Qin Xiyao, who had been missing for a long time, walked in carrying a plate, which prevented the previous awkwardness from spreading further.
"Xi Yao, you brought Xiao Chen here, but you're not here yourself. Isn't that a bit impolite?"
Qin Zhengwen seemed to still harbor resentment about Qin Xiyao bringing Luo Chen in earlier, only to run away herself. Although he didn't know what had happened, Luo Chen was still a guest, and no matter how declining the Qin family was, they still had the proper way to treat guests.
Besides, Qin Xiyao wouldn't be the kind of person who brings guests and then runs away.
There must be something else going on here.
But what needs to be said still needs to be said, otherwise, if Luo Chen is dissatisfied, Qin Zhengwen himself will also be unhappy.
"Father, I made tea in the back hall earlier."
After Qin Xiyao entered, she didn't even glance at Luo Chen. While answering Qin Zhengwen, she placed the plate she was carrying on the table.
Then he took out two teacups and a teapot from the plate.
A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted from the teapot, seemingly confirming what Qin Xiyao had said.
"You should have told me beforehand, otherwise I would have thought you had a problem with Xiaochen."
No.
Qin Xiyao sat on the other side, saying this, but her gaze towards Luo Chen was devoid of warmth, cold as ice in winter.
Feeling that look in his eyes, Luo Chen's lips twitched.
[Hey, at least pretend when you say that! Looking at me like that, all cold and distant, it's no wonder you have a problem with it.]
[Besides... I don't think it's wrong to not tell you about my plans beforehand, since it's safer if fewer people know about something like this.]
[Furthermore, I don't quite understand why Qin Xiyao cares so much...]
Hearing such heartfelt complaints, Qin Xiyao coldly looked away without reacting, but her expression seemed even colder.
No one knew what she was struggling with or what she was angry about.
But ever since she heard that Luo Chen had pretended to leave Yan Province and secretly returned to cause trouble, she had been inexplicably angry.
It's like, even though they're on the same front, there's an unexpected distance between them, a distance so great that the line would easily break if you just gently tug on it.
Qin Zhengwen, who was sitting at the head of the table, had already sensed that something was wrong, but he didn't want to get involved. He believed that the young people should handle their own affairs. If an old man like him meddled and caused an even bigger misunderstanding, wouldn't that be ridiculous?
So Qin Zhengwen pretended not to see it, silently picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Luo Chen, then poured one for himself.
When an elder pours tea, Luo Chen naturally doesn't accept it casually; he still observes the proper etiquette.
Qin Zhengwen did not stop him. This was a sign of respect from a junior to an elder. If he had stopped him, it would have meant that he also had a problem with Luo Chen.
Such a thing is naturally impossible to happen.
But what's strange is that the tea looks so unfamiliar. Although the color is not much different, it just feels weird. Even when you get close and smell it, you can't smell much tea aroma.
"Xi Yao, is this tea expired? Or did you take the wrong tea leaves?"
Qin Zhengwen wasn't the only one with this question; Luo Chen also felt something was off about the tea. Back in Ningcheng, he had often drunk tea with Luo Chengfang, and although he hadn't reached a certain level of expertise, he still knew a little about tea appreciation and tasting.
It has to be said that Luo Chen really couldn't understand the tea that Qin Xiyao brewed.
If it weren't for the fragrant aroma, Luo Chen would have doubted whether the teapot was actually filled with tea leaves.
“Father, this tea is not expired. I specially selected it, so it feels a little strange.”
Qin Xiyao responded, then looked at Luo Chen and said, "Although you are the eldest son of the Luo family, you should have a wide variety of teas to drink, but this time, I'm afraid you haven't tried any. Since you've come to the Qin family as a guest, please try this tea first."
"As a guest, it shouldn't be a problem for the guest to have tea first, right?"
Qin Xiyao added.
"..."
Luo Chen remained silent. Qin Xiyao's words seemed perfectly reasonable, but a sense of unease told him that he shouldn't drink this tea.
Something's wrong; this tea is definitely not right.
[Qin Xiyao's expression is too strange. Her words sound perfectly normal, but there's a feeling that this is a trap.]
"What, do you not want to drink the tea I brewed? Or do you look down on our tea?"
Qin Xiyao's inexplicable attempt to stir up trouble only made Luo Chen more certain that there was definitely something wrong with the tea.
After all, Qin Xiyao had a lot of opinions about him at the beginning, but now she's suddenly being so kind as to offer him tea. If there's nothing fishy about that, who would believe it?
Luo Chen naturally couldn't go along with Qin Xiyao's wishes, so he quickly drank the cup of tea.
Seeing that Luo Chen still had no reaction, Qin Xiyao frowned, wanting to say something more to coax Luo Chen to drink it.
Qin Zhengwen's voice rang out.
"Hmm...this tea tastes good, Xiyao, this should be Tieguanyin, right?"
While the two were still locked in a battle of wits, Qin Zhengwen had already picked up his teacup and started drinking. He had initially thought it would taste strange, but it was indeed quite good.
"This tea is smooth on the palate with a sweet aftertaste, and has a fresh, earthy fragrance after the rain. It's good, very good, a fine tea."
Upon hearing Qin Zhengwen's assessment, Qin Xiyao parted her lips slightly, then asked in confusion, "Father, why did you drink it?"
"Huh? Why can't I drink it?"
Qin Zhengwen asked in confusion, "You've already brewed it, shouldn't we drink the tea?"
"No, it's not..."
Qin Xiyao bit her lip slightly, wanting to say something, but she held back, then glared at Luo Chen resentfully.
It's all Luo Chen's fault. She was so clever as not to be the first to drink. Otherwise, she could have stopped Qin Zhengwen when he wanted to drink earlier.
[There was definitely something wrong!]
Seeing the look Qin Xiyao gave him, Luo Chen felt a chill run down his spine.
[Just as I suspected, there was something wrong with the tea. It seems Qin Xiyao was waiting for me to drink it first—no, this was supposed to be what she intended for me to drink. I didn't expect Uncle Qin to drink it first. Judging from her expression, it seems her plan has failed.]
When Luo Chen exposed her thoughts, Qin Xiyao's face flushed slightly, but she managed to maintain her composure, after all, Qin Zhengwen was drinking with great relish.
However, when Qin Zhengwen wanted to have another drink, Qin Xiyao stopped him.
Qin Zhengwen was a little confused. Was it possible to drink only one cup of this tea?
However, Qin Xiyao shook her head and did not offer any explanation.
Luo Chen, who was watching silently from the side, did not say anything, his eyes filled with shock.
What did he see?
The black stuff in the teapot had expanded from being steeped; if Qin Xiyao hadn't reacted quickly and pressed it down, the lid would have been pushed off.
[If I remember correctly, the teapot was filled with black...wood...ear fungus, right?]
Qin Xiyao: "..."
[Can this thing be used to brew tea?]
Qin Xiyao: "..."
[Qin Xiyao, I have no grudge against you, why did you play this trick on me? If Uncle Qin hadn't drunk it first, would I have been affected? But why didn't Uncle Qin notice? This is black... fungus!!!]
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