"Well, gentlemen, I have a special performance tonight, so I'll need to prepare," Mei announced, her voice shimmering with playful charm.
"Please, enjoy your time here while you wait."
Donghua's grin widened in response. "Of course! We'll be downstairs drinking ourselves into a jovial stupor!"
The trio departed from Mei's room, laughter echoing in the air as they found a cozy corner table nestled beneath soft, golden light. The inviting aromas of delicious food mingled with the rich scents of alcohol, promising a night full of revelry.
At the center of the establishment loomed a grand stage, designed in the likeness of an elegant lotus flower. Suddenly, the lively chatter faded, punctuated by the commanding voice of Madam Yu announcing the night's highlight.
"Welcome, esteemed guests! Tonight, we present a special performance by our number one girl in Zhu Dian. Let's give a thunderous welcome to MEI!"
Cheers erupted like fireworks, patrons rising from their seats in excitement, hands interlaced with both courtesans and companions alike. Waves of laughter cascaded through the crowd as joy radiated from every corner.
"Yifong, Xing Li, come on! Let's get closer and show our support!" Donghua urged, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
With a daring grin, Kai lifted his bottle, let the remaining alcohol cascade down his throat, and waved them off with a wild flourish, signaling that he would remain behind.
As the excitement pulsated like a heartbeat, Mei graced the stage, her every movement a dance of fluidity and enchantment, drawing the audience into a spellbinding performance that left them breathless.
Kai, feeling a bit light-headed from the drink, began to search his body for the plant potion, but found nothing. Realizing it must have been left behind in Mei's room, he mumbled to himself, "I'll just run back up quickly," swaying slightly as he made his way up the stairs.
Meanwhile, Cheng Ren and Jiang Wei were still in their room, hearing the cheers resounding loudly outside.
"Seems like a wonderful crowd outside. Let's go enjoy the performance too!" Cheng Ren urged, his voice alive with mischief.
"I'm perfectly fine here," Jiang Wei replied coolly, taking a measured sip from his bottle. The alcohol did little to soften his demeanor.
"Oh, don't be such a hermit! I'll just send someone to entertain you if you won't come out," Cheng Ren teased, slipping through the doorway before Jiang Wei could respond.
As fate would have it, Kai mistakenly entered a room he thought was Mei's. A little tipsy, he tugged the handle and stumbled inside, eager to grab the potion.
Inside, Jiang Wei was lost in thought, staring out the window at the bustling streets below, a bottle of alcohol cradled in his hand. He barely registered the door opening until a figure stepped in. Thinking it was a courtesan sent by Cheng Ren, he muttered without looking back, "You can leave."
Kai paused, his mind racing as he registered the voice. "Hm? There's someone here… Wrong room?" he thought, his vision a mix of clarity and haze. "Sorry, sorry! I got the wrong room!" he exclaimed, attempting a graceful retreat.
Hearing a man's voice, Jiang Wei swiftly turned, his sharp gaze landing on the figure clad in black, a thick veil obscuring his features. Suspicion flickered across Jiang Wei's mind for a fleeting moment.
"An assassin?" he thought, the possibility stirring a primal instinct within him.
Kai took a step back but stumbled, knocking off his hat. His striking white hair tumbled down in a cascade, framing his face like a halo of silvery moonlight. He fell to the ground in a flurry of clumsiness, a stark contrast to the tension that had just filled the room.
Upon seeing Kai's striking white hair tumble down, Jiang Wei's brows arched in surprise.
"White hair?" Jiang Wei thought, his initial suspicion battling with an unexpected curiosity as he walked toward Kai and crouched down to help him. But as their eyes met, the world around him faded into a blur. Jiang Wei found himself entranced by Kai's mesmerizing blue eyes, shimmering like twin oceans beneath a starlit sky.
At that moment, time seemed to slow, and Jiang Wei felt a jolt of excitement pulse through his veins. "Are you okay?" he asked, his concern mingled with an inexplicable thrill as he met Kai's gaze.
Kai let out a carefree laugh, the sound like music. "I'm fine, fine! Just a little drunk," he replied.
Jiang Wei's heart raced as he picked up Kai's fallen veil. "Here," he said, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Ah! My hat!" Kai exclaimed, hastily plopping the veil back over his head, his clumsiness only adding to his charm. With a quick, yet awkward motion, he jumped to his feet, eager to escape the embarrassing encounter.
"What's your name?" Jiang Wei called, trying to ignite a connection before Kai slipped away.
"Kai!" the white-haired youth answered, glancing back over his shoulder with a fleeting grin.
As Kai dashed out of the room, Jiang Wei uttered his name softly, the word humming like an incantation in the air. "Kai…" he repeated, his heart pounding, the encounter igniting something within him—a mixture of confusion and enchantment, a sensation he couldn't ignore.
Kai raced back into Mei's room, grabbing the potion and clutching it tightly, his heart fluttering. "I really shouldn't drink too much," he chided himself. "Going into the wrong room? Ridiculous! And I told him my real name!"
But despite the embarrassment, a spark of anticipation ignited within him. "But it's fine. I probably won't—" He paused, his thoughts lingering on Jiang Wei's captivating gaze, "—ever see him again."