Chapter 19: The Stingy Lin Chuyi

Lin Qiyue had already prepared the chicken; now it only needed seasoning before it could be roasted. "Hold this for a moment," he said, handing the skewered chicken to Lin Chuyi.

Lin Chuyi hurriedly took it, her small face flushed, whether from the glow of the fire or the excitement of Mo Yu’s approval, it was hard to tell.

Lin Qiyue walked behind her, fumbled for a moment, and produced a cloth bag from his pack.

Curious, Lin Chuyi leaned in. "What is that?"

"Seasoning." As he spoke, Lin Qiyue opened the bag to reveal several small bottles containing an assortment of spices.

Lin Chuyi stared, dumbfounded. How had she not known that Little Qi had hidden seasonings in this cave?

Seeing her expression, Lin Qiyue couldn't help but tease her, "I couldn't let you know before. Knowing your stingy nature, I’d have never heard the end of it."

Lin Chuyi’s eyes widened. "You brat, explain yourself! What do you mean by stingy? Everything I do is for the good of this family!" She let out a cold huff. "You were afraid to let me know then, but you aren't now? If you don't explain, you aren't getting any chicken!"

She brandished the skewer at him, her face set in a look of stubborn determination that left Lin Qiyue both amused and exasperated.

He sighed helplessly. "I was just worried about you going hungry. You’re such a picky eater. Even if we caught game in these mountains, it wouldn't taste good without seasoning. I thought I’d stash some away just in case, though I didn't expect to actually need them today."

Hmm, that did sound somewhat reasonable...

Lin Chuyi recalled something from a few months ago. Back when they would occasionally hunt in the mountains with their elders, she had offhandedly remarked that a wild rabbit they caught tasted bland. She hadn't expected the brat to actually remember that.

A surge of warmth washed over her. "Well, I suppose you were worth raising after all. I’m proud of you, brother."

Taking the chicken back, Lin Qiyue rolled his eyes. *When have you ever actually pampered me?* he thought. *I’m just lucky you don't bully me more often.* But he kept his thoughts to himself; he knew he had to save face for her in front of an outsider.

Watching their interaction, a subtle flicker passed through Mo Yu’s eyes. So, they weren't husband and wife, but siblings. Recalling what he had said earlier, he felt a wave of embarrassment. It was quite a significant misunderstanding, though fortunately, Miss Lin didn't seem to fully grasp it.

Lin Chuyi crouched nearby, watching as Lin Qiyue sprinkled the seasoning over the meat. Under her expectant gaze, he finally placed the chicken over the fire.

With her mind at ease, Lin Chuyi grinned at Mo Yu. "You must be starving. You haven't eaten in so long."

Mo Yu replied, "I am a martial artist; missing a meal or two is of no great consequence."

"Mhm, no rush, no rush. Our Little Qi is an excellent cook," Lin Chuyi said, dismissing his words as mere modesty.

Mo Yu was speechless. He looked at Lin Chuyi, who was already hovering impatiently by the roasting chicken, and wondered to himself, *Who exactly is the one in a rush?*

Lin Qiyue, clearly accustomed to her foodie nature, shrugged helplessly at Mo Yu. "My apologies. It would have been better to make you some chicken soup given your injuries, but under the circumstances, our options are limited. I hope you’ll bear with us."

Mo Yu was slightly taken aback. "You are too kind, young man. I was a man at death’s door; if not for the two of you, I would have already met the King of Hell." He paused, then added, "Regarding my earlier threats toward the young lady, I hope you can both forgive me. It was a desperate measure in a desperate situation."