The smile on my face was as quiet as a pool of stagnant water, and I said, "Thank you very much for your gift."

He glanced at me and just smiled.

After a while, the food and wine were served. I thought he said it was better to meet by chance than to meet someone by chance, and to sit down and chat or something was just a polite word. After all, he had just invited a guest up there, so he probably couldn't eat anything. But when the food and wine arrived,

, he actually started eating with us, as if he hadn’t eaten at all just now.

Naturally, the food and wine served by the boss are all good, including three sets of duck, sunflower crab meatballs, and bayonet saury. Each dish is full of color, flavor, and flavor. There is also a bowl of Wensi tofu soup, which is even more exquisite.

The hairy tofu ripples gently in the soup, like clouds and mist, as if thousands of thoughts are dissolved in it.

Qinghan drank a spoonful and was full of praise.

Pei Yuanxiu smiled and said to me: "You also have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up."

I shook my head, and he looked at my face carefully and said softly: "What's wrong? I think you don't feel well?"

I said softly: "It seems that I caught a cold last night and my stomach feels uncomfortable."

"Then I'll take you to see the doctor."

"No need." I shook my head and smiled softly: "It's just a small matter, just drink some soju to warm me up."

As soon as he heard it, he immediately gave the order. After a while, the store brought a pot of warm wine. It was steamed wine made from albizia flowers. It was fragrant. I took a hot sip and the soju burned all the way down my throat.

I rushed down and almost burst into tears for a moment, as if a fire had been set in my body, burning my internal organs.

He hurriedly asked: "How is it? Is it better?"

I couldn't help but smile slightly.

It’s not Laojun’s elixir, so it won’t work so quickly, but the feeling of being burned made me feel a little better. Looking at his look, he probably showed concern and chaos, so he smiled and nodded: “There are so many

”

"Then drink some more and eat something light first when you feel better."

"I know, don't patronize me, just eat yours."

He agreed and watched me take another sip of wine before turning his head and continuing to eat his own food. As I held the wine glass, I heard a ding from the other side.

When I looked up, I saw that the spoon in Qinghan's hand had touched the edge of the bowl.

He also raised his head and glanced at us. The expression on his face was still as confused as it had ever been since we reunited. My heart trembled and I put down my glass: "What's wrong with Mr. Liu?"

"..."

He didn't seem to hear me, he just sat there in a daze.

Pei Yuanxiu and I looked at each other, and Pei Yuanxiu looked over again and asked: "Master Liu?"

This time, he seemed to be suddenly awakened. He suddenly raised his head and looked at us, but his eyes were still a little dazed: "Ah?"

"What's wrong with Mr. Liu?"

"You don't look good."

He looked at me, then at Pei Yuanxiu, and then at me again.

Pei Yuanxiu also glanced at me, then looked at him again, and asked with a smile: "Is Mr. Liu feeling unwell?"

He frowned, shook his head, as if he felt it, and then said: "Maybe - I have been busy with official work recently, and I am a little tired." As he spoke, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, and then raised his head to look.

We laughed and said: "It's funny."

"Where. Mr. Liu works so hard, it is a blessing for the people."

"Young Master, don't make fun of me."

As he spoke, he glanced at us again, and then said: "I suddenly remembered that there are still some matters in the house that have not been dealt with, so I left first."

When Pei Yuanxiu heard this, he didn't try to persuade him to stay. He just stood up. Liu Qinghan had already bowed to us: "Without trouble, let's see you off. Farewell."

"Master Liu, walk slowly."

I sat still and watched his figure disappear at the top of the stairs, and his footsteps slowly disappeared. Pei Yuanxiu didn't say anything more, he just sat back next to me and looked at

I took one look and said softly: "Drink a little more, and then it's time to eat."

"Yeah."

I nodded, picked up the glass of wine on the table, and drank it in one gulp.

For the next time, neither he nor I spoke, and there was only the sound of dishes and chopsticks. However, with the busy traffic downstairs and the soft and soft singing of the singing girls, it was not silent at all.

After finishing the meal, he asked me: "What do you think of the food and wine?"

"It's better than ours."

"Then I——"

"In my opinion, you shouldn't order banquets. It's inconvenient and tiring to send them back and forth. It's better to ask the boss to book the restaurant for a day and bring the cook over directly. It's convenient and doesn't involve a lot of effort."

He smiled and said: "You are the one who is careful after all. That's fine."

"Yeah." I nodded: "I still want to sit down and pick me up when you're done."

"Okay."

He stood up and looked at me a little worriedly. I smiled at him to show that I was fine, and then he went downstairs with peace of mind.

As soon as his figure disappeared at the top of the stairs, the smile on my face slowly faded.

Maybe, one more moment, even a moment, and my smile will no longer be able to hold on.

Facing that person, even his breathing was enough to destroy all my peace. What's more, seeing his pale face and tired look - I knew that these had nothing to do with me. There was someone else.

He is more qualified than me to feel sorry for him.

I just... feel bad.

I sat silently at the table, looking at the scenery outside, listening to the noisy sounds that seemed to come from far away. I poured another glass of slightly cold wine and took a sip. It felt hot.

, which actually made me feel better, but when I still wanted to drink, I found that I had finished the wine.

I was hesitating whether to ask the store to bring another pot, but at this moment, there was a sound of footsteps downstairs.

Could it be that Pei Yuanxiu finished handling it so quickly and came back to pick me up?

I made a little smile and was about to stand up to greet him, but I saw a thin figure slowly walking up. He was dressed in a navy blue robe. It was not as elegant as Pei Yuanxiu's white clothes, but he showed a strange lowness.

?

As soon as I saw that thin voice, my steps stopped.

As soon as he went upstairs, he immediately saw me standing there and was stunned for a moment: "Madam is still here?"

I looked at him and said nothing for a while. Only when he came closer step by step did I say with some difficulty: "What are you doing back here?"

Is he...

I barely had time to "think wildly" in my mind when I saw him turn his head and look at the table, immediately showed a smile, reached out and picked up something from behind the tea cup where he just sat, and murmured:

"Fortunately it's still there."

It only took a flash, but I saw clearly that it was a jade ring.

He picked it up and put it on his thumb, then held it in the palm of his hand. He looked up at me and smiled: "Funny, I just dropped it."

I also smiled: "You are a meticulous person, how can you forget things?"

"Maybe I felt a little uncomfortable just now, so I was negligent."

I smiled and looked at the mask that covered almost half of his face: "Sir, are you feeling better now?"

"Thank you, madam, for your concern. I'm feeling better."

"You adults should get more rest. The second day of March is not far away, and you have to hold such a big banquet for thousands of old people. If you are weak, how can you do it well?"

He glanced at me, and his expression changed a little, as if he turned around to leave, but after taking a step, he seemed to hesitate and turned around to look at me.

I looked at him too.

For a moment, he didn't speak, and I didn't make a sound either. The two of them just looked at each other calmly.

Maybe, it's a confrontation.

The surrounding area suddenly became quiet.

In fact, it is very noisy downstairs, with people coming and going, plus the singing of singing girls and the shouting of hawkers. So many sounds are transmitted here, but they seem to be the sounds of another world. It is obviously so lively, but it seems

Nothing can penetrate into our surroundings.

Looking at that half mask, I have never thought that the winter in Jiangnan is so cold.

He frowned unconsciously and walked over slowly. My heartbeat also dropped with his footsteps, followed by a sense of oppression that almost suffocated me.

He walked up to me and looked down at me.

At such a close distance, I looked at him and saw clearly his mask, which was simply and coldly placed on his face. Although it could barely cover his ferocious scars, it didn't make anyone feel better.

On the contrary, the cold temperature has almost penetrated from the mask and penetrated into people's hearts.

He was silent for a while and then said: "Mrs. Qingying, I know it is inappropriate to ask this, but - what is your relationship with me?"
To be continued...