She could only silently vow to herself, "If they cause trouble again, I will absolutely not care about them," but she knew in her heart that this was just self-deception.

Time flies, and modern life is bustling with traffic.

In the concrete jungle, traces of the past are hidden deep in the streets and alleys. The sycamore leaves turn green and yellow, yellow and green again, through countless seasons.

The sounds of cars on the asphalt road and music from the shops blend together, yet there are always some corners that retain a touch of the slow pace of a thousand years ago.

At the end of an old alley in the city, a teahouse called "Listening to the Wind" is hidden in the shade of plane trees, with black tiles and white walls.

The wall was covered with lush green ivy, which completely obscured the corners, leaving only the mottled brick patterns visible, much like the ancient alley they had once walked through.

A string of bronze wind chimes hangs on the upturned eaves. Qin Qianluo "picked them up" from the ruins of an ancient temple from the Ming Dynasty. They jingle when the wind blows.

The crisp sound, mixed with the rich aroma of tea, wafted out of the alleyway, attracting frequent glances from passersby—many said that the tea at this teahouse tasted especially warm.

It felt like carrying a warm stove, but in reality, Qin Qianluo had secretly added some spiritual spring water from her divine beast space to the tea, fearing that modern tea wasn't "nourishing" enough.

Inside the private room, dappled sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting mottled light and shadow on the mahogany tea table, like light spots reflected from fragments of time and space.

The celadon tea set gleamed with a warm luster, and the teacup was engraved with a lotus scroll pattern. It was an old item that Su Jinyun had found at the site of a porcelain kiln from the Southern Song Dynasty.

Although there are some minor ice cracks, they make it even more elegant.

As the Biluochun tea leaves slowly unfurled under the boiling water, their tender green hues floating and sinking in the cup, much like the pre-rain tea they had seen at tea gatherings in Jiangnan.

The aroma of tea wafted up the windowpanes, spreading a hazy green mist that enveloped the entire private room in a refreshing atmosphere.

Four women sat around a tea table, each with their own unique charm, chatting and laughing.

A woman leaned languidly against another woman's chest, her head resting on the other woman's shoulder, her nose brushing against the faint fragrance of her neck.

It smelled like freshly brewed jasmine tea, light and delicate, just her favorite flavor.

She toyed with a small jade mask between her fingers. The edges of the mask were polished smooth and warm, and it felt cool against her fingertips.

There wasn't a trace of any straps; it looked as if it had been naturally attached to the face and wouldn't fall off no matter how much you shook it.

She looked up at the woman opposite her, dressed in plain clothes, her aura as cool and serene as moonlight. The woman was holding a teacup and sipping it slowly, her fingertips holding the teacup with elegance.

With his thumb gently resting on the rim of the cup, even the way he drank tea exuded an ethereal quality, as if he were untouched by worldly concerns.

The woman's eyes curved at the corners, her smile hiding a hint of cunning, and her voice carried a lazy tone, like a cat that had stolen some fish.

"Would you do me the honor? Teach me how you manage to stick that mask on your face so firmly, without any strings or straps, it's more secure than super glue?"

Upon hearing this, the woman, whose aura was as serene as moonlight, trembled violently with her fingers holding the celadon teacup, and the crackled patterns beneath her fingertips seemed to move as well.

The emerald green tea rippled in the cup, swirling along the rim and almost overflowing the delicate lotus scroll pattern.

She simply placed the teacup on the rosewood tea table, and the soft "clang" broke the momentary silence.

When she looked up, the frost in her eyes had melted into a hint of helplessness, mixed with the embarrassment of having her thoughts exposed.

She glared at the woman who was nestled in another woman's arms, her eyes crinkling with laughter, and snatched the jade mask from her fingertips.

His fingertips traced the smooth, warm curves of the mask, his fingertips caressed the delicate patterns of the half-lotus design, and a fleeting smile crossed his eyes, mixed with an indescribable sense of longing.

This mask was originally carved by a craftsman she specially commissioned to conceal her identity. I don't know which antique street this girl found it in, but now it has become a reason for her to tease herself.

"You talk too much." She scolded lightly, but there was no real anger in her tone. The last syllable even had a slight softness, as if she was scolding or indulging.

Silvery laughter immediately filled the private room, the sounds mingling and hitting the carved window frames before gently falling back into the teacups.

The stirring infused the fragrant tea with a touch of sweetness, making the air feel warm and cozy.

A waiter passing by the private room heard the noise, paused, and shook his head helplessly—well, the bosses were reminiscing about the past again.

Every time we talk about those random, unrelated stories from the past, we always laugh so heartily.

She didn't stop walking and continued towards the bar, but when she turned around, a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

The laughter in this "Listening to the Wind" teahouse, lacking the hustle and bustle of the city, is more comforting than the lively atmosphere elsewhere.

It's like a cotton quilt that's been sun-dried in winter, so warm it makes your bones feel soft and fluffy.

End of article

"This concludes the article. I express my sincere gratitude to all of you."

As a newcomer to writing, I am aware that my writing skills are still immature and my sentences may be somewhat clumsy. Fortunately, I have received your support and understanding along the way.

From the initial hesitant start to the successful conclusion, every bit of support and encouragement has become the foundation for my perseverance.

Currently, the side stories for this book are being organized, which will provide a proper home for those unresolved details and unfilled plot holes.

The outline of the new story is slowly unfolding on my desk, hoping to depict a more vivid world with a more mature writing style.

In this vast sea of ​​people, it is truly my good fortune to meet you all through words.

My future creative journey will be filled with even greater reverence and dedication. Thank you again for everyone's support; may we meet again in the next story, just as we did at the beginning.