Chapter 106: Celebration Banquet

Behind the half‑open kitchen door, the three who had stopped cooking were pressed tightly against the crack. Shuang'er was at the very bottom, almost squeezing her whole little face against the door panel, her big eyes unblinking, unconsciously letting out a tiny exclamation: "Wow… Qingxuan brother is so bad." She was so engrossed that Zhao Ling'er tugged her twice lightly and got no reaction.

"Keep it down, don't let Feifei sister hear." Zhao Ling'er herself was flushed, one hand covering Shuang'er's mouth (though it hardly helped), the other hand over her own mouth, afraid any sound would disturb those outside.

Her heart pounded like a drum, even more than when the fortress had shaken earlier; her face showed a mix of longing and tension as she peered out through the crack.

Huang Rong stood behind them, slightly higher, seeing everything most clearly; the corner of her mouth held a knowing, mischievous smile, arms crossed, she watched with interest the silent "clash" of that lovely pair in the living room. Seeing Li Feifei rendered speechless and embarrassed by a single sentence from Li Qingxuan, her shoulders involuntarily twitched as she silently chuckled.

Li Feifei was choked by Li Qingxuan's words; the phrase "you're shy" was like a hook, shattering the composure she tried to keep.

She felt her cheeks burning like fire, her heart hammering wildly in her chest, almost bursting through the thin fabric. She wanted to step back, but the gentle pressure of his fingertip held her in place, leaving her unable to move.

"I…" she opened her mouth, but her throat felt blocked, only a meaningless sound escaping; meeting his deep eyes, her expression wrote "obvious and indisputable," and all her excuses, pretenses, and attempts to keep up her clever persona vanished instantly.

Finally, she let out a breath, unconsciously adding a hint of petulance, and muttered softly: "…There's no one like you; in the end, you're the one who enjoys it."

Li Qingxuan's low laugh rang especially clear in the quiet living room, showing he understood her thoughts. He didn't press further; merely the pad of his finger, calloused lightly, rested on her cheek and slowly rubbed the burning skin, his movements slow, his eyes full of possessiveness.

That warmth seemed to penetrate her skin, pressing straight to the softest place in her heart; Li Feifei felt ill at ease under his gaze, his eyes so deep they seemed to want to draw her in.

She felt her breathing grow difficult, only able to try turning her head again, but his fingertip, like a gentle shackle, firmly held her chin, leaving her nowhere to escape.

"I…" she tried again, her voice weak as a sigh, with a barely perceptible tremor, "They're watching," she protested indignantly, glancing angrily at the kitchen door before snapping her gaze back to Li Qingxuan's face, a hint of pleading in her eyes, hoping he would restrain himself.

Li Qingxuan followed her glance to the closed wooden door; his eyes showed no embarrassment, instead flashing a hint of mischief. He didn't retreat but leaned in slightly, his warm breath brushing her ear as he whispered low, like an intimate lovers' secret: "Let them watch. As Chief Steward Li, who has rendered great merit to the fortress, this little 'reward' is wholly deserved."

He deliberately stressed the three words "Chief Steward Li," adding a teasing tone; her usual capable, sharp image contrasted sharply with her present embarrassment.

Li Feifei felt a rush of heat to her head, her neck flushing crimson; she wanted to retort, to accuse him of twisting logic, but when she met his deep eyes reflecting her face, all her words caught in her throat, she let out a soft hum, and without realizing it, her fingers climbed onto Li Qingxuan's waist.

Behind the kitchen door, Shuang'er stared without blinking, her little mouth slightly open.

Zhao Ling'er's palm, pressed over her mouth, was already sweaty; her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple, even her ears tinged pink.

The smile on Huang Rong's lips deepened; she even gave a slight shake of her head, silently mouthing: "Impressive." It was unclear whether she meant the pair outside or the two girls beside her who were watching even more intently than she.

Seeing there was nothing more to watch, the three resumed cooking; after a while they gently pushed open the kitchen door, Huang Rong leading the way with a steaming clay pot, the rich meat‑broth aroma instantly filling the air and dispelling the living room's amorous atmosphere.

Zhao Ling'er followed close behind, holding a plate of vibrant stir‑fried vegetables, while Shuang'er carefully carried a dish of bright‑colored hot‑and‑sour shredded potatoes, her small face full of concentration.

The aroma of the food wafted over, tangibly stimulating the appetite—eight dishes and one soup neatly arranged on the central wooden table, the braised pork glossy and oily, the steamed fish tender and translucent, the hot‑and‑sour soup steaming, together forming a feast for both sight and smell.

Under the soft glow of the lights, the warmth of the wooden walls mingled with the fresh scent of new wood, blended with the food's fragrance, wrapping the whole space in a gentle, solid, celebratory atmosphere.

"Time to eat!" Huang Rong announced loudly, her voice carrying her usual efficiency, though she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes, "If you don't eat now, some people might faint from hunger in the bower of tenderness."

She deliberately gave Li Qingxuan a sideways glance, causing Li Feifei's cheeks to flush again.

Only then did Li Qingxuan release his grip, then gently took Li Feifei's wrist and led her to the table.

Li Feifei took a deep breath, striving to calm herself, her gaze slowly sweeping over the full table of dishes, and she said softly, "This meat soup is plated with care, and it smells wonderful—you must have put a lot of work into it."

As everyone sat down and the cutlery clinked lightly, Zhao Ling'er picked a piece of meat for Shuang'er and said softly, "Have some meat."

Shuang'er, chewing her food, mumbled: "Feifei sister, the fortress has been upgraded—should we raise some livestock from now on? Self‑sufficiency would save us from being overcharged when we trade with others."

Li Qingxuan sipped his soup and replied, "Of course. We now have plenty of food; within the Four Seasons Array Plate's range it's warm and comfortable, so raising some livestock poses no problem. Although we lack no supplies, saving a little is still saving."

Huang Rong turned to Li Qingxuan and asked, "My body has fully recovered now; should we go out recently to hunt the weird creatures?"

Li Qingxuan lifted his tea cup, his gaze steady as he swept over everyone: "Thanks to everyone's effort, the fortress could be upgraded today. Tonight we'll celebrate; tomorrow morning we'll discuss what to do next."

The light traced the outline of his profile; that composure was as unshakable as Panshi Fortress, silently conveying a sense of stable strength.

Li Feifei listened, a warm feeling welling up in her heart, as if mingling with the scents of wood, tea, and food, turning into the firmest bulwark against darkness.

Everyone raised their cups; the clear clink was accompanied by laughter and conversation that gradually filled the space, completely dispelling the earlier embarrassment and tension, leaving only a cozy bustle—the celebration banquet had truly begun.

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