The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

They strolled leisurely to the dining table, where Ye Shu bent down, turned to Xia Qing, and said:

"Brother Monkey, we've arrived at Flower Fruit Mountain. Please dismount... no, please get off my back."

Xia Qing, however, hugged his neck tightly and wrapped her legs around his waist, acting spoiled:

"No, no, I'm not wearing shoes. Put me on the chair gently, don't bounce me!"

No shoes... There's something good about this place, as if you don't usually run around barefoot.

But despite the complaints, seeing how much fun Xia Qing was having, they could only go along with it.

Ye Shu slowly squatted down and gently placed the big baby on her back onto the chair.

Xia Qing clung to Ye Shu like a backpack until her bottom hit the chair, at which point she reluctantly let go.

Ye Shu breathed a sigh of relief after successfully unloading the goods. She stood up and began to untie the two large plastic bags on the dining table, placing the contents of each bag on the table.

Xia Qing winked at Qin Lili, who had just walked over, as if to say:

"Look how easy he is to bully... no, how obedient he is!"

Ye Shu took a few cans of ice-cold beer from the refrigerator, placed them on the table, and sat down opposite Xia Qing. Qin Lili sat next to Xia Qing.

The three of them each opened a can of beer. Only then did Qin Lili formally greet Ye Shu, holding up her can of beer to him.

"Hello, Ye Shu. Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Qin Lili, and I'm Xiao Qing's friend."

Ye Shu quickly raised his beer can and clinked it against Qin Lili's:

"Hello, Sister Lili."

The two of them each took a sip, which was considered a formal greeting.

Just as Ye Shu was about to put down his beer, he saw a hand reach out from the opposite side, holding the beer up to his face.

Xia Qing didn't say anything, but just looked up at him with her chin tilted back, her meaning couldn't be clearer.

Ye Shu found it a bit amusing, so he quickly raised his hand and touched her hand again.

Xia Qing then withdrew her hand with satisfaction, tilted her head back and took a big gulp, her eyes slightly squinting in enjoyment.

Alcohol, good food, good friends, and being at home – now is the perfect time, place, and people.

When easygoing people get together, especially young ones, a few drinks and they naturally start talking.

Ye Shu picked up a roasted chicken wing and placed it in Xia Qing's bowl, then picked up another and started eating it himself. After a couple of bites, he looked at Qin Lili and started a conversation:

"Sister Lili, how did you and Sister Xia Qing meet? Have you known each other for many years?"

Qin Lili was just putting a piece of cold dish dripping with chili oil into her mouth when she heard this. She chewed it a few times, took a sip of beer to wash it down, and then put down her chopsticks.

He looked up at Ye Shu, not bothering to wipe the red oil from the corner of his mouth, and gave a meaningful smile.

"Me and her..."

Qin Lili glanced at Xia Qing, who was intently gnawing on a chicken wing beside her, and a smile on her face held a hint of wistfulness, as if there was a long story to tell.

"That's been going on for years..."

Many years ago, Qin Lili's family was quite wealthy. It seemed that her family was in business, but she didn't say much about what they did, and Ye Shu didn't ask any further questions either.

Back then, she already had the dashing look she has now, but because of her family, she was also required to attend these kinds of events, wearing dresses that weren't very comfortable for her, and learning how to socialize in the crowd.

Due to an accident, someone spat on her skirt. As Qin Lili was looking around for a waiter, a small hand reached out in front of her.

Her little hands were white and tender, clutching a large pack of tissues.

Qin Lili followed the hand and saw a little girl who looked to be about ten years old.

The little girl was very cute. She was wearing a not-so-cheap little tulle dress, and her hair was neatly combed and clipped with a small hair clip. She looked like a doll.

However, what didn't match her sweet and lovely outfit was the indifferent expression on her face.

Unlike other children her age, whose emotions were written all over their faces, her face was calm, her eyes were practically empty, and she just stared at Qin Lili's face.

Qin Lili took the tissue and thanked her.

"Thank you, little sister."

The little girl remained silent. As she took the tissue, she turned and left without hesitation.

This kid has a real personality.

This was Qin Lili's first impression of the child: a very beautiful but cold child.

When she returned to the banquet hall after changing into a new dress, she saw that small figure in a little tulle dress again in the crowd.

But this time, it's different.

The girl was surrounded by several adults, holding a glass of orange juice, and looking up at them, saying something.

Qin Lili found it interesting and took a second look, but no matter how she looked at it, she felt something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

After looking at it for a while longer, she realized it was the girl's expression.

She wore the same smile as the adults, nodded politely, and answered their questions.

Her smile was so polite; she even covered her mouth with her little hand when she laughed, clearly a well-mannered young lady.

However, Qin Lili frowned slightly. Was this the same person? Could it be twins? She subconsciously looked around and indeed didn't see a second one.

That's strange. Why were you so cold to me just now?

She unconsciously began to pay attention to this girl.

The party continued; it was a long and tedious occasion for business people to get together and expand their business.

Qin Lili leaned against a corner, bored, watching the masked people perform their "social skills" and "people-reading techniques." Then she saw that little gauze dress again.

While the adults were talking and no one was paying attention to her, the girl quietly slipped over to the long table where drinks and snacks were placed.

Qin Lili initially thought it was a child trying to steal food, but she discovered that the girl's target was very clear.

She first glanced around as if nothing was wrong, then stood on tiptoe and stretched out her arm to reach the cup on the table.

But not milk, but sparkling wines and premixed drinks.

Her face was tense, but her eyes were bright, and she had an eager expression on her face.

Qin Lili watched from afar and found it interesting.

One moment she was a well-behaved young lady, the next she's turned into a little devil stealing drinks.

Seeing that the girl's little hands couldn't reach it no matter how hard she tried, and her face turned red with anxiety, Qin Lili put down her cup and walked through the crowd.

Just as the girl's hand was about to touch the cup, Qin Lili's hand pressed down on the girl's hand that had attempted to commit the crime.

The girl shuddered and turned her head sharply, meeting Qin Lili's smiling eyes.

Qin Lili bent down, leaned closer, raised an eyebrow at her, and asked in a low voice:

"Little one, this... isn't juice. Want to try some?"