Over the next two days, storm clouds gathered over Ascension City. Every faction had its own calculations, and time slipped quietly past amid the surging undercurrents.
Song Bin and his pack of dissolute friends spent every day nursing their determination, racking their brains for a way to arrange a meeting with Chen Xiyuan and her companions. Yet despite all their scheming, they failed for two days running.
To get ahead of everyone else, they set out earlier each day than the day before, waiting outside the Fragrant Pavilion at the first glimmer of dawn, eagerly anticipating its opening so they could make a reservation. Every time, however, the manager politely turned them away with one excuse or another. They never caught so much as a glimpse of Chen Xiyuan and the other beauties.
Yet fate had an ironic streak. In sharp contrast to Song Bin and his companions' repeated rebuffs, Ye Xiangyong and his drinking buddies enjoyed entirely different treatment.
The moment this bunch stepped into the Fragrant Pavilion, a single greeting brought Chen Xiyuan and her companions out to join them, all smiles. They spent their days reveling in music and pleasure, casting every worldly care behind them.
They were extravagantly generous, too, throwing out handful after handful of spirit stones like running water, leaving onlookers dumbstruck.
Meanwhile, Ying Ming Hao and Ye Hua led leisurely, orderly lives, entirely out of step with the bustle around them.
During the day, they either strolled hand in hand through Ascension City's streets and alleys, taking in the everyday bustle and passing crowds, or visited the Fragrant Pavilion together to inspect its business and remind Lady Yu and Nangong Jin of various details.
Once night descended and the lamps began to glow, they returned together to the Ye Residence, shut themselves