Chapter 180: Double dates are weird
‘Please tell me you filtered all of that out from Bellona’s mind reading.
‘Oh than-wait, most of it? What do you mean most of it?’
‘That…that implies she heard the devouring comment…and the handlebar comment.’
‘…GAAAAAAHHHH!’
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“You okay? You look rather red in the face,” Zhen Liu said while fully knowing the reason why. This wasn’t meant to torture Bellona with awkwardness, this was meant to help her establish an alibi.
“Oh this? It’s just, uh…the desert sun. I’m not used to it being so hot all the time,” Bellona lied while faking a laugh. She was a smart girl and could easily put two and two together in regards to “devouring” and the usage of a familial trait in such a manner, it’s a good thing Zhen Liu couldn’t read her mind.
However, their little conversation turned out to be unnecessary, as two of the people in the room were busy admiring each other while the third was about to be distracted by the arrival of a fourth and fifth.
“Carlos! It’s good to see you again!,” Zhen Hou exclaimed while grabbing Carlos’s hand into a firm handshake, “and it looks like the young ones are becoming well acquainted with one another as well.
“Likewise old friend,” Carlos said while matching the handshake’s intensity, “And here I was worried that they wouldn’t get along.”
Carlos and Zhen Hou maintained the tough handshake for a few moments, until the former finally noticed the man accompanying Zhen Hou, and the remarkably similar features the two shared.
“Old friend, this is…”
“Ah right, you didn’t get chance to meet last time. This is my brother, Zhen Yan. He’s the father to Xiao Liu over there.
“Good to meet you, Prince Carlos,” Zhen Yan greeted while bowing and cupping his hands together, “I heard many good things about you from my brother.”
“So formal! Please, just call me Carlos,” the Prince said jovially, “My girl is rather fond of your boy. Despite having only spent an afternoon together, he seemed to have made quite the impression.”
“You flatter me, Carlos.”
“Say,” Zhen Hou interjected, “why don’t we let the youngins go and have fun out in the city. They don’t need to stick around us old farts.”
“Good idea, but you’re the only old fart around,” the Prince teased, “I’m still a strapping young buck”
“Hah!”
At their parents’ suggestion, Zhen Yue, Zhen Liu, Santiago and Bellona proceeded to leave the Zhen Clan compound, and make their way into the city on a double date, if you will.
Once the children were out of sight, the parents began to talk about them in more depth.
“I do hope Santiago and Zhen Yue like each other.”
“Oh please, did you see the way your boy was looking at her? He was absolutely smitten.”
“Same could be said about your daughter, old friend. Speaking of daughters, Mister Zhen Yan I believe you had something else on your mind other than the current engagement arrangements?”
“Yes, and this might get a little awkward…”
“Oh?”
“See, I also have a friend with a daughter…”
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Zhen Yue, Santiago, Bellona and Zhen Liu had taken to walking in two separate but still cohesive groups, in order to allow the two couples to privately talk as needed. Of course, it didn’t help that the two latter people could hear the two former ones in HD, granted one could also hear more than the other…
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“So… it’s a bit unusual seeing a Roaring Tider on the continent, even if it’s out on the fronteir, you grew up on the frontier your whole life, or…” /Seriously?! That’s the best I could come up with?!/
“Correct. I was born and raised in Stone Claw City, but my parents came here from Roaring Tide. On separate occasions though, it was complete coincidence they met here. Apparently they both came from a place called the Sapphire River Republic. I’ve never been there, but both of them say it was a beautiful place.” /Wait, why am I talking about my parents? Gah! Come on girl, be more…mysterious!/
“Ah…did you ever want to go see it for yourself?”
/Dumbass, of course she would! Why are you asking such an obvious question!/
“Maybe some day, see what the fuss is all about.”
/Oh great, you sound like a bitch now, wonderful…/
“Closure?” /Closure?!/
“Yes…but enough about me, what about you? I figured being royalty would mean you’d be too…busy to go someplace like my little slice of home.” /Oh sure, imply that the cute little sheep boy probably sleeps around, now he probably thinks you’re the jealous or possessive type./
“If you’re implying that I’d have suitors at my beck and call back home, you’d be partially right…but none of them are as beautiful or as interesting as you, Miss Zhen Yue.” /Ok, I meant that last part, but I just now made it sound like I am basically a man whore. I haven’t even kissed a girl yet!/
“O-oh…”/Okay a line that cheesy definitely means no one else has been with him yet…mine./
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While Bellona was yo-yoing between blushing and laughing, Zhen Liu and his kaijin could only hear and see the surface stuff.
[Milord. Is this what young love looks like?,] Nepherage asked, [because it’s making my teeth rot, and I don’t have teeth.]
[Romance…too sweet…]
[Oh come off it you two,] Hurricroak said in defense of the young couple before them, [First dates are always awkward, especially when it involves love at first sight.]
‘Wait, weren’t you the one teasing about them being salacious several minutes ago?’
[Yes, but they have since passed my background music test, so now I’m rooting for them.]
‘…background music test?’
*Click*
A few sweet opening notes played before being followed by a twinkling noise and a smooth bass line. Shortly after, Korean words began to play in his head.
‘Wait, I have a stereo in my head? Wait is that Korean? Is…is this “I think I love you”?!’
[Yup!]
‘What the hell?!’
‘What do you mean broadcast?!>
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As Zhen Yue and Santiago kept walking and talking, a strange sounding song soon began to play in their ears.
“Huh? Is there a street musician nearby? What kind of language is this?”
“I don’t know…but it sounds nice.”
“Yes…yes it does.”
Perhaps it was due to the influence of the song, or their own feelings, but the two subtly shifted closer together while they walked…as did several other unrelated couples that happened to be in the area.
“What kind of instrument is that? It sounds strange but…romantic?”
“I don’t know, but the woman singing is very charming.”
“Not as charming as you though.”
“Have I said I loved you today?”
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Bellona eyes widened as she saw the way the other couples were acting, and the song that was playing her head too.
“Zhen Liu, what did you do?,” she asked her walking companion, who had a face that looked like this: o_o.
“Apparently watch too many Korean dramas,” he grumbled.
“… what’s Korean?”
