“Th-that’s way too much food, isn’t it?” Eve stared at the table, which was covered with a dazzling spread of dishes, and secretly swallowed.
She’d never eaten more than two dishes at a meal before. Even after coming to the academy, she’d kept it that way to save money. But today…
“Eve, you’re malnourished. Your body won’t be able to keep up, and you might not even be able to finish chanting a basic spell.” Xing Hai stood ramrod straight beside her, advising her with earnest concern.
“Besides, I’ve already ordered it all. We can’t let it go to waste, right?”
“If you say so, Xing… Then okay.” Eve licked her lips. Between the exams that day and the shopping trip earlier, she was already ravenous.
But then tragedy struck: the little girl realized that, sitting down, she was only a head taller than the table. Eating was incredibly awkward.
She could just hold her plate and eat from it, but she was afraid of embarrassing herself… This was a fancy restaurant, after all.
So she climbed down from her seat and started to take off her short boots. She could stand on the chair in a moment, and then she’d be able to reach the food.
“There’s no need to go to all that trouble.” Xing Hai stopped Eve. As she blushed in mortification, he lifted her onto his lap, then sat down in her place.
“Eve can sit on my lap.”
The chair she’d been sitting in was soft and comfortable, but Eve found Xing Hai’s lap even more comfortable.
“Want me to feed you? I don’t think your arms are long enough to reach a lot of these dishes,” Xing Hai said, completely straight-faced, even though his words were rather hurtful.
“I’ll grow taller!” Eve pouted unhappily, her little cheeks puffing out. “I’ll be even taller than you, Xing. My arms and legs will be really, really long… Mmph.”
Xing Hai popped a piece of meat straight into Eve’s mouth, then patted her little head. “If you want to grow taller, you need to eat more.”
“Mmm… Ah-wooh.” As Xing Hai fed her, Eve’s little face gradually flushed.
About an hour later.
“I can’t eat another bite~” Eve rubbed her slightly round belly and let out a satisfied burp. It had been a long time since she’d eaten so well and felt so happy.
“Then let’s go. The hotel’s nearby. We can walk off some of that food.” Xing Hai set the little girl down and casually tossed a bag of gold coins onto the table.
“H-hand…” They hadn’t gone far when Xing Hai heard Eve whisper softly. She’d stopped in her tracks.
He turned and looked down. Eve’s little hand was gently tugging at his sleeve, and she seemed unable to get the words out.
Xing Hai didn’t say anything. He took the little girl’s hand, and a faint smile appeared on Eve’s face.
Strangely enough, it was only around eight in the evening, yet the street wasn’t bustling at all. It was eerily quiet, and the two of them seemed to be the only ones left on the entire road.
“Xing…” The lonely, oppressive atmosphere frightened Eve a little, and she couldn’t help edging behind him.
“I’ll protect you.” Xing Hai scooped her up. To his senses, the people hiding nearby in the dark had nowhere to hide.
“Thirty-five of you. Come out on your own.” His voice was quiet, and utterly devoid of emotion.
“I’m curious—how’d you know we were here?” A bald brute with a scar on his head emerged from the darkness, a dagger in hand. At his signal, the rest of the thugs appeared one after another, each armed and looking hostile.
“Your money or your life?” The bald man’s line was cliché, but you had to cut him some slack. Robbers had been using pretty much the same few lines since ancient times. There didn’t seem to be any classy words for them, anyway.
“Xing… Run.” Eve trembled in Xing Hai’s arms. She was too scared to look, but the jumble of footsteps alone told her there had to be a lot of them.
Xing was just one person, and he had to protect her, too. How could he possibly fight them all?
“Eve, close your eyes, then cover your ears. I’ll let you know when it’s over.” Xing Hai spoke calmly. Eve obediently did as he said.
“Heh. Skinny’s been watching you two all day. The best room, the most expensive clothes, the finest restaurant. You’ve got quite a bit of money!” The brute licked the sharp tip of his dagger menacingly.
“I wonder how much your lives are worth, though!” He flashed a vicious, terrifying grin as the others slowly closed in on Xing Hai and Eve.
“Fine. I’ll show you just how ignorant you are,” Xing Hai said. The brute felt that the kid in the white robe was looking at him like he was an ant.
“Don’t beg for mercy when you’re getting hacked to pieces! Broth—” The brute had just raised his dagger when the horrifying sight before him drained all the color from his face.
Hell on earth.
