"It seemed your fortunes were simply long-lasting. It wasn't entirely thanks to me, either. Back then, I thought you would stop in the underworld, so I left you down there. Who could have imagined that you would climb, step by step, to where you are now? This was already beyond my ability to influence." I spoke from the heart. Dai Mei's forms of address for me had always been proper and orderly—from "Military Counselor" at the beginning, to "Leader" in the past, and finally "City Lord" now. They all revealed the methodical nature of her character.
"City Lord, Dai Mei often thinks about those things." Dai Mei smiled. She clearly intended to cut off the subject. How could I not know she didn't want to discuss it?
"Yes. The furnishings here are just like your temperament—properly regulated and unruffled, another style entirely from Nuannuan's work as a master of garden design." I smiled.
Dai Mei covered her mouth and laughed. "Nuannuan designed this specially for me, too. The estate's layout is ordinary, but its contents are completely different. I have my grandmother to thank for looking after me. City Lord, you don't need to worry about sparing Dai Mei's feelings. If you have something to say, just say it."
"Nothing important. I simply wanted to come and see you." I smiled.
"That's all?" Dai Mei wore a smile as she reached out and hooked her arm around mine. I gave an awkward laugh. It seemed Dai Mei was far more forward than I had imagined. I was the one being coy and underestimating her. "What else would you like to do?"
"After finally managing to wait for you to come, naturally I have to do something else." Dai Mei winked at me. I froze for a moment and thought, *This