Nine Heavens Tower.
The three of them sat down by a window.
"Want some wine?" Jiang Ning asked Wang Qingtan, holding up the wine a waiter had just brought.
"A little!" Wang Qingtan nodded eagerly. "I've heard Nine Heavens Tower's Jade Nectar is delicious."
"You've never tried it?" Jiang Ning asked.
"No!" Wang Qingtan shook her head. "My father never lets me drink at home. He's strict about it, so I'm going to try some here!"
"You'll protect me, right?" Wang Qingtan gazed at Jiang Ning with shining eyes.
Jiang Ning nodded. "Of course. You're my biggest patron."
Wang Qingtan had gotten the answer she wanted.
She promptly picked up the wine pot, poured herself a small cup, and took a delicate sip.
In an instant,
her eyes lit up.
"It tastes fruity. It's delicious!"
She took another sip.
She let it linger in her mouth for a moment before swallowing, her eyes growing even brighter.
"It's so good!" Wang Qingtan exclaimed again.
When she reached for the wine pot to pour herself another cup,
"This wine sneaks up on you!" Jiang Ning reached out and caught the fingers she had wrapped around it.
"You're going to tell me what to do?" Wang Qingtan looked up at him.
"Yes, I am," Jiang Ning said.
"All right, I'll listen to you!" Wang Qingtan withdrew her hand without a trace of annoyance.
Then she picked up a fennel bean from the table and tossed it into her mouth.
Crunch—
She bit through the bean with a crisp snap.
"You seem relaxed," Jiang Ning said.
"I am!" Wang Qingtan nodded. Her legs swung back and forth beneath the table, betraying just how at ease she felt.
"You said you'd help me! That matter can't trouble me anymore, so of course I'm relaxed!"
She