A faint breeze stirred through the mountains. The lingering notes of the zither faded away, yet everyone stood there dazed, each lost in their own trance. That final note tugged at their souls, leaving them utterly spellbound. For a long while, none could come back to their senses...
Yue Qianchou looked around, highly satisfied with the effect. His pretending to be refined had not been in vain. He put away the zither, bent down to pluck that shy poppy, then rose and held it beneath his nose for a sniff. Grinning, he walked up to Wen Lanfeng and waved it before his eyes.
Wen Lanfeng came back to his senses. His gaze upon Yue Qianchou was full of amazement. He gave a deep bow and said, "I have long heard that Yue Qianchou is overflowing with talent, but I never dared believe it. Today, having seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, I see that your reputation is well deserved—indeed, the truth surpasses even the praise!"
"You flatter me! So long as this impromptu piece satisfied Senior Wen, that is enough." Yue Qianchou stuffed the poppy into his hand, patted his hand, and said with a cold smile, "If you have savored the fragrance of the flower, do not ask for whom it blooms red. Women are like flowers, and flowers are like dreams. When a flower is there to be plucked, pluck it without delay—there is no need to hesitate... May Senior Wen's lovers finally become family!"
Wen Lanfeng nodded somewhat excitedly. "Thank you!" Then he strode resolutely toward Lu Yanqing. With trembling hands, he offered her the flower, not quite daring to meet her eyes.
Only when his hands were empty did he dare lift his head and look at her...
Lu