Liam had been pondering for ages, convinced he'd heard the name Haven's End District somewhere before, but it had remained elusive. It turned out it was here, the renowned Foodie's Paradise! But wait, Fae Willow in the chat group had said Haven's End District was in Port City, hadn't she? This was Aethelburg. Had Fae Willow mistaken the location? Or did both Port City and Aethelburg have a Haven's End District? Such duplication of district or village names was common, though city names rarely repeated. Fae Willow's destination must surely be the one in Port City; she wouldn't have come to Aethelburg.
Having ventured out to clear his head, Liam dismissed the thought. He walked and ate, ate and explored. After what felt like ages, and feeling somewhat tired, he bought two crispy chicken wraps and found a bench along the street for a rest.
...
Opposite his resting spot was a large plaza in the Haven's End district, bustling with activity. Though the weather had only recently warmed, it could not deter women's innate desire for beauty. Everywhere, there were dazzling tank tops, midriff-baring shirts, miniskirts, low-rise hot pants, and pointed high-heeled sandals. Alluring necks, ample bosoms, slender waists, and graceful legs added myriad charms and vibrant hues to the Haven's End plaza. From his resting spot, he could see countless pairs of long, fair legs, radiating with a captivating glow.
Liam had inadvertently chosen a prime spot for people-watching. Beside him sat three young men, earnestly "scoring" the long legs of various women.
"See that? The red dress near the bottom of the large electronic screen. That figure, those legs—at least an 80," said the chubby young man with thick glasses, pointing towards the woman in red.
"Alex, your eye needs more training. No more than 73; her legs are long, but overall too slender. And her calves seem a bit short, detracting from the overall aesthetic," remarked a handsome, cheerful young man beside him, assuming the air of an expert.
"Really?" The bespectacled young man scratched his head. Indeed, upon closer inspection, it was as the cheerful man had described. But he wouldn't have noticed without a careful look.
"I think it's at least a 77. Such beautiful legs are rare in real life. We shouldn't compare them to online celebrities or leg models," the third, a short-haired man, said lazily, leaning back in his chair.
Liam listened, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards where the bespectacled young man pointed. There, a woman in a form-fitting red bodycon dress walked briskly, crystal sandals adorning her slender feet. Women who dared to wear such dresses usually possessed confidence in their figures. Liam didn't have a fetish for legs, but he had to admit, the woman in red was indeed beautiful, her legs long and fair. The owner clearly took good care of them.
They said that when men looked at women, young men looked at faces, then as they grew older, they looked at chests, and only mature men looked at legs. Liam felt he certainly wasn't a mature man yet; he felt no particular inclination towards legs. Even seeing a street full of fair, exposed legs, he felt no urge, nor the desire to score them, unlike the three men beside him. He utterly failed to comprehend his roommates, who often gushed over the long legs of foreign celebrities. Legs, men had them too. Women's legs were just fairer, softer; there was nothing particularly special about them, was there? This was his internal thought. If the three men beside him knew, they'd surely spray him with disgust.
"Look, a perfect score! A perfect score!" The bespectacled young man suddenly exclaimed, his voice rising in excitement.
"Where?" The cheerful young man asked. Though the bespectacled young man's taste wasn't exceptional, he still possessed a discerning eye. A perfect score wasn't given lightly. The lazy, short-haired man even sat up, curious, following the gaze of his friend.
Still beneath the large LED screen, a tall, graceful figure emerged from around the corner. She pulled a massive suitcase, yet showed no sign of effort. Her raven hair, long and flowing, cascaded behind her like a waterfall, swaying in the breeze. Her figure was statuesque; even in athletic sneakers, her legs were noticeably longer than those around her. Each stride covered the distance of two or three ordinary steps. She was a natural cinematic protagonist, exuding an aura that made her stand out even in a crowd, a natural focal point for all eyes.
The dark-haired beauty walked quickly, swiftly approaching the red-dressed woman whom the three men had been scrutinizing. Perfect things, when isolated, might not be dazzling. But when contrasted, they shone a hundredfold brighter. In that moment, the woman in red served merely as a backdrop. As the dark-haired woman swept past, their legs formed a stark contrast, clearly distinguishing the superior. The comparison amplified the beauty, making the dark-haired woman's legs even more captivating.
"Alex, without a doubt. That's absolutely a perfect score," the cheerful young man immediately declared, standing up and dusting off his clothes, then running a hand through his hair.
"What are you doing?" The short-haired man asked.
"I'm going to ask her out! A woman this perfect is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Regardless of success, I have to try, or I'll regret it forever!" The cheerful young man flashed a dazzling smile, his pearly whites gleaming in the sunlight. He certainly possessed a natural talent for attracting women, endowed with the fundamental qualities of a winner—sunny and handsome. There was nothing to lose by trying; if he succeeded, he'd gain immensely! What was there to deter him from such a beneficial endeavor?
A true man, in such a moment, should cast aside all embarrassment and bravely approach! With that, the handsome young man pushed through the crowd, making his way towards the beautiful, dark-haired woman.
...
Two minutes later, the handsome young man returned, dejected. "Failed? So quickly?" The bespectacled young man asked, puzzled. Though he knew his friend had a ninety percent chance of failure, his friend was, after all, somewhat handsome and eloquent. To fail so swiftly? With his skills, even if he didn't secure a date, he should at least have been able to chat with the beauty for a while, shouldn't he?
The short-haired man: "..." He looked utterly speechless.
Liam: "Heh!" Liam almost choked with laughter. These three guys were truly amusing. But come to think of it, that dark-haired beauty's legs had indeed been dazzling. In this era of pervasive internet and countless beauties, people had become desensitized to mere good looks. Yet, true brilliance stood the test of scrutiny; truly distinctive beauties always captivated attention. The dark-haired beauty he'd just seen was the kind of person you'd remember at first glance, unlikely to forget anytime soon.
...
The unexpected encounter with the beauty was merely a brief interlude in his stroll. After resting for a while, Liam resumed his walk. "I'll buy some snacks to take back later," he thought. His roommates had cared for him during his recent illness, so since he was exploring Foodie's Paradise, he couldn't return empty-handed. He wasn't sure what they liked, so he'd just buy a variety of tasty treats.