Ye Fei, having experienced much, had long lost the naivety typical of his age and appeared to be in his early twenties. Liu Yiru, on the other hand, looked no older than twenty-five.
Moreover, "cougar" relationships were quite fashionable these days, so the guide saw nothing unusual and replied with a smile, "You can just call me Xiao Fang. Mr. Ye and Miss Liu really make a great couple."
Her words were sincere; Ye Fei and Liu Yiru were indeed a rare pair of good-looking individuals with excellent demeanors.
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Xiao Fang’s comment caused another blush on Liu Yiru’s face. She quickly tried to cover her embarrassment by asking, "Xiao Fang, we just arrived here today. Is there any place in this city with historical significance?"
"We’re just a small city with no famous attractions," Xiao Fang shook her head. It was evident that she was genuinely honest. Most guides would exaggerate even if there was nothing to see, just to make more money by taking customers to more places.
Fortunately, Liu Yiru’s question had merely been to cover her flustered feelings, and she wasn’t really interested in visiting any attractions. She continued, "Then just recommend some fun places to us, preferably ones with local characteristics."
"Hmm," Xiao Fang thought for a moment and said, "If you’re talking about local specialties, it would be our clay figurines. Many of the local artisans are quite skilled. If you’re interested, you can check it out."
"Alright, would you mind showing us the way?" Liu Yiru smiled.
"Of course, it’s my job," Xiao Fang laughed, walking outside and saying, "Follow me, please."
After exiting the hotel, Liu Yiru stealthily glanced at Xiao Fang walking ahead of them. Seeing that she was at a safe distance, she playfully pinched the soft flesh on Ye Fei’s waist and scolded, "Naughty boy, why did you say that just now?"
"What do you mean?" Ye Fei feigned innocence. "What did I do?"
"Why did you say I’m your... girlfriend?" Liu Yiru’s face turned slightly red.
"What else was I supposed to say?" Ye Fei continued to look innocent. "Should I tell her you’re my mom? She wouldn’t believe it. If you ask her now, she’d probably say we look about the same age, and she might even think you look younger than me!"
"Nonsense!" Liu Yiru’s face turned even redder, but inside, she was pleased. She knew Ye Fei was subtly complimenting her youthful beauty.
Although she didn’t usually care about others’ opinions, for some reason, Ye Fei’s view was different. Still, she said, "You could have said I’m your sister."
"Forget it," Ye Fei replied with a wry smile.
"If I did that, we’d probably be surrounded by a crowd of men in no time."
"Why?" Liu Yiru was puzzled. Even if her appearance attracted many suitors, why would they surround Ye Fei?
"To flatter me and ask for my help so they can become my brother-in-law!" Ye Fei laughed.
"So, it’s better if I’m your boyfriend. That way, we can avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"Well, alright," Liu Yiru finally agreed, because Ye Fei made sense.
Being his "girlfriend," even if only in words, gave her an indescribable sweetness amidst her nervousness. Besides, no one here would recognize them, so Liu Yiru decided to relax and indulge in her deepest desires.
"There you go," Ye Fei smiled and casually wrapped his arm around Liu Yiru’s slender waist.
Liu Yiru was startled and quickly moved away, asking, "What are you doing?"
"Just holding my girlfriend. Look at all the couples on the street—they’re doing the same thing," Ye Fei chuckled. "And some even kiss in public. How about we give it a try?"
"Very funny!" Liu Yiru playfully rolled her eyes at him, but instead of struggling further, she leaned into his embrace, savoring the warmth of his arms. The unspoken happiness welled up inside her once again.
Led by Xiao Fang, the two arrived at a small, secluded street.
The location was so out of the way that it would have been nearly impossible to find without a local guide.
Despite its size, the street was bustling with people, most of whom, judging by their accents, were not from the area. It seemed Xiao Fang had been right—this place was indeed famous for its clay figurines.
Stopping in front of a small stall, Ye Fei and Liu Yiru watched the artisan at work. In his hands, a piece of ordinary clay quickly took the shape of a human figure.
With a few seemingly casual strokes of a paintbrush, the figurine transformed into Zhang Fei, bearing an astonishing resemblance to the actor from television.
Such amazing craftsmanship not only amazed Ye Fei and Liu Yiru but also piqued their interest. They couldn’t help but feel eager to try it themselves.
"Excuse me, sir, can you make figures other than these movie characters?" Ye Fei asked.
The clay figurine craftsman smiled and replied, "Of course. As long as I’ve seen it, I can make it. Young man, would you like to create a figurine with your girlfriend?"
Throughout their journey, Ye Fei’s arm had been around Liu Yiru’s waist, so the craftsman immediately recognized their relationship.
"Yes, that’s exactly what we want. It seems you not only have great skills but also a good eye. Do we need to pose for it?" Ye Fei asked with a smile.
"No need. This is perfect just as it is. It’s natural, and that’s where true beauty lies." The clay figurine craftsman was delighted by Ye Fei’s compliment, his smile broadening.
"However, it would be even more intimate if your girlfriend were to hold you as well."
At the suggestion of being molded together in a hug, Liu Yiru instinctively wanted to object.
But she quickly convinced herself: What’s the harm in a simple hug? Even if others see it, so what?
Who says a son can’t hold his mother?
So, following the craftsman’s advice, she wrapped her arms around Ye Fei’s waist and tilted her head, resting her temple gently on his shoulder.
The craftsman’s skill was truly unparalleled. In less than three minutes, a brand-new clay figurine portrait was complete.
When Liu Yiru took the lifelike couple statue from the craftsman, her heart couldn’t help but race.
No wonder he could tell at a glance—they really did make a perfect match.
After Ye Fei paid, the three continued on their way. But Liu Yiru was clearly preoccupied, lost in her own thoughts. After a while, she suddenly said to Ye Fei, "Wait here for a moment. I need to take care of something."