Among the chitter chatter of the crowd in the restaurent, the corner table was reserved the Young Masters. Two were adorned with white robe and a forehead ribbion. The other one wore delicate robe with a white peony fastened on the chest, and vermillion mark in between his eyebrows.

The waiter walked towards them holding a wooden tray that carried three bowls of lotus root soup. The soup that they had ordered few moments ago.

The waiter said, "Young Masters, here's your order."

Even after being the one sitting farthest, Shizui got up to help the waiter, "Thankyou very much."

"Ah... Young Master doesn't need to thank this lowly servant." The waiter said as he bowed and neatly served the soup.

Shizui smiled, "You don't need to say yourself lowly."

Jingyi spoke too, "Yes, Shizui is absolutely correct."

The waiter was really taken aback by the warm words of Young Masters. In his eyes, the Young Masters of prominent sects always held their head eyes. He wasn't complaining about that, but until now he had only encountered the Young Masters who were brutally arrogant.

His heart was really warmed up. He joyfully said, "Thankyou for your courtesy. Will you have the dessert of this place? You won't have to pay for it."

Shizui was ofcourse about to refuse. But as usual why would someone like Jingyi would let such a sweet offer to let go.

He said with a thumbs up, "Yes! We would like to have. By the way don't forget about him as well." He said as he pointed at JinLing.

Jin Ling was just silently having his soup that was just delivered. He looked as if didn't paid any attention to their conversation, but the truth was he was desperately trying to find the words to be the part of conversation. But didn't any words, so at the end he only silently started sipping his soup.

Jin Ling moved his eyes to look at them, "What?"

Jingyi said, "You want desserts? Its free."

Jin Ling pondered over it for a moment, and again shifted his gaze down, "No."

Shizui apologetically smiled, "Only two plates."

The waiter awkwardly laughed, "As the Young Master says."

After the waiter left, Jingyi turned to JinLing and lowly shouted, "Why were you so rude?!"

JinLing frowned, "What now?!"

Jingyi continued, "Atleast you could have- Ouch Shizui?!"

Shizui had just now elbowed him. He said, "He didn't wanted to eat so he refused. Jingyi, no need to continue the matter."

Jingyi was at a loss. He thought 'This was not a big deal. What are you people acting as if we are illegally dealing spiritual devices?!'

But he didn't voiced his thoughts.

He coughed and mouthfully galloped the soup, spoon after spoon.

But suddenly the surrounding felt off, the noise of the surrounding dimmed. Both Shizui and Jingyi looked up to see what happened. And for a moment they both remained still.

Jin Ling didn't paid much heed, but he felt someone was stepping closer to him. And a shiver ran down his spine, he felt as if someone's deathly glare was burning hole at his back.

He finally abruptly looked up to see the reaction of Shizui and Jingyi. Sure enough both at the same time got up and greeted the person behind him in unison, "Sect Leader Jiang."

The spoon in his hand loosened and Jin Ling slowly turned his head with lot of courage.

Jiang Cheng was standing right behind him, his fingers were subconciously carressing  zidian. He was glaring as Jin Ling as if saying 'Today I'll surely break your legs.'

JinLing stood up at once and said, "Jiujiu..."

Jiang Chemg cut him in mid, "You still remember I'm your Jiujiu?"

"I was about to come to you after finishing lunch here!"

Jiang Cheng mocked him, "Oh?" His eyes swept on the dishes kept on the table. He continued, "So you like eating here. Then I shall too have ate without waiting for you."

"I! I..."

His first 'I' was full of confidence but he trailed off at the second one. He too didn't knew how to continue, and how to defend himself regarding this.

Jiang Cheng exhaled and said, "Who are these two?"

Jin Ling tilted his head, "You don't know them? You've met them so many times."

Jiang Cheng arched an eyebrow up high, "Have I?"

Jingyi, "..."

Shizui, "..."

JinLing crossed his arms, "Jiujiu! You shouldn't behave like that."

"Pftt-"

Jingyi seriously couldn't hold himself when those words came out of Jin Ling's mouth! But he had to maintain his demeanour, so within flash he again maintained a straight face. He was calm outside, but dying out of laughter from inside.

Jin Ling looke at Jingyi and frowned.

He first pointed at Shizui with his hand, "He is Lan Shizui."

Then he pointed his third finger at the other one, "This potato is Lan Jingyi."

"What?!" This was out if reflex that Jingyi shouted.

Jiang Cheng frowned, "So? They're your?"

Jin Ling said without any hesitation, "Friends. They are my friends."

Both Shizui and Jingyi's eyes went wide open but both of them didn't say anything. Even Jiang Cheng's widened a little.

He sighed, "Fine. Eat nicely. Visit me before leaving." Then he turned around to leave.

Jin Ling said, "Jiujiu won't you eat?"

Jiang Cheng waved his left hand while responding, "Later."

As Jiang Cheng was leaving the lady boss didn't dare to stop. But still with lots of courage she asked, "Sect Leader Jiang would you like to have-"

"No need."

So she tighten her lips into straight line and didn't dare to continue.

Jiang Cheng left the restaurent. The common folks present their either exhaled the air that was jamming their wind pipe or just sighed in relief.

One of the folk wishpered, "He really is very scary."

Another person said, "Yeah. But what can us, common people do?"

An old man joined the gossip, "But he truly is very lonely."

"Didn't he had his brother returned? That Yilling Patriarch?" Someone said.

That old man sighed and said, "I don't think the relation between them can be redeemed. Theire relation is more miserable than that among the strangers."

Jin Ling slowly sat on his chair and didn't say anything.

Finding him odd Shizui asked with concern, "Jin Ling are you okay?"

To his surprise Jin Ling smiled, "Shizui you want my JiuJiu and that Wei Wuxian to be brothers again right?"

Shizui was taken aback, but he managed tp nod.

Jin Ling clapped his hand  once and said, "Then I, JinLing will make your wish come true. And then..." His voice grew timid as he continued, "I- I'll- I'll say you something." At the end of his sentence along with his ears, even his cheeks strated to have red tint.

Shizui chuckled, "As you say."

Jingyi again silently sipped the soup.

At the right moment even the waiter brought the dessert. He brought two plates of white cakes with frosty brown on top. It really looked very mouth watering at a single glance.

The three of them finished the soup within no time. Shizui and Jingyi took another spoon and elegantly, with a little piece of cake at once started having it.

Jin Ling didn't had anything, he rested his cheek on his left hand and started gazing outside the corner's window.

He had only been silently gazing outside, he heard Shizui's voice, "JinLing..."

Jin Ling tilted his head towards him as response only to be left with widened eyes.

Shizui had brought a piece of cake with the spoon near his mouth. In this process, he had to get up and lean a bit forward. He said, "You didn't asked for the cake, and the cake is very delicious. I o ly wanted you to have a taste of it. So please forgive my intimate behavior."

Jin Ling's mind was blank and his heart was pounding like the rocks falling a hill top. He only opened his mouth. Right this moment if he would've noticed properly, then he would have found that even Shizui's heart was beating fast, his eyes widened a little when Jin Ling opened his mouth.

He softly smiled, and fed him the cake.

"Is it tasty?"

Jin Ling's head was about to combust, he replied as calmly as possible, "Mhhh."

"Want more?"

Jin Ling looked at Shizui then turned his head and closed his eyes, but opened his mouth ready to be fed by him.

Shizui heartily chuckled, and at the end the dessert ordered by him was wholely eaten by someone else. And he himself got to have only one bite.

Also during whole time, Jingyi keenly and solely focused on the his dessert without swaying his eyes here and there. Silently eating his cake that had been given to him for free.

A/N
Unedited <3
I'm so sorryyyyy for such a late update!!!! Really!!! (╥﹏╥) also i hate online classes to the core! The amount of assignments given is srsly...

Also rn in my place we are celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights. This is a very grand occasion among hindu religion. So Happy Diwali! :')

Btw have you read Qiang Jin Jiu? This novel is so great! And perfect for a wuxia novel. I'm currently reading it.

Thanks for reading. Stay safe.