While Shen Mo was speaking with Du Lai, Bai Youwei had finished the wine in her glass and quietly swapped her glass for Shen Mo’s —

His was full.

Shen Mo sent Du Lai off and she happened to be halfway through — she looked up, saw Shen Mo watching her, and took a tiny deliberate sip. “I haven’t finished yet.”

Shen Mo: “…”

“When did you develop such a capacity for drinking?” he said, resigned. He poured a glass of water and exchanged it for the wine glass in Bai Youwei’s hand.

Bai Youwei: “Good wine deserves to be enjoyed properly.”

Shen Mo laughed despite himself. “Good wine is precisely what you *shouldn’t* drink like that.”

Bai Youwei pursed her lips. “Everyone drinks like this!”

Shen Mo glanced at the nearby tables — and indeed, that was the case. Most people were in a live-for-today mood, knocking back glass after glass! Only Yan Qingwen’s table was marginally more restrained.

Both Yan Qingwen and himself were the type who abstained from alcohol entirely — a habit formed over many years of discipline, to keep their minds sharp at all times.

Lu Ang and Tan Xiao, on the other hand, drank as though it were water.

Even Shen Fei chimed in: “Brother, you should drink more too. These wines come from a wealthy merchant’s private collection — every bottle was acquired at auction, they’re not available commercially. They’re truly rare.”

Bai Youwei said with a bright smile, “Don’t you all feel like this scene is exactly like something out of a wuxia novel — some sect inviting heroes and warriors from all corners of the world, fine food and wine on the surface, but drugs secretly slipped into the drinks? An invisible net of conspiracy silently closing in, with no one able to escape…”

Tan Xiao flinched, not sure whether to spit out or swallow the wine already in his mouth.

…After a prolonged inner struggle, he swallowed it.

“Don’t say things like that.” Shen Fei frowned. “Professor Song’s invitation was made with completely genuine intentions.”

“Just a little joke~” Bai Youwei breezily replied. With people she wasn’t close to, she never bothered to say more than half a sentence extra.

Shen Fei’s expression remained sour, but with Shen Mo sitting right there, he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.

“Everyone invited today does happen to be young and able-bodied.” Shen Mo set down his chopsticks for Bai Youwei, his tone even. “Besides our table, there are no elderly or children at the others.”

Shen Fei’s expression darkened further. “Brother, why are *you* also…”

Shen Mo said, “Don’t misunderstand — I’m not doubting Professor Song’s intentions. I simply feel that there must be some reason we’ve all been gathered here.”

Bai Youwei glanced around and murmured, “There are very few women too… Just me, Su Man, Zhu Shu… Hmm? Who is that woman next to Li Li?”

At the adjacent table, there had originally been only four people: Yan Qingwen, Lu Ang, Zhu Shu, and Su Man.

Somehow, two extra chairs had appeared — Li Li had brought a young girl over to join them.

At the moment, however, he wore an agitated expression, apparently in the middle of another unpleasant exchange with Su Man.

Those two were like archenemies — every time they met they quarreled, without a moment’s peace. Whether it was Yan Qingwen’s group or Shen Mo’s, everyone had long since grown numb to it.

Su Man, mindful of the guests all around them, kept her voice pressed down even though her face had flushed scarlet with anger. She ground out through clenched teeth, “I’ll say this one last time — I did *not* bump into her! Believe it or not, that’s up to you!”

“If you didn’t bump into her, did Xiao Qian sprain her own ankle?!” Li Li accused her furiously. “You’re always like this — picking on Xiao Qian for no reason whatsoever! I brought her here to introduce her to Brother Yan, and now you’ve gone and bumped into her out of petty jealousy?! Was that really necessary?!”

“I did *not*!” Su Man slammed her palm on the table!

Everyone nearby turned to look.

The girl beside Li Li quickly said, “Sister Su probably didn’t mean it. Her hand is still injured — it’s easy to lose your balance when moving a chair, and she just brushed against me a little… It was my fault; if I’d moved out of the way in time, this wouldn’t have happened…”

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