Being away from home came with the freshness of leaving familiar surroundings.
If you could meet a group of familiar people in a strange place, those two feelings blended together, leaving nothing but a lively gathering.
After three glasses of fine liquor, the atmosphere throughout the banquet hall grew even livelier.
Alcohol was the best catalyst for emotion, and any unfamiliarity quickly melted away amid the clinking of glasses.
Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin leaned close together, talking about what they had done that day.
"We were taken to Qingyu's house at noon," Wei Zijin said, her warm breath brushing Wang Xiaoliang's ear.
"They call it a bridal farewell banquet here. Qingyu introduced us to her family as her good friends."
Wang Xiaoliang turned his head. "What did you think of Qingyu?"
"She's really nice." Wei Zijin's eyes sparkled. "She feels so approachable, and she speaks so gently. She doesn't put on any airs at all. She can do housework and cook, too. Liu Xinyu's really lucky."
Wang Xiaoliang pursed his lips, picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks, and said quietly, "Sure, he's pretty lucky. But compared to me, he's still got a long way to go."
Wei Zijin rolled her eyes at him and reached over to smack his arm.
It was a light tap, more playful than anything.
Wang Xiaoliang chuckled, but his hand beneath the table began to wander. He stealthily reached over and stroked her thigh through the thin fabric of her skirt.
Smooth and warm.
Wei Zijin stiffened, her cheeks instantly flushing red. She hurriedly knocked his hand away and scolded him under her breath, "Behave yourself!"
Wang Xiaoliang withdrew his hand with a wicked grin of triumph, while a thrill rippled through him.
The five large round tables in the banquet