Chapter 1036 – Everyone’s Calculations (12)
The tent was silent, the only sound being the crackling of the candle flames.
Nie Xun felt a sudden weight in his heart as he bore the gaze of dozens of eyes.
Without flinching, he stepped forward gracefully, bowing respectfully.
Due to the outdated lighting, the visibility in the tent was dim, candlelight casting flickering shadows, creating an indescribable hazy beauty. When this young man with a dot of vermillion on his forehead stepped forward, the live stream’s comments exploded like a gushing spring.
[Gay Alert]: Aaaaaah—— So handsome, so handsome, so handsome—— Host, I’ve fallen in love at first sight again!
[Midnight Madness]: Clearly a stunning young man, but I see a kind of unspeakable seduction in him! Mom, come see, this pretty boy in the live stream is seducing your daughter—— I’m too excited to form sentences, starting with a lick for respect!
[Silent Fallen Flowers]: Mom asked me why I’m frantically licking the screen; I said the screen was too dirty.
[Ten Years of Fragrance]: Host, could you help me ask this handsome guy for his phone number? I’m interested in him.
[Starry Cat]: Beauty No. 1’s throne in the brothel is wobbling—Host, why not throw down the gauntlet with Huang Song, grab this beauty over? If you do, the two most beautiful flowers in the world will bloom in your backyard—just thinking about it makes me excited!
For the audience, ancient gentlemen were always associated with words like stiff, refined, and dignified; they never considered that one could also be “seductive.” To put it bluntly, Nie Xun was like walking hormones; no need for any suggestive words—just a glance made one feel tickled inside. Though he was dressed very properly, upon first sight, he seemed inexplicably alluring.
That tiny vermillion dot between his brows was the finishing touch, capturing everyone’s attention instantly.
Huang Song’s smile faltered slightly, sensing the atmosphere in the main tent grow tense; he attempted to lighten the mood.
What a joke—
They were a group of friends who had partied in brothels together; didn’t he know about Jiang Pengji’s infamous behavior?
Before Huang Song could speak, Jiang Pengji downed the drink in her cup, her eyes becoming watery.
“Cheng Yun, are you saying there’s a tiger sitting in front of you?” Jiang Pengji raised her hand to her forehead, her cheeks flushed, seemingly tipsy. “The lighting here is so dim, I can’t see clearly—you’re swaying around, making it so hard to look at—”
Huang Song’s heart sank. He couldn’t tell if Jiang Pengji was truly drunk or faking; all he could do was exchange glances with Nie Xun.
Nie Xun pressed his lips into a line, stepping forward cautiously, panic swirling in his chest.
“Nie Clan’s Cheng Yun, greetings to Liu Xi.”
His voice fell with a melodious clarity, rich yet pleasant to the ears.
Jiang Pengji set down her cup, staggering a few steps to stand in front of Nie Xun.
Huang Song’s brow twitching, quickly followed him, worried that Jiang Pengji might do something inappropriate to his subordinate.
What scholar or strategist wasn’t proud?
If someone toyed with them as if they were a woman in front of everyone, they might appear unfazed but would secretly hold a grudge.
“Nie Clan’s Cheng Yun?” Jiang Pengji hiccupped lightly, leaning close to Nie Xun’s face, squinting as if trying to recognize something from his features. Everyone in the tent was tense, holding their breath, while the live stream audience was going wild.
The host was so considerate; such close proximity created an illusion of getting closer to a beauty.
Wei Ci was already claimed by the host; friends don’t mess with friends’ wives, so the audience could only sigh in resignation.
And now, a beauty no less stunning than Wei Ci had appeared, causing over 850,000 hearts in the live stream to flutter uncontrollably!
“That name—sounds very familiar—”
Jiang Pengji scrutinized him carefully before finally stepping back, allowing the tense hearts of many to finally relax.
If Jiang Pengji were to take a liking to Nie Xun and insist on asking Huang Song for him, it would be quite awkward.
Wei Ci maintained a composed and polite smile. “Cheng Yun is the esteemed son-in-law of our Lord, naturally, the Lord would find it familiar.”
“The son-in-law of Mr. Yuanjing?” Jiang Pengji turned back to her seat, pondering aloud, “So that’s the husband of Fifth Miss?”
Wei Ci replied, “The Lord is indeed correct.”
Jiang Pengji smiled, praising, “Mr. Yuanjing’s eyes are as sharp as ever; I wonder where he found such a treasure.”
With a few words, Wei Ci and Jiang Pengji shifted the topic elsewhere, easing the atmosphere in the tent.
While the mood lightened here, Jiang Pengji heard the sound of hearts breaking resound from the live stream.
[Tea Aroma]: QAQ Why is this happening? The beautiful young man is actually married—
[Cold Smoke, Dreaming]: Nie Xun doesn’t seem like a young boy; he’s at least twenty-five or six. What man of that age in ancient times isn’t married and settled? Really thought this was an ancient romance novel and the male lead would remain chaste for the female lead? Even so, my heart hurts!
The audience was engulfed in the “nightmare” of their male god being unavailable.
Huang Song secretly sighed in relief; as long as Jiang Pengji’s focus wasn’t on Nie Xun, everything was manageable—
He wasn’t worried about Jiang Pengji stealing his thunder; he was more concerned about her beauty-loving tendencies toward Nie Xun!
Nie Xun, having read Huang Song’s expression, calmly returned to his seat.
Besides this minor incident, the atmosphere of the banquet remained harmonious.
Jiang Pengji was quite in high spirits, her cup continuously filled.
Now, Huang Song was not the same Huang Song he used to be; he managed his drinking, no longer getting completely drunk.
Jiang Pengji sighed inwardly, reminiscing about when she used to drink them under the table; they would escape to hide under small tables, completely inebriated. Now—they had all “grown up,” becoming more rational, naturally avoiding reckless drinking.
Not now, nor in the future would there be such opportunities.
“I’m drunk, I’m drunk—my head hurts—” Jiang Pengji set down her cup and waved her hand, “Feeling unwell—”
Seeing this, Huang Song continued, “If you can’t drink anymore, then don’t—let someone help you rest and sober up.”
Jiang Pengji closed her eyes, nodding slightly.
With the Lord having retreated, Wei Ci and the others naturally had to make their exit, all seeking excuses to leave.
The banquet was winding down, lingering in the tent was a heavy scent of alcohol.
Yuan Chong mumbled, “Had I known Nie Xun is unmatched in beauty, I wouldn’t have thought even Liu Xi couldn’t resist.”
Jiang Pengji’s initial act was clearly a drunken tease, indulging in beauty.
Yuan Chong’s voice was not loud, but Nie Xun, sitting not far away, caught it clearly, his expression darkening slightly.
Yuan Chong was not only Huang Song’s fan but also a cousin of Huang Song’s family, so Nie Xun didn’t dare to retort.
Yuan Chong had some discretion, but Yuan Xin, his uncle, was less restrained.
Yuan Xin laughed heartily, roaring like a tiger, “With such beauty as Cheng Yun, which woman wouldn’t be moved? Liu Xi is also a woman—seeing a handsome man naturally harbors affection. These affairs between men and women, after all, are not always unfair to men. If Cheng Yun’s lovely wife doesn’t mind, why not go along with Liu Xi’s wishes and have them share a romantic entanglement—”
