The moment Ah Lian made her appearance, she captured a significant amount of attention. It was clear that her performance tonight was destined to be a success!
Ah Lian, who was initially somewhat uneasy, had finally calmed down. Her eyes sparkled not only with allure but with confidence too.
Ah Lian cast a seemingly casual glance in Xin He’s direction. Seeing Xin He’s smirk, she suddenly threw her fan aside and turned around.
Clad in red, slender waist accentuated, all of her hair was swept up, revealing her fair, delicate neck. She moved with grace, her figure oozing sensuality.
Her silhouette alone was enough to stir up one’s imagination.
The musicians played a measured and elegant tune. Combined with Ah Lian’s dance, the scene felt truly extraordinary.
Ah Lian swayed her slim waist, flaunting her voluptuous figure. Her broad sleeves partially hid her face, and while her steps were slow, she made sure that no one could easily catch a glimpse of her face.
The guests underneath the stage watched anxiously, eager to have another look at her face. It seemed strange because they had been watching her face for nine years and should be tired of it by now.
Especially after seeing Miss Hanxiang, they found Ah Lian’s face tiresome. But now, they were still eager to have another look, even if it was just one more glimpse!
Xin He watched with amusement and said, "Ah Lian is truly talented. She’s better at dancing than I am and knows how to take advantage of her own strengths and talents. What a beauty! Even at thirty, she will not lose her charm."
Marquis Mu Houchu cast a cursory glance and showed a stark lack of interest. To men who frequented such places, every attractive woman was the object of their ogling. He had no particular interest in women. Countless stunning beauties had appeared before him throughout his life; why would he be captivated by a courtesan?
"She wants to turn the tables today. What does that have to do with you and your ’Qinghe shop’?" Marquis Mu Houchu asked.
Xin He snorted, responding, "Just wait and see! A businessman wouldn’t rise early without a chance for profit. What do you think I have been preparing for all this time?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a gasp of surprise arose from the audience below.
Xin He quickly looked, seeing that the musicians’ tune had changed, pausing momentarily. Ah Lian, in that very moment of pause, also stopped her dance, dropping her sleeves.
An enchanting beauty was on display, driving countless men to madness.
The music slowed down, and a little maid came onto the stage, holding a jug of wine.
Ah Lian took it in one swift move, arrogantly tore off the red cloth on the wine jug, held up the wine jug with one hand, and tilted her head back. The pouring wine flowed into her mouth. The way she drank was extremely crude, completely unlike a lady.
Yet she did so willfully. Occasionally, a few drops of wine would trickle down her lips, across her delicate chin, down her slender neck, and into her suggestive clothing.
This sight nearly made the men’s eyes pop out of their sockets.
The jug contained only a small amount of grape wine, which meant nothing to her. Once finished, she casually tossed the jug aside and danced again on the stage. This time, she didn’t hide her face or feign shyness, instead, she danced with breathtaking grace, stunning the crowd with her unparalleled beauty.
Even after her dance ended, the people below the stage remained stunned for a long time. It wasn’t until Xin He clapped his hands first and shouted, "Good!" that the guests below began to explode into applause: "Good! Good! Miss Ah Lian is as legendary as expected!"
"Ah Lian, Ah Lian, Ah Lian!"
The hall was filled with cheers, indicating just how amazing the dance was.
The madam was stunned, sitting there in shock, unable to believe that the exotic dancer on stage was Ah Lian, whom she had brought up since childhood!
Anger gnawing at her, Hanxiang watched as Ah Lian stole all the limelight. She wanted nothing more than to kill her!
Today was her debut! And it was completely overshadowed by this woman. How could she swallow this grievance!
Ah Lian, standing on stage, smiled at Hanxiang, whose face had darkened. Then, she gracefully bowed to the guests below, "I, Ah Lian, apologize for my lack of skill."
The crowd burst into noise, "If Miss Ah Lian’s performance is considered as poor skills, then what was the performance by the girls before?!"
"Exactly, Miss Ah Lian’s reputation is well-earned. The courtesan of nine consecutive years! Tonight, she is bound to be the courtesan again! Ah Lian! Ah Lian!"
At these words, Hanxiang’s face turned even more sullen. Apparently, these men had largely forgotten about her after seeing Ah Lian’s performance!
Ah Lian smirked slightly, looked up at Ji Xinhe in the private room on the second floor, and said, "This dance of mine today, owes a lot to Young Master Ji."
At her words, almost all eyes turned to the second-floor private room, following Ah Lian’s gaze to Xin He.
Xin He saluted with a smile and responded loudly, "Miss Ah Lian is too modest. You are gifted, with outstanding beauty and intelligence. Today’s dance could only have been performed by you, Miss Ah Lian!"
Xin He was right, Ah Lian’s talent was clear. With a little guidance, she’d been able to achieve twice the result with half the effort. Ultimately, the one who made her success possible was herself.
Ah Lian laughed, "Had it not been for the fine wine Young Master Ji had given me a few days ago, I might not have managed to deliver such a well-liked performance."
Xin He acted surprised, "Oh? Does Miss Ah Lian really love the grape wine I gave you? If I had known Miss Ah Lian liked this wine so much, I would have gone to the Qinghe shop and bought more to give to Miss Ah Lian. Even if it is for a smile from Miss Ah Lian, it would have been worth it!"
At these words, the crowd became agitated; there were even shouts of, "If Miss Ah Lian likes the grape wine from Qinghe Shop, I would buy it no matter the price!"
"Exactly! It’s a great honor to watch Miss Ah Lian’s dance in this life! If the grape wine is really useful, even if I buy the entire shop, it is worth it!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Ah Lian chuckled, "Thank you."
Then, she tilted her head slightly and gave Xin He an almost imperceptible wink.
Xin He also smiled with a hint of triumph, looking at Marquis Mu Houchu and jerking his chin upward, "What did I say? Tonight will surely yield a win-win outcome!"
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