NEBM Chapter 45: Tao Hua

The pleasure boats were brightly lit, thrumming with the melodic sound of reed pipes. People came and went, filling the boats with activities and displaying every and all kinds of postures.

Abroad the luxurious and exquisitely decorated pleasure boats, dainty figures with rouged cheeks and painted make-ups called out in delicate voices to customers. The wind playfully teased their pleated skirts embroidered with flowers and butterflies, provoking raised heads and increased heartbeats.

“Let’s stop here.” Shen Zhixian’s attitude was carelessly lazy as he raised one foot toward the stand that led to one of the pleasure boats. He pulled out his folding fan and snapped it open, then waved it lazily toward his face. As an elegant young master, no matter how intensely hot or bitterly cold the temperature, he ought to have a folding fan in his hand. This was integral to portraying the image of elegance and distinction.

Yan Jin’s pursed his lips and followed behind him without a word, his gaze fixed on Shen Zhixian and no one else.

“Come…arrange a private room for this young master. Find some exquisite beauties to pour wine and some to sing and dance.”  When the original Shen Zhixian was young and came out to practice, he came upon this place by chance. Shen Zhixian followed the memory, and while walking with familiarity, he instructed the servant waiting upon them.

Then, he casually pulled out several silver pieces and a silver banknote.

The servant looked at the money several times, quietly glanced at the amount on the silver banknote, and burst with joy. Beaming widely, she immediately led the way. “Two Young Masters, please come…”

Shen Zhixian slightly paused half a step and waited until Yan Jin came up next to him. He pulled Yan Jin’s sleeve and gestured for him to look at the opposite pleasure boat, whispering, “See those rows of beautiful flower lanterns?”

Yan Jin glanced over, then withdrew his gaze, not saying a single word.

“This pleasure boat doesn’t have hanging lanterns, meaning it only sells art and not sexual favors,” Shen Zhixian explained. “But, that pleasure boat over there has hanging lanterns so it sells everything–When you come, don’t enter the wrong place.”

Yan Jin had tolerated and endured, tolerated and endured. But, in the end, he couldn’t hold back and said in a low voice, “Sui Xian seemed to be very familiar with this place.”

Shen Zhixian only let out an “oh” sound and, pretending not to understand his implication, smilingly pulled him into the private room that the servant had arranged for them.

The private room was very elegantly arranged, carrying a faint scent of incense. Shen Zhixian picked a seat to sit down and, seeing that Yan Jin was coming over to sit next to him, he quickly raised his hand to stop him. “Go and sit on the opposite side.”

Yan Jin paused and reluctantly sat down on the opposite chair.

The door creaked open, and ten graceful, lotus-like girls leisurely entered. The first four were empty-handed and soon divided into two to stand on either side of Shen Zhixian and Yan Jin, intending to pour wine and rub their shoulders to relax them. The rest of the women were in dance clothes and soon the dancers were positioned on the open space. They began to dance softly, creating a scene of beautiful extravagance.

Shen Zhixian had a casual and carefree smile on his face as he waved his hand to signal that the two girls should just pour wine.

He quietly glanced at Yan Jin.

Yan Jin’s mouth tightened as he silently watched the girl pour wine.

This wasn’t the girl’s first time serving such a serious guest. After all, she’d poured wine and fed people hundreds of times before. With a soft voice, she teased, “This young master’s face is so cold. It’s quite unsatisfactory. You’re not giving me face.”

The other girl reached out with slender, nimble fingers to message his arm.

Yan Jin abruptly jerked up to his feet. His action caused him to bump into the two girls, who broke apart a few steps. They saw his furious expression. “Young master…”

Shen Zhixian said in a timely manner, “Don’t like these young women? Then substitute. ”

The two girls answered with some grievance and retreated. After a while, two young men with red lips and white teeth entered, replacing them.

The two youths were about sixteen to seventeen years old. The two girls who’d previously stepped down had thought that Yan Jin probably didn’t like attendants with heavy makeup and called for these two good-looking youths to replace them.

But, Yan Jin still had a cold face, his expression looking more and more grim. He sat properly and stiffly in his seat, staring at the wine on the table and barely blinking.

The two youths looked at each other, then leaned toward him. As their hands reached out to touch Yan Jin’s neck, Shen Shixian, who was slowly sipping his wine, suddenly said, “Just pour the wine. Don’t do anything else.”

Two youths: “…..”

They retracted their hands and glanced at the girls standing quietly behind Shen Zhixian

—No service, just stand silly like this?

The girl holding the wine jug saw that Shen Zhixian’s cup was empty and, with a gentle smile, poured him another cup of wine. Then she straightened and looked back at the two youths.

—If the guests won’t let you touch, then stand stupidly.

Actually, they were very clear on this. If the guests won’t even allow them to provide this service, then….it would actually be less troublesome.

The song and dance in front of them had just reached its climax. The dancer turned her skirt, with a string of jade beads and bells dangling around her nimble waist. The sound was clear and, combined with the sound of the zither, made people unable to move their eyes away.

Shen Zhixian looked on with interest, pretending that he couldn’t feel Yan Jin’s gaze on himself. He finished the glass of wine in his hand and raised his hand slightly, not turning his head. “Pour wine.”

The wine jug tilted slightly. But, before even a drop of liquor fell out, Yan Jin suddenly stood and walked over a few steps. Frowning, he took the jug and said stiffly, “I’ll do it. You can go out.”

He filled the cup for Shen Zhixian, who took a sip. Shen Zhixian’s eyelids slightly lowered, and he shook the cup silently.

The young men and the girls looked at each other and then at Shen Zhixian. But, seeing that Shen Zhixian wasn’t speaking or objecting, they bowed and silently walked toward the door.

As they were leaving, Shen Zhixian finally opened his mouth and told the group of musicians and dancers, “You go out too.”

Everyone heard him quite clearly.

The sound of music immediately stopped and the dancers also stopped, skirts and bells still shaking. They all bowed respectfully and, as quiet as they came, quickly left.

The last one closed the door, shutting them alone inside.

“You don’t like it?” Shen Zhixian asked softly.

“Sui Xian, do you like it?” Yan Jin sat down beside him and placed the jug on the table.

Shen Zhixian avoided answering this question. He looked down at the wine cup in his hand. The clear liquor trembled slightly in the cup. Sui Xian. He said, “You’re right. I don’t like them. However, there are so many good things in the world. From now on, you’ll see more places and meet more people…”

Shen Zhixian smiled and then sighed. When he spoke, his voice sounded faintly disappointed. “…Maybe in the future, you’ll meet people that you’ll like even more.”

Yan Jin seemed to understand Shen Zhixian’s meaning. His mouth tightened and he stared at Shen Zhixian with hot eyes, not backing down. “But they’re not you….”

Shen Zhixian frowned slightly. He raised his eyes to look at Yan Jin and saw how calm his expression was. But, Shen Zhixian faintly checked the contract and it felt a little…

Aggrieved and sad.

Shen Zhixian gazed at him for a long time. But, suddenly, his heart softened, becoming muddled. Then, he placed the wine cup on the table and leaned forward slightly to pat Yan Jin’s hand, which was placed on his knee. “Okay, okay. They’re not me…”

At that moment, there came an uproar from outside. Suddenly, a gong rang out, followed quickly by loud applause and voices shouting a name.

It seemed that this pleasure boat’s star performer was about to come out.

Since they’re both already here, they might as well view the excitement. Shen Zhixian pulled Yan Jin out of the private room.

They were on the second floor of the pleasure boat. This pleasure boat was cleverly designed such that, looking down from the second floor, they could clearly see a panoramic view of the stage on the first floor.

A beautiful woman, who was slim and graceful with an air of fragility, walked on to the stage, her skirt swaying with every step.

Someone let out a loud whistle. “Tao Hua’er!”

The woman smiled widely and tilted her head. Her voice was soft as a bird. “Tao Hua’er has seen everyone.”

As the top beauty in this pleasure boat, she’d always been very popular. People had thrown hundreds of gold at her, merely to see her smile. Others had thrown thousands of pounds of gold at her, just to beg for a song.

The musician began a tune, and Tao Hua’er cleared her throat and began to sing.

Her voice was soft and mellow as she sang about young love, when a girl took a walk in spring and fell in love at first sight.

“Walking under the spring sun, apricot flowers drifting overhead, on the raised path was a distinguished and accomplished young man…Take me to marry and, even if in my life, I become mercilessly abandoned, I won’t regret…”

It was very comfortable hearing this traditional song. Shen Zhixian couldn’t help humming a few words. As he looked at this Tao Hua’er, he suddenly had an inexplicable feeling.

At this moment, Tao Hua’er finished her song and turned around. She raised her eyes gently and cleverly looked up at Shen Zhixian. Red lips slightly curved as she smiled up at him.

Realization dawned and Shen Zhixian immediately turned and buried his face in Yan Jin’s arm, trying to avoid Tao Hua’er’s sight. He drew in a breath, gritting his teeth.

–It’s her!

Yan Jin didn’t know why he suddenly buried his face in his arms and asked in confusion.

Shen Zhixian’s face was still buried in his arms so his voice was vague and unclear. “I’m afraid to see that old person…Let’s go.”

Yan Jin looked down and saw that Yao Hua’er had already turned away and was singing again. He stared down at this female for a long time before listening to Shen Zhixian and leaving.

But, after turning around and taking just a few steps, they were stopped by the young woman from earlier.

“These two young masters, what’s wrong? Why are you leaving when you’ve just arrived?” The delicate-looking, orchid-like young woman looked angry. “Did we not serve you well?”

“Can the two young masters stay and have a few more drinks?” The young man with red lips and white teeth said softly and indifferently.

Yan Jin was emitting a cold chill from head to toes. Shen Zhixian disengaged from his arms and found a handful of silver for them. He smiled carelessly, “Yield.”

The girls and young man did not accept the silver and continued to block them, telling them to stay.

With this delay, Shen Zhixian forgot to pay attention to when the soft tunes underneath stopped. Then, the sounds of light footsteps came from the corridor and the people in front of them suddenly disappeared in wisps of smoke.

The elegant and graceful Tao Hua’er walked lightly toward them, her skirt swaying and her eyes curved at the corner as she smiled at Shen Zhixian, really and truly portraying an image of lovely fragility. “Young Master Sui, I haven’t seen you for a long time.”

Shen Zhixian subconsciously wanted to wave his folding fan. But, when he touched his waist, he realized that he must have left it behind in the room. He could only raise his hand to his lips and acted as if nothing happened. “I’m afraid the young lady has recognized the wrong person. Please yield.”

Tao Hua’er looked at him with a smile but didn’t relent. She only said, “Young Master Sui is very handsome. How can Tao Hua’er forget? If it wasn’t for Young Master Sui’s help, Tao Hua’er would have been insulted by that man…”

As she began to speak of old matters, Shen Zhixian was keenly aware that Yan Jin’s hand had tightened around his waist. He sighed helplessly and said anxiously, “You’re a hundred-year-old painted skin demon. If I didn’t help, you would have a hundred ways to escape safely…”

Feeling that his waist was getting a little painful, Shen Zhixian moved quietly and, under the cover of his sleeve, stealthily held Yan Jin’s hand. “Besides, at that time, I was only doing my job and getting rid of evil.”

Tao Hua’er glanced at him, then at Yan Jin. As if she seemed to understand something, the smile on her lips softened and she said in a quiet voice, “At that time, Young Master Sui didn’t say goodbye before leaving. Tao Hua’er’s missed him a lot, all the time. Now, we’ve finally meet with difficulty. Let’s drink a toast and talk about our heartfelt feelings.”

Shen Zhixian: “ … ”

It was the original owner who was young and inexperienced and had rushed to meet calamity head on. But, why did the poor and helpless him to have to suffer for it now?!!!

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Xixi: It seems like Shen Zhixian really feels insecure about the other “Sui Xian.” He probably thought that, if he jumps into the relationship, Yan Jin might leave him if he meets the other “Sui Xian” again.