Complaining

"Ling Yu, you and I are both from the same hometown as Wine Star. You should know that the Brewing Artisan of Wine Star have worshipped the God of Wine for generations. Seven years ago, I encountered trouble, and it was the God who saved me and cured my illness."

He tapped the Fat Orange's head with his fingertip, and the Fat Orange hummed contentedly.

"Seven years have passed since I received this kindness... and I still cannot repay it."

What made him more fortunate than other God of Wine followers was that he was not only saved by God, but also regarded as a friend by God.

Friend.

Qin Jiu almost dared not utter those two words.

If I told anyone, I might become a laughingstock.

Humans and gods, with such a vast disparity in power and lifespan, like ants compared to the heavens, how could they possibly be friends?

Who would believe that?

But Fate is truly strange.

He did indeed become friends with that god.

Although the other party had said seven years ago that when she missed him, she shouldn't be reserved, just set out a jar of wine, call his name, and he would appear, Qin Jiu always hesitated whenever she wanted to do so.

Is the other person busy?

Could it be that something important has come up?

Will calling out to him so abruptly disturb him?

With that hesitation, a day passed, a month passed, and a year passed.

Seven years have passed just like that.

The longer it went on, the less Qin Jiu dared to do that.

He didn't know how to start the conversation, what to say as his first words, or whether the other person had forgotten him after so much time had passed.

Perhaps, for gods with long lifespans, seven years is but a blink of an eye, but for humans, seven years is enough to change far too much.

What if... the other person has already forgotten him?

Ling Yu was surprised to find that the other party had such a connection with the God of Wine, and he felt a sense of destiny.

"I never imagined we weren't just from the same hometown. I was also saved by the God of Wine back then."

Ling Yu didn't say what the reason was.

Unfortunately, he forgot that he wasn't the only one present at That Matter time; there was also a cat involved.

Upon hearing Ling Yu's words, Fat Orange's ears suddenly perked up.

It squinted at Ling Yu, then meowed a few times, its tail tip swaying gently.

Ling Yu couldn't understand cat language, but his intuition told him otherwise.

This fat cat seems to be talking about his own story.

Really? Does this Fat Orange have such a good memory?

Ling Yu's temples throbbed, and he forced himself to calm down. It's okay, normally people can't understand cat meows.

Fat Orange can say whatever it wants; Little Wine can't understand it anyway...

Etc.

Ling Yu's gaze suddenly froze.

He recalled the various details he had secretly observed over the years.

The unspoken understanding between Qin Jiu and Fat Orange is unlike that of an ordinary owner and pet.

They seem to... be able to understand each other.

Ling Yu's intuition has always been very accurate.

This time, however, his intuition told him that Xiao Jiu and Fat Orange were not "under normal circumstances."

That's right.

Qin Jiu heard it all clearly.

He never expected that Fat Orange and Ling Yu would have such a connection.

Qin Jiu's lips curved into a smile, and she finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

No wonder.

No wonder Ling Yu's expression was so strange when he first brought Fat Orange to meet Ling Yu.

What a coincidence!

Who would have thought that these two people, both saved by God of Wine, would meet again in such a roundabout way?

"So, you're setting aside those three hours each week for God of Wine?"

Ling Yu's tone was somewhat subtle.

"Right."

Ling Yu never expected that after seven years of trouble, having turned down several important appointments and offended several major investors, this would be the answer. He had thought it was some secret romance or a private fetish that couldn't be made public.

The result was surprisingly like this.

However, Ling Yu felt that something was not quite right.

Aside from those three hours on weekends, the other person has not engaged in any other religious activities over the years.

He didn't worship Deity Statue, didn't pray morning and evening, and he wasn't even seen properly attending the Feast of God of Wine once.

What kind of believer is this?

However, Ling Yu did not ask further questions.

He had seen too many strange people and things, and had long ago learned an ironclad rule.

Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't meddle in what you shouldn't meddle in.

Ling Yu adjusted his glasses, intending to change the subject.

However, the words that were about to come out of his mouth suddenly took a different turn.

"Now that you've seen God of Wine in person... don't you feel that his Deity Statue and he... are quite different?"

He didn't say it in an offensive tone.

It felt more like a viewer who had been holding back for a long time finally seeing the movie end, and could now freely and unrestrainedly criticize the terrible film.

Actually, he had wanted to say it for a long time.

That Deity Statue of God of Wine, I don't know which dynasty or which "genius" sculptor made it, but Shengsheng sculpt such a... masculine god into that kind of appearance.

With her gentle, watery eyes, smiling lips, flowing robes, and graceful figure, she was a beauty who had stepped right out of a painting.

Ling Yu felt a toothache every time he saw it.

How many filters are on this?!

Of course, he wouldn't complain about this to just anyone.

What if the other person happens to be a fanatical follower of God of Wine? Wouldn't he be doomed? Besides, the Deity Statues of God of Wine have been passed down for so many years, generation after generation, and they've always looked the same. How could he be allowed to spout nonsense?

But today is different.

Today, the person sitting in front of him has also seen the This Venerable of God of Wine in person.

Ling Yu could finally breathe a sigh of relief and let out the anger he had been holding in for seven years.

Qin Jiu paused slightly as she stroked the cat.

The Fat Orange, which had been sprawled out like a pancake, now had its ears perked up, its eyes darting back and forth between Qin Jiu and Ling Yu, as if watching a spectacular show.

"Hmm... at first, I thought it was pretty good..."

"... like."

Ling Yu's expression at that moment was as if the sky had fallen.

Cute?

The image of the true appearance of God of Wine, as described by that person seven years ago, flashed rapidly through his mind.

That face, that stature, that booming, bell-like voice...

Cute?

"Cute?"

"Um."

Then, Qin Jiu seemed to think of something, and her petting of the cat suddenly became faster and heavier.

The Fat Orange let out a "woof" as he rubbed it, turned around and glared at him, but didn't run away. Instead, it nuzzled its head into his palm.

Ling Yu looked at Qin Jiu with a pained expression.

"Little Wine, I now seriously suspect that the reason you didn't have a girlfriend back then wasn't anything else, but that there's something seriously wrong with your eyes. The God of Wine has a full beard, thick eyebrows, and big eyes—that's called masculinity, that's called imposing, not cute!"

"What beard?" Qin Jiu exclaimed as if she had heard some absurd nonsense. "God is so adorable, how could he possibly look like that!"

"Haven't you seen God of Wine? Isn't this exactly what he looks like?"

Ling Yu Lightbrain to send Qin Jiu notes he had made seven years ago.