It was Zhen Lin.
Zhen Lin was accompanied by a woman.
The woman seemed a bit flustered, as if she had never been to such a luxurious teahouse before, her demeanor showing a touch of timidity.
But Zhen Lin was patient, speaking softly to the woman, "This is my favorite teahouse. You can try some of the tea snacks today and see if there's anything you like. If you do, you can have the servants buy them later."
The care he showed the woman was enough to make many women envious.
The shopkeeper recognized Zhen Lin and immediately rose to greet him upon seeing him, "Young Master Zhen has arrived!"
The waiter also came forward quickly, leading the way for Zhen Lin and Lin Qingluo.
Seeing the respect the shopkeeper and waiter showed to Young Master Zhen, Lin Qingluo suddenly felt a sense of superiority herself. The unease and timidity on her face were suppressed.
She nodded at Zhen Lin and then followed them into the teahouse.
"Does Young Master Zhen want a private room on the second floor or on the first?" the shopkeeper asked Zhen Lin.
Zhen Lin, however, turned to Lin Qingluo, "Qingluo, do you want the second floor or the first?"
Lin Qingluo suddenly noticed two women in a corner of the teahouse. Judging by their attire, she knew they came from wealthy families. A thought flashed through her mind: What if they were from wealthy families? They were still no match for her.
She smiled, "Young Master, let's stay on the first floor."
This way, others could see that she was the one cherished by Young Master Zhen.
The shopkeeper and waiter were a little surprised. It was the first time they had seen Young Master Zhen bring a woman, and he was so doting and attentive to her.
"Alright, shopkeeper, we'll be on the first floor. Bring two sets of tea and snacks as I usually have," Young Master Zhen instructed the shopkeeper and waiter.
"Understood, please wait a moment, Young Master," the shopkeeper replied immediately.
Zhen Lin and Lin Qingluo also sat down, their table just one away from Yun Shu and her companion.
The distance was quite close.
Qin Yiqing saw Yun Shu glance at Zhen Lin and then asked in a low voice, "Do you know him?"
Yun Shu nodded, "We've met once."
The second time they met was in the palace, but there were many people, and they didn't have much conversation. Besides, he didn't recognize her.
"Oh, I see. Looking at this Young Master, his face doesn't look too good; his fate seems to be full of hardships," Qin Yiqing had been with Ji Rong for a while and had learned a thing or two about physiognomy.
Yun Shu smiled, "Ji Rong taught you a lot, didn't he?"
Qin Yiqing's eyes flickered as she dodged the question, "I learned it myself; it has nothing to do with him. Speaking of which, the woman this Young Master brought seems a bit like a green tea."
The term "green tea" was something she had learned from Yun Shu inadvertently. At first, she thought it was about the tea they were drinking.
But after Yun Shu's explanation, she found it to be perfectly fitting, saving her the trouble of using a whole string of words to describe someone who was awkward and had ulterior motives. "Green tea" was precise enough. Ever since the woman entered, her gaze had been scanning her and Yun Shu. She was all too familiar with that kind of look; she had seen such women frequently when she was with Ji Rong.
And others wouldn't understand!
Yun Shu knew Qin Yiqing was trying to change the subject, so she didn't press further. However, she wasn't that curious about Zhen Lin and the woman; whether she was "green tea" or not had nothing to do with her.
The waiter first brought their tea and tea snacks.
Qin Yiqing was a foodie. The moment she saw the tea snacks, her eyes almost popped out. She swallowed and took a small bite, "This is good! No wonder people say that every bite of Yueran Teahouse's tea snacks costs money! Delicious."
"The tea is good too!"
Things that were piled up with money were indeed different!
Yun Shu's brows relaxed, and she picked up a tea snack, tasting it bit by bit, "We'll pack some to take back."
"Pack everything they have, all the different kinds of tea snacks. We have a lot of people," Qin Yiqing's eyes sparkled like a child's when she heard they could pack some to go.
Yun Shu suddenly understood why Ji Rong was so devoted to Qin Yiqing. It was this genuine nature and childlike innocence that were so rare. She smiled and agreed.
Lin Qingluo saw that the tea snacks for the two women had been served, and each one was exquisite, something she had never eaten or seen before. A pang of jealousy struck her.
Why were people born into such different classes?
Why could they be born into wealthy families, while she had to endure all sorts of hardships since childhood?
The jealousy in her heart deepened.
"Our tea will be served shortly, don't be anxious," Zhen Lin said gently to Lin Qingluo.
Looking through Zhen Lin's eyes, he saw Lin Qingluo gazing enviously at the two women. He knew Lin Qingluo came from a humble background and had never seen such luxurious tea snacks, and his heart ached.
Lin Qingluo feared her thoughts would be revealed to Zhen Lin, so she lowered her head to hide them and nodded along with his words, "Mm, I'm not anxious."
After speaking, her face turned slightly red.
Yun Shu noticed Lin Qingluo's occasional glances.
The intermittent glances made her feel quite displeased.
Qin Yiqing also found it unbearable and frowned, "Why is she always looking at us?"
She hated being looked at by those "green teas" the most.
Yun Shu's eyes were calm, and she teased, "Perhaps she thinks you could be friends with her."
Qin Yiqing didn't react at first, but then she understood.
She glared at Yun Shu indignantly, "Alright, you're making fun of me!"
She suddenly regretted insisting on wearing a delicate, fake face today.
As the two of them were talking, the waiter brought Zhen Lin's tea and tea snacks.
"Try some," Zhen Lin said gently to Lin Qingluo.
Lin Qingluo nodded, a spark of anticipation in her eyes. After taking the first bite, her eyes lit up, "I've never tasted such delicious tea snacks! They're truly amazing!"
"Eat more if you like it. If it's not enough, ask the waiter to bring another serving," Zhen Lin smiled.
Looking at Zhen Lin, who treated her so gently, a voice suddenly arose in Lin Qingluo's heart: she had to hold onto Young Master Zhen, she absolutely had to keep him.
Zhen Lin suddenly frowned, his face turning a little pale.
Lin Qingluo, having just finished a tea snack and about to take a sip of tea, saw Zhen Lin's sudden pale face. She became anxious and quickly asked, "Is the Young Master feeling unwell? Should we return to the manor as soon as possible?"
Zhen Lin endured the pain and forced a smile, shaking his head, "It's nothing serious, don't worry."
His poison had been acting up too frequently lately.
It gave him a feeling that his life was about to end at any moment.
"Is it really alright?" Lin Qingluo was a little worried, "Should we find a doctor first? It's not time yet, and I can't administer acupuncture to the Young Master. Finding a doctor would be safer."
Lin Qingluo was a little panicked. She absolutely did not want anything to happen to Zhen Lin! If something happened to him, all her dreams would be shattered!
"It's fine, I'll just take a pill," Zhen Lin took out a porcelain bottle from his person, poured out some medicine, and swallowed it in one gulp.
Yun Shu was stunned when she heard Lin Qingluo mention administering acupuncture, "She knows medicine?"
But then why did she suggest finding a doctor?
A person who knew acupuncture but not medicine couldn't diagnose and treat.
Just as Yun Shu was feeling puzzled, more people arrived at the teahouse.
The arrival of these people made both Yun Shu and Qin Yiqing's expressions tighten.