Chapter 49 - 48: Master-level Tea Art! [5]

Back in his room, Ye Ling shook his head, pushing all his worries to the back of his mind.

’It’s useless to overthink this,’ he thought. ’Whether I get Ning Tianliang’s approval or not, I have to meet him eventually. That much is set in stone.’

"System, sign in."

"DING! Congratulations, Host! Sign-in successful. Great Luck triggered. You have acquired Master-Level Tea Ceremony!"

Hearing the system’s notification, Ye Ling froze for a moment as an infinite amount of knowledge was suddenly poured into his mind.

A short while later.

Ye Ling opened his eyes again, a flicker of excitement in them.

After so many days, he had finally triggered Great Luck from his sign-in again!

Master-Level Tea Ceremony!

Ahem, a word of explanation is needed here.

This "tea ceremony" wasn’t the kind of "tea art" that had recently gone viral on TikTok—the slang term for the scheming tactics of a "green tea bitch." This was the genuine, traditional art of the tea ceremony.

The Xia Country is the birthplace of the tea ceremony. Throughout history, countless masters have conducted profound research into all kinds of tea. Even the now world-renowned East Asian tea ceremony is merely an offshoot of the one from the Xia Country.

Unfortunately, with no one to carry on the tradition in recent years, the Xia Country’s tea ceremony had fallen into considerable decline.

After all, in today’s fast-paced economy, who has the time to care about an art form suited for a slower pace of life—one that celebrates the pure, elegant, and simple nature of tea?

"A treasure left behind by our ancestors really shouldn’t be forgotten."

Ye Ling closed his eyes. A long moment passed before he opened them again and let out a sigh.

His understanding of the tea ceremony could now rival that of a master who had been immersed in the art for decades.

The deeper his understanding grew, the more he could appreciate its exquisite subtleties.

The tea ceremony is a culture. After many years of development, it is no longer just about brewing a cup of tea; it has permeated the realms of literature and art, forming a rich tea culture with unique national characteristics.

’Come to think of it, I think I remember Ruoruo saying that my future father-in-law is quite fond of tea...’

Ye Ling muttered to himself and gave Zhu Yun a call.

"Get me some tea—and it has to be the good stuff. Have it sent directly to Tomson Riviera, Building S."

Zhu Yun was incredibly efficient. Before long, she arrived in person with several boxes of tea leaves. She had also thoughtfully prepared a variety of tea sets.

"Whoa, Ye Ling, not bad! You even know how to play to his tastes."

Luo Yue said, blinking as she looked at the table covered in tea sets and leaves.

Ning Ruoxi’s heart was touched when she saw this.

’He’s doing all of this for me,’ she thought, ’to win my father’s approval!’

"But then again, the tea ceremony isn’t something you can just pick up easily... Do you even know how to brew tea?"

Luo Yue said, reaching out to pick up a cup and toy with it.

The young woman was naturally clueless about the tea ceremony, but she had seen plenty of tea masters before. They had a certain flair when they brewed tea that immediately set them apart from amateurs.

"Don’t mess with that. The tea service comes as a set."

Ye Ling rolled his eyes and took the small teacup from her hand.

"Hmph! Stingy!"

Luo Yue snorted, saying dismissively, "If you can actually brew a cup of tea that impresses me, then I’ll call you Daddy!"

"Oh?"

Ye Ling couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and glance at Luo Yue.

Ning Ruoxi shot the young woman a glare. "Don’t say such things."

’Luo Yue is young; how could she possibly like tea?’ Ning Ruoxi worried. ’Besides, Ye Ling is a complete novice when it comes to the tea ceremony. How is he going to brew it...’

She didn’t want Luo Yue to pour cold water on Ye Ling and extinguish his newfound confidence just as he was getting fired up.

"I think I’ll take you up on that suggestion."

Ye Ling smiled, then began to arrange the tea service in front of him with surprising skill.

Seeing this, both Ning Ruoxi and Luo Yue were taken aback. ’He really looks like he knows what he’s doing,’ they thought. ’Did he secretly practice?’

As if sensing their gazes, Ye Ling smiled and explained casually, "I’ve actually studied this before."

With that, Ye Ling began to prepare the tea.

Since he was making it for the two young women, he didn’t choose a tea like Tieguanyin or aged white tea. Instead, he selected a flower tea from the Western Europe Continent.

For younger people, flower tea, black tea, and oolong tea are all good choices. Flower tea is especially suitable for modern youths who are frequently exposed to radiation from things like phones and computers, as it helps relieve eye strain and prevent vision decline.

Furthermore, the specific variety Ye Ling chose was Samos Flower Tea, which had a sweeter flavor that was well-suited to the local palate.

What happened next was a scene Ning Ruoxi and Luo Yue would never forget for the rest of their lives.

Ye Ling’s technique was not just masterful, but also possessed an artistic flair that was almost dazzling to watch.

As they watched the tea pour in a slow, steady stream from the teapot, both women subconsciously held their breath.

"There. You can drink it now."

A moment later, Ye Ling pushed two small teacups in front of them with a faint smile.

Ning Ruoxi and Luo Yue exchanged a look, each seeing the shock mirrored in the other’s eyes.

"Alright, you, fess up," Ning Ruoxi demanded. "Did you secretly go and take lessons!?"

As Ning Tianliang’s daughter, Ning Ruoxi had been exposed to the tea ceremony from a young age. It was why her paintings always exuded a sense of tranquility.

It was a quality born from her integration of the tea ceremony’s principles into her art.

For a fleeting moment, she even felt that Ye Ling’s brewing technique was far superior to Ning Tianliang’s!

"Try it and see."

Ye Ling simply smiled, saying nothing more.

Ning Ruoxi nodded, lifted the teacup, and took a delicate sip.

It was sweet on the palate, with a fresh fragrance that made her feel as if she were standing in a garden of a hundred blooming flowers.

Instantly.

Ning Ruoxi’s eyes lit up.

’The quality of the tea leaves is excellent,’ she thought. ’But more importantly, Ye Ling controlled the temperature and brewing time to perfection, allowing the leaves to release their flavor completely!’

’This cup of tea is, without a doubt, a masterpiece!’

Seeing Ning Ruoxi’s reaction, Luo Yue asked curiously, "Ruoruo, how is it?"

"I’m afraid you’re really going to lose this time."

Ning Ruoxi shot Luo Yue a sympathetic glance.

Hearing this, Luo Yue shook her head nonchalantly and snorted. "I don’t believe it..."

With that,

the young woman picked up the teacup, tilted her head back, and downed it in one go.

That’s right.

In one gulp!

As if she were chugging a can of soda!

Luckily, Ye Ling had controlled the temperature of the tea, so it wasn’t particularly hot. Otherwise, the young woman would have been in for a world of hurt!