Li Zhibai is ultimately a composed person, and she couldnât bring herself to make Yun Qian come forward to talk about the feeling of being drunk.
However, noticing she had spoiled the Sect Leaderâs mood, Li Zhibai promptly took remedial actions. She took out a wine cup, poured herself a drink, and then refilled the Sect Leaderâs cup before bowing.
Drinking with the Sect Leader was her way of making amends.
But it didnât really matter.
Whether it was truly making amends or Li Zhibai wanting to seize the rare opportunity to drink with the Sect Leader, only she would know.
Shi Qingjun didnât mind Li Zhibaiâs intentions. She just smiled, thought of the actions of the girls at Flower Moon Building, and tapped the rim of her cup against Li Zhibaiâs wine cup.
The crisp sound seemed to fall right into Li Zhibaiâs heart.
She then quietly drank her wine.
The wine from Tong Jun was truly excellent.
ââ
On the first floor of the banquet hall, Ah Qing gently shook the wine cup in her hand, took a sip, and then smiled contentedly.
She liked this taste.
Beside her, the girl in yellow saw Ah Qingâs satisfied expression and snatched her cup to take a sip herself. Her face changed as she forced it down, her delicate face scrunching up.
"Ms. Qing, this really doesnât taste good at all. Why do you like drinking such things?" the girl in yellow said, sticking out her tongue, the spice overwhelming her. "Itâs both bitter and astringent, truly awful."
"You donât like it?" Ah Qing asked.
"I donât like it." The girl in yellow nodded vigorously.
"The wine from Flower Moon Building is excellent, it warms the body," Ah Qing reminded.
"But I donât like it," the girl in yellow said with a grimace.
"If you donât like it, donât drink it."
"Then I wonât drink it."
With that, the girl in yellow, in front of Ah Qing, poured all the wine from her cup onto the plate with fruit peels. The crystal-like wine mixed with the food scraps, the fragrance of the wine seemingly enhancing the aroma of the peels, making it smell even better.
"You..." Ah Qing gently rubbed her temples and teased, "You mischievous girl, now youâre bossing me around."
"Itâs you whoâs at fault, sister." The girl in yellow was defiant, she pushed the wine jug far away before saying, "Sister, you are going to take the stage, drinking here to fortify yourself... that wonât do."
"What fortify? Am I afraid?" Ah Qing asked.
"Even if not, sister, if the effects of the wine come on while youâre on stage dancing with wobbly steps, all flustered, embarrassing yourself and making the others laugh at you, what then?" the girl in yellow said with concern.
That was why she didnât want Ah Qing to drink wine.
"I wonât get drunk." Ah Qing thought she would actually like to get drunk.
But itâs not that easy.
"Besides, donât you think that dancing with swords while drunk has a unique charm?" Ah Qing laughed.
"Ms. Qing, donât joke around." The girl in yellow tugged at Ah Qingâs sleeve and said, "If you really want to drink, wait till you finish your performance... Iâll drink with you."
"Didnât you say you donât like wine?"
"It also depends on who Iâm drinking with." The girl in yellow smiled shyly, then seeing Ah Qing no longer thinking about drinking, she quietly said, "Ms. Qing, you like drinking so much... whatâs so good about it? I think it doesnât compare to fruit juice at all."
"Thatâs why youâre just a little girl." Suddenly, a voice from the side made the girl in yellow jump like a mouse seeing a cat, then she hid behind Ah Qing.
She swallowed hard, looking at the woman who suddenly sat beside her.
"Steward Lu... good, good evening." The girl in yellow looked at Miss Lu who suddenly appeared, stammering.
"Am I really that scary?" Miss Lu said with a smile while pouring herself a glass of wine.
"...Not scary, not scary... hehe." The girl in yellow said sheepishly.
How could she not be scary?
To all the girls at Flower Moon Building, Miss Lu is the âbossâ above all others, even Pingniang is managed by her. In the hearts of the ordinary Flower Moon Building girls, Miss Lu is the biggest âbossâ, without exception.
Almost no one has seen her smile... such a Living Yama suddenly sitting beside you, how frightening is that?
"Steward Lu," the girl in yellow swallowed hard, "Arenât you enjoying the banquet with the Young Master?"
"Just came down to walk around," Miss Lu was used to the fear, she patted the girlâs head, then looked at Ah Qing, "Chatting with Ah Qing."
Given that today is the banquet announcing the half-demons, itâs quite normal for her to come talk to Ah Qing before the show starts.
Ah Qing, upon hearing, stood up to give a salute and then sat back down.
As a girl from Flower Moon Building, after revealing her half-demon identity, dealing with Miss Lu was quite normal for her.
However, she was also surprised by Miss Luâs sudden arrival.
On that high platform... there were Young Master Xu and Miss Yun.
Ah Qing felt that if it were her, just watching Yun Qian she could devour the table; yet she didnât expect Miss Lu to be so wasteful, so ignorant of cherishing the opportunity to casually leave the banquet...
Come to talk to her?
What was there to talk about with Miss Lu?
She wished Mrs. Lu would hurry back.
It was strange.
Watching others squander the chance to interact with Yun Qian was more painful for her than not being able to join the evening banquet herself.
"Steward Lu," Ah Qing softly cleared her throat and said, "I have already prepared for tonightâs Sword Dance, thank you for your trouble."
"Mm." Miss Lu nodded, picked up Ah Qingâs wine jug, and poured herself a cup, sipping it.
The atmosphere suddenly felt odd, and the girl in yellow shrank her neck, not daring to say a word.