As Qing'er grew up with Chen Nian, she could easily sense the change in Chen Nian's mindset as she listened to his words.

"Qing'er, so what if I know? Should I drag him into my world? Wouldn't that hurt him? He's been so good to me, I can't repay kindness with enmity, can I?"

Chen Nian picked up the bowl, downed the little wine in it in one gulp, and gave a bitter smile.

If it were anyone else, she could be selfish, since she's already been hated enough; she's not afraid of being hated.

Kertai couldn't bring herself to do it. She was already in a quagmire herself, so how could she dare to pull in someone with a bright future, gentle as the wind, and a clear and bright future?

Xiao Yanzi said she was her light, so how could Ertai not be her light too?

He was always pulling her out of the mire, which gave him all the confidence.

But how could she dare to tarnish that light?

She was covered in filth; she couldn't bring herself to go ashore and defile the virtuous and pure man.

She can be bad, but Ertai cannot.

“But, Niannian, how do you know what Ertai is thinking? You can’t just selfishly think that it’s for his own good and push him away. Why not listen to his thoughts?”

Also, let's say we've been thinking very carefully, give ourselves and Ertai a chance, okay?

Qing'er reached out and rubbed Chen Nian's head, meeting his guilty and self-reproachful eyes, and gently comforted him.

She doesn't know what her future holds. She might just marry anyone who catches her eye, and she doesn't care. But she doesn't want to worry about marrying someone she doesn't like.

...

"Don't cry, don't cry. Come on, let's drink. Today is a happy day, you shouldn't be crying. Liu Qing and Liu Hong will be very happy to know that I found you."

Little Swallow nodded, casually wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, picked up the wine in the bowl, and downed it in one gulp.

"I'll do it, you can do whatever you want."

Little Swallow picked up the bowl in her hand, flipped her wrist, and tilted it down to indicate that she had finished.

After finishing one bowl, Xiao Yanzi picked up the wine pot and poured herself another bowl.

"Little...Little Swallow, give me a bowl too."

Chen Nian picked up the bowl in front of him, poked Xiao Yanzi, and handed it to her, indicating that Xiao Yanzi should pour him some.

"Nian... Nian... You can't drink too much..."

Even though she was quite drunk herself, Qing'er still kept an eye on Chen Nian's condition and offered intermittent reminders.

"Just a little bit, just a little bit, Qing'er~, really just a little bit—"

Chen Nian leaned against Qing'er, held up her hand to make a small gesture, and pleaded coquettishly.

"Qing'er~"

"Okay, okay—just a little bit, just this little bit, okay?"

Qing'er could never resist Chen Nian's coquettishness, let alone when Chen Nian had a little wine on her face. Her porcelain-white face was flushed with a faint blush, and she looked so cute and sweet. Her voice was also soft and gentle, which made Qing'er's heart melt.

Thinking back to how Chen Nian had only taken a tiny sip of wine, Qing'er relented and gestured a little distance away as well.

"Mmm, Little Swallow—falls over—"

Qing'er gave in, pondering the "full of energy" instructions given to the swaying little swallow.

"good--"

...

Xiao Yanzi had always been incredibly kind to Chen Nian, never refusing his requests. Now that she knew Chen Nian was the person she had been searching for for many years, she was even less likely to refuse his requests.

Despite being quite drunk, Xiao Yanzi still remembered that Chen Nian was unwell, so she only poured a little bit for Chen Nian, just enough to cover the bottom of the bowl.

Contemplation: ...