Chapter 82: Yan, Who Thinks He’s Smart—The Boiling Sheep

"Aren't you going to do it, or…"

"Do you want me to help you put it on?"

Seeing Ye Lingling in a daze, Gu Feng chuckled softly to remind her.

"Huh?"

Ye Lingling snapped out of her thoughts and, seeing the smiling Gu Feng in front of her, quickly refused in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "N-no, it's fine."

After saying that, she picked up the shoe and slipped it onto her foot.

To her surprise, the shoe fit perfectly. The material was impeccable, gently hugging her foot without any sense of pressure. It seemed the old lady at the shop wasn't exaggerating when she claimed to have decades of craftsmanship.

Just as Ye Lingling was about to pick up the second shoe, Gu Feng stopped her, "Wait, let me do it."

"Huh? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" A faint blush instantly spread across Ye Lingling's face, her earlobes also tinged with a soft red, making her look even more charming.

"What's inappropriate about it? I'll help you see if it fits." In truth, Gu Feng was purely curious and wanted to test whether such delicate feet were truly as smooth as jade.

"O-okay." Ye Lingling was so shy she wished she could bury her head in her chest. Behind the veil of her hair, her eyes caught sight of a pair of hands carefully reaching toward her small foot.

"Mmm…"

Perhaps because it was the first time someone had held her foot, Ye Lingling, who was naturally sensitive, nearly let out an unusual sound due to her nervousness.

Her delicate little foot curled tightly, the five tender toes clenching like a frightened bunny.

The soft white silk clung to her skin, accentuating the snow-like fairness of her jade-like foot. The elegant lines and the petite, slender ankle seemed almost too delicate to hold. The tender skin carried a faint pink hue, evoking a sense of pity in anyone who saw it.

Gu Feng spoke gently, "Relax, it'll be quick."

Now, he wasn't curious anymore.

The texture was smooth, moist, and silky—truly like jade.

And there was a faint floral scent, with no trace of any unpleasant odor.

He just wondered how it would taste…

Soon, the dress was completed, and the shop owner led Ye Lingling to the changing room with a warm smile.

Gu Feng found a stool and sat down leisurely, patiently waiting.

A few minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

The door to the changing room swayed gently as Ye Lingling stepped out with graceful steps.

Her small face was tinged with a soft blush, as if kissed by the evening sunset. A shy yet sweet smile played on her lips, and her small hands unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her skirt. In a soft, expectant voice, she asked, "How is it? Does it look good?"

Gu Feng's gaze was instantly captivated, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Absolutely stunning!"

At this moment, Ye Lingling was wearing the Wide-sleeved Flowing Fairy Dress that Gu Feng had envisioned from memory and entrusted the shop owner to meticulously craft.

The light blue dress had an elegant tone, and the tailoring fit her perfectly, accentuating her slender waist as if it had been custom-made just for her.

"Really?"

Ye Lingling gently bit her lower lip, as if afraid that Gu Feng was just complimenting her out of friendship.

"Absolutely." Gu Feng nodded firmly, his gaze as resolute as if he were pledging allegiance to a cause.

"Then I'll only wear it for you from now on…"

After saying this, Ye Lingling buried her head deeply, as if trying to hide it beneath the skirt.

"Boss, how much is this dress?"

"I'll take it."

…

Whether it was because it was her first time out shopping alone, or because she had Gu Feng accompanying her, or perhaps because she had awakened some kind of talent, Ye Lingling showed no signs of fatigue as they walked through three streets in a row.

Her cheeks were flushed with an irrepressible joy, and her steps grew lighter and more buoyant.

Even Gu Feng began to feel a slight ache in his legs.

Finally, they arrived at the last commercial street—Tiandou Avenue.

Ye Lingling gradually slowed her pace, tilting her head to gaze at the sky painted in hues of orange and red by the setting sun.

Dusk was quietly approaching.

Unintentionally, the corner of Ye Lingling's eye caught a glimpse of Gu Feng, and a ripple of emotion stirred within her.

How quickly the day had passed!

If only they could walk slower, even slower, perhaps even freeze this moment forever, so that this beauty would never fade...

This was undoubtedly the happiest day Ye Lingling had experienced since her birth, second only to the time she spent with her mother.

The two strolled and chatted along the street, and before they knew it, they found themselves in front of a tavern.

Gu Feng paused, turned to Ye Lingling, and asked softly, "Shall we grab a bite to eat? I'll take you home afterward."

"Sure, that sounds good."

Ye Lingling agreed almost without thinking, her hidden desires instantly ignited. She secretly wished to spend more time with Gu Feng.

"Alright, I'll go order. You find a place to sit," Gu Feng said before turning and heading into the tavern's kitchen.

But the moment Gu Feng left, Ye Lingling was noticed—though not for the first time. It was a gaze that had been watching her for a while.

From a distant observation deck, a golden-haired girl stood gracefully, accompanied by a cold, aloof man and a red-haired, fiery companion.

Xie Yue frowned, his face filled with confusion as he spoke, "Sister, is this really the person the Pope told you to assassinate?"

He scrutinized the direction Gu Feng had gone, his eyes filled with doubt. It was hard for him to believe that this seemingly ordinary young man could be the target the Pope had specifically assigned for assassination.

Yan chimed in, his tone laced with disdain, "Yeah, Nana, could the Pope have made a mistake? We've been watching this kid all day, and besides shopping, he hasn't done anything particularly noteworthy. He just seems like a carefree playboy."

It was no wonder Xie Yue and Yan thought this way. They were all exceptionally talented and had emerged from a brutal training camp.

In their preconceived notions, as geniuses, they should be training hard every day, leaving no room for slack.

Especially since they had just awakened their Martial Souls at the age of six or seven, the golden age for laying the foundation and cultivating their abilities.

Huliena pouted slightly, her voice carrying a hint of reproach but also affection, "Brother, it's fine if Yan thinks that way, but how could you say the same?"

Xie Yue's face immediately showed embarrassment, and he quickly apologized, "Alright, alright, Nana, I was wrong. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions so easily."

Satisfied, Huliena slowly turned her head, her gaze instantly turning icy as she looked directly at Yan, delivering a stern warning, "Yan, don't use your shallow thinking to speculate about my teacher. I hope this is the first and last time!"

Yan was completely oblivious to the stark difference in Huliena's attitude toward him compared to Xie Yue. He hurriedly bowed his head and admitted his mistake, saying, "Yes, yes, Nana, I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted the Pope."

Then, thinking himself clever, Yan shifted the focus of the conflict, saying, "I think this kid must be hiding some dark secret."