This Is True Sincerity

"Senior Sister, you're looking younger and more beautiful than ever! And this Golden Phoenix Hairpin today really complements your hairstyle and this outfit. It's truly the finishing touch, adding beauty to beauty!"

In the backyard of the Jade Flower Pavilion, upon seeing Liu Xiaoqiang, who was charming and alluring, with a piece of soft gauze draped across her chest, her curves rising and falling with each breath, Xia Daoming immediately approached with a smile, showering her with compliments.

"Is that so? Junior Brother, you truly have a good eye. This Golden Phoenix Hairpin was specially made for me by Master Feng from the Butterfly Phoenix Tower a few days ago. I just got it today!"

Hearing Xia Daoming praise her Golden Phoenix Hairpin, Liu Xiaoqiang's peach blossom eyes lit up. She gently touched the hairpin with her hand, then, unprecedentedly, swayed her hips and intimately linked her arm with his.

"Senior Sister, please spare me! With your figure, your face, and your temperament, a beauty like you linking arms with me... I'm afraid I'll lose my composure!" Xia Daoming felt the softness against his arm and put on an exaggeratedly glum face.

"Pfft~ Stop it! You're surrounded by beauties every day, especially that Lian'er. Even I, your Senior Sister, would be tempted by her. And you're afraid of losing your composure just because I linked arms with you?" Liu Xiaoqiang shot Xia Daoming a look, but tightened her grip on his arm instead.

"Senior Sister, you truly don't know how much charm you possess! To put it without exaggeration, you captivate everyone, young and old!" Xia Daoming continued his praise.

"Heh heh!" Liu Xiaoqiang couldn't help but burst into laughter at Xia Daoming's compliments, which came from another world. She laughed so hard her body swayed, and eventually, she even rested her forehead on his shoulder.

"This..."

Seeing this scene, the singers, dancers, and musicians who were familiar with Liu Xiaoqiang's usual demeanor were all dumbfounded, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

As for Yuchi Xiao, Zhuo Xingji, and Jiao Yongbao, they were so shocked they almost dropped their jaws.

"Xingji, you're a regular at the Jade Flower Pavilion. Has Junior Sister Liu ever treated you this way?" Yuchi Xiao nudged Zhuo Xingji beside him and asked.

His tiger-like eyes, however, were fixed on Xia Daoming's arm, which was nestled against Liu Xiaoqiang's chest, filled with envy and jealousy!

Liu Xiaoqiang was beautiful, had a graceful figure, and a charming demeanor. When the senior brothers and junior brothers from the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School first met her, many were captivated and pursued her fiercely.

However, because Liu Xiaoqiang was the wife of an official who was exiled to Li City, she had a past filled with unspeakable hardship. Therefore, while she appeared playful and casually intimate with Yuchi Xiao and the others, bantering and joking without restraint, she kept them at a distance in certain aspects.

After a few rebuffs, Yuchi Xiao and the others understood Liu Xiaoqiang's personality and put aside their intentions, simply remaining as fellow disciples.

It was only Gu Ren, who considered himself exceptionally talented and handsome, who stubbornly persisted for a long time, refusing to believe it. But in the end, he also failed, which was quite a blow to the proud and self-assured Gu Ren.

To think that after only a year since Xia Daoming arrived, Liu Xiaoqiang would actually take the initiative to link arms with him.

"Nonsense! How could that be? You know Junior Sister's personality!" Zhuo Xingji replied irritably, feeling dejected!

He was not only Liu Xiaoqiang's fellow disciple but also a major investor in the Jade Flower Pavilion!

"Junior Sister, you're showing favoritism. You've never been this friendly to us before!" Jiao Yongbao's smile held a hint of "resentment."

"Nonsense, as soon as you guys came to the Jade Flower Pavilion, your eyes were all drawn to the girls. Did any of you ever truly care about me, your Junior Sister?" Liu Xiaoqiang retorted, her eyes rolling as she pulled Xia Daoming's arm even tighter.

"Heaven and Earth as my witness, how could we not care about Junior Sister!" The three of them exclaimed almost simultaneously.

"Then, the three Senior Brothers, what do you think is different about me today?" Liu Xiaoqiang winked at the three of them, her finger forming a delicate curve.

The three of them stared at Liu Xiaoqiang for a while, then looked at each other. Finally, Jiao Yongbao, mustering his courage, said with a smile, "Junior Sister's beauty today is even more radiant than before!"

"Yes, yes, her beauty is radiant, more so than ever before," Yuchi Xiao and Zhuo Xingji quickly chimed in, nodding in agreement.

"Alright, alright, stop being so insincere. 'Radiant beauty, more so than before' – none of you mean it!" Liu Xiaoqiang rolled her eyes at the three of them.

"How are we not sincere?" The three of them were unconvinced.

"Hmph, if you were sincere, wouldn't you have noticed that I changed my hairpin today, given that you visit the Jade Flower Pavilion every few days? Look at Junior Brother Daoming, he doesn't come here often, but as soon as he arrived, he noticed my new hairpin! This is what sincerity looks like, this is what it means to have eyes for your Junior Sister. Unlike you guys, the moment you step into the Jade Flower Pavilion, your eyes are already wandering elsewhere."

Liu Xiaoqiang rolled her eyes again and tightened her grip on Xia Daoming's arm once more.

Yuchi Xiao and the other two were stunned.

They were all rough fellows; who would pay attention to what kind of hairpin a woman was wearing?

While the three of them were dumbfounded, Xia Daoming was internally cursing.

He was simply following his social principles from his previous life: when complimenting someone, don't be vague or generic; be specific to show sincerity. For example, if a woman is carrying a new handbag, complimenting her bag will make her happier than complimenting her beauty. Or, if a woman is holding a cute puppy, petting it and calling it cute can easily bridge the gap, perhaps leading to an opportunity to touch her someday.

When Liu Xiaoqiang had gracefully walked towards him, she had repeatedly touched her hairpin, as if afraid it might fall off. Xia Daoming, out of habit, had casually complimented her Golden Phoenix Hairpin.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xiaoqiang had never been complimented so precisely and attentively in this life. She was instantly touched to the core, and her impression of her junior brother Xia Daoming changed completely.

Senior Sister, you're the proprietress of a pleasure house, how can you still be so naive!

After the internal curse, Xia Daoming couldn't help but sigh.

"Oh? Senior Brother Jiao, you've cultivated Hidden Strength? No wonder you're treating us today!" Xia Daoming, not wanting the three senior brothers to be too discouraged, shifted his gaze to Jiao Yongbao and said with feigned "surprise."

Jiao Yongbao was originally a talented disciple of the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School, but after an accident, his martial arts progress stalled, and he turned to business. After Liang Jingtang obtained the Longevity Jade Liquid, he privately shared some with him. Jiao Yongbao, by taking a small amount of Longevity Jade Liquid daily, revitalized his blood and vitality, and re-condensed his Hidden Strength.

Besides Jiao Yongbao, Yuchi Xiao and Zhuo Xingji also received some. Both of them were Fifth-Rank Great Martial Masters and in their prime. Although they had passed their peak vitality, they were far from rapid decline. If they could stabilize for a few years with the Longevity Jade Liquid, they might even have a chance to reach the Sixth-Rank Realm.

As for Liu Xiaoqiang, she was older and only at the Fourth-Rank Martial Master realm. She also lacked the talent of Jiao Yongbao. Even if she were given some Longevity Jade Liquid, it would likely only serve to enhance her complexion and delay aging. The Longevity Jade Liquid was extremely precious, and Liang Jingtang was ultimately unwilling to waste it, so he did not share any with Liu Xiaoqiang.

"Tsk! You can tell that? No wonder you could defeat Senior Brother Yuchi so effortlessly!" Jiao Yongbao exclaimed in surprise.

"One thing is one thing, why are you comparing me to him for no reason? Come on, we haven't sparred in a while, how about I show you a few moves today?" Yuchi Xiao said, slapping Jiao Yongbao's shoulder with his large palm.

"Cough, cough, Senior Brother, take it easy, take it easy. I just managed to cultivate some Hidden Strength after a long time, don't go and shake it away," Jiao Yongbao quickly pleaded.

"Get lost. If I were that capable, would Dao Ming have defeated me so easily?" Yuchi Xiao glared.

"Haha!" Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

With the laughter, Liu Xiaoqiang voluntarily let go and went to arrange for the girls.

This made Xia Daoming secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Senior Sister Liu is quite something!

Soon, Liu Xiaoqiang returned to the private room with a few girls who were acquainted with the three of Yuchi Xiao, asking them to accompany the three.

She herself sat next to Xia Daoming, personally attending to him. The sight made the eyes of the three of Yuchi Xiao turn green with envy, yet they could do nothing about it.

Who could blame them when their Junior Brother Xia was so skilled at charming women!

They didn't look at women's chests or legs, but instead at the Golden Phoenix Hairpin on their heads. They had to admit defeat!

However, Xia Daoming felt a bit uneasy.

Originally, he had come here to drink, listen to music, and enjoy a leisurely, sage-like time.

But today, Liu Xiaoqiang sat beside him, and her watery peach blossom eyes would occasionally cast seductive glances, which truly made him a little flustered.

"Senior Sister, your Jade Flower Pavilion's business seems to have slowed down a lot!" Xia Daoming, unable to bear the teasing any longer, started to change the subject.

"Alas, isn't that the truth! The situation in Li City is getting more and more chaotic, and everyone is filled with anxiety. Who has the mood to come to the pleasure quarters to listen to music? Even those who come are mostly desperate characters, quick-tempered and difficult to please."

"Business is getting harder and harder. If it weren't for the Jade Flower Pavilion, giving these sisters below a place to shelter from the wind and rain, I really wouldn't want to continue doing this," Liu Xiaoqiang sighed, her face filled with worry.

Today's update is complete.