So Lovey-Dovey

“Here, this is for you,” Chen Mian said, handing a skewered fish to Velyan. “It's not quite done yet. Grill it a bit longer, and remember to flip it.”

Velyan nodded and took the stick. With great interest, she copied the others, grilling it for a bit before checking and flipping it to the other side. As she smelled the aroma drifting from the fish, the anticipation in her eyes grew even more obvious.

After a while, Loviki looked at the fragrant, golden-brown fish in her hand and reminded her, “It's ready.”

“Really?” Velyan looked up and asked.

“Mmh. If you keep grilling it, it's going to turn as black as mine.”

Velyan lifted the fish, blew on it twice, and took a small bite.

The surface was crispy and charred, while the meat inside remained incredibly tender. The spices had thoroughly permeated the flesh, carrying the distinct aroma of charcoal. Moreover, since these fish were bred by Keyins, they had almost no tiny bones.

Velyan's eyes lit up slightly, and she began to eat in small, satisfied bites. It turned out she could make delicious grilled fish too.

Loviki's half-burnt fish had also been replaced. She sat on a low stool, eating in small bites. After a few mouthfuls, she suddenly turned to Chen Mian. “The fish you grill tastes better than mine.”

“Mmh.”

“Can't you be a little modest?”

“You literally turned yours into charcoal.”

“That was an accident,” Loviki huffed, glaring at him, but the corners of her lips curled up slightly as she lowered her head to keep eating.

Louise sat beside Chen Mian, also holding a skewer of grilled fish, eating slowly.

She turned her head to look at Chen Mian. His profile looked very peaceful in the firelight. He felt different from the boy in her memories who used to build duck coops, yet some things seemed unchanged. Recently, she had remembered more things—both of Keyins and of Louise.

She looked down at the grilled fish in her hand, let out a soft sigh, and took another bite... Her past self really had been quite a handful.

Flora sat next to Chen Mian, chatting with him in a low voice. She held a cup of fruit wine, and after only a few sips, her face had already flushed slightly.

After finishing a cup of fruit wine, Loviki turned her head to look at Velyan beside her. “Can I have a bite of your grilled fish?”

Velyan blinked in surprise, looked down at her half-eaten fish, and after a brief hesitation, generously offered it. “Sure.”

Loviki leaned over and took a bite, her expression pausing subtly.

“How is it?”

“...It tastes better than the one I grilled,” Loviki admitted honestly, handing the fish back.

Velyan took it back, stared at the fish in her hand for a moment, and with a rising smile, offered it again. “Then you can have another bite.”

“No, it's fine. Eat it yourself, I still have mine.”

Velyan pulled her hand back and took another bite, her mood seemingly even better.

Loviki took another bite of the fish Chen Mian had swapped for her, narrowing her eyes in satisfaction. “This fish is really well-marinated.”

“Yeah, Flora made the marinade.” Chen Mian placed two more skewers onto the grill, casually flipping the ones that had already turned golden-brown.

Louise sat beside Chen Mian, having finished most of her grilled fish.

She withdrew her gaze from the distant forest, took a sip from her teacup, and joined the others in conversation.

Loviki did most of the asking, curious about what a dragon's life was like, and Velyan opened up. Eating grilled fish and sipping fruit wine, she began to share stories of a dragon's daily life.

The atmosphere around the fire grew relaxed, with only the occasional crackle of the charcoal and the sound of everyone's laughter and chatter.

Flora sat on Chen Mian's other side. She had been smiling and chatting with Loviki and the others, but as the alcohol slowly kicked in, her voice gradually softened.

She leaned sideways, resting her chin on the back of her hand, her gaze growing soft and a little dazed.

After a moment, she tilted her head to look at Chen Mian, her voice soft and sweet. “Mr. Chen Mian, we have to do this again in the future.”

“Sure,” Chen Mian replied, poking at the charcoal in the grill with a stick as he looked down at her.

“Next time, I can make a few more flavors of marinade.” As she spoke, Flora began counting on her fingers. “Vanilla flavor, honey flavor, and maybe a spicy one...” Her voice grew softer and softer until she finally closed her eyes and leaned against Chen Mian.

“Alright, I'll leave it to you then, Flora.”

Flora's breathing gradually became even. Her hand rested loosely on her knee, with only one last sip of fruit wine left in her cup. Her light-brown hair fell over her shoulders, and a faint blush dusted her cheeks.

Louise glanced at her and took a slow sip of her fruit wine. “Flora doesn't have a high tolerance for alcohol.”

“Yeah, it was the same when she had fruit wine in Wigtan last time. Her face turned red after just half a cup. She only dares to drink this much when she's at the apartment.” Loviki had already finished one skewer and was now grilling her second. Smiling, she looked at Flora and asked, “Are you asleep, Flora?”

“No,” Flora's voice sounded a bit mumbled, her eyes still closed. “I'm wide awake...”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than her body swayed slightly, her head nearly slipping off Chen Mian's shoulder.

Chen Mian reached out and held her close. “People who are wide awake don't talk like that.”

“I really am... just a bit sleepy,” Flora murmured softly, nuzzling her head against his shoulder to find a more comfortable position.

Miya crouched by the small table, eating a slice of cake in tiny bites. Her gaze fell on Flora, and she leaned in close to whisper in Luolin's ear, “Big Sister, is Sister Flora drunk?”

“Mmh... seems like it,” Luolin nodded, also lowering her voice.

“Then will she start talking nonsense?” Miya's eyes shone brightly as she whispered back.

“I don't know... probably not?” Luolin was a bit unsure herself.

Before she could finish, Flora shifted slightly again, murmuring with a gentle smile on her face, “Mr. Chen Mian... I like you the most...”

The air fell silent for a brief moment.

Loviki's hand holding the skewer froze. She slowly raised her gaze to look at Flora.

Louise's hand holding her teacup paused as well, her gaze shifting to Chen Mian with a hint of playfulness.

Although Velyan didn't quite understand what was happening, she looked up as well, her gaze shifting back and forth between Chen Mian and Flora.

Miya blinked. “Sister Flora said she likes Big Brother...”

“Mmh...” Luolin's ears flushed slightly. She quickly pulled Miya closer to her side. “Keep your voice down.”

Completely unaware of what she had just said, Flora's breathing remained steady and even as she slept peacefully.

Chen Mian looked down at her, gently took the cup from her hand, set it on the table nearby, and draped his coat over her.

Loviki stared at the two of them for a moment, then quickly looked away, muttering under her breath.

“So lovey-dovey, it's sickening.”