Yun Duanyue bit her lip, lowered her head, and handed her a small embroidered brocade pouch.
The pouch was exquisitely crafted, embroidered with the lonely night beneath flowers and moonlight. Ning Ning thanked her and took it. When she opened it, she found a leaf of Heaven Heart Grass inside.
"I heard... you gave the Heaven Heart Grass to the Mystic Bird."
Her voice was very soft. With outsiders present, she kept her head bowed the entire time, her small, jade-white hands clutching the hem of her skirt. "I asked a physician. One leaf is enough to save a life. You can have this one back."
After a pause, she suddenly lifted her dark, doe-like eyes, then quickly lowered them again. "Thank you... I'm sorry. I came at the wrong time."
Unexpectedly, Ning Ning smiled softly. "No, you came at just the right time."
That night was destined to be etched forever in Pei Ji and Rong Ci's memories.
Ning Ning didn't know what kind of script she'd been handed, but she certainly wasn't the heroine of some love-and-jealousy-fueled battlefield. Before the two of them could finish trading barbs, she proposed teaching everyone a new form of entertainment.
It was called mahjong.
Only later did they realize this wasn't mahjong at all. It was a brutal assault on their wallets.
The two men, who'd been at each other's throats, were utterly routed by Ning Ning. By the dead of night, they finally understood what it meant to find true friendship in adversity: sharing blessings was out, but facing hardship together was in.
Poor things. They'd been arguing over her earlier, and now they could only watch as that woman sat beside them, using their money to make another girl happy. Oh, and she'd even stolen their lines.
Yun Duanyue said,