Falling Dreams of Fang Hua ✔

Chapter 014: A Mask of Human Skin?

"Zichuan, what happened to your leg?" Fang Hua lowered his head, shifting the lid of his teacup as he sipped. "Where did you two go?"

The air suddenly turned cold.

Things suddenly turned extremely quiet as I felt a piercing gaze boring into my back. It felt like I was suddenly sitting on pins and needles. I lowered my head even further, furiously filling up my bowl.

"Shao'er went with me on a stroll," Han Zichuan smiled, taking out his own chopsticks. "He saw that I was still a stranger to the place, so the offer was made with good intentions. Unfortunately, it was raining outside, so I fell on the slippery grounds." After speaking, he even cast a glance my way. "None of this is Brother Shao's fault."

—

I felt rather disagreeable. Wasn't this a case of burying the silver, then sticking up a sign that said 'no silver buried here'[1]? I gazed at the Heavens, speechless for quite a while as I continued to fill up my bowl.

Yifu smiled again, and I felt his comfortable, at-ease gaze gradually return to look at me again. He only said softly, "Is that so..."

This neutral tone of speaking would usually be no cause for alarm. But since he used it here, it felt as if he had some misgivings about our answers. At least, it sure kept a person guessing.

I closed my eyes and pretended to be deaf. My left hand grabbed one mantou, while my right hand grabbed another, both of which I crammed into my mouth.

I wholly absorbed myself in stuffing my face, but my heart was trembling inside.

This Han Zichuan.

His nerves weren't half-bad, making up lies like that.

"Shao'er..." a soft voice drifted over.

I shook and raised my head to look at Fang Hua.

"Don't just eat mantou when there's so many dishes today. You should leave some for Zichuan to eat, too." Fang Hua was leaning against his chair, head propped on one hand, his eyes cold as he gazed at me.

I remained sullen.

"It's fine, I'll eat these slices of beef," Han Zichuan rolled up his sleeves, speaking as he readied his chopsticks. Before he could pick up a piece, I gave him a ferocious glare. He understood immediately. The chopsticks in his hands jerked aside and got some pieces of pickled cucumber instead. Then he stopped speaking altogether.

Hmph. Don't think you can start flaunting yourself just because yifu treats you well.

Actually, yifu was probably only worried I'd eat nothing but mantou. Hn, as if I'd let you eat all the meat by yourself, outsider. ...that had to be the situation, I thought to myself. I look up at Fang Hua, then spared a glance at the other guy...

My heart felt extremely irritated just staring at the way that guy used his chopsticks. I raised my foot and secretly gave him another kick.

"Owww...." that guy groaned.

"What's wrong? Does your foot hurt again, come..." Yifu stood up, waving towards him. "Let me take a look for you."

I was surprised. Han Zichuan finally released his chopsticks and comforted me with a smile before hobbling over.

Yifu personally helped him lie down before doing his clothing and checking the location of the injury. Han Zichuan knitted his eyebrows before turning around to look at me with a bright smile.

"Does it hurt..."

"It doesn't."

"It should be fine. The kick was well-aimed and didn't hurt your bones. All you have to do is apply some medicinal salve. Are you sure it doesn't hurt?"