Chapter 15: Do You Perhaps Like Me a Little?

"Since you can't go back, why not stay? I'll take care of you."
Li Rui spoke with genuine feeling, but as soon as he finished, he felt a little embarrassed, sensing that his words seemed somewhat improper.

"I know you're a good person, Brother Li. Thank you for taking me in. Hmm... I'd like to ask you something else."
Zhang Xiaolan was delighted to hear him say this, for in this place she had no one to rely on. If no one took her in, she would truly be left to wander.
Moreover, she had no survival skills for this ancient era. Although she studied archaeology, she never truly understood what life was like for people in the past.

"Please, Miss Zhang, go ahead."
"Do you... maybe like me?"
Zhang Xiaolan asked playfully, half-serious and half-joking. She wanted to lighten his mood with a bit of teasing, but it seemed the effect was less than ideal.

"..."
Li Rui was caught off guard and felt shy and awkward. He had never been asked such a question by a woman before, and he wasn't even sure if he liked her, or if he simply saw her as someone else.

"Haha... I'm just teasing you, don't take it to heart. Brother Li, you don't need to call me Miss Zhang anymore—just call me Lanlan. That's what my parents and friends call me."
Zhang Xiaolan realized her joke had gone too far and quickly changed the subject to ease the tension. She also felt uncomfortable being addressed as Miss Zhang—it sounded too distant and unpleasant. Lanlan was much warmer and more familiar.

"Alright, Lanlan."
After hesitating for a moment, Li Rui finally called her by that name—a name he hadn't uttered in a very long time. Though the characters differed, Lanlan and 'Lannan' sounded the same, and both evoked cherished memories for him.

It was already late when they returned to the manor. Xiao Lian and Haizi were waiting for them at the door—remarkably, not quarreling, but patiently standing together. As soon as they saw the pair return, they hurried forward to greet them.

"Whoa."
Li Rui halted the horse and deftly helped Zhang Xiaolan dismount.

"Miss, you're finally back!"
Xiao Lian happily grasped Zhang Xiaolan's hand, greeting her affectionately.

"You must have been worried."
Zhang Xiaolan knew they must have waited a long time. Dinner in the manor was always served early, and by now, night had long since fallen.

"Master, why no game?"
While Xiao Lian spoke to Zhang Xiaolan, Haizi asked Li Rui, his main concern being the hunt. It was no surprise—he knew the manor had run out of fresh meat, with only cured meat remaining.

"No luck today," Li Rui replied simply.

"Master, Miss, please come inside for supper. The food is still hot!"
Xiao Lian called Li Rui and Zhang Xiaolan in for dinner; everything was ready and waiting for their return. Worried it might get cold, they'd kept it warming on the stove. At this hour, surely hunger would be setting in.

"I already had roast chicken earlier, so I'm not hungry yet. Let's save it for later, as a midnight snack."
Zhang Xiaolan patted her stomach—she had nearly eaten a whole chicken earlier, so she wasn't hungry now. She would save it for later to avoid waste; without refrigeration, leftovers would spoil by morning.

"Oh, Miss, let's go inside."
Xiao Lian was pleased to see they hadn't gone hungry, but upon hearing this, only one person pouted and turned to ask Li Rui.