"In the sky."
Xia Qingxue hadn't really wanted to answer Li Dafu's question, as it touched upon many secrets. However, considering he was a friend of Chen Pingchuan's, she didn't want to embarrass him by refusing. In the end, she settled on a vague, non-committal answer.
Celestial Palace No. 1 equals "in the sky." Perfect!
The smile on Li Dafu's face grew even stiffer. He wasn't an unobservant man; no one would ever believe that someone with Xia Qingxue's extraordinary aura was a native of the Outer City District. But if she was from the Inner City District, then her relationship with Chen Pingchuan was certainly intriguing.
Li Dafu interpreted Xia Qingxue's answer as a desire to keep her origins private, so he didn't press the issue. Instead, his expression shifted to one of understanding, his smile becoming somewhat fawning.
"Indeed, a fairy such as yourself should live in the heavens. I have no idea what kind of incredible luck Younger Brother Chen stumbled into to have earned your favor."
Although Li Dafu's flattery was pleasant to hear, Xia Qingxue still frowned and couldn't help but retort, "It's not that he got lucky. I did!"
After saying this, she fell silent. Chen Pingchuan, when are you coming back? she muttered inwardly, growing restless. I don't know what to say anymore. It's so much better when I'm with you. You don't even need me to speak to know what I'm thinking.
Of course, Li Dafu had no idea what was going through her mind. He just felt that this young lady was rather difficult to please. Flattery was ineffective, and opposing her would surely be worse. Where on earth did Younger Brother Chen find a goddess like her? I just hope his body can handle it.
With that thought, Li Dafu shifted his attention back to the two young men, not daring to try and speak with Xia Qingxue again.
As for Liu Yaofei, he hadn't said a single word since Chen Pingchuan first appeared. He would occasionally take a sip of his beer, but even the alcohol couldn't smooth the furrow in his brow. The moment Chen Pingchuan had called out his name, his mind had been in turmoil.
First of all, I'm certain I didn't give him my name at noon, Liu Yaofei thought. Secondly, even if I had, I would have used an alias, not my real name. I thought hiding in this poor, backward Outer City District would keep anyone from finding me. But if even an insignificant market laborer can recognize me so easily, have I been too careless? No, maybe this has nothing to do with me personally. Who exactly is this Chen Pingchuan? Does he know my identity? And if he does, what are his intentions toward me?
Unconsciously, Liu Yaofei spiraled into deep self-doubt, and the beer in his bottle quickly vanished.
In truth, not much time had passed, but for everyone at the table—except Guo Yihang—it felt as if time was crawling.
Soon, Chen Pingchuan returned with a platter of freshly grilled food. "What's wrong with everyone? You all decided to play the brooding, mysterious type on me today?"
With Chen Pingchuan's return, the mood at the table instantly changed. Everyone seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
"Brother Dafu, thank you for your help earlier," Chen Pingchuan said, looking at Li Dafu with a hint of apology in his heart. "If you ever need anything in the future, just give me a call. I'll be there, no questions asked."
I'm such a bastard, he thought. After all those simulations, I never once thought about you. I'll down two drinks tonight as an apology. Naturally, these thoughts weren't fit to be said aloud, so he simply raised his glass high.
"It was nothing, a trivial matter! You're too polite, Younger Brother Chen. We're practically family!" Li Dafu also raised his glass, waving a hand modestly.
He finally felt a surge of pride and relief. Dealing with the others here is exhausting, but it's always so comfortable with Younger Brother Chen. Putting everything else aside, just hearing him say those words makes me feel amazing. I don't get why I feel nothing when others flatter me, but two simple sentences from him can make me ecstatic. It's so strange.
Chen Pingchuan let out a hearty laugh at his words and casually draped an arm over Liu Yaofei's shoulder. "Hey, little brother, what's on your mind? Drowning your sorrows in beer isn't the answer. Are you missing a sweetheart? Let me tell you, if you've never seen a sea of flowers, you won't be moved by a single red blossom. Next time, let's find some time, and I'll treat you to a '1998'. You'll see what I mean."
Liu Yaofei's body stiffened, then suddenly relaxed upon hearing Chen Pingchuan's words. Though he didn't quite grasp their meaning, they felt strangely profound.
With Chen Pingchuan now part of the group, the atmosphere grew incredibly lively. The men toasted and drank, and a full case of beer was quickly finished. By now, Chen Pingchuan was feeling a bit tipsy. He looked over at Xia Qingxue, who was diligently battling her food, and teased her.
"What's the fun in just eating? Come on, have a drink."
Xia Qingxue pursed her soft, pink lips and looked at him with curiosity. "Is it good?"
"Beer is a tricky thing," Chen Pingchuan began, trying his best to sound alluring. "It's brewed from malt. Especially when it's ice-cold, the refreshing bubbles dance on your tongue with the first sip. As it flows down your throat, a malty aroma hits your taste buds, and the delicacy and sweetness will... Finally, the more you drink, the more you'll understand the true meaning of life."
I don't even know why I'm doing this, Chen Pingchuan thought. He just felt a compulsive urge to pull this ethereal fairy down to the mortal realm. It's just like in my past life when I'd try to persuade fallen women to turn their lives around. The two situations feel strangely similar.
Before Xia Qingxue could respond, Guo Yihang, sitting beside her, piped up. "I know this one! Brother Chuanzi said, 'A sword from the great river comes from the heavens; if we have wine today, let's get drunk today!'"
Li Dafu and Liu Yaofei remained silent. They weren't close enough to her to start peer-pressuring her into drinking. Only a simpleton like Guo Yihang would dare say whatever came to mind.
Xia Qingxue shot Chen Pingchuan a suspicious glance, her cute expression seeming to say, "You better not be tricking me." In the end, however, she couldn't contain her curiosity and took a few small sips.
She wrinkled her delicate nose. "It's not good."
"Of course it's not good if you drink it like that. You have to chug it!" Chen Pingchuan declared. He then grabbed a freshly opened, full bottle of beer, put it to his lips, gave it a slight tilt with his right hand, and downed the entire thing in three seconds. "Ah, refreshing!"
Though he exclaimed in satisfaction, his stomach was churning. I'm just forcing myself to look cool.
Unfortunately, Xia Qingxue merely gave him a look as if he were an idiot, completely ruining his intended effect. He could only offer an awkward smile and change the subject.
Under the influence of the alcohol, Xia Qingxue became more talkative, though her conversation was directed solely at Chen Pingchuan.
"What's this? It has a strange smell."
"Kidney."
"How do you eat it?"
"You strip it off."
"Do you mean strip it off the skewer first, and then eat it?"
"No. You strip it off directly with your mouth."
...
"Miss, can't you just eat your food and talk a little less?"
"Chen Pingchuan, don't you like me anymore?"
Chen Pingchuan felt the air catch in his throat. Why does that move feel so familiar? In the end, he was defeated. "I like you. Go on, ask away."
"Hee hee... For you..."
Their lovey-dovey display finally got to Li Dafu. Emboldened by his drunkenness, he slurred, "Miss, if a bad guy was doing something disgusting right in front of you, what would you do?"
Xia Qingxue, not catching the undertone in his voice, answered instinctively. "It would depend on how despicable they were. If it was someone who had committed truly heinous crimes, then physical annihilation and spiritual exile. That is the most severe punishment where I'm from."
HISS...