Buy an hour of your time, accompany me.
The next day, Yu Jinnian went to check on her, teaching them how to feed the medicine for awakening and clearing the mind. They also gave her some sugar rice water. Yan Yuyao’s complexion had improved significantly. The purplish hue had faded, and she looked as if she were just asleep. The blood streaks on both sides of her cheeks showed signs of fading, but the bruise left by the rope around her neck had darkened. Yu Jinnian prescribed some medication for external injuries to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising, instructing Fenjuan and the others to grind it into powder and mix it with vinegar for application.
When he returned to the noodle shop, it was the slowest time of the day. Three or four customers were slurping noodles inside. Qing Huan was leading Sui Sui in tidying up a table in the front hall. They were playing a game of dice to win beans, having made a bet that the loser would have to sweep the courtyard.
Seeing them so engaged in their fun, Yu Jinnian headed to the backyard. He took the fish stone, which had been drying on the windowsill behind the kitchen. Since he had some free time that day, he moved a stool into the yard. While basking in the sun, he slowly started grinding the fish stone with a small file. The fish stone was currently a bone-yellow color and not particularly attractive, but as each layer was polished away, the inside began to shine, translucent like amber.
Qing fish stone wasnโt particularly valuable because Qing fish wasnโt a rare ingredient. As a result, Qing fish stones were commonly sold by street vendors, often by the pound. Some impoverished young women would buy a small sack, polish the stones themselves, and string them into necklaces or hair ornaments. Though not as fine as agate or amber, they were believed to bring good fortune and protection.
Polishing fish stones took patience and care. Yu Jinnian became so absorbed in the work that he didnโt notice any changes around him in the yard. Something felt off, as if something was missing. By the time he had polished the stone into a round shape and carefully chiseled a small hole, slowly refining both the inside and outside, the fish stone had transformed into a smooth, lucky peace token in his hands. Unsure of what to do next with it, he set it aside and raised his head to admire it in the sunlight. Just then, he heard some commotion coming from the front hall, Qing Huanโs voice rising above the noise.
Concerned that there might be trouble, Yu Jinnian quickly pocketed the polished fish stone and rushed out to see what was happening.
โ It turned out Ji Hong had returned from outside, with a bag of rice at his feet.
Only then did Yu Jinnian realize what was missing: the ever-present Ji Hong, who was usually circling around him all day.
Qing Huan, seeing Yu Jinnian step outside, hurried over to him, holding a handful of rice in her palm. With a look of frustration, she said, “Brother Nian, look at this. Earlier, we were busy with customers, and the kitchen couldn’t leave. When I saw that the rice bin was almost empty, I asked Young Master Ji to go buy some from the south side of town. Who knew heโd get intercepted by those middlemen? He spent the same amount of money, but look at what he brought back…”
Yu Jinnian looked down and pinched a few grains from Qing Huanโs palm for closer inspection. He couldnโt help but feel a headache coming on. Ji Hong had bought nothing but broken brown rice. Before the rice reached the mill, it had to go through several steps like husking, milling, and polishing. High-quality rice was meticulously processed, snow-white and sticky, with a fragrant and tender texture, naturally commanding a high price. Brown rice, though cheaper, had a coarse texture and was hard to cook properly. Even the common folk rarely ate it, and in Xinan County, a prosperous place, brown rice was even less popular, let alone broken brown rice.
Young Master Ji, being a pampered young master, could barely tell the difference between rice and wheat. How could he be expected to distinguish between fine rice and brown rice? Clearly, the middlemen had spotted him for what he wasโa wealthy, naive customerโand tricked him with a few flattering words.
Although their noodle shop wasn’t a fancy restaurant, it was still a business, and they couldnโt serve inferior ingredients like brown rice to customers. But what were they supposed to do with a whole sack of broken brown rice?
Frustrated, Qing Huan cursed, “Those scoundrels! Iโm going to find them and settle this!”
“Hey.” Yu Jinnian stopped her and shook his head. “Forget it. Those conmen disappear as soon as they strike. They probably ran off right after swindling Ah Hong. Where are you going to find them?”
Qing Huan pouted, understanding the futility of her anger. But she was still upset and regretted asking Young Master Ji to handle the rice shopping, something she should have done herself. If she had, this whole situation could have been avoided.
“Sorry…” Ji Hong, aware that he had made a mistake, stood with his eyes downcast, staring at the sack of rice at his feet. Sui Sui, who had been playing dice, ran over and squatted beside the rice sack, curiously staring at it along with Ji Hong. The two of them seemed to be looking for something extraordinary in the sack.
Qing Huan wasnโt really mad at Young Master Ji, who obviously didnโt know any better. She was just mad at herself. Worried, she said, “Weโre not like before. What are we going to do tomorrow if we run out of rice? Brother Nian, should I go buy another bag?”
Seeing Ji Hong looking so guilty, Yu Jinnian couldnโt help but feel protective of him. Defending him, he said, “Itโs fine. Broken brown rice can still be used. Worst case, we just wonโt serve congee for a while. I have an idea.”
When he mentioned having a solution, the tension lifted from everyoneโs shoulders. Yu Jinnian soaked the brown rice in well water, and by evening, the grains had softened. He then led everyone to turn the small millstone in the courtyard, grinding the brown rice into a smooth rice slurry.
This was a laborious task, and unfortunately, the staff at their noodle shop consisted mostly of women, children, and the infirm. None of them had much strength, so they had to grind the rice slowly, taking turns. By the end, everyone was covered in sweat. Yu Jinnian sighed in frustration, “Qing Huan, keep an eye out. We need to hire someone soon.”
“Hire someone?” Qing Huan was surprised. She hadnโt expected him to suggest this so suddenly.
Yu Jinnian nodded. “Business is picking up, and with our collaboration with the Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant, we canโt handle everything ourselves. Itโs time to hire a couple of workers. Have Ah Hong write up a hiring notice and post it at the door. Look for someone strong and quick-witted. Weโll figure out the wages… Hmm, and weโll provide meals but not lodging.”
Although Aunt Xu was the nominal boss, she was ill and had left the management of the shop to Brother Nian. Qing Huan agreed, “Alright, Brother Nian, Iโll keep an eye out.”
As the others continued to grind the rice, Yu Jinnian took a basin of the rice slurry to the kitchen to experiment with making rice tofu.
Rice tofu was relatively simple to make, not too different from regular tofu. The key difference was that regular tofu required coagulants, while rice tofu solidified through steaming. The quality of rice tofu depended on two things: the rice itself and the water used. The purer and sweeter the water, the more fragrant and sweet the rice tofu would be. Luckily, Xinan County was rich in clean water, whether from rivers or wells. The well water in their courtyard was exceptionally clear and sweet, and Yu Jinnian was confident that the rice tofu he made would rival anything made with special spring water.
First, he poured the rice slurry into a clean pot, slowly and carefully, stirring constantly with a wooden ladle. The key at this stage was controlling the heat. Rice slurry was sticky, and if he wasnโt careful, it would stick to the bottom of the pot and clump, ruining the entire batch of rice tofu.
While Qing Huan and the others were outside turning the millstone, Yu Jinnian was inside stirring the rice slurry, making sure no one had a moment of rest.
After an unknown amount of time, the rice slurry in the pot finally thickened into a smooth rice paste. The ladle met with significant resistance as it stirred, indicating that the mixture was ready. Yu Jinnian quickly removed the pot from the heat and cleaned the large wooden basin they usually used for kneading dough. He poured the cooked rice paste into the basin while it was still hot, smoothing it out with the back of the ladle. He covered it with a cloth and set it in the cool, shady area near the well to solidify.
Since the weather was cold, the rice tofu would firm up naturally by the next morning.
In the courtyard, Qing Huan was resting, worn out from the work. Ji Hong was now turning the millstone in her place, silently pushing it like an ox, with sweat beginning to glisten on his temples. Without saying a word, Yu Jinnian quickly ran over after setting down the rice tofu. He rolled up his sleeves and wiped Ji Hongโs sweat, offering to take over the task. “You must be tired, let me take over.”
“Itโs fine,” Ji Hong replied. “Iโm the one who caused this mess by being gullible.”
Itโs often said that men are most attractive when theyโre working up a sweat. Yu Jinnian sat by the well, resting his chin on his hands, gazing at Ji Hong with a starry-eyed expression, sneaking glances and grinning to himself, his eyes twinkling like little stars.
That night, they made several trays of rice tofu. To make the dish look more appealing, Yu Jinnian used carrot and spinach juice to create orange and green rice tofu. He set them aside near the well to cool, so by morning, they would be ready to eat.
After tidying up the courtyard and covering the tofu to prevent Xiao Dingdang from accidentally stepping on it, Yu Jinnian happily returned to his room. As he pushed the door open, he saw Ji Hong facing away, seemingly drying his hands. When Yu Jinnian approached, Ji Hong tossed the towel into a basin, sat down, and beckoned to him with a porcelain jar in hand.
Yu Jinnian knew it was the face cream, so he brought over a stool and sat next to Ji Hong, offering his face for the man to apply it. He comfortably enjoyed the pampering until he suddenly heard Ji Hong take a soft breath. Curious, he opened his eyes and asked, โWhatโs wrong?โ
Ji Hong shook his head. “Nothing, just apply it yourself.”
Suspicious, Yu Jinnian chased him all the way to the bed but couldnโt figure out what was wrong. He playfully reached out to touch Ji Hong, but surprisingly, Ji Hong remained unusually reserved. He neither pulled him in for a kiss nor engaged in their usual intimate whispers. Lying beside him, Yu Jinnian thought for a moment before flipping over to pin Ji Hong down. Frowning, he said, โYouโre acting strange!โ
Ji Hong looked into his eyes, puzzled. “How so?”
โYouโฆโ Yu Jinnian pursed his lips and said confidently, โYou didnโt kiss me tonight. You kiss me every night.โ
Ji Hong couldnโt help but laugh. What kind of reason was that? But he went along with it, cupping Yu Jinnianโs face and pulling him closer for a gentle kiss. “There, now you can sleep.”
But Yu Jinnian still wasnโt satisfied. Like a child who didnโt get his candy, he lay beside Ji Hong, sulking. As he fumbled under the covers, he suddenly touched something cold and heard Ji Hong softly groan. Realizing the issue, Yu Jinnian grabbed Ji Hongโs hand and brought it up to examine under the light.
“How did you get blisters?” Yu Jinnian said in concern. He pulled Ji Hongโs other hand and frowned. “Thereโs another one! I shouldnโt have let you push the mill for so long. Why didnโt you say anything if your hands hurt?”
Ji Hong pulled his hand back slightly, a crease forming between his brows. “Itโs not a big deal, no blood was drawn. I didnโt want to worry you. Besides, Qing Huan is a woman. She canโt be expected to do such heavy work all the time.”
“You feel bad for her but hide this from me? You have a doctor in your bed, and itโs just a small task to treat a blister! If your hands hurt tomorrow, how will you write?” Yu Jinnian glared at him before jumping out of bed to get his gold needles. After sterilizing them with fire, he carefully pricked the blisters on Ji Hongโs hands, gently squeezing out the fluid and wrapping them with clean white gauze.
Blisters didnโt require much care, just cleanliness and protection to prevent infection.
Yu Jinnian focused intently as he tended to the second blister. Ji Hongโs hand felt numb and swollen, but the prick of the needle barely registered. Watching Yu Jinnianโs concentration, Ji Hong softly murmured, “I just wanted to helpโฆ for you.”
For me?
Yu Jinnian felt sweetness bloom in his chest, and his lips threatened to curl into a grin. But he held back, keeping a serious expression, though Ji Hong couldnโt help but find his prideful look endearing, like an overconfident little sparrow. Pretending to scold him, Yu Jinnian said, “Well, know your limits. Aunt Xu hired you as the accountant, not a laborer.”
Ji Hong accepted the “scolding” with a nod and obediently pulled his “little boss” into his arms as they lay down.
Staring at Ji Hongโs jet-black hair spread across the pillow like dark clouds, Yu Jinnian suddenly had an idea about what to do with the lucky peace token. He couldnโt resist pressing a hand to his chest, confirming that the token was still tucked safely in his clothes. Satisfied, he snuggled closer and drifted off to sleep.
—
In the following days, the noodle shop set up a stall out front to sell rice tofu.
Though it looked similar to regular tofu, rice tofu had a vastly different textureโsofter, smoother, and infused with a delicate rice fragrance. Without the beany taste of regular tofu, it was perfect for both sweet and savory dishes. Customers loved it, no matter how it was prepared.
Curious passersby flocked to see the new item at the noodle shop. Yu Jinnian stood at the stall with a short wooden stick tied with a sturdy thread. After washing his hands in clean water, he held a block of rice tofu in one hand and used the string as a knife to slice the tofu with quick, precise motions.
The onlookers were captivated, watching as he sliced the white tofu, then repeated the process with the green and red tofu. He placed the tofu cubes into a porcelain bowl filled with cold well water and stirred. The colorful tofu cubes broke apart into dice-sized pieces, creating a visually stunning display. As the crowd marveled, Yu Jinnian scooped portions of the colorful tofu into small bowls. For the savory versions, he added vinegar, soy sauce, fermented bean curd, chili flakes, crushed peanuts, chopped green onions, and minced garlic. For the sweet bowls, he drizzled them with sweet osmanthus syrup or rose honey.
Rice tofu was a specialty from the southwest, and even in Xinan County, few had seen it before. Yu Jinnian, being a businessman, wasnโt shy about singing its praises. He enthusiastically explained how the dish strengthened the body and boosted energy, touting its health benefits. Two traveling merchants from Qianzhou, recognizing the familiar dish from home, joined in, boasting that rice tofu was a rare delicacy worthy of the heavens. Their words attracted even more curious customers.
Though Yu Jinnian put on a show at the stall to draw in customers, he wasnโt about to stay out in the cold all day. After a short while, he retreated to the kitchen, making a savory bowl of three-colored rice tofu for Ji Hong and a spicy bowl with ginger vinegar for himself, thoroughly enjoying the meal.
But just as he set down his bowl, Qing Huan called from the front, announcing that the rice tofu had sold out.
Yu Jinnianโs eyes widened. “So fast?”
He assumed it was just the noodle shopโs usual good business, but what he didnโt realize was that his reputation had spread far and wide. People were saying that the shop was owned by the young miracle doctor, and the buzz from his previous sale of Golden Bell Ash still lingered. Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant had also been promoting the noodle shop as one of the best spots in the western part of town, recommending it to their customers.
Some even whispered that the young doctor was actually a runaway noble, skilled not only in medicine but also strikingly handsome. This gossip had attracted several idle young nobles who werenโt there for the food but just to catch a glimpse of Yu Jinnian.
Qing Huan, selling rice tofu at the front, even noticed servants from wealthy households buying tofu to take home and try.
Without Yu Jinnianโs knowledge, the fame of the noodle shop had spread.
When Yu Jinnian heard these rumors, he could only laugh, and he continued diligently grinding rice in the backyard to make more tofu.
During this time, a familiar-looking maid from the Yan family came to deliver a message, saying that Fifth Miss had woken up and that she came to inform boss Yu. Qing Huan relayed the news to the kitchen, and Yu Jinnian, hearing it, was genuinely happy for Yan Yuyao. He quickly washed his hands and went out to ask for details. He was just about to follow the maid back to the Yan residence when the girl waved her hands, saying, “Miss just woke up and is still a bit dazed. Fortunately, Dr. Luo is already there, and he said thereโs no need to worry. She just needs rest, though her eyesight is still impairedโฆ I see youโre busy here, so I wonโt disturb you further.”
Yu Jinnian was surprised. “Dr. Luo is at the residence?”
The maid nodded, explaining that the eldest young master had drunk too much, caught a chill, and collapsed, which was why they had called Dr. Luo to treat him.
Yu Jinnian was only mildly surprised that someone as disciplined and well-mannered as Yan Rong would overindulge in alcohol, but he didnโt dwell on it. Knowing that Dr. Luo Qian was already treating him at the Yan residence, Yu Jinnian saved himself a trip. He gave the maid a few instructions and even packed some three-colored rice tofu for her to take back as a treat. Afterward, he returned to the backyard to continue his work.
The maid, who was close friends with Fenjuan, was loyal and protective of her mistress. Seeing the noodle shop bustling with customers, she suspected that this rice tofu must be something special. Eager to share, she quickly ran back to the Yan residence to find Fenjuan. Excitedly, she said, “This is a new creation by Brother Nian! I saw them serving it with soy sauce, chili, or honey. Letโs give some to Miss to try.”
Since the young mistress had just woken up, her throat was still injured from being strangled, and she could barely speak. Fenjuan didnโt dare give her anything too harsh, like vinegar or chili, so she instructed the kitchen to cut the rice tofu into smaller pieces and mix it with thin rice syrup and honey. The finished dish looked like translucent gems floating in a milky syrup.
After cooling the dish slightly in an ice container, Fenjuan brought it to Yan Yuyaoโs room. “Miss, try thisโitโs Brother Nianโs work!”
Yan Yuyao sat dazed in her bed, slowly accepting the bowl of tofu from Fenjuan. No one dared to mention her attempt to hang herself. In the past two days, she had been given medicine and acupuncture, and everyone in the house knew how much she had suffered. They all hoped she would eat some rice syrup and regain her strength.
“Nian…” Yan Yuyao croaked a single word from her throat. She raised her hand to touch her neck, feeling the soft white bandage wrapped around it.
Since the Fifth Miss woke up, it seemed she had forgotten about the hanging incident. While everyone was relieved, they also worried that she might remember it if triggered. To prevent this, they had carefully wrapped her neck with white silk to cover the bruises. Fenjuan quickly smiled and said, “Yes, Brother Nian from the noodle shop. The one who treated your headache before, the young miracle doctor.”
Yan Yuyao frowned, looking confused.
Fenjuanโs heart skipped a beat, and she was about to mention the gold-toothed trinket when one of the other maids nudged her, whispering, “Why bring that up? Isnโt the situation chaotic enough?”
“Butโ”
Yan Yuyao took a few spoonfuls of the cool, slippery rice tofu. The refreshing texture soothed her throat, and she slowly ate half a bowl. Then, with a weak gesture, she waved her hand in front of her face and spoke in a hoarse voice, โWhy canโt I see? And what happened to my throatโฆ?โ
Both Fenjuan and the other maids froze in place, stunned. One of them instinctively cried out, “Missโ”
Fenjuan quickly elbowed the other maid and shook her head. She remembered overhearing some of the doctorsโ discussions and hastily made up an explanation. Feigning lightheartedness, she said, “Miss, did you forget? The other night, you had a headache while sleeping and accidentally fell out of bed, hitting your head. The doctor said the blood pooled in your eyes, which is why you canโt see temporarily. Youโll recover after taking some medicine. The young master even had your wedding dress sent to the embroidery house to be fixed.”
Yan Yuyao, her throat too raw to speak further, closed her mouth, grumbling softly. Fenjuan leaned closer to catch her words and winced when she realized that the young mistress wanted her to bring a book to read to her.
“A book…” Fenjuan stammered, remembering that the young master had burned all the books. With everything that had happened since, she hadnโt had a chance to replace them. Then, a sudden idea struck her. “The books were damaged by worms, and the servants took them outside to dry! Miss, youโve just recovered from a serious illness. You shouldnโt overexert yourself. Resting is the most important thing right now.”
With that, she left two careful maids to watch over the young mistress and quickly ushered the others out of the room. As soon as they closed the door, the yellow-clad maid who had delivered the message from the noodle shop looked at Fenjuan, confused. “Why didnโt you let me tell her? Miss has forgotten everything from the past few days! She doesnโt remember Young Master Cao, Brother Nian, or even the fact that sheโs blind or that her books were burned!”
“Let it stay forgotten,” Fenjuan sighed. “Why bring it all up again?”
Just as she finished speaking, the sharp smell of alcohol hit their noses. The yellow-clad maid turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin, trembling as she hid behind Fenjuan. She bowed and nervously addressed the man standing there, “Young Master.”
Yan Rong, face flushed red from drinking, held a wine jug in one hand and reeked of alcohol. He asked in a slurred voice, “What were you talking about? Whatโs wrong with the young mistress?”
“N-Nothingโฆ” stammered the yellow-clad maid.
Yan Rong turned his attention to Fenjuan. “You tell me.”
Fenjuan, fiercely protective of the Fifth Miss, was deeply resentful of Yan Rong. After all, her mistress had just been pulled back from the brink of death, and her older brother, instead of comforting her, had only glanced at her once before going off to drink. Bitterly, she retorted, “The young mistress has forgotten everything from the past few days, including why she canโt see. She can barely speakโthis morning, she coughed up blood while rinsing her mouth. Why donโt you go in and see her? Maybe seeing you will help her remember something.”
And what could she possibly remember but unpleasant memories?
Yan Rong had already experienced his sisterโs stubborn temper firsthand. Having barely survived one suicide attempt, he didnโt dare risk triggering another. He cast a long glance at Yan Yuyaoโs room but turned and walked away. As he neared the edge of the courtyard, he rasped out an order to the servants, “If sheโs still not better tomorrow, go and call Luoโฆ”
He paused, thinking for a moment before changing his mind. “Go and ask Boss Yu to come take a look.”
ใใโฆโฆ
The next day, as Yu Jinnian arrived with his medicine basket, he was surprised to find Yan Rong crouched like a dog outside the courtyard of the Fifth Miss. Yan Rong, who always maintained a proper image, was now clearly inebriated. As Yu Jinnian walked past, Yan Rong barely lifted his eyelids to glance at him and didnโt try to stop him.
Although Yu Jinnian had decided to ignore Yan Rong, once he reached Yan Yuyaoโs room and saw Fenjuan, he couldnโt help but point back towards the gate and ask, “What’s with him? Is he guarding your door?”
Fenjuan glanced over and responded irritably, “Who knows.”
Yu Jinnian pursed his lips, deciding not to ask any further, and went inside to see Yan Yuyao. Although the maid who had come earlier in the morning had made it sound like the Fifth Miss was in a dire stateโdescribing her as deeply despondent and relapsing into her old illnessโwhen Yu Jinnian saw her, he realized the situation wasnโt as bad as he had been led to believe.
Though Yan Yuyao was a bit disoriented and only remembered fragments of recent events, her condition was just a normal aftereffect of the asphyxiation. Such symptoms were part of the recovery process and not a serious issue. With proper rest, she might even regain her full memory. All in all, her recovery was going well. Yu Jinnian prescribed her some calming and sleep-inducing herbal medicine to help her rest better.
As for her long-standing issues with blindness and headaches, Yu Jinnian said, “I already know how to treat Miss Yanโs condition, but we need to wait until sheโs more stable. And this will require a discussion between your young mistress and the young master.” He glanced back at Yan Rong, still drunkenly slumped at the gate, and clicked his tongue. “When your young master sobers up, have him call me, and weโll discuss it.”
Fenjuan was finally relieved and handed Yu Jinnian a large red envelope as his consultation fee.
Yu Jinnian accepted the fee, shouldered his medicine basket, and planned to stop by the market to buy some fresh fruit to reward his hardworking “little wife” Ji Hong, who was diligently turning the mill at home. However, just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, Yan Rong, who had appeared to be passed out, suddenly reached out like a corpse coming back to life and grabbed the hem of Yu Jinnianโs robe.
“Waitโฆ” Yan Rong groggily sat up, brushed off a stone beside him with his sleeve, and pointed at it, stammering, “Sitโฆ have a drink with me.” He pulled out two small porcelain wine cups from somewhere and, after clumsily wiping them clean with his sleeve, began pouring a strong-smelling liquor into them. The liquor, thick and fragrant, was the infamous *Pizhen Chun*.
But Yu Jinnian wasnโt interested in drinking with Yan Rong, especially since he wasnโt sure what kind of game Yan Rong was playing. He knew that Yan Rong was a man who despised anything improper, so Yu Jinnian deliberately put on a fragile, soft voice and, with an exaggerated air of delicacy, pouted, “I donโt want to drink. If I drink here, Ah Hong will scold me when I get home.”
He thought his coy act was nauseating enough to make not just Yan Rong but even himself want to throw up. Yet, to his surprise, instead of being repulsed, Yan Rong, now drunk and strangely magnanimous, held on even tighter and became more insistent that Yu Jinnian sit with him.
Unable to overpower the drunk man, Yu Jinnian decided to humor him for now, planning to see what Yan Rong wanted before figuring out how to deal with him. No sooner had he sat down than Yan Rong pulled something from his sleeve and shoved it into Yu Jinnianโs hand, muttering, “Hereโฆ take itโฆ just stay with me for a little whileโฆ”
Yu Jinnian looked down to find a delicate porcelain box in his hand. Puzzled, he opened it, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. Inside was a finely made rouge. Confused, Yu Jinnian glanced at Yan Rong and asked, “Why are you giving me this? Are you trying to have me help you win over the Fifth Miss?”
Yan Rong, propping his chin on his hand, drunkenly gazed at Yu Jinnian as if he were some rare treasure, his eyes half-lidded. After a while, the alcohol seemed to heat him up, and he loosened his collar. He muttered, “Not forโฆ for Yaoโerโฆ itโs for youโฆ donโt youโฆ like it? I see you put on that scented balmโฆ every dayโฆ”
He was clearly embarrassed, his voice growing quieter. “This is from Feizhuang Pavilionโฆ Peach Rougeโฆ pretty expensiveโฆ Iโm buying an hour of your timeโฆ stay with meโฆ”
*Smack*โ
Yu Jinnian, enraged, hurled the entire box of rouge at Yan Rongโs face.