Zizhen pouts as well, but he makes sure Liling can tell it's just playfulness and that he isn't actually upset with her - she is, he thinks, the very best person in all of Lanling, and he suspects Jin Ling would agree with him.
"We will have more time later, my love." He promises Jingyi, giving him a soft kiss - a chaste peck on the cheek, in deference to Liling's presence. "Let's go back inside. I'm sure you're hungry, and I made sure Jin Ling had your favourite chicken wings put on the menu." He adds encouragingly, taking Jingyi's hand and lacing their fingers together before starting back towards the hall.
~~~
Huaisang is trying to behave, but every time he feels Cheng's eyes on him a thrill of delight runs through him, and on several occasions he's unable to keep from meeting that gaze. He's so very glad he talked Jin Ling into arranging this opening ceremony to be the only thing happening today - the banquet would last a while, yes, they always did, but at least they would be left with a decent part of the evening, maybe even some of the afternoon, for "settling in" - which, for him, is very much code for "letting his disciples and servants deal with his rooms while he disappears to Cheng's bed".
He makes significant use of his fan to cover his mouth so nobody can tell just from watching him how often he makes sarcastic comments about something Yao or Ouyang says, just loud enough for Cheng to hear, and maybe one or two of his disciples, but nobody else.
When Zizhen and Jingyi slip back in, shortly before the food is served, he laughs to himself behind it. Oh how he wishes he could slip away from the banquet, even just for a few minutes...
~~~
When Jingyi does return, Yuan feels overwhelmingly glad - it's easier to distract himself with his brother at his side, and he's quick to ask what happened with Zizhen, hoping that the tale will be enough to occupy him until the banquet is over. It's harder now, though, with people calling upon Jin Ling, with the way his voice carries across the room, impossible for Yuan to ignore.
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Zizhen pouts as well, but he makes sure Liling can tell it's just playfulness and that he isn't actually upset with her - she is, he thinks, the very best person in all of Lanling, and he suspects Jin Ling would agree with him.
"We will have more time later, my love." He promises Jingyi, giving him a soft kiss - a chaste peck on the cheek, in deference to Liling's presence. "Let's go back inside. I'm sure you're hungry, and I made sure Jin Ling had your favourite chicken wings put on the menu." He adds encouragingly, taking Jingyi's hand and lacing their fingers together before starting back towards the hall.
~~~
Huaisang is trying to behave, but every time he feels Cheng's eyes on him a thrill of delight runs through him, and on several occasions he's unable to keep from meeting that gaze. He's so very glad he talked Jin Ling into arranging this opening ceremony to be the only thing happening today - the banquet would last a while, yes, they always did, but at least they would be left with a decent part of the evening, maybe even some of the afternoon, for "settling in" - which, for him, is very much code for "letting his disciples and servants deal with his rooms while he disappears to Cheng's bed".
He makes significant use of his fan to cover his mouth so nobody can tell just from watching him how often he makes sarcastic comments about something Yao or Ouyang says, just loud enough for Cheng to hear, and maybe one or two of his disciples, but nobody else.
When Zizhen and Jingyi slip back in, shortly before the food is served, he laughs to himself behind it. Oh how he wishes he could slip away from the banquet, even just for a few minutes...
~~~
When Jingyi does return, Yuan feels overwhelmingly glad - it's easier to distract himself with his brother at his side, and he's quick to ask what happened with Zizhen, hoping that the tale will be enough to occupy him until the banquet is over. It's harder now, though, with people calling upon Jin Ling, with the way his voice carries across the room, impossible for Yuan to ignore.