Xi Quan did not stay long at the welcome banquet. It was a gathering of City Guards, and he had only gone to show his face, offer a greeting, and make Lou Xiu's acquaintance for an initial contact. Real friendship would have to be built in private.
He soon left again, and the proprietress, Yin Xu, personally saw him off once more.
As Xi Quan came downstairs this time, he kept his eyes straight ahead, not sparing Shi Chun's group a proper glance, though he still caught them out of the corner of his eye.
After seeing her guest off, Yin Xu stood outside the door as her beaming smile gradually faded. When she went back inside and upstairs, she did not look directly at Shi Chun's group either, though she noticed their eyes on her in her peripheral vision. An amused smile touched her lips, and she smoothed her hair, thoroughly convinced of her own charm.
The eating, drinking, and entertainment at the welcome banquet went on for quite some time. It was almost the latter half of the night before the City Guards began leaving one after another, reeking of alcohol.
Prompted by their deliberate questions, Hua Chong leaned close to Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang and whispered introductions to each person coming downstairs.
Hua Chong did not know Lou Xiu, but seeing everyone clustered around him like stars surrounding the moon, he guessed who he was.
Shi Chun had seen Lou Xiu before. He had witnessed A-Xun's death. How could he possibly forget?
The proprietress, Yin Xu, warmly escorted her guests to the door again. Only after they had all disappeared did she turn and go back inside, where she found Shi Chun's group calling for a waiter to settle their bill.
She raised a hand to