"Duo Er, why aren't they coming?" Ye Ling asked, glancing sideways at the streets.

From the corner of his eyes, Ye Ling saw a man grab a seat nearby. He turned his head around and was looking right at him.

Feeling his gaze, Ye Ling looked right back.

Their eyes met. The man grinned a nasty grin, showing his yellowish teeth. He looked disgusting. One could say he looked sleazy!

Ye Ling knew people like this. They were the punks who had nothing to do all day other than causing trouble. He looked away flatly.

He had no business judging how other people lived their lives, and would not spare any looks of disdain or repulsion. He would focus on his own task.

"They should be on their way, probably looking for us." Liu Duo was also looking at the streets.

It had been a long time. Liu Ran must have finished telling Liu Liushi everything that he wanted to. He was not one to nag, so they should have begun looking for her and Ye Ling once they were done.

The man who grabbed a seat seemed to have developed an interest in Ye Ling, for the younger man did not seem to turn him away in disdain or repulsion.

He turned around to face Ye Ling, and proceeded to strike up a conversation. "Hey, little man, what's your name? Where are you from? This is the first time I've seen such a handsome man like yourself! Let's make friends, how about it? You can call me San Danzi."

Ye Ling frowned. He eyed the man, not responding.

He preferred not to speak to strangers!

Moreover, he did not like the way San Danzi talked!

Liu Duo frowned as well. She had a feeling her husband was being teased.

"Boss! My friend's drink is on me! I'll pay you tomorrow!"

San Danzi spoke like a gangster and acted as though he and Ye Ling were long-time pals.

At this point, the owner of the tea stall felt indignant but dared not speak out. When had San Danzi ever paid for his drinks?

Yet he still nodded and bowed in reply. "S-sure thing."

"Thank you for the offer, but I don't know you at all. I don't need you to pay for me," Ye Ling politely declined. "My wife and I can afford to pay for what's ours."

Ye Ling fished out a couple of copper coins and paid the owner for their two cups of tea.

Liu Duo witnessed how Ye Ling rejected the man willfully, decisively, and politely. She gained a new understanding of the man she'd married.

Gentle Ye Ling could be quite manly too!

"Sis."

"Little Duo, Ye Ling, we're back."

Just then, Liu Ran and Ye Liu were seen walking towards the tea stall.

As the four of them met up. Ye Ling and Liu Duo completely ignored San Danzi.

"Liu, I told Duo Er that we'd go check out the water lilies by the river after you're done. Maybe we'll pick some lotuses too. What do you say? Ran Er, do you want to come?" Ye Ling asked for their opinion on the matter.

"Let's go. We can look at the flowers and bring some lotuses home to eat. Sounds good." Ye Ling smiled in agreement.

Liu Ran had no objections either. The four of them chattered on as they made their way to the river.

The owner of the tea stall peered at the man who had been rejected and ignored by Ye Ling. He thought, just look at the way you dress. No one needs you to buy them drinks, alright? You still owe me a lot of money. If you're that capable, you better pay me back!

Brushed aside, San Danzi looked at the four people who left. He rubbed his chin, thinking, that man may be quite handsome, but his brother is even more feminine than the average woman. Why haven't I seen them before?