Chapter 21; A day in Chang’er

Everyone's gaze shifted, drawn to the unusual sight. Dan Zhang and Ming Huan found themselves reaching for the same chicken, then the same piece of pork, and finally, the same dumpling. The awkwardness hung heavy in the air until Nan Fang broke the tension. He took the disputed chicken, pork, and dumpling, which was abandoned onto his plate.  Dai Yu and Liguan were taken aback by the sudden turn of events. Ming Huan, known for his unfussy appetite, was a curious case. From childhood, he'd devoured everything placed before him, never expressing a preference for one dish over another. Moreover, he had a strong aversion to spicy food, typically favoring mild and bland flavors. Yet, today, he craved spicy fish and seasoned pork soup. This was a significant departure from his usual culinary preferences.

"Here," Dan Zhang said, offering him a piece of fish and a serving of pork soup. "Brother Huan doesn't like..." Liguan began, but her words died in her throat as she witnessed something astonishing. Ming Huan accepted the food from Dan Zhang, not even glancing at the dish Liguan held out. He devoured the offered food with elegance, ignoring Liguan completely. This was strange, deeply perplexing.

  "Brother, you have a good appetite," Dan Zhang complimented, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"It's Huan, Ming Huan," he corrected, his tone flat, but his eyes gleamed with an unusual intensity as he continued to eat.

"Okay, Huan gege then," Dan Zhang said.  Simultaneously, he and Liguan offered him dumplings. He accepted Dan Zhang's, nibbling it slowly, savoring each bite. Liguan, though initially stung, beamed when he eventually ate hers as well. 

"Here," Dan Zhang offered a cup of wine, while Liguan presented a cup of ginger tea. Wine would have been a welcome complement to the meal, but Ming Huan wasn't a heavy drinker. The ginger tea seemed more appealing, so he opted for Liguan's offering, earning him a bright smile from her.

"You need a bodyguard," Huan stated, his voice devoid of emotion. Liguan nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed in concern. 

Yiangyiang, ever the impulsive one, blurted out, "What do you do for a living?" She directed the question at Nan Fang, then covered her mouth in embarrassment, realizing the bluntness of her query.

"Nothing much, just odd jobs for a living," Dan Zhang answered smoothly, deflecting the question.

"Like assassination?" Dai Yu interjected, a hint of amusement in his voice as he nonchalantly picked at a few dumplings.

Nan Fang, unfazed by Dai Yu's remark, simply replied, "No, just manual labor."

"Yes, like packaging, errands, protecting..." Dan Zhang began, but Yiangyiang interrupted, "Why don't you become our bodyguards? I mean, my mistress's bodyguards!" She quickly apologized, flustered by the stares she received.

"No, I don't think that's advisable," Dai Yu stated firmly, his gaze fixed on Nan Fang. "Besides, we don't know much of their background." 

Nan Fang, unperturbed, casually picked up a cup of wine and sipped it, his expression unreadable. Dai Yu's suspicion was palpable. He didn't trust a single word that came out of Nan Fang's mouth, his gut instinct screaming caution.

"Besides, it's the princess's safety we're talking about," Dai Yu pointed out, his voice laced with uncertainty . "I don't see why not, right brother Huan?"

Huan gave a slight, dismissive nod, much to Dai Yu's displeasure. "Your Highness!"

"Enough, brother Dai. His Highness approves," Yiangyiang pleaded, her voice rising in desperation.

Dai Yu shook his head at Ming Huan, but the latter ignored him, his gaze fixed on the food. "If brother here doesn't agree, why not supervise it?" Dan Zhang suggested between bites, his voice calm and measured.

"Yes, he has a point. Please, brother Dai," Yiangyiang begged, her eyes pleading. Ming Huan met Dai Yu's gaze and nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Alright, fine," Dai Yu conceded, his voice laced with reluctant agreement. "Brother, we wouldn't be homeless again!" Dan Zhang cheered, a wide grin spreading across his face. 

Yiangyiang, witnessing the exchange, felt a pang of pity for Nan Fang. He was homeless all this time? Moving from place to place, without a safe haven to call his own? How sad. 

Dai Yu, his skepticism lingering, placed a silver stone on the table, leaving with the others. 

In the market, a vendor's voice boomed, "Pit pot, come play with your loved ones, family and friends!"

Liguan looked at Ming Huan shyly, "Brother Huan, I want to try it too." 

They walked towards the stall, Yiangyiang's curiosity piqued. 

"Oh!" The owner smiled apologetically as he consoled a young couple. "Sorry, but next time you will be fortunate." He then spotted Ming Huan and Liguan, a wide smile spreading across his face. 

"Welcome, welcome! Whoa, you had a pretty wife indeed, young master. Please come this way."

Liguan blushed at the compliment, while Huan's expression remained stoic. The owner, mistaking them for a couple, led them towards the game with a flourish. 

"Ha, here!" The owner helped them, tying their wrists together with a thin cord and handing them a set of five arrows. Ming Huan held the front of the arrow, while Liguan held the back, their hands intertwined. With a coordinated motion, they shot the arrow, their hands moving as one. "Whoa!" The crowd erupted in cheers, their arrow finding its mark, hitting the pot on their first try.

"Whoa, they are so beautiful together, a pair made in heaven!" A bystander exclaimed, awestruck. 

"Yes, they think in sync," another added, their words echoing the sentiments of the crowd as Ming Huan and Liguan continued their winning streak, arrow after arrow finding its target. Liguan flushed brightly, her cheeks warming at the whispers of the crowd, even as she tried to ignore their comments.

 "Oh, they lost the third," a voice chirped, breaking the spell of their success. 

But the cheers returned, louder than before, as they won the fourth and fifth rounds. "Good, very good! There you go," the owner beamed, presenting them with a small, adorable, baby bunny.

As Ming Huan glanced at the fluffy creature, it brought back a memory, a familiar face, a familiar person. He quickly averted his gaze, his thoughts momentarily lost in the past. He looked up to see Dan Zhang applauding their victory, standing among the cheering crowd. But Dai Yu and Nan Fang were nowhere to be seen. 

  "Brother Dai," Yiangyiang said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. 

 "Why don't you try it with him?" He gestured towards Nan Fang, a subtle blush creeping onto her cheeks. She quickly covered it with a snort, but her gaze remained fixed on Nan Fang. She walked towards him, pulling him towards the game array. The owner, a jovial man with a wide grin, tied their wrists together and handed them the arrows.

"Whoa!" Yiangyiang exclaimed as their first shot hit the target. "Good," Dai Yu muttered, his eyes keenly observing Nan Fang. The man was skilled, his strength undeniable, yet there was a calmness to his movements, a sense of restraint. He wasn't overreaching, a trait Dai Yu found both intriguing and suspicious.