C8

"Absolutely, let's all have dinner together!" Qin Lang chimed in. Despite Zhao Sitong having destroyed his phone, her antics today were too amusing. They were the highlight of his otherwise mundane life. After all, what's a phone in the grand scheme of things?

Wang Yuqian and Gu Xiyan just shrugged. It didn't bother them. Having this peculiar girl around actually made them seem more ladylike by comparison.

Lin Yanran's eyes twinkled, and she smiled coyly, "Yes, come join us for dinner, little sister."

Zhao Sitong glanced at Muh Chen, who had set aside his computer and silently led the way to the dining table. She hurried to keep up.

The room filled with laughter at the sight, everyone clearly in high spirits.

At the dining table, the chef presented an elegant Western meal. Zhao Sitong eyed the cutlery arranged on her plate with skepticism. These 'Barbarians' were truly wild, using weapons just to eat!

She noticed that each person had a sizable piece of seared beef in front of them, some parts appearing undercooked. She hadn't expected them to indulge in the habit of eating raw beef! And wasn't soup the usual accompaniment to a meal? Why were they using such tall glasses for 'hot water'?

Despite her inner commentary, Zhao Sitong's hunger won out. When in Barbarian Country, do as the Barbarians do, she thought. So, throwing caution to the wind, she grabbed the steak with her hands and took a big bite.

The table erupted into thunderous laughter.

Confused, Zhao Sitong looked up, steak still in her mouth, to see everyone laughing uncontrollably, except for Muh Chen, who was indifferently sipping from his tall glass. What was with these 'Barbarians'? It seemed that everything she did since her arrival, whether speaking or acting, sent them into fits of laughter. Did they find her that amusing?

"I can't take it anymore, my sides are splitting from laughter," Qin Lang managed to say between coughs, clutching his stomach.

"This is too good. Rong Xiaoyi, did you see that? She's absolutely the star of today's party!" Su Qi was laughing so hard he had to lean on Rong Xiaoyi for support.

"Oh my God! Today has truly been an eye-opener," Wang Yuqian said, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

"Yanran, give me a hand, I can't take it anymore," Gu Xiyan said, holding onto Lin Yanran, who was trying to stifle her laughter.

"It's just too incredible. Little sister, where in the world did you come from?" Rong Xiaoyi slumped over onto Su Qi.

Zhao Sitong tore at her steak with such force that she could only bite off a small piece. She couldn't for the life of her understand what everyone found so amusing.

Setting down her steak, Zhao Sitong turned to look at Muh Chen. He had put down his glass of "water" and was cutting his steak with a knife, exuding elegance. He then speared the sliced meat with his fork and slowly chewed it. It seemed as though he was indifferent to everyone and everything around him.

"Boom!" Zhao Sitong's mind went blank as she watched Muh Chen's actions. She finally understood why the 'barbarians' had erupted into laughter. How mortifying! To think that she, a princess, was being mocked for her eating manners. If the other nobles found out, she'd be utterly humiliated. She awkwardly wiped the grease from her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment, and picked up the "water" in front of her, gulping it down.

"Cough, cough!" What was this? It was certainly not "water"! It had the sweetness of juice but the distinct taste of wine, along with an astringent aftertaste that made her mouth feel awful.

"Haha!" Zhao Sitong's attempt to drink the white wine once again triggered a round of raucous laughter.

As the others continued to laugh unabashedly, Zhao Sitong remembered how Mr. Chen had drunk the "water." She quickly realized she had embarrassed herself yet again. Her face flushed with embarrassment, she kept her head down and used her fork to pick at the "noodles" on her plate, not daring to touch the "steak" or "water" again. These 'barbarians' were too cruel, not even using chopsticks to eat their noodles!

Once the laughter had died down, everyone began their meal, though bursts of laughter still punctuated the conversation now and then.

"Hey, Mr. Chen, don't you find it amusing? This lady's comedic skills are on par with professional comedians, yet she can't seem to get even a chuckle out of you!" Qin Lang observed Muh Chen, who was dining with his usual air of detachment and grace, and couldn't help but ask with curiosity.