Zhou Changqing returned the courtesy with a smile. "You're too kind, Old Master. How has the Nalan Family been discourteous? Clan Chief Nalan, there's no need to punish the servants, either. They don't know me, so how could they be blamed?"
"If anything, I was the discourteous one. I came here to enjoy some peace and quiet instead of first offering you my congratulations."
"Now, now, your presence at this banquet is already an honor for the Nalan Family, Grandmaster..."
After exchanging pleasantries and sharing a toast,
Nalan Jie smiled and left with Nalan Su.
Age had honed Nalan Jie's shrewdness. Naturally, he would not chase quick gains by trying to grow close to this grandmaster the moment they met.
That would only annoy the man and demean his own standing.
Now that they had met, they could visit each other more often. Wouldn't familiarity come naturally after a few exchanges? Why rush?
Once the Nalan father and son left, quite a few other people of considerable standing came over to greet Zhou Changqing and offer toasts, all eager to get to know this grandmaster.
For a while, this spot became the center of attention at the banquet.
Where the younger generation's inner circle had gathered.
"Huh? Why is Old Master Nalan being so polite to that pretty boy? He's even offering him a toast!"
"Who?"
"That fellow who's so close to Miss Ya Fei."
"He really is! Yanran, look."
A young man chatting and laughing with the others suddenly glanced toward a certain spot. He froze, then blurted out in bewildered surprise.
The other young men and women paused at his words and followed his gaze, catching sight of Nalan Jie and Zhou Changqing talking and exchanging toasts.
The sight left them all rather stunned.
A petite, cute