Chapter 294: Two Spendthrifts

Thinking it over, Liu Yi couldn't help but pick up the communal chopsticks on the table and carefully clip a piece of food for Yan Shuang'er. Facing Liu Yi's sudden action, Yan Shuang'er was first slightly stunned, but out of politeness, she did not refuse this kindness.

After softly saying "Thank you," she gently raised her chopsticks, sent the dish Liu Yi had clipped into her mouth, and chewed slowly.

Seeing Yan Shuang'er gladly accept and eat the dish he had clipped over, a surge of indescribable joy instantly rose in Liu Yi's heart. He secretly gloated, thinking to himself: "Haha, it seems there is hope this time! Today's careful arrangements and not small expenses were finally not wasted!"

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a meal was nearing its end amidst the slightly awkward small talk of several people. Only to see Yan Shuang'er gracefully put down her chopsticks first, then quietly sit there waiting for everyone else to finish dining.

When seeing Qianqian and Qi Xi also successively say they were full, Yan Shuang'er turned her head and gently looked at Qianqian, softly asking: "Qianqian, have you eaten well?"

Qianqian smiled and nodded, sweetly replying: "En, Third Elder Sister, I am already very full." Immediately after, Yan Shuang'er turned her gaze to Qi Xi beside her, similarly asking with concern: "And Xi Xi?"

Qi Xi hurriedly responded: "Sister Shuang'er, I am also full." Hearing this, Liu Yi, who had been silently observing everyone's reactions, spoke up: "Since everyone has finished eating, let's get up and leave." Yan Shuang'er slightly nodded, indicating agreement. Thus, several people stood up one after another, walking downstairs together.

At this time, Liu Yi's servant had long ago gone ahead to settle the bill. The shop's waiter, with sharp eyes, saw them coming downstairs and hurriedly and enthusiastically came forward to say: "Guests, take your leave slowly, welcome to patronize our small shop again!"

Liu Yi smiled and nodded to the waiter to say goodbye, then walked out of the Jiu Lou's gate together with Yan Shuang'er and the others. Outside the gate, the carriage driver was driving the horse carriage slowly over.

Qianqian nimbly got on the carriage together with Qi Xi first, leaving only Yan Shuang'er still standing in place. She turned her head to look at Liu Yi, slightly shyly saying: "Young Master Liu, today truly troubled you to spend money.

Liu Yi said with a smile: "As long as everyone eats happily and is satisfied, that's good. Miss Shuang'er, please take care along this road, walk slowly, and definitely pay attention to your own safety. If there is a chance in the future, we must definitely meet again."

Yan Shuang'er slightly nodded and softly replied: "Okay, thank you Young Master Liu for your concern." After speaking, she turned around and carefully stepped on the small stool to get on the carriage.

After she sat steady, the carriage driver put away the small stool and himself sat steadily on the carriage shaft. Only to see him lightly wave the long whip in his hand and shout once, and the horse carriage began to slowly move forward.

A gentle breeze brushed past, lifting a corner of the curtain on one side of the carriage, just revealing Yan Shuang'er's clear and beautiful face. Liu Yi gazed at that faintly visible appearance and couldn't help but be lost in thought once again.

The servant standing beside saw his young master behaving so improperly and hurriedly called out: "Young Master... Young Master..." After calling twice, Liu Yi came back to his senses as if waking from a dream, looking blankly and asking: "Hmm? What's wrong?"

The servant hurriedly stepped forward, handing the bill he held to Liu Yi, and said: "Young Master, take a look at this bill." Liu Yi took it and glanced, instantly gasping in shock and exclaiming loudly: "What? It's actually so expensive!!"

Seeing this, the servant hurriedly explained: "Young Master, don't be anxious. The Old Lady specially instructed before, saying Miss Shuang'er's identity is noble, this first arranged meal cannot be too shabby and simple, otherwise it would make our Liu Fu lose etiquette. So the place and dishes chosen this time are superior selections, and the price is naturally a bit higher."

After hearing this, Liu Yi was still somewhat annoyed in his heart, but couldn't flare up, only able to fiercely crumple the bill in his hand and then casually throw it on the ground, saying: "It's all the fault of those two dead children! Originally just the two of us dining, ordering four or five dishes would be more than enough. Who would have thought that after bringing those two, they actually ordered a whole eight dishes in one breath, and every single one was an expensive delicacy!"

Hmph, truly thinking this young master's silver was blown in by the wind? When I return, I must find my mother to settle accounts properly!" Thinking of this, Liu Yi angrily flicked his sleeve and raised his foot, about to get on the carriage and leave.

The servant following behind him saw this, hurriedly bent down to pick up the bill fallen on the ground, already crumpled into a ball. Only to see him carefully unfold it, while smoothing out the creases, muttering in his mouth: "Young Master, if you want to go find the Old Lady to settle accounts, you must keep this bill."

After speaking, he quickly stuffed the bill into his bosom, then followed Liu Yi step by step, got on the carriage, and together embarked on the return journey.

Along this way, all one heard was Liu Yi endlessly complaining about today's shockingly expensive meal. "Oh my, today's meal cost quite a lot of silver! Enough for me to eat for a full month!"

Look at these two spendthrifts, besides being born with a good appearance, they are good for nothing! If they truly marry into the family, wouldn't they squander our family's entire fortune..."

Facing Liu Yi's endless complaints, the servant beside him was silent as a cold cicada, not daring to interject or echo at all.

And on another carriage, Yan Shuang'er was chatting and laughing with Qianqian and Qi Xi. Actually, Yan Shuang'er felt in her heart that that Liu Yi did not have affectionate feelings for her.

However, out of basic etiquette, he still behaved with extreme gentlemanly grace, perfectly ending this meal.

But Qianqian and Qi Xi at this time were not like this. Only to see Qianqian blinking her lively big eyes, curiously asking Qi Xi beside her: "Xi Xi, did you discover anything unusual?"

Qi Xi slightly nodded and softly replied: "I did discover a bit of a clue."

Hearing this, Qianqian impatiently asked: "What is it exactly? Quickly say it to hear! Even Yan Shuang'er beside her at this moment had her appetite whetted, full of anticipation waiting for Qi Xi to reveal the answer.

Qi Xi paused slightly, then said unhurriedly: "Earlier when you ordered dishes, when it came to the seventh dish, I noticed that Young Master Liu's face instantly turned gloomy, but only for that instant, he quickly returned to normal."

Yan Shuang'er, reminded by Qi Xi like this, only then suddenly remembered. At that time Qianqian was ordering dishes, while she herself was chatting with Liu Yi, only remembering that Liu Yi's replies were irrelevant at that time. Thinking about it now, it must be because Qianqian ordered too many dishes and he was displeased.

Qianqian furrowed her eyebrows and speculated: "Could it be he feels we ordered too many dishes and they were too expensive?"