''Aaa~ Nothing like the warm summer breeze. How are you feeling granny?'' Yanfei asked Madame Ping sweetly.
''Oh, you woke up on the right side of bed this morning Yanfei. I'm feeling great! You dear?'' Madame Ping smiled back.
''I'm alright granny! I also have some time of work today, would you like me to treat you to a dish from Wanmin?'' Yanfei asked, fixing a few strands of her hair.
''Of course dear. Run along now, you don't wanna be late for a case now, do you?'' Ping pushed her playfully and Yanfei strolled off, happily.
''Aaaaa hiii Yanfeeeeiiiiiiii!!!'' Yanfei recognized this voice. She turned around to see Hu Tao staring up at her.
''Hello... Hu Tao, was it?'' Yanfei smiled back to Hu Tao and Hu Tao blushed a lot and felt her face going hot.
''Yes, yes... that's my name..'' Hu Tao trailed off.
''Is there something you need?'' Yanfei looked down a little at her and the lightest shade of pink covered her cheeks.
''Yes- Well no.. no not really.'' Hu Tao stopped for a second and pondered on what to say next, ''Wanna accompany me to the parlor? I would love to get to know you...'' Hu Tao said quickly, blushing hard and embarrassed.
''Hmm... I'm really busy... Hu.. Tao.'' Yanfei replied, trying to not feel bad and guilty.
''Aiya... hmph. Do you have any free time soon or later? I really realllyyyy wanna be your friend Yanfei..'' Hu Tao breathed in, not knowing what Yanfei would say next.
''Possibly.'' Yanfei gave a quick and short answer and carried on walking to Bubu Pharmacy.
''Ouch that hurt.'' Hu Tao mumbled nervously. ''I don't even know what possibly means from her... maybe? yes? no? I'm not even sure...''
''Hello Hu Tao.'' Meng put his hand on her shoulder.
''Oh hello Meng! What can I do for you?'' Hu Tao looked up and smiled.
''I saw what happened with you and Yanfei... do you supposedly like her?'' Meng asked, curiously.
''Um...'' Hu Tao took a breath, ''Pretty much... yep.''
''Oh.'' Meng gave a short reply. What would he say next? ''I didn't expect you to agree.. but if it helps I could find out some things about her? Like her hobbies.. what she likes and dislikes and possibly even what her favorite food is!'' He exclaimed, seeming happy.
''Woah! Where could I find all of that?''
''At Madame Ping, she takes care of Yanfei and could tell you a lot.'' Meng replied quickly.
''Aww.. I would but I saw her leave town to go herb and flower picking. I'll ask another time, could you find out random stuff? I need the help I can get... I really want a shot with her!'' this sounded so off for Hu Tao to say.. did she really fall in love with Yanfei? Or was it just the feeling of friendship or happiness that somebody finally didn't hate Hu Tao's guts and genuinely didn't mind talking to her? This was a trouble Hu Tao had to face when coming to her feelings about Yanfei. Hu Tao shook off her overwhelming thoughts and went on a quick walk through the harbor, the salty breeze hitting her face as the wind raged. There she saw Jifang, which reminded her of the times she would try to bargain and make a deal with her.
Then a new idea sprouted in Hu Tao's mind.
Getting in trouble was the first way Hu Tao got to spend time with Yanfei. Should she try and pester Jifang in hopes of seeing her again? If it was a dumb restraining order that took Hu Tao to see Yanfei to see her.. she would do it to see if her feelings were genuine.
''Heyhey Jifang!''
''Oh no... are you here to pester me again? If you genuinely want to buy a book from Wanwen Bookhouse, it's closed for today, bug off!'' Jifang said before more trouble could occur but her plan wasn't all trouble proof, Hu Tao was mischievous and usually always got her way.
Then Hu Tao remembered.. she saw Yanfei holding books in her hand before and they were no law books... She couldn't mess up with the owner if Yanfei really did like reading and so she didn't take the risk and quickly waved and gave an awkward smile and then ran off in search for any random person to pester and annoy.
Then a random question floated in Hu Tao's mind, ''What if I stole something? Just something small.. it could get me closer and closer to Yanfei!!!!'' ''What about a dish at Wanmin? Or an apple from a grocery stall... Just once...
''Zhongliii, Zhongliii!''
Zhongli sighed, ''Yes Hu Tao?''
''Do you have any info about Yanfei? Anything at all? You've worked with her a few times.. haven't you? Zhongli pleaseeeee!!'' Hu Tao pleaded in an annoying voice.
''I don't really have much, no.''
''Awh.''
''Except that she does not like marriage, love or family cases. Oh and also that her favorite color is pink, I believe so.'' Zhongli said, flipping through quick paperwork.
''Aiya, thank you Zhongli!'' Hu Tao thanked him one more time and ran off to cause more trouble.
Fan Er'ye is the owner of Heyu Tea House, which was where Hu Tao was running towards.
''Hmph, good morning, Hu Tao? What are you here for?'' Fan Er'ye asked politely.
''Can I have a valberry and violetgrass tea please?'' Hu Tao asked persuasively. She was never this nice or this non-mischievous and so Fan Er'ye grew a suspicion on Hu Tao.
''Are you here for a special bargain deal or something again? If so, I don't think I'd allow that or agree, my apologies Hu Tao.'' Fan Er'ye said quickly whilst heating up the kettle and mixing up herbs and plants in a bowl.
''No, no. I don't have a deal with you this time... I'm not sure if you'd be here next time so maybe I should give you a deal today?'' Hu Tao asked, giving off a creepy atmosphere.
''That's weird and creepy, don't scare me or people like that Hu Tao!'' Fan Er'ye was almost finished mixing up the tea.
''Alright alright.. but just in case...''
''No.'' Fan Er'ye turned around and put the cup of tea gently on the counter and smiled almost sarcastically.
''Oh, please may I also have a lemon on the side of the cup?'' Hu Tao asked, you could see in her eyes that she was up to something.
''Alright. Is that all?'' Fan Er'ye turned around and fumbled with draws and cupboards looking for a lemon.
''Yep!'' Hu Tao exclaimed. After a few seconds she snatched the teacup and ran off with it, towards the harbor. People didn't pay any attention because Hu Tao was always up to no good and this wasn't out of the ordinary. Next Hu Tao went up to the general goods shop and quickly snatched an apple, a sunsettia, a radish and a bag of carrots. The owner saw this and ran after Hu Tao holding a long radish, trying to hit her with it!
Hu Tao found a nice spot on the harbor and wondered what she could do with these ingredients.
''What are you planning to do with those Hu Tao?'' Yanfei glared at her but she could see that she was trying so hard to hold back laughter.
''Oh... nothing! Hehe!'' Hu Tao let a giggle and smiled a wide, pretty but cheeky smile.
''I've heard what you did, Hu Tao, you're so silly.'' Yanfei let out a short and cute giggle and immediately Hu Tao blushed more than ever. Yanfei gestured for Hu Tao to follow her and so they did, up the same stairs and to the same table.
Half way up the stairs, Hu Tao started to ask Yanfei a bunch of questions and continued to talk a lot about a bunch of random things to spark up conversation.
''How old are you???'' ''What is your favorite food?'' ''Height? You seem pretty tall.'' And things like that.
Yanfei giggled again as they sat down, ''Don't try to bombard me with questions to try and get away from what you did, heh.'' Yanfei smiled at Hu Tao, ''Yes I will get Fan Er'ye here and the other people you stole from.''
Their eyes both locked and they both blushed hard, their faces turning red. They turned around quickly and hid their red faces.