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墨書 Inktalez
As they approached the end, they finally saw the plaque for "Dance of the Sandal." The gold-inlaid plaque of "Jade" looked priceless, perhaps enough to cover several years' worth of living expenses for a poor family.
Spending lavishly does not equate to having taste, but having taste is certainly tied to money. After all, if one struggles to make ends meet, where would they find the leisure to pursue refinement? Ultimately, taste is an accessory to life, and accessories are always in the hands of a select few.
Pushing the door open, they entered a suite—a traditional one. Before them stood two screens adorned with dragons and phoenixes, depicting lush mountains and waters, truly a sight to behold.
Circling around the screens led them to a spacious central room, reminiscent of the main hall in an old mansion. On either side were four sandalwood chairs and two tables made of peach wood. One table held a jade incense burner, while the other featured an iron tray with a teapot and two cups.
Directly opposite the screens was a soft, comfortable couch, with a kang table placed in the middle. On this table rested another teapot and two cups; the teapot was made of purple clay, and the cups were crafted from jade.
Jufeng and Ikeda Masahiro had visited Youzucheng more than once, but this was their first time here. Romain admired the meticulously designed decor while praising it, reflecting on his own bars and hotels—none compared to the quality found in Youzucheng.
Ikeda Masahiro was also appreciating the surroundings but with a more refined demeanor. She had always been interested in Huaguo culture and seized this rare opportunity to immerse herself in such concentrated traditional culture, observing every detail with care.
Shortly after they entered, a young woman dressed in a green silk cheongsam gracefully walked into the room, carrying a kettle. Upon seeing Romain and Ikeda Masahiro, she slowly bowed in greeting.
Romain had experienced such formalities before; each room on the second floor had a designated female attendant responsible for serving tea and addressing guests' inquiries. However, each attendant's beauty varied according to the room's ambiance. The young woman before them perfectly matched the essence of "Dance of the Sandal."
"Dance of the Sandal" was meant to evoke an outdoor scene; the patterns on her qipao depicted rolling green grass under blue clouds, enhancing that atmosphere. Additionally, her appearance was elegant—neither flirtatious nor exaggerated—exuding a serene and natural grace.
"What is your name?" Romain asked as he watched her pour water from the kettle into the purple clay teapot. Instantly, white steam began to rise in swirling tendrils, adding an ethereal quality to the room.
The young woman carefully set down the kettle, smiled at Jufeng, bowed deeply again, and replied, "My name is Song Zhihan. You may call me Song Zhihan."
“Song Zhihan.” Jufeng murmured this name repeatedly, nodding his head in approval, saying, “What a lovely name; it suits her well—elegant and refined.”
Upon hearing this, Song Zhihan was taken aback, but she maintained her composure. She hadn’t expected that the frivolous man dressed in Xavier style would possess such depth.
With a slight smile, she bowed again and sweetly replied, “Thank you for your kind words, sir.” Then she turned and left with her water jug.
Ikeda Masahiro muttered a few words under his breath, seemingly displeased.
Suddenly, Jufeng sneezed and thought to himself that perhaps he had indeed dressed too lightly today. He shook his head unconsciously and sat down on a chair, waiting for Zhao Yani to arrive.
One person was drinking water while the other savored the culture; the two remained quiet, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
After about half an hour of waiting, the door to the Dance of the Sandal suite was pushed open. The first to enter was the young woman in a qipao, followed closely by a glamorous young matron.
The term “glamorous” naturally referred to her luxurious attire that highlighted her grace. Wearing wealth is one thing; wearing both wealth and quality is what defines nobility.
The matron who entered the room resembled an extremely wealthy noblewoman. She wore a scarlet gown that reached her ankles, complemented by elegant high heels adorned with diamonds, accentuating her beautiful figure and regal demeanor.
Looking up, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders like thick clouds. Her exquisite face bore no flaws, and her lightly tinted lips hinted at sensuality.
The allure of such an unattainable woman was what truly stirred the hearts of men.
“Sister Zhao, I apologize for disturbing you again.”
Seeing the newcomer, Ikeda Masahiro, standing beside the jade incense burner, immediately broke into a warm smile. Due to her cool and elegant attire, along with the soft address of “Sister Zhao,” it made them appear as if they were sisters—though one could only wonder which family could produce such stunning sisters who competed for beauty in both the south and north.
Jufeng suddenly stood up from his seat, removed his hat, and performed a grand bow. With a cheerful smile, he greeted, "Sister Zhao."
Zhao Yani waved her hand to dismiss the attendant and then displayed a flawless smile as she took Ikeda Masahiro's hand in hers, exuding warmth and friendliness.
"Yahui, why are you being so polite with Sister Zhao? Have you been infected by her charm and become all slick and smooth-talking?"
Zhao Yani then turned her gaze to Jufeng, furrowing her brows for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Oh you, I really don't understand how Yahui chose you. Just look at yourself! Make sure you don’t let Sister Zhao recognize you when you go out."
Jufeng awkwardly scratched his head and smiled, guiding Zhao Yani and Ikeda Masahiro to the main seating area. He self-deprecatingly remarked, "Sister Zhao doesn’t know this, but Yahui is very strict with finances. I simply can’t afford to buy new clothes right now."
Of course, Romain's words were just a joke. Zhao Yani shot him a playful glare but didn’t take it seriously. She then chatted casually with Ikeda Masahiro while Romain busily served tea and water.
Ultimately, Jufeng's current relationship with Zhao Yani was all thanks to Ikeda Masahiro. It was unclear how Romain had learned about someone like Zhao Yani, discovered her preferences, and encouraged Ikeda Masahiro to cater to them, leading to their present situation.
Zhao Yani admired Ikeda Masahiro not only for her beauty but also for her extraordinary grace. Even in the bustling Youzucheng, where beautiful women were abundant, Ikeda was unmatched and hard to compare with. Thus, upon meeting, there was an inevitable sense of mutual appreciation.
Moreover, Ikeda Masahiro had a strong thirst for Huaguo culture, and Zhao Yani happened to be an excellent teacher in that regard. It was akin to a talent scout suddenly spotting a rare horse on the street—an indescribable feeling of wanting to cherish it.
Furthermore, Ikeda Masahiro truly possessed a refined intellect and exceptional insight; often, Zhao Yani’s explanations would resonate with her immediately—even before she finished speaking, Ikeda would grasp the meaning. Naturally, Zhao Yani felt that Ikeda was her kindred spirit, sharing a sense of regret for not having met sooner.
At thirty-five years old, Zhao Yani certainly looked younger than her age; she appeared only a few years older than Ikeda Masahiro. Following her suggestion, they began addressing each other as sisters, prompting Jufeng to follow suit and call her Sister Zhao as well.
"Yahui," she said with enthusiasm, "what do you think of this Dance of the Sandal room? I put a lot of thought into it."
Zhao Yani enjoyed discussing cultural topics with Ikeda Masahiro, as he always provided her with refreshing insights.
Noticing Zhao Yani's question, Ikeda Masahiro casually shot a glance at Jufeng, who responded with a pitiful look. She sighed inwardly and pondered for a moment before replying.
"Sister Zhao's aesthetic sense is undoubtedly commendable. The entire arrangement of the Dance of the Sandal is impeccable and aligns perfectly with the theme of the lyrics. Even the waiter is flawless, possessing both excellent looks and demeanor."
Regardless, it began with a flurry of compliments; everyone enjoys hearing such words. Although many might sternly say things like "Don't flatter me" or "Stop buttering me up," deep down, they truly relish it.
Although Zhao Yani's grace and beauty were unparalleled, she was not much sharper than the average person in her mindset. Like most, she feigned annoyance while actually feeling pleased: "It's just that I've learned bad habits from this one. I can't be honest with Sister Zhao anymore; keep this up, and I might get angry."
She claimed to be angry, yet there wasn't a trace of displeasure on her face.
Ikeda Masahiro smiled slightly and turned his gaze toward Jufeng before slowly continuing to Zhao Yani, "Sister Zhao has misunderstood; Yahui speaks from the heart. However, Yahui does feel that one aspect of the arrangement is inappropriate and fears it might upset Sister Zhao."
Zhao Yani perked up at his words and quickly replied, "How could Sister Zhao get angry? It's perfectly fine."
Ikeda Masahiro said, "When I first entered, I found one of the screens beautiful—its depiction of serene mountains and flowing waters was elegant. However, the other screen felt somewhat out of place. The image of the dragon soaring while the phoenix perches on the Wutong tree should not appear in a rural setting; surely one wouldn't wish to encounter such legends while strolling through the grass."
Zhao Yani's eyes lit up. She had always thought this room was beautiful but sensed a flaw she couldn't quite identify, which had left her feeling uneasy. Now that Ikeda Masahiro had articulated it, her mood instantly brightened, dispelling the lingering shadows with a brilliant light.
She exclaimed joyfully, "Yahui truly deserves to be my confidant; your words have awakened Sister Zhao! I'll have someone replace one of the screens right away. Come on, let's discuss together which one would be most suitable."
Zhao Yani took Ikeda Masahiro by the hand and left the room, with Jufeng silently following behind them, trying not to disturb their conversation. At one moment when Ikeda Masahiro glanced back, he gave a thumbs-up gesture, clearly acknowledging Ikeda Masahiro's quick thinking as a reward.
After selecting the screen just past noon, Zhao Yani invited Jufeng to enjoy a sumptuous lunch inside Youzucheng. After lunch, she did not let them leave because she planned to introduce her man to Jufeng that evening, hoping to give him an opportunity to soar high.
All afternoon, Zhao Yani and Ikeda Masahiro spent their time wandering around the mall. There was an inexplicable understanding between the girls in this regard; in Jufeng's view, only girls like Zhu Yao and Mu Shu would show no interest in places like shopping malls.
Jufeng, of course, was the laborer, helping the two shopping-obsessed women carry bags until he was nearly overwhelmed. By the time they returned from the mall, the sun was setting, yet the two women remained full of energy. It was hard not to feel a sense of irony; a man who had trained in martial arts for twenty years found himself outmatched by two women who seemed incapable of lifting a chicken.
However, dinner did not commence as Jufeng had hoped because soon Zhao Yani's man would arrive, and they were waiting to eat together.
Thinking about meeting Zhao Yani's man tonight brought an unexpected calmness to Jufeng's heart. Since returning to Huaguo, he had remained inconspicuous; whether it was the hurricane or rivals like Hua Gang or the United Heart Association, no one had noticed his presence—all for this moment.
Did no one really know he had come back? Jufeng asked himself, then slowly smiled.
(To be continued)
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