I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: When are You Getting Married? — Yuan Yajun and Su Yao exchanged a glance…

“Okay, okay, Lord Dragon King who just became an adult.” Shen Youqing suppressed his laughter, his eyes sparkling as he looked toward the mouth of the alley. “I smell something good. Let’s go eat first; my stomach is growling.”

Feng Xiuyan naturally wouldn’t refuse. Even the embarrassment from before faded as he took the opportunity to lead Shen Youqing by the hand toward the alley.

When they arrived, they found a wonton stall. Inside the pot, plump white wontons were rolling in the boiling water, looking exceptionally tempting.

An old woman was stirring the broth with a long ladle. Seeing them approach, she greeted them with a smile: “Young masters, would you like a bowl of hot wontons? Freshly wrapped and very savory!”

“Two bowls! Extra seaweed and dried shrimp, and add some chili oil!” Shen Youqing sat down on a small stool with practiced ease. Just as he was about to pull out some money, Feng Xiuyan had already handed over a piece of silver, his fingertips lightly pressing against the top of the boy’s head. “Just sit and wait.”

“Mhm!” Shen Youqing nodded vigorously.

In a few moments, two steaming bowls of wontons were placed on the small square table. Green scallions floated in the porcelain bowls, a thin layer of oil shimmered on the surface, and the plump wontons were bursting with filling.

Eager to taste them, Shen Youqing blew on a spoonful twice and impatiently shoved it into his mouth. To his surprise, the soup inside was scorching. His tongue went numb instantly. He puffed out his cheeks, hissing and gasping for air: “Si-ha, si-ha… so hot, hot, hot!”

Without a hint of hesitation, Feng Xiuyan held his open palm out to the boy’s mouth, his voice urgent: “Quick, spit it out.”

Shen Youqing didn’t stand during the ceremony. Using the slight curve of Feng Xiuyan’s palm, he spat out the half-chewed wonton that was too hot to swallow. His pink tongue darted out to lick his upper lip to cool down, and the corners of his eyes were watery from the heat. He made a face. “Man, they really aren’t kidding when they say haste makes waste!”

“Stick out your tongue and let me see.” Feng Xiuyan frowned slightly. His other hand was already condensing a wisp of gentle, pale-blue spiritual energy.

Shen Youqing obediently stuck out his tongue—the pink tip showed a faint red scald mark, looking quite pitiful. Feng Xiuyan’s finger paused in mid-air for a second before lightly tapping the spiritual energy onto the tip of the tongue. The cool energy spread, instantly suppressing the burning pain.

“Better?” Only then did Feng Xiuyan pick up a handkerchief from the table and slowly wipe the wonton residue from his palm.

Shen Youqing moved his tongue around, and his eyes lit up. “Wow, it doesn’t hurt anymore! Your spiritual power is so useful; it’s like a mobile pain-relief patch!” He looked at Feng Xiuyan with stars in his eyes.

Feng Xiuyan’s ear tips turned slightly pink at the blunt praise. He coughed to hide his fluster and pulled Shen Youqing’s bowl toward himself. He scooped up a round wonton and blew on it for a full three breaths until even the skin felt cool to the touch. Then, he carefully held it to Shen Youqing’s lips. “I’ve cooled it for you. Eat.”

Shen Youqing leaned closer, looking at the man’s serious brow, and suddenly smiled until his eyes were crescent. “How are you so good to me?” This level of attentiveness was “Boyfriend-Power MAX!”

He opened his mouth and swallowed it, squinting in satisfaction like a cat with a piece of dried fish. “You eat too, don’t just watch me,” he mumbled while chewing.

…

The Gossiping Onlookers

Feng Xiuyan chuckled and finally scooped a wonton for himself. Suddenly, two muffled gasps came from across the alley.

The wonton stall happened to be directly across from a rogue shop. Yuan Yajun and Su Yao, carrying packets of rouge, had just stepped out and witnessed this scene. The high-and-mighty Lord Dragon King was holding a spoon, gently feeding a cooled wonton to the boy, with a look of tenderness in his eyes that could drown someone.

“Sister Yajun! Look! Isn’t that Little Youqing… and, and Lord Dragon King!” Su Yao’s voice trembled with shock.

Yuan Yajun followed her gaze, her eyes lighting up instantly. “It really is them! Heavens, look how sweet Little Youqing’s smile is.”

Su Yao’s face flushed with excitement. “I didn’t expect the Dragon King to have such a considerate side! He really loves Little Youqing!!”

“Doesn’t he!” Yuan Yajun nodded. The more she looked at the two leaning against each other, the more they seemed like a match made in heaven. “They look like a pair from a storybook. Even eating wontons has an intimacy that no one else can touch!”

Just as they were about to say more, Shen Youqing seemed to sense something and looked over. The two girls hurriedly ducked behind a pillar, hearts racing. When they peeked out again, Shen Youqing was waving at them with a bright smile.

Feng Xiuyan glanced over. Seeing two strange human women, his eyes cooled instantly, and he didn’t give them a second glance. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of his bowl, feeling a strange sense of annoyance—this child’s attention had only just been gathered back to him for a moment before being snatched away by outsiders.

Yuan Yajun and Su Yao approached with trembling steps. They bowed respectfully to Feng Xiuyan. “Lord Dragon King.”

Feng Xiuyan was busy scooping wontons for Shen Youqing and didn’t even lift an eyelid. The two weren’t offended; they knew from their time at the mountain villa that this man only had eyes for Shen Youqing.

“Little Youqing, what a coincidence!” Su Yao spoke first, her gaze darting to their touching shoulders before she quickly looked away, blushing.

“It is a coincidence. Are you out shopping too?” Shen Youqing smiled, biting his spoon. He was about to move a stool for them when Yuan Yajun interrupted him.

“Little Youqing!” Yuan Yajun took a deep breath, mustering all her courage. She stole a glance at Feng Xiuyan and then looked back at Shen Youqing. “We haven’t seen you in days. You and the Dragon King… your relationship has become so close?”

Su Yao nodded vigorously. Feng Xiuyan’s spoon paused. He appeared to be focusing on his soup, but his ears were secretly heating up. He thought to himself: These two human women actually have some vision.

Shen Youqing was stunned by the question. His ear tips turned bright red, and he scratched his head. “It’s… it’s alright, I guess…”

“So, when are you two getting married?”

Yuan Yajun’s question hit like a thunderclap. Shen Youqing was so shocked his hand jerked, and his spoon fell into the bowl with a clack, splashing wonton soup all over his hand and clothes.

“Why are you so careless?” Feng Xiuyan reacted instantly, grabbing a cloth to wipe the boy’s hand. Fortunately, the soup was no longer hot.

“I-I’ll do it myself!” Shen Youqing scrambled for the cloth, his cheeks hot enough to fry an egg. The two girls were still watching! He lowered his head, his ears nearly touching his neck.

Seeing this, the two girls knew they would be “disturbing” them if they stayed. They laughed and said, “We have things to do, we won’t interrupt your meal! We wish you both… an early fulfillment of your heart’s desires!”

As they skipped away, they kept looking back, their smiles overflowing.

…

The Confession

Shen Youqing scratched his face awkwardly. “Those two are a bit too much into gossip, haha…”

Feng Xiuyan glanced at their retreating backs. His ears caught every word of their whispered discussion about how perfectly matched he and Qingqing were. The slight displeasure from before vanished, replaced by an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

He ignored the “perceptive humans” and added another wonton to Shen Youqing’s bowl, his tone full of indulgence. “Eat quickly. If it’s not enough, I’ll get you more.”

Shen Youqing gave an “Oh,” but the words “when are you getting married” kept ringing in his head. He realized that his marriage to Feng Xiuyan was originally a political alliance between the sea race and humans. He was supposed to be a “cannon fodder” side character, yet somehow, the Dragon King had actually fallen for him?

He stole a peek at Feng Xiuyan, who was calmly drinking soup. He was curious: What exactly does Feng Xiuyan see in me?

Two seconds into his peeking, he was caught. Feng Xiuyan set down his spoon, his eyes filled with tender laughter. “What is it? Are the wontons not to your taste, or are you thinking about what those girls said?”

Shen Youqing blushed. “Cough, I’m just… curious. When exactly did you start liking me? Was it during our time at the villa?”

Feng Xiuyan hadn’t expected such a direct question. He paused, then thought seriously. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on his profile. “Actually, dragons are naturally fond of beautiful things. When I first saw you by the pond at the villa, I felt… a sense of affinity.”

“Huh?” Shen Youqing blinked. So this guy was a “face-con” (someone obsessed with looks)?

Before Shen Youqing could condemn him for being superficial, Feng Xiuyan laughed softly. “As for when I truly placed you in my heart… it was probably when you went to get mountain spring water for me and came back with a high fever. You kicked the blankets eight times that night and held onto my clothes, refusing to let me leave.”

“What?! I don’t remember any of that!” Shen Youqing’s eyes went wide. “I thought I just went to sleep and woke up better! You were the one who took care of me all night?”

“Who else?” Feng Xiuyan smiled, messing up the boy’s hair. “That was when I realized that beneath your lively exterior, you are more sincere than anyone.”

“That’s it? That made you fall in love?”

“Mmm—” Feng Xiuyan drew out the sound, a hint of “vinegar” (jealousy) in his tone. “What truly confirmed my feelings was that time you got drunk with that brat from the Wen family.”

“Pffft—” Shen Youqing burst out laughing. “So you were jealous back then?”

Feng Xiuyan didn’t deny it. His gaze was burning and serious. “Yes, I was incredibly jealous. That was when I realized I was done for. At some point, your vitality became more important to me than your face. You’ve occupied my heart for a long time now, and I can’t move you out.”