northernbook Chapter 259 "Only the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the commoner is forbidden to ligh
Chapter 259 "Only the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the commoner is forbidden to ligh
With a slight thought, Lin Feng silently released the skill [Call of the Wild].
The owl that had been standing still seemed to receive some command. Suddenly, it flapped its wings and, like a dark gray arrow, pierced through the warm yellow halo, swooping straight down towards Tang Xiaofu's head!
"Be careful!"
Lin Feng let out a soft cry—and quickly turned around, putting one arm around her shoulder and back, while the other hand protected the top of her head.
The owl swooped past Lin Feng's shoulder, the flapping of its wings ruffling a few strands of Tang Xiaofu's hair.
The fluttering sound of wings quickly faded into the deepening twilight.
Tang Xiaofu was shielded in front of him, her cheek pressed lightly against Lin Feng's chest, and she could clearly hear his steady and powerful heartbeat.
The light from the streetlights shone from the side, elongating and overlapping the shadows of the two embracing figures, which were then imprinted on the stone pavement behind them.
After about five or six seconds, Tang Xiaofu seemed to suddenly come to her senses and hurriedly took a step back from his embrace.
She lowered her head slightly, the tips of her ears glowing a faint blush in the twilight, her voice so soft it almost seemed to dissipate on the wind:
"Thanks."
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Studio:
"Owl: Cupid paid me a salary."
"When it comes to seizing opportunities, Brother Feng is second to none."
"Tang Xiaofu's ears turned red, haha, she's smitten."
"This 'hero saves the damsel in distress' move was so smooth, I would call it textbook-level."
"Their shadows are practically huddled together, why aren't we flushing them?"
Xiaofu: I was just scared... Yeah, right.
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[Ding, Tang Xiaofu's favorability towards the host increases by 10]
[Current Affection Level: 55/100]
Tang Xiaofu looked in the direction the owl had gone, lost in thought.
Zoos are inherently polluted, and this owl may have come into contact with something that caused its drastic change in temperament.
But what about Lin Feng's embrace just now...
In that instant, his faint aura, his strong heartbeat, and his reassuring body temperature all made her heart tighten inexplicably, as if something soft had gently bumped into it.
........................
The small canteen is a standalone flat-roofed building, its beige exterior appearing very soft in the twilight.
As Lin Feng followed Tang Xiaofu through the door, a tranquil atmosphere enveloped him.
It's not a big place, but it feels exceptionally bright and spacious.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling glass window lies the zoo's backyard enclosure, which is not open to the public, where several sika deer are resting quietly in the twilight.
Inside the hall, a wooden dining table is covered with a light gray tablecloth, and on the wall hangs an exquisite photograph of golden monkeys—a work that Tang Xiaofu won an award for two years ago.
On the self-service counter against the wall, the coffee machine was making a soft "tick-tock" sound.
The door to the innermost private room was ajar, and a glimpse of a complex brain neural diagram could be seen on a corner of the whiteboard—it was probably the veterinarians who had just finished a case study meeting.
Lin Feng walked to the coffee machine and skillfully took out the coffee powder and extracted the coffee.
He listens intently while frothing the milk, and stops when the temperature is just right.
He then steadily tilted the cup with his wrist, allowing the creamy milk foam to blend with the coffee, before quickly lowering the pitcher and gently swaying his wrist from side to side.
The milk foam spreads out like silk, and when you lift it gently upwards, a maple leaf with clear veins quietly blooms on the surface of the liquid.
Tang Xiaofu watched, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Hmm, not bad, you have this trick up your sleeve?"
Lin Feng smiled and said, "I worked part-time at the school's coffee shop during college, so I know a little bit about it."
Tang Xiao teased, "What's wrong? Not enough money to chase after a girlfriend?"
Lin Feng shook his head: "No, I just wanted to save money for my family."
A hint of approval flashed in Tang Xiaofu's eyes: "I didn't realize you were so filial."
Lin Feng quipped, "You can't rely on your family for everything."
After saying that, he picked up two cups of coffee and asked, "Where shall we sit?"
Tang Xiaofu chose a seat by the window.
Lin Feng placed a cup of coffee in front of her.
Tang Xiaofu picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and her eyes brightened: "Delicious."
At that moment, an auntie dressed in a neat polo shirt and a dark apron came out of the kitchen, holding an order clip in her hand.
"Principal Xiaofu is here? Do we have guests today?" She smiled warmly and turned to Lin Feng with gentle eyes.
"Aunt Li, this is our new colleague, Lin Feng," Tang Xiaofu introduced, then asked, "Any recommendations today?"
Aunt Li smiled and opened the tongs: "I can make anything on the menu. But... I added some water chestnuts to the freshly cooked lion's head meatballs, making them refreshing and not greasy, which is quite rare."
"The braised beef brisket is also great. The yellow beef delivered this morning was perfectly stewed, with the tendons tender and flavorful."
She tapped the page twice with her finger: "Stir-fried snow peas and garlic broccoli are also very good."
"As for the soup... the yam and pork rib soup is stewed for a long time, making it more moist than other soups."
Tang Xiaofu looked at Lin Feng: "How about these few dishes?"
Lin Feng immediately nodded: "No problem."
He cares more about the safety of the canteen than the taste, so what he eats is not important.
"Then let's go with your recommended combination," Tang Xiaofu said to Aunt Li.
"Okay, it'll be ready in a minute." Aunt Li wrote down the order, smiled, and turned to go back to the kitchen.
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Soon, all the dishes were served, and their aroma gently filled the air.
Tang Xiaofu looked at Lin Feng and said, "You must be tired after a long day at work. Eat more."
As she spoke, she handed over the chopsticks.
Her fingertips accidentally touched Lin Feng's, and Tang Xiaofu's fingers trembled slightly as if burned, quickly withdrawing them.
Lin Feng thanked him, picked up his chopsticks, and put a piece of beef brisket into his mouth.
The aroma of the meat instantly filled my mouth; it was tender yet not dry, and the broth was rich and flavorful.
"Hmm, the taste is quite nice."
As soon as he finished speaking, light footsteps could be heard at the entrance of the cafeteria.
A figure with pigtails, wearing jeans and a pure white T-shirt bounced in—it was Tang Xiaorui.
Her gaze swept casually across the cafeteria, but landed precisely on Lin Feng's table.
When she saw the older sister sitting opposite Lin Feng, the relaxed and cheerful smile on her face instantly froze.
She rushed over in a few steps, stood by the table, and her gaze darted back and forth between her sister and Lin Feng.
Finally, he glared angrily at Tang Xiaofu, his voice unconsciously rising:
"Sis! Why...why are you eating with Lin Feng?!"
Tang Xiaofu put down her chopsticks, her brows furrowing slightly: "Xiaorui, be mindful of the occasion."
"What kind of occasion is this!" Tang Xiaorui pouted, looking aggrieved, but her voice was even more irritating as she lowered her voice.
"You want me to stay away from him so you can get close to him yourself... Is it a case of 'the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common people are forbidden even to light lamps'?!"
"Tang Xiaorui!" Tang Xiaofu's face darkened as she glanced at the subtle gazes directed at her from the surroundings.
"Lin Feng just gave me some very good suggestions on the operation of the park, which I found very valuable."
"Inviting him to dinner is a way for the vice-director to encourage and thank an outstanding employee. Do you understand?"
Tang Xiaorui bit her lower lip, clearly not convinced by the explanation, but dared not continue to make a scene in public.
Her eyes darted around, and suddenly she pulled out the chair next to Lin Feng, plopped down, and sat very close to him.
"Then I want to eat with you all!" she announced, then called out to Aunt Li.
"Aunt Li! Give me a serving of cola chicken wings, black pepper beef ribs, sweet and sour pork with pineapple, and mango pomelo sago!"
Tang Xiaofu frowned: "Can you eat this much by yourself?"
Tang Xiaorui pouted: "None of your business. If I can't finish it, I can take it home."
After saying that, she turned around and added, "Aunt Li, please hurry!"