"Enough!"

A deep, authoritative shout rang out.

Master Ye, the host of the birthday banquet, finally heard the noise and hurried over.

He wore his usual smile, but there was no real joy in his eyes.

"Oh dear, it's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!"

Master Ye chuckled and stood between the two tables, skillfully separating the invisible tension:

"Nephew Zhu, you've had too much to drink and are talking nonsense! Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Xie and your two friends!"

Young Master Zhu stood there with his neck stiff and his face full of resentment.

But under Master Ye's stern gaze, they ultimately dared not be too presumptuous.

His lips moved a few times, but no sound came out.

Master Ye then turned to Xie Huaiye, smiling broadly as he cupped his hands in greeting:

"Mr. Xie, Miss Yan Ning, and Brother Sun, I'm so sorry! My servants didn't treat you well and made you all feel uncomfortable."

"Nephew Zhu is young and impetuous, and speaks without restraint. I apologize to you all on his behalf!"

His words were perfectly tactful, giving himself a way out.

This also gave Xie Huaiye and his group face.

Yan Ning gave the ashen-faced Young Master Zhu a cold glance and said nothing more.

She knows when to stop while she's ahead.

We must give Master Ye face at this moment.

Xie Huaiye looked up at Master Ye, and the icy coldness in his eyes seemed to have faded a little.

But his deep, still unfathomable eyes remained devoid of warmth.

He nodded slightly, his voice calm and even: "Master Ye, you flatter me. It's nothing, no problem at all."

Master Ye's smile widened even more: "Thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. Xie! Your magnanimity!"

He quickly called to the maid beside him, "Quickly, add some more of the newly arrived Longjing tea to Mr. Xie's table."

"And those freshly steamed crab meat lion's head meatballs, bring them out quickly!"

A disturbance occurred due to the forceful intervention of Master Ye.

The situation appears to have calmed down temporarily.

The buzzing of conversation gradually returned to the hall.

But the atmosphere was noticeably more subtle.

Many people were looking at Xie Huaiye's table.

There was a hint of curiosity and apprehension.

Sun Wuji secretly rubbed his still-painful instep.

He glanced again at the steaming hot lion's head meatballs that had just been served on the table.

He swallowed hard, leaned closer to Yan Ning, and muttered in a low voice:

"Sister Ning... that canary... he should really be stuffed into the pig trough..."

Yan Ning ignored him.

He simply picked up the newly added tea and gently blew away the foam.

Master Ye then personally picked up an exquisite white jade wine pot.

With a smile, he asked Xie Huaiye:

"Mr. Xie is young and promising, so I imagine he must have an excellent capacity for alcohol? I have some thirty-year-old Nu'er Hong wine here, please have a taste!"

Xie Huaiye leaned back slightly, his tone distant:

“Master Ye, you are too kind. I… am not good at drinking.”

"Hey!"

Master Ye waved his hand and raised his voice several decibels:

"You're being too polite! On such a fine day, with beautiful scenery and flowers to enjoy with friends, how could we be without wine? Does Mr. Xie look down on my humble country wine?"

The implication is clear.

It already carried a hint of something that couldn't be refused.

Sun Wuji, who was standing nearby, was engrossed in devouring a glistening roast chicken.

Upon hearing this, he quickly looked up, his cheeks puffed out as he mumbled:

"Master Ye! If he won't drink, I will! I'll keep you company! This wine smells wonderful!"

Master Ye only glanced at him, his gaze still fixed on Xie Huaiye.

His smile deepened, yet it carried a hint of pressure: "Young Master Sun is so generous! However, today I would like to offer Mr. Xie a few drinks! If Mr. Xie does not drink..."

He deliberately dragged out the tone.

Several familiar scions of prominent families around him cast curious or amused glances his way. "Wouldn't this make me lose face in front of all of you?"

As he spoke, he personally filled a cup and presented it to Xie Huaiye with both hands.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat tense.

Xie Huaiye looked at the substantial glass of wine in front of him.

His brows furrowed even more.

He really disliked this kind of occasion and was even less willing to be forced into it.

But with everyone watching, Master Ye had already said all that...

He remained silent, reaching out his hand as if to take the glass of wine.

The movements were somewhat hesitant.

"etc!"

A crisp sound broke the deadlock.

Yan Ning suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Xie Huaiye's wrist, which was halfway out.

Her palms were warm, with an undeniable strength.

Xie Huaiye was slightly taken aback and looked at her.

Yan Ning smiled brightly, a hint of slyness in her eyes, and said to Master Ye:

“Mr. Ye, you may not know this, but our Mr. Xie caught a slight cold last night.”

"The doctor specifically instructed that he must abstain from alcohol for the next few days, not even a drop! He will not be able to enjoy your fine wine today."

Master Ye's smile froze for a moment: "Oh? Is that so?"

"Absolutely true!"

Yan Ning nodded vigorously, her eyes sincere. "Look at his complexion, isn't it paler than usual?"

As she spoke, she secretly pinched Xie Huaiye's wrist.

Xie Huaiye immediately coughed lightly and turned his face slightly to the side.

Master Ye squinted as he sized up Xie Huaiye.

They seem to want to figure out if it's true or false.

Before he could think it through, Yan Ning abruptly changed the subject, slamming her hand on the table with a heroic air:

"However! We cannot refuse Master Ye's kind invitation! I will drink this wine for him!"

She reached out to take the cup of wine from Master Ye's hand.

"You?" Master Ye was clearly not expected this, and subconsciously wanted to back down.

"What? Does Master Ye think I, Yan Ning, am not qualified enough to drink this cup of wine from you?"

Yan Ning raised an eyebrow, her voice clear and bright, carrying the unique charm and sharpness of a young girl.

It instantly attracted everyone's attention.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!