Chapter 68: The World of Adults

Meng Linna thought a buffet was an easy way to relax her brain.

But something felt off.

“Why’s this steamed shrimp so red? Left out too long and reused for display?”

She regretted grabbing pre-cooked dishes.

Should’ve fished live shrimp from the tank instead.

Na Naya stayed calm.

“Some shady buffets do that. Keep expired ingredients out to cut losses.”

“Ugh, better ditch it.”

Meng Linna glanced around, then tossed the shrimp aside.

She hid it under the carpet with a kick.

Poor shrimp.

“That’s pretty low. Where’s your nun morality?”

Na Naya didn’t stop her but couldn’t resist a jab.

“They started it. I had no choice.”

“Heh.”

Na Naya dropped the argument, switching topics.

“I remember you hated fasting days. Didn’t you dislike seafood and white meat? Why go for lobster today?”

“Not all white meat’s the same. Lobster, base shrimp—I’m fine with those. Crayfish and fish, no way.”

With the shrimp gone, only steak remained.

Meng Linna tossed it on the grill, then stood.

“I’m grabbing more. Want me to get you anything?”

“Steak and two egg tarts.”

“Got it.”

Meng Linna dropped her empty plate in the recycling area.

She headed for more food.

“What to eat…”

Muttering, she passed the veggie section.

A familiar figure flashed at the aisle’s end.

“Ji Jige?”

That blue hair was rare.

Meng Linna only knew one Ji Jige.

But a cardinal from the central church?

In Yanan?

“Must’ve mistaken someone.”

She shrugged, grabbed food, and returned.

***

“I’m full.”

Na Naya set down her chopsticks, declaring victory.

With Meng Linna clearing empty plates, tracking portions was impossible.

They only had a rough sense of their appetites.

“Already?”

Meng Linna was surprised.

“You barely ate. Buffets are about pacing, but at least fill up.”

“I’m really full.”

“You don’t look it. You could eat more. Don’t get too skinny.”

Recalling Meng Linna’s motherly nagging to eat more, Na Naya stood, annoyed.

“Stop treating me like a kid!”

“Sorry!”

Seeing Na Naya’s anger, Meng Linna backed down fast.

Meng Linna’s quick surrender turned Na Naya’s anger to exasperation.

She sat, sighing.

“I know you mean well. But consider my feelings. I’m an adult now. Can you stop treating me like that little girl?”

“Right.”

Meng Linna lowered her head, sheepish.

“I’m just not used to it. As your senior, I can’t help wanting to look out for you.”

That sparked Na Naya’s irritation.

“If you really saw me as a junior, you wouldn’t have done that.”

Old wounds resurfaced.

Meng Linna felt guilt but also a flicker of hope.

Since she’d been forgiven, maybe she could explain?

Prove she wasn’t just a scumbag?

Cautiously, she spoke.

“What if I said I had a reason?”

Na Naya wasn’t buying it.

She thought Meng Linna was dodging blame again.

“What reason?”

Meng Linna’s heart sank, but she pressed on.

“You know I never wanted to stay in the monastery. As the duke’s youngest, I needed extreme measures to escape.”

True.

Before “that incident,” Na Naya saw Meng Linna do unthinkable things.

Yet the dean only scolded her lightly.

As a noble, Meng Linna needed something drastic to get kicked out.

Still, Na Naya couldn’t accept it.

She slammed the table.

“So to escape, you could ruin my life?”

Indeed.

If not for the duke’s intervention, that incident would’ve destroyed any ordinary nun.

Meng Linna, guilty, stared at her ice cream.

“Sorry, I just…”

“No more sorries!”

Na Naya’s anger flared at Meng Linna’s apologetic look.

“To you, I was just some random nun, right?”

“No! Na Naya, you’ve always been important. Like a little sister!”

“Heh.”

Na Naya sat, and silence fell.

Like a play cut short.

As they cooled off, Na Naya spoke first.

“Sorry, I got too heated.”

Meng Linna, grasping at straws, rushed in.

“No, my fault. I overstepped.”

Their gazes softened.

This was the adult world.

Some things were better left unsaid to avoid trouble.

A mutual apology, then back to surface-level civility.

This lukewarm distance was enough, right?

Na Naya lowered her eyes, resigning herself.