The little girl had underestimated the irresistible charm of Chinese cuisine.
After an exploration of a bustling street filled with snacks, Hermione's tummy visibly rounded, and she was nearly too full to walk.
She patted her now-plump little belly, yet the longing for more hadn't quite faded.
She had always heard that China was a culinary paradise, but now, experiencing it firsthand, she could confirm it was no exaggeration.
Although Glenn had prepared Chinese dishes for her before, they were simple home-style meals, adhering to his preference for light flavors, which he claimed were healthier. While delicious, they hadn't provided a full spectrum of Chinese culinary delights.
Hermione had naively believed that was the extent of Chinese cuisine.
It wasn't until today, after wandering through the snack street, that she realized just how wrong she had been.
"What's this? Zhajiangmian? Let me try a bite. Wow, it's incredible!"
"And this? Roast duck? One bite… wow, another bite…"
"What's this? Braised… something? It's a bit hot, but delicious!"
"And this? Douzhi? It looks a bit odd. Let me try…"
Yuck!
A trap! Yuck!
Hermione watched in shock as Grandma Lin Yingqing happily finished the douzhi, a taste she found completely intolerable.
Despite this minor mishap, it didn't stop Hermione from falling head over heels for Chinese food.
When Lin Yingqing mentioned that most of the snacks on this street were unique to Beijing and that other regions of China had their own distinct specialties, Hermione secretly made a resolution.
After she and Glenn graduated from Hogwarts, she would definitely visit China again, traveling to every snack street… and scenic spot across the country.
Ahem, purely to admire China's magnificent landscapes, of course. Definitely not for the food.
Lin Yingqing chuckled at the sight of Hermione being supported by Glenn. In this state, using Shrinking the Ground into Inches was out of the question. If they teleported home, the little girl's dinner would have been for nothing.
"Let's take a leisurely walk back. It's not far from here to our house, only six or seven kilometers. A slow walk will help Hermione digest," Lin Yingqing suggested.
Glenn agreed. Hermione, still recovering from her feast, felt too stuffed to speak and could only nod in agreement.
"Hermione, you shouldn't eat like this again in the future, okay?" Glenn advised. Overeating wasn't good for the body, and he felt it was necessary to address the issue.
"I know. I just couldn't control myself today. I won't do it again," Hermione nodded obediently, already regretting her overindulgence.
She resolved to control her diet for the sake of a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a good figure!
However, given her current level of activity and the fact that she was still growing, she didn't actually need to control her diet. As long as she didn't overeat or eat recklessly, she'd be perfectly fine.
Under Glenn's guidance, Hermione was already a very healthy little girl.
Glenn patted her head gently.
The summer night was completely different from the day—cool and breezy. The little girl deactivated the alchemical device in her protective charm, and the three of them walked quietly along the serene summer paths.
It felt like all worries could be cast aside.
Feeling the refreshing breeze on her cheeks and having digested much of her meal during the walk, Hermione's discomfort from overeating gradually subsided.
Letting herself fully embrace the natural atmosphere, they strolled along a small river, heading slowly toward the courtyard.
Unidentified small animals chirped by the roadside, while the river reflected the starlight above. With little artificial light in the area, the stars in the clear night sky appeared exceptionally bright.
Summer nights were beautiful and tranquil.
Before they knew it, they had walked the five or six kilometers. Entering the alley, Glenn and the others headed toward their courtyard home.
The silent alley was pitch dark, its long, narrow passage somewhat unsettling.
But there were three of them—Grandma Lin on the left, Glenn on the right—so Hermione felt confident.
However, as they walked, they noticed something unusual. At this hour, there shouldn't be anyone else in the alley, yet a shadowy figure flickered in the darkness ahead.
Before Hermione could react, Lin Yingqing exclaimed in surprise, "Lin Yu? What are you doing here at this hour?" She raised her hand and cast an illumination spell, lighting up the dark alley.
The figure Lin Yingqing called "Lin Yu" slowly turned around, allowing Glenn and Hermione to finally see him clearly.
How to describe him…
Thick black hair was casually tied into a ponytail at the back of his head. He didn't look very old, perhaps only slightly older than Glenn and Hermione, but he was a head taller than Glenn. His features were sharp and defined, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. His fair skin and handsome face exuded a visible laziness, his drooping eyes giving off a "dead fish" vibe as he turned to look at the three of them.
His outfit, however, was beyond words—completely unfitting for a young man or even a child.
Why?
Because his attire consisted of a tank top, slippers, and oversized shorts—the quintessential outfit for an elderly man taking a leisurely stroll!
He lacked the vitality one would expect of a young person, resembling a prematurely retired old man instead.
"Hello, Grand-aunt, and you two as well," an unexpectedly clear voice greeted them. Lin Yu bowed slightly toward Lin Yingqing while addressing the three of them.
But he spoke in Chinese. The little girl could barely understand a few words, let alone piece them together into a coherent sentence.
"I'm out for a walk," Lin Yu answered calmly, addressing Lin Yingqing's question.
Lin Yingqing sighed. As far as she knew, this lazy fellow spent his holidays lounging all day in an old rocking chair identical to his father's, relaxing under the shade of the courtyard's trees.
So, he did move around occasionally—not lying down all day after all.
But still, what's with this behavior? Why does this young man act like an old man all the time? His nickname really suits him.
Since they had run into him, and Lin Yingqing had intended to introduce Glenn and Hermione to her grand-nephew anyway, she decided to take the opportunity.
Turning to the two younger ones, she introduced Lin Yu.
"Glenn, Hermione, this is Lin Yu, my elder brother's grandson. He's a year older than you and studies at the North China School of Sorcery. Since we've met, let me introduce him to you," Lin Yingqing said, adding with a teasing tone, "By the way, he has a nickname at school that fits his personality perfectly. You can call him this too—"
"—Old Man."
"Hello, I'm Lin Yu," he said, nodding slightly in response, showing no reaction to his grand-aunt's teasing. He seemed used to it or perhaps just didn't care.
Hermione, who understood this time, quickly introduced herself before Glenn could. "Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. I'm from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England. Nice to meet you."
Lin Yu paused, seemingly understanding, and nodded.
"I'm Glenn, same as Hermione," Glenn introduced himself succinctly, with no wasted words.
Lin Yu nodded again.
Lin Yingqing leaned over and whispered in English, "Actually, he doesn't understand English at all."
Lin Yu continued nodding.
…
So, was Lin Yu the type to nod incessantly when he didn't understand something?
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Sensing the odd tension, Lin Yu scratched his head. "What a hassle. Grand-aunt, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
"Go ahead. I knew you'd say that," Lin Yingqing replied helplessly. Lin Yu, as if expecting this, turned and walked away in one fluid motion. It was as if he had rehearsed it, disappearing from their sight like an old man equipped with magical walking shoes.
"…" Glenn noticed something unusual. Lin Yu's walking speed was unnaturally fast. Though it appeared leisurely, his pace was inexplicably swift.
Was it the effect of sorcery?
The little girl beside him couldn't quite grasp the situation either. She simply found the boy very peculiar.
"I think Lin Yu is a bit strange," Hermione whispered to Glenn.
Lin Yingqing clearly overheard Hermione's comment but only sighed inwardly, not saying anything.
Lin Yu was excellent in many ways—his sorcery talent, character, and personality. However, for some reason, he was just too lazy. Unless absolutely necessary, he seemed uninterested in anything. During holidays, he spent his days either lounging in his comfy chair or wandering out for food.
Is this really how someone his age should behave?!
If not mentioned, no one would believe that this seemingly lethargic boy was actually the top sorcerer among students at the North China School of Sorcery, surpassing even older students in overall ability.
Lin Yu had once been a lively, cheerful boy. But after displaying extraordinary talent in sorcery, his parents had coaxed him into selecting all six major courses and four electives at the North China School of Sorcery. Since then, he had become like this.
Though Lin Yu still managed to excel in all ten courses, consistently ranking first in his year, he had also turned into an incredibly lazy person.
Unless absolutely necessary, he adhered to a "lie down if you can, sit if you must, never stand" philosophy.
Oh well, everyone's used to it by now, Lin Yingqing thought, shaking her head. Lin Yu knew his limits and didn't need anyone else to guide him.
Looking at the adorable little girl tilting her head curiously, Lin Yingqing suddenly hugged her tightly, rubbing her cheek against Hermione's.
"Our diligent and hardworking Hermione is still the cutest!"
Hermione: ovo?
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