This was an open-air banquet, centered on a covered walkway beside a lake. The long walkway stretched from the shore all the way to the lake's center. Its floor was not wooden, but transparent glass, through which the water below could be seen clearly, along with the occasional crimson koi swimming past. Wind chimes hung thickly from the corners of the eaves. As the lake breeze swept through, their delicate, crystalline notes were intoxicating.
A long table had already been laid out inside the walkway, stretching from one end to the other. Wine and delicacies covered its surface, while servants bustled back and forth, guiding the guests to their seats.
"These banquets are dreadfully boring. Brother Bai, why don't we sit together? At least we can help each other pass the time," Rong Ming said with a smile.
Xu Jia's heart skipped another beat. She simply could not understand why Rong Ming favored Chief Steward White alone.
Chen Mu thought Rong Ming was a decent fellow, and an entertaining conversationalist, too. He smiled and nodded. "Sure."
Rong Ming turned and instructed a servant, "Move Mr. Bai's and Miss Xu's seats over here."
Those two seats had originally belonged to Luo De and Jiang Yu. Grinning and utterly unconcerned, the two obligingly moved down two places.
The servant looked somewhat troubled, but he had already been warned that this particular guest must not be offended under any circumstances. After a brief hesitation, he decided to comply. Still, he had his wits about him. He immediately summoned someone and gave him an instruction, and that man hurried to Taishu Zheng's side and whispered a few words in his ear.
"What? Lord Rong really said that?" Taishu Zheng's expression darkened. This was no good sign for him. That fellow Bai worked for his