72: Chapter 58, Improper Etiquette!

72: Chapter 58, Improper Etiquette!

Chen Fenglei sized up the Tang Fei before him, who was his primary target of attention.

Tall and with bright eyes, there was a certain vitality about him…

That was the first impression Tang Fei gave to Chen Fenglei.

Another impression that came along with it was: dirty, sloppy, rustic, hair in disarray, tattered clothes, and a waft of odd smells…

Damn it, couldn’t those bastards have let the man take a shower and change into clean clothes before “inviting” him over?

It was said that there was a shortage of water on the Old Land, making bathing not such an easy task.

As for the clothes, those must be the best set they had, right?

After all, one cannot use the material and living conditions of New Star as a benchmark for the refugees from the Old Land.

Apart from that, there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy.

Oh, his features were not too bad.

But in this Phoenix City, handsome young men were as common as crucian carp crossing a river…

With technological development, genetic optimizations, and a booming beauty industry, where would one find ugly people?

Unless they were really poor or advocates of natural beauty, they’d rather accept their mediocre or ugly selves.

Those with money have all, to some extent, gone under the knife.

Looks were the least of his concerns.

Especially with the previous unpleasant factors impacting and diminishing his charm, Chen Fenglei found it difficult to see this man as someone with “charm.”

Given what he knew about Princess Xiu Xue, such a man was completely outside her aesthetic preference; he might as well be sentenced to death.

“Is this really to repay a debt?” Chen Fenglei wondered to himself.

But this was a relief for him.

If Tang Fei and Princess Xiu Xue had any private affairs, it would not bode well for him…

Even Princess Xiu Xue herself would likely suffer some degree of damage to her reputation.

It was a serious matter!

And Little Fatty…

Ever since those plates of pastries were brought out, his gaze hadn’t shifted away.

He was a foodie!

A foodie usually had simple thoughts, focusing all their energy on food.

To him, eating was the most important thing in the world.

Such a person could be virtually ignored.

Chen Fenglei was very satisfied with this outcome; it seemed that what he worried about could never happen.

These brothers were safe.

There was another invitee, but it was heard that he had vanished without a trace…

Chen Fenglei did not take such matters to heart.

To an enormous Empire, one person, or even a group of people, could not really make a difference.

Didn’t so many people clamor every day in the Empire about changing things and still, there was no change?

Let alone a refugee from the distant Old Land…

Hadn’t the King said?

If it comes to it, he allowed the Princess to be sad for a while.

That saying was a golden decree, a talisman granting immunity from death.

It left him with a vast operational space.

Chen Fenglei looked at Little Fatty with a beaming smile and asked, “Starving, huh?”

“No,” Little Fatty shook his head.

He had already eaten plenty on the Star Disc en route to New Star.

But seeing those pastries, he craved them again.

He felt that not drooling over them would be disrespectful…

“Go ahead and eat,” Chen Fenglei said smilingly.

“If you’re hungry, eat.

Don’t be shy.

You’re guests invited by Princess Xiu Xue herself; we’ll provide all the conveniences we can for you.”

“Then I…” Little Fatty swallowed his saliva.

He thought that the pastries in this beautiful mansion looked even tastier than the bread chunks on the Star Disc.

Colorful and appetizing.

“Really eat them?”

“Eat,” Chen Fenglei nodded his head, unable to suppress a laugh.

He found himself starting to like this little fat kid, whose desires were written all over his face.

Such a person was a rarity in the court.

Thus, Little Fatty pinched off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth.

One after another.

He savored it carefully, sweet, sticky, melting in his mouth.

Little Fatty squinted his eyes, looking blissfully content.

He pinched another and tossed it into his mouth.

His hand-to-mouth movements grew faster and faster, and soon, a plate of pastries was gone.

Then he began to attack another plate…

Chen Fenglei watched, dumbfounded.

This kid’s way of eating…

The pastries prepared daily in the kitchen wouldn’t be enough for him alone.

Others would just taste a morsel, leaving the plate of pastries mostly untouched most of the time.

But not him, he was going at it like it was the end of the world.

“Cough cough…” Tang Fei coughed lightly, reminding Little Fatty to mind his manners.

After all, this is New Star, the Phoenix Empire, the court of nobility.

As newcomers, they needed to maintain elegance and composure, showcasing the fine image of Old Land immigrants.

Little Fatty, hearing a cough, pinched off a piece and handed it to Tang Fei, saying, “Bro, try this, it’s so delicious…

I’ve never eaten anything this tasty before.”

Seeing Little Fatty’s simple, honest, and utterly blissful smile almost bursting forth, Tang Fei suddenly felt that nothing else mattered anymore.

They were just two Old Land refugees who had weathered the wind, bathed in blood, killed men, gone hunting, peed on trees, spat on the ground.

What need did they have for manners and appearances?

What need for a good image?

Could they even debut in a C-position?

Was anyone going to pick them as spokespeople?

The most important thing was Little Fatty’s happiness!

So, Tang Fei accepted the pastry Little Fatty handed to him and, imitating Little Fatty, chomped the whole thing in his mouth and chewed.

“Mmm, delicious,” Tang Fei said with a smile.

Hearing Tang Fei’s comment, Little Fatty felt as if he himself had been complimented, and he picked up another piece to offer Tang Fei, saying, “Bro, you should try this one too…

This one isn’t as sweet, but it’s very refreshing and not at all greasy…”

“Okay, I’ll try.” Tang Fei said.

“And this piece and this piece…”

“Okay.”

And so, the two brothers ate like they were in a contest, rapidly cleaning out the four plates of pastries on the table before them.

“All gone?” Little Fatty reached out for more, only to find the plates empty.

“All gone.” Tang Fei nodded and said, “We’ll work hard, earn money, and there will be plenty more delicious things in the future.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Little Fatty nodded, wiping his greasy hands on his clothes.

Thinking that his big brother liked cleanliness, he offered his own sleeve to Tang Fei, saying, “Big bro, wipe your hands too.”

But Tang Fei pulled a tissue from nearby and said, “I’ll use this…

Little Fatty, you should use this in the future.

Don’t wipe your hands on your clothes, it’s dirty.”

“Oh.” Little Fatty nodded.

Thinking to himself, hadn’t they always used their clothes to wipe their hands before?

You’re afraid of dirt, but always using my clothes…

Chen Fenglei had been watching them with a smile, not saying a word while the brothers ate their pastries, providing them the best of company by not disturbing them.

Once they had finished eating, Chen Fenglei spoke up, “Do you want more?

I can have the kitchen make some?”

If you haven’t had enough, I can order the kitchen to make some more.

But, when it will be ready, I can’t be sure…

“We’re full.” Tang Fei looked at Chen Fenglei and smiled, “Thanks a bunch.”

“…”

Chen Fenglei didn’t like that form of address.

Little Fatty felt he could still eat, but since his big brother said he was full, he could be full too…

Tang Fei asked Chen Fenglei, “Where’s Phoenix?”

Chen Fenglei’s eyelid twitched as he said, “Mr.

Tang, you were invited by Princess Xiu Xue as honorable guests and are also friends of Princess Xiu Xue, so I will speak bluntly…”

“People from Old Land just say whatever comes to mind, we’re straightforward.

We fear most those who smile to your face but stab you in the back,” Tang Fei said.

“…”

Chen Fenglei felt he was being insulted.

“Go ahead.” Tang Fei said.

Chen Fenglei took a sip of his tea to moisten his throat, but it was mainly to swallow down the frustration building up in his chest.

When his heart felt a bit more at ease, he looked at Tang Fei and said, “I know you two have a good relationship with Princess Xiu Xue, and Princess Xiu Xue truly cares for you both, constantly talking about wanting to bring you over after she returned…

You also understand that New Star has closed the migration channels for Old Land refugees, so it wasn’t easy for Princess Xiu Xue to arrange this.”

“I understand.” Tang Fei nodded, “I’ll treat her to barbecue later.”

“But, there are still things you need to be mindful of,” Chen Fenglei said, “like how you address her…

You can refer to her as Princess Xiu Xue, Your Highness, or Miss Xiu Xue…

It would be best not to use ‘that’ name.”

“Which name?

Phoenix?”

“Yes,” Chen Fenglei said.

“But she told me herself, she told me that’s her name…”

“That is Princess Xiu Xue’s childhood name,” Chen Fenglei explained, “given to her personally by the Queen…

In the court, only the King and a very few relatives and elders address her that way…”

“Oh.” Tang Fei nodded and asked, “Not even friends?”

“It’s better not to do that, for both your sake and hers.”

“How is it problematic?” Tang Fei inquired.

“…”

Chen Fenglei felt a bit tired.

He had thought this would be an easy job, welcoming two refugees from the Old Land with no knowledge or worldly experience…

Yet simply answering a few questions was proving to be so difficult.

“The thing is, sir, if you address her as Phoenix, it’s not in line with court etiquette…

You know, there’s a separate system of operation within the court.

Of course, there will be etiquette classes later, with someone assigned to teach you,” Chen Fenglei said, looking at Tang Fei, “But if you insist on doing so, you might bring trouble upon yourself.”

“Are you going to trouble me?”

“Not me, others.”

“Why would others want to trouble me?”

“…”

“Of course, I trust you wouldn’t harm me.” Tang Fei looked at Chen Fenglei with earnestness, “Whatever you say to call her, that’s what I’ll call her.

I’ll listen to you.”

“I just don’t want Phoenix to get upset.

It hasn’t been many days since we parted and I’m already reluctant to call her by her name, starting to call her ‘Your Highness’…

I’m afraid she’ll think I’m deliberately distancing myself, thinking that I don’t want to be friends with her.”

“…”