spotted this little girl first, and even if you fancy her, I won't let you have her. At the very least, there should be fair competition."
Li Mufan, who had been paying attention to Shangguan Linlang, didn't take Xuanyuan Wuji's words to heart at all. Instead, he maliciously speculated about his friend's motives, mistaking his warning as preposterous talk intended to make him back off because the millennia-old 'iron tree' was supposedly about to bloom. How could he possibly fall for that trick?
"Believe it or not, I've warned you, and you best not mess with that young lady. The prettier things in this world are, the more dangerous they tend to be. This young lady might just be the deadliest of them all."
Xuanyuan Wuji watched in frustration as his friend so grossly misunderstood him. He couldn't be bothered to explain any further and simply reminded him routinely not to provoke the formidable woman. As for how much Li Mufan would listen, Xuanyuan Wuji didn't care at all. Some people just need to learn things the hard way, he thought, and he had no sympathy for those courting disaster.
"As the old saying goes, 'To die under a peony flower would be to be a ghost, still amorous,' so don't deny it anymore. We've been close brothers for many years; how could I possibly fail to understand you? But this time, I definitely won't let you have your way. Didn't you ask me not to mess with this young lady? Then just sit here and watch how I make her fall head over heels for me, unable to forget me. You ascetic, passionless monk should really take notes, and I won't even charge you for it."
After these boastful words, Li Mufan stood up, brushing off nonexistent pleats on his expensive suit with a dashing flair, and then made to leave.
"I advise you not to take this too far, be careful or you might encounter unexpected disaster." Xuanyuan Wuji raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, don't worry, in a moment you'll have a sister-in-law as beautiful as an angel; just don't be jealous, alright? Just wait for my victorious return." With these words, Li Mufan wasted no more time and left, eager to meet the beauty.
Watching his friend actually ignore his own counsel and still recklessly charge ahead, Xuanyuan Wuji felt helpless. Frowning slightly, he then turned to Su Liuyun who had been silently staying in the corner, "Liuyun, follow Mu Fan and make sure to protect him. Don't let him lose his life here; this restaurant has my share too, so if something happens on my turf, I can't explain it to Old Li – this is his most cherished youngest son."
"President, is that young lady truly so formidable? Are even you not her match?" Su Liuyun had long noticed Shangguan Linlang's presence, but he didn't have as clear an understanding of her skills as Xuanyuan Wuji did. He voiced his biggest doubt directly.
"I ask you, did you clearly see how she made her move? I mean her actual movements." Xuanyuan Wuji replied with a question of his own.
"This subordinate did not see clearly, but her movements seemed very natural, as if she nonchalantly caught that flying fork with an effortless lift of her hand. Initially, my thoughts were the same as Third Young Master Li's – it was just a fluke." Su Liuyun expressed his first impression on the spot.
"Her movements were skilled, fluid, and natural – that's also the first impression I had after she made her move. But where you two went wrong is in mistaking a top expert's instinct for a mere coincidence. This young lady has a unique way of handling things; her actions are fast and accurate, and most importantly, they seem effortless to an outsider. It goes without saying that she must be highly proficient, at least such movements are as natural to her as eating and drinking. The layman only sees the flashy movements; they look pretty but aren't very practical. However, we who know the trade can see through that. This girl doesn't have a single superfluous move – her actions are about striking to succeed on the first try. So tell me, do you still think she is an ordinary person? Liuyun, remember never to take anyone lightly, or one day you'll fall victim to your own arrogance."