As dusk fell, night arrived.
The stage and seating had already been arranged in the courtyard. The lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom, and every lantern in the courtyard had been lit, creating an atmosphere rich with classical charm.
At the largest table in the center, Old Mrs. Shen sat in the seat of honor, with Ji Qingtang on her left and Yan Xuejiao on her right. Shen Jinyu, Shen Mingxiu, and Shen Yu—the three young members of the Shen family—took their seats in order.
Old Mrs. Shen had a fondness for Kunqu opera and classical dance, and her daughter-in-law Yang Yan had made all the arrangements early that morning.
After one act of the opera concluded, the evening banquet dishes were brought out in succession.
Ji Qingtang turned to Old Mrs. Shen with a bright smile and said, “Grandma, I’ve prepared a little surprise for you.”
Old Mrs. Shen smiled and asked, “Oh? What surprise?”
Ji Qingtang blinked. “You’ll find out in a moment. Let me go get ready first.”
Standing up, Ji Qingtang patted Shen Jinyu on the shoulder, then bent down and whispered close to his ear, “Weren’t you complaining about how much stuff I brought? Well, keep your eyes wide open and watch closely.”
Shen Jinyu corrected her, “It was curiosity, not complaining.”
Ji Qingtang didn’t have much patience to explain. “I don’t care what it was. Just watch carefully.”
Shen Jinyu had no idea what Ji Qingtang was planning, but he ruled out cooking right away—he’d already witnessed her ability to blow up a kitchen.
Ji Qingtang was always the one who livened up the atmosphere, and with her gone from the table, the gathering fell into a noticeable silence.
Yan Xuejiao used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish for Old Mrs. Shen and said, “Grandma, I heard from Mother that this fish is raised in mountain spring water—the meat is tender and there are no bones. Please try it.”
Old Mrs. Shen took a small bite, tasted it, and nodded. “The flavor is quite good.”
Not knowing what else to say, Yan Xuejiao could only continue serving food to Old Mrs. Shen and Shen Mingxiu while praising the Kunqu opera they had just heard.
After more than ten minutes had passed, Shen Jinyu noticed that Ji Qingtang still hadn’t returned. He was about to inform Old Mrs. Shen and go look for her.
But before he could speak, the lights on the stage suddenly went out completely.
The next second, the melodious sound of a flute emerged slowly, accompanied by the murmur of flowing water. Rotating lights cast their glow downward, like fleeting reflections of light and shadow, like summer sunlight piercing through the water’s surface to reach the bottom of a lake. The dancer seated at the center of the stage wore a dance costume, her back turned to the audience. Her green skirt spread out like the lotus leaves in the pond, and she herself was like a celestial maiden seated atop emerald waves and green lotus leaves.
Yan Xuejiao couldn’t help but exclaim, “Did Second Aunt bring in dancers from the National Theater?”
Shen Jinyu narrowed his eyes, his gaze landing on the dancer’s back. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips—one that was far from faint. “Grandma, it’s Qingtang.”
Old Mrs. Shen looked astonished. “Qingtang knows classical dance?”
Shen Jinyu nodded in explanation. “At the dinner before our wedding, I heard Qingtang’s aunt mention that Qingtang had been learning classical dance since she was nine.”
Old Mrs. Shen smiled. “This is the first time I’ve seen Qingtang dance.”
Shen Jinyu raised an eyebrow. It was also his first time seeing her dance. Then he added a word on her behalf: “Grandma, Qingtang hasn’t danced in a long time. She’s been preparing for a while now. If there are any shortcomings, please be lenient with her.”
Old Mrs. Shen said, “No need to make excuses for her shortcomings in advance. With that bearing Qingtang has, she’s no worse than professional dancers.”
Shen Jinyu hummed in acknowledgment, resting his chin on his hand and gently stroking it, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Ji Qingtang.
Ji Qingtang indeed hadn’t danced in a long time, but her foundation was solid, and with days of rehearsal, her movements on stage were light and her transitions smooth.
Her skirt lifted with the dance movements, like lotus leaves swaying in the breeze.
The style was gentle and graceful, yet carried its own tension.
Shen Jinyu’s gaze deepened—no wonder her body was so flexible.
When the dance ended, the flute music stopped, and the sound of flowing water gradually faded.
The lights dimmed, and Ji Qingtang retreated behind the stage.
Applause rose from the audience, and Old Mrs. Shen praised, “Qingtang’s skill in classical dance is truly impressive. That Drunk on Clear Waves was danced with such liveliness.”
Yan Xuejiao picked up a cup of tea, glanced discreetly at Shen Mingxiu, then took a silent sip.
As they spoke, Ji Qingtang changed into a pale green qipao and walked over.
The qipao was embroidered with delicate patterns, fitting snugly against her body and perfectly accentuating her graceful curves. Her steps were light, exuding elegance and charm. Her makeup was light, her features refined and striking, her black hair pinned up with a single hairpin, with a few loose strands naturally falling at her temples.
Shen Jinyu leaned back in his chair, watching her approach without blinking.
Ji Qingtang returned to her seat. “I’ve made a fool of myself. A dance of Drunk on Clear Waves to congratulate Grandma on her birthday.”
“If you’d come a little earlier, you’d have heard how everyone was praising you.” Old Mrs. Shen smiled. “This is the most thoughtful gift Grandma has received this year.”
“Thank you, Grandma.”
Ji Qingtang turned her head to look at Shen Jinyu, raising an eyebrow as if showing off, then lifted her glass. “Then let’s all toast Grandma together. Wishing Grandma good health and boundless blessings.”
After the toast, Ji Qingtang asked Old Mrs. Shen, “Grandma, you know more about qipaos than I do. What do you think of the one I’m wearing? Is it pretty?”
Old Mrs. Shen nodded approvingly. “Very pretty. A qipao is all about the charm. I can see the craftsmanship here is exquisite—it looks like the work of Jinfeng Pavilion.”
Ji Qingtang said, “Grandma, you have such a good eye. This qipao was indeed custom-made at Jinfeng Pavilion. I also had one made for you, exactly the same as mine. After dinner, I’ll bring it to you.”
Old Mrs. Shen ordered another opera performance, and only then did dinner officially begin.
At the table, seeing Yan Xuejiao picking food for Shen Mingxiu, Ji Qingtang also made a show of picking up a drunken shrimp and placing it on Shen Jinyu’s plate under the watchful eyes of several people.
Shen Jinyu didn’t move. Only after the others at the table turned their attention to the Kunqu opera did he quietly peel the shrimp, place it in the small dish, and push it in front of Ji Qingtang.
Ji Qingtang turned to look at him, stunned for a few seconds, then narrowed her eyes at him.
Shen Jinyu naturally understood what she meant—she was telling him not to think he could repay her great kindness with small favors.
Seeing him nod in understanding, Ji Qingtang finally picked up her chopsticks and took the shrimp meat from the small dish.
She didn’t usually like shrimp, but Old Mrs. Shen’s private chef was highly skilled, and the drunken shrimp was fresh and delicious.
The moment the shrimp hit her mouth, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
Seeing everyone focused on the opera, she reached out again, picked up another drunken shrimp, placed it in the small dish, and gently pushed it in front of Shen Jinyu.
Shen Jinyu, apparently uninterested in the opera, lowered his head without complaint and began peeling the shrimp.
This went back and forth several times, and Ji Qingtang turned to Shen Jinyu, winking and making faces, trying to convey through body language a compliment: at least you know what’s good for you.
Shen Jinyu couldn’t tell whether she understood his body language or not. His brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and finally he let out a helpless sigh.
Once the performance came to an end, the banquet concluded as well.
By the time they left the southern alley on the outskirts of the city, it was already nearly ten o’clock at night.
The moment she got into the car, the curve of Ji Qingtang’s lips immediately dropped, and she slumped back into the back seat, looking listless.
Shen Jinyu turned his head to glance at her. “I knew you danced well, but I didn’t know you could also change expressions so quickly.”
Ji Qingtang tilted her head to look at him. “You can sit there with a blank face all day without getting tired, but do you have any idea my face is about to crack from smiling?”
Shen Jinyu gazed at her silently for a few seconds, then reached out and gently pinched her chin, his thumb brushing lightly against the corner of her lips.