Yu Xiang said with a smile, "Great! Sister Liu, prepare the master’s tea set."
"Coming!"
After that, Yu Xiang introduced everyone, "This is the tea artist I invited, named Qiuyun. Don’t let her youth fool you. She’s really skilled in tea."
"Oh?"
Compared to the political and business circles, the literary elders were much more open-minded. Old Yang squinted and remarked, "This girl doesn’t look twenty yet. How does she compare in age to my apprentice?"
"Look at Old Yang here! Ever since he took on that exceptionally gifted last disciple, three out of every five sentences he speaks are about that apprentice!"
"Haha, he’s been going on for years, and today he finally brought the kid out. Let him have it, just let him!"
Old Yang huffed, "You shameless old codgers! Someone’s asking about the girl’s age. Why drag me into it!"
Yu Xiang chuckled warmly, "Xiaoqiu turns nineteen next month. She’s still young."
Old Yang immediately added, "My little apprentice turns eighteen at the end of the year."
The surrounding old friends exchanged glances and burst out laughing, "Here we go again!"
Old Yang glared, "Get lost, get lost! Just keep envying me for having a fine apprentice who can carry on my legacy!"
Professor Feng laughed heartily, "I think your apprentice is more interested in my collection of paintings."
The dining hall buzzed with laughter and chatter. In the living room, a table was set up with the tea-brewing gear prepared.
The literary elders rose chatting and laughing, and everyone followed them to the living room.
Outside, dusk was falling, and the golden rays of the setting sun spilled over the ivy-covered courtyard wall, shimmering with specks of light.
Qiuyun greeted the elders with a warm smile, "I’ll do my best. May I ask if any of you sirs have a preference for tea after the meal?"
Professor Feng thought for a moment and said, "We’ve just had some wine. Fresh green tea or ripe pu'er would work."
Qiuyun glanced at the tea table. "This Ding kiln white porcelain cup would suit Longjing tea well. How about fresh green tea?"
Professor Feng smiled, "Ah, sharp eyes, young lady. Fine, we’ll follow your suggestion."
Zhao Jinshu chimed in, "She’s not just good at tea; she also does embroidery. Look at the round fan Xiao Xiang gave me—this young lady embroidered it."
Having known her husband for years, Professor Feng squinted at the fan. "That orchid looks like the one in the background of your social media photo."
That photo was one Professor Feng took of Zhao Jinshu in a Suzhou garden. Both were immensely proud of his photography skills and her natural poise—it was truly a life-defining photo.
Zhao Jinshu looked closely and her face lit up with delight, the wrinkles around her eyes softening. "Ah, it really is! It really is!"
The graceful orchid leaves, the slightly drooping blossoms, and the floating shadows outlined in matching colors—as she gently waved the fan, it seemed a delicate beauty leaped off the surface!
Zhao Jinshu had loved the round fan before, but now she cherished it as her most treasured possession.
"What nimble fingers and clever mind this girl has! Xiao Xiang, where did you dig up such a treasure?"
Yu Xiang smiled softly, "She’s an assistant to my daughter."
"You’ve hit the jackpot with her!" Zhao Jinshu, not wanting to poach someone else’s student, changed the subject. "This girl knows tea. Is that book of the Tea Classic in that box also prepared by her?"
Yu Xiang asked Sister Zhou to bring the box. "Exactly. Would you like to take a look, master? Xiaoqiu says this Tea Classic is a rare surviving copy from an elderly scholar in her hometown."
…
Wait. Tea Classic!?
Qiuyun, who was warming the cups, paused and instinctively exchanged a glance with Pei Cizhou, who was watching the scene. Both read two words in each other’s eyes:
—Oh no.
"Sole surviving copy!" Professor Feng exclaimed excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "Come on, let me see it!"
The others, including Old Yang, perked up and gathered around.
The Tea Classic was bound in paper made from the Chenxintang workshop—simple yet grand. The moment Professor Feng held it, he found it incredibly smooth to the touch, indescribably comfortable, as if it were meant to be read in hand.
Opening the first page, the opening sentence immediately hooked him. Seeing him so absorbed, the others tilted the book slightly so they could read along.
Behind the tea table, Qiuyun held her breath and quickly glanced at Old Yang, silently pleading, Don’t notice, don’t notice…
"Huh, this handwriting looks familiar."
It’s over.
Qiuyun’s mouth twitched.
Of all the days, she should never have chosen to go to Cheng Garden the very next day. If she had gone a day later, she wouldn’t have run into this messed-up situation—three encounters intertwined by the Tea Classic.
"Hey, doesn’t this look like your little apprentice’s handwriting?" The group had admired his calligraphy just two hours ago; how could they not remember?
Old Yang sat a bit further away. He leaned in for a closer look and exclaimed, "What do you mean 'looks like'? It is his!"
Then he turned to his apprentice, speaking with a hint of sourness. "I invited you to come to a literary gathering with me before, and you flatly refused. But now, you jump at the chance to tag along to Old Feng’s place and hurry right over! I’ve tutored you for nearly a decade, and you’ve never even prepared a birthday gift for your own master!"
With the recognition from his master, who had taught him by hand, there was no doubt.
The crowd’s eyes darted between the young man and woman. Oh-ho, something was going on here.
Pei Cizhou helplessly pressed his forehead.
How was he supposed to know it would be this coincidental? The Tea Classic that Qiuyun had asked him to transcribe was exactly Professor Feng’s birthday gift—and it happened to be unwrapped while both of them were present!
He should have realized the moment he knew Mrs. Yu was here. He should have bolted immediately.
Tsk.
What was he busy with back then?
Oh, bickering with someone.
"Don’t make the two youngsters shy!" The extroverted girl from earlier stepped in to intervene. "They just met today. They were even introducing themselves to each other a moment ago."
Pei Cizhou coughed lightly, covering up the truth while soothing his master’s wounded feelings. "A friend asked me to help transcribe it."
The extroverted girl covered her mouth. "And it turned out to be for the girl you fell for at first sight? Oh my god, this is like something straight out of a drama!"
Apart from Yu Xiang and Sister Zhou, who wore slightly conflicted expressions, everyone else looked on with curiosity, ready to enjoy the spectacle.
Qiuyun, at the center of attention, was brewing tea and struggled to keep a composed expression, concealing any unease.
A drama?
Ha, more like Nezha stirring up the sea.
Zhao Jinshu, clearly a romantic at heart, glanced back and forth between them. "Not to mention, they’re both so good-looking. Standing together, they’re an eye-catching pair!"
Only Old Yang shot a look at his precious apprentice, snorted, and said nothing.
A bunch of sentimental meddlers, always trying to play matchmaker. His little apprentice had talent and looks—not just anyone was fit to match him.
Seeing that the hostess was getting excited and about to start matchmaking, Qiuyun quickly changed the subject. "Distinguished sirs, brewing tea takes time. How about we entertain ourselves with some tea-themed poetry?"
Old Yang was the first to agree. "Great idea! I’ll start with a prompt. Look at the shape of these tea leaves—what poem does it remind you of?"
