Li Yunlan, Ming Xiaoxue, and Xingchen all stiffened and discreetly looked toward their leader.
Feng Mingran’s face was icy. Without a word, she mouthed three words.
“Throw her out.”
Their leader’s orders had to be carried out to the letter!
“If you’re sick, go get treated. Don’t dirty up our tavern! Bring me the equipment! Get this idiot out of here!”
Ming Xiaoxue eyed Leng Lingwei sidelong, looking at her like she was an imbecile. Her gaze was scornful, with a hint of menace in her voice.
“Well, well! Someone dares cause trouble in my little sister’s tavern? Got a death wish?”
“Xiaoxue! That rough job of ‘throwing people out’—leave it to me!”
Two more voices rang out. It was Ming Wanci and Yun Zhiyin!
Though the tavern’s patrons were inwardly astonished, most of them had seen plenty in their time.
The tavern’s standing spoke for itself, and Sis—Miss Ming, one of the Five Great Kyoto Families—was its manager. Anyone with sense knew better than to gossip.
Naturally, that didn’t include the brazen, foolhardy “lone hero” Leng Lingwei. She was just an idiot.
And that was how she ended up sprawled on the floor, hitting it with such force that it seemed like her fat might burst out with a splat. It was enough to make anyone’s balls ache.
In truth, could the consequences of Leng Lingwei’s reckless boasting really amount to nothing more than a fall?
Feng Mingran was fiercely protective of her own. When those silver needles shot out at ghostly speed, she had loaded them with something nasty!
The agony would make Leng Lingwei want to tear her own mouth off with her bare hands!
…
The tavern staff soon brought over a gigantic fork—made of steel!
Yun Zhiyin, who had just thumped his chest and declared that he’d handle the rough work of “tossing people out,” felt his eyelids twitch violently.
What the hell was with that giant fork?!
This “forking someone out” was literal!
Tavern patrons: “…”
This tavern really did have a peculiar way of thinking!
Who knew a tavern would have a giant steel fork like that?
Getting speared with it would hurt like hell—and be even more humiliating!
Yun Zhiyin was stunned, but didn’t hesitate for a second. He reached out and took the giant steel fork with a flourish!
How could he hesitate at a chance to score big points with Xiaoxue?!
Hesitate, and you lose!
In one smooth motion, he speared Leng Lingwei, big gold ring and all, and tossed her out of the tavern!
Many patrons were lucky enough to witness the legendary spectacle. Their jaws nearly hit the floor, and they couldn’t help exclaiming:
“That giant steel fork sure is well made!”
…
Jing Yiheng’s handsome eyes flickered.
A barely perceptible glint of silver had just made an unbelievably difficult turn, brushed against Leng Lingwei’s exposed arm in a fleeting touch, then sank into the floor and disappeared…
It had all happened in the blink of an eye!
The trajectory was meticulously precise!
He could hardly keep from applauding. It was nothing short of epic.
If he hadn’t undergone professional training, if his eyesight weren’t exceptional, and if he hadn’t been watching Feng Mingran closely all along, he wouldn’t have noticed a thing.
Jing Yiheng was somewhat surprised.
He didn’t think Feng Mingran was the sort to get involved in this kind of trivial matter.
Could she have some connection to this tavern?
But hadn’t she only just come down the mountain? She’d arrived in Kyoto today.
Still, Jing Yiheng’s surprise lasted only a moment. Feng Mingran must have had her reasons for whatever she did.
As Jing Yiheng considered it, he decided that from now on, this tavern would have to be added to his circle of protection. If it really was connected to Feng Mingran, then what if another Leng Lingwei—or some other troublemaker—showed up and annoyed her?
Absolutely not!
Jing Yiheng glanced at Mo Ke. Mo Ke understood at once, slipped out of the tavern, and had the cleanup taken care of in less than a minute. His efficiency was top-notch.
…
With Leng Lingwei dealt with, Feng Mingran stood up to leave.
“Don’t bother seeing me out. I’m off.”
Ran said, replying to Jing Yiheng’s earlier offer.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she headed for the door.
Yun Zhiyin had just come back inside after spearing someone. He saw that the woman his discerning eyes had identified as his future sister-in-law was about to leave. In a panic, the title he’d been holding back for ages slipped right out:
“Si—”
Beside him, Ming Wanci quickly pinched Zhiyin.
He knew exactly what this thick-headed friend was about to say the moment he opened his mouth.
The word “sister-in-law” was forcibly swallowed.
Yun Zhiyin faltered, then hurriedly gave Feng Mingran a harmless smile.
Whatever happened, he had to make sure he got his face in front of his future sister-in-law first!
Feng Mingran glanced at Yun Zhiyin but didn’t stop. In a moment, she was gone from the tavern.
Yun Zhiyin: So… that counts as making a good first impression, right?
Ming Wanci couldn’t bear to watch. He muttered,
“Give it a rest. When Yiheng smiles, he looks devilishly handsome. When you smile, you look like a menace…”
Yun Zhiyin choked again.
So that was what friends were for: taking turns tearing each other down…
Meanwhile, Jing Yiheng looked away, his long lashes veiling his thoughts.
Feng Mingran’s temperament was just as he remembered it. She hadn’t changed at all.
When they first met, she’d been only six, yet she’d come up with the fake name “Yiheng” just to needle him. Her unwavering principle of “say one, mean one” fit seamlessly with the name “Yiheng.”
Yiheng and Yiheng—if you rounded things off, they were the same.
It was almost as if the two of them were fated to be bound together by countless threads.
The thought brought Jing Yiheng a secret little happiness.
Ten years had passed again, and now she was right in front of him. Keep yourself in check.
…
After Feng Mingran left, Jing Yiheng and the others returned to their original private room.
Xue Ren—Ming Xiaoxue—came over herself to look after them and opened several bottles of limited-edition vintage liquor.
She couldn’t do anything about the fact that her big brother and Jing Yiheng were friends. But tonight, with Jing Yiheng drinking alongside the leader, she couldn’t help keeping a close, anxious eye on them.
What exactly was Jing Yiheng up to?
“Xiaoxue! What are you spacing out for? I’m talking to you!”
Ming Wanci’s hand was itching to flick her on the forehead.
“Oh. I’m listening.”
“Bring us a few glasses of that rainbow cocktail!”
Ming Wanci looked eager.
There was unmistakable excitement in Yun Zhiyin’s peach-blossom eyes too.
“Rainbow cocktail? We don’t have that.”
Ming Xiaoxue answered briskly.
“How can you not have it? That stunning beauty who drank with Yiheng had a rainbow cocktail earlier! We want the same one she had!”
Ming Wanci had just promised the guys he’d get them that cocktail.
“That was made with a vintage bottle the customer had stored here. It was a custom-made drink.”
With that, Ming Xiaoxue shut her big brother down completely.
“There’s such a thing? So this is what they mean by an unattainable ‘white moonlight’?!”
Ming Wanci had hit a wall, and his eyes nearly rolled out of his head.
But the answer was impossible to argue with.
Beside him, Jing Yiheng’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
A vintage bottle stored by a customer? Had she stored it in a dream right after coming down the mountain?
Now he was even more certain that Feng Mingran had an unusual connection to this tavern.
This little tavern needed his protection. He absolutely had to protect it!