C17 The Invitation of a Beauty!

Lin Han was not one to stir up trouble. He found no interest in baseless invitations, even when they came from a beautiful woman.

"I have some matters to attend to at home. Please forgive my abrupt departure..."

Lin Han kept a polite but distant smile as he declined the offer without a second thought and prepared to leave. His reaction seemed unremarkable to him, yet it left the others on the boat utterly astonished. The maidservant in question was none other than Su Xiaoxiao's attendant, one of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion's unparalleled beauties.

This meant that Su Xiaoxiao herself was the one extending the invitation. Countless men had vied fiercely for an evening with the beauties, a fact made evident by the charged atmosphere at the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. Lin Han's refusal to pay homage to Su Xiaoxiao had many questioning his manhood. Even Mu Chengfei, watching from the sidelines, regarded Lin Han with newfound respect.

Could he have made the same choice as Lin Han? Mu Chengfei pondered, and after a while, a profound disappointment glimmered in the eyes of the plump young man—he knew he couldn't.

"Is the Young Master so resolute? Or perhaps my modest appearance does not meet the Young Master's standards? Then again, considering Miss Lau Mingzhu's unparalleled beauty, it's understandable that you might overlook someone like me. I apologize for my presumption..."

As Lin Han struggled under the weight of the crowd's intense scrutiny, a plaintive voice drifted down from above. If Lau Mingzhu's voice was akin to the cold, distant moon, then this voice was like the waters of West Lake, gently flowing across the heartstrings.

They say love's haven is the hero's downfall, and this voice seemed to embody that very sentiment. No matter how tough one is, in its presence, all resolve softens. Even heroes find it hard to resist the allure of a beauty, and Lin Han was no hero. The fervent stares of those around him seemed ready to devour him whole at the sound of that voice.

The crowd's perception of Lin Han shifted. Could this be the same man who penned "Thoughts on a Quiet Night"? With this realization, the animosity in their eyes began to fade. After all, being bested by the creator of such a work was not a disgrace.

"Miss Xiaoxiao certainly has a knack for strategy... I suppose if I don't comply today, I'm likely to be scorned by all... Please, lead the way," Lin Han said, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes as they narrowed slightly. Su Xiaoxiao had indeed played her cards well. Even though she had manipulated Lin Han with what seemed like the simplest of provocations, it didn't stir any feelings of dislike. Everything appeared to unfold as subtly as a gentle breeze. Realizing there was no escape, Lin Han cast aside his concerns and addressed Su Xiaoxiao's maid with a carefree tone.

"The young master jests... Xiao Hong, please show the young master in," Su Xiaoxiao said with a smile, her indifference to Lin Han's veiled dissatisfaction clear. With that, she vanished from sight.

Lin Han cast a glance at Moo Lingfei, who looked on with palpable envy. His expression was one of neither joy nor sorrow, as if he were merely attending a meeting with a beauty, his demeanor as upright as a bamboo stalk, exuding a pride seemingly unknown to the world. This revelation nearly made Moo Lingfei's eyes pop out. He stared at Lin Han's retreating figure, questioning whether this was the same unscrupulous businessman who had earlier egged him on to purchase poetry. The contrast in behavior was stark.

What kind of man was Lin Han? Moo Lingfei watched as Lin Han covertly gestured with a finger behind his back, leaving him flustered. Even now, at such a moment, was he still fixated on those one hundred taels of silver?

...

Su Xiaoxiao's boudoir was adorned with the delicate charm unique to the Jiangnan water towns. From the pink bed curtains to the petite copper mirror, from the delicate pastry box on the sandalwood table to the meticulously arranged osmanthus cakes, the room exuded earnestness, even in Su Xiaoxiao's absence.

Lin Han's eyes narrowed. He was not here for the burning stares of the onlookers but for a voice that had puzzled him. He finally understood why Su Xiaoxiao seemed familiar; she was the graceful figure he had encountered on the sampan during the day. In a way, Lin Han was indebted to Su Xiaoxiao for her assistance then. His reason for coming now was to fulfill a role in Su Xiaoxiao's plans, and to repay the favor she had extended on the sampan.

Although Su Xiaoxiao herself was unaware of the favor...

Lin Han showed no interest in the pastries on the table, and his curiosity about the room's decor faded quickly after entering. He sat as still and silent as the furnishings, an unusual calmness about him that one might find disconcerting. Su Xiaoxiao's maid informed Lin Han that her mistress needed to take a bath and requested that he wait for a while. However, that brief wait turned into half an hour, during which Lin Han preferred to gaze at the candle flame rather than glance towards the door even once.

As Lin Han reminisced about the events of the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering, the slightly ajar door was gently pushed open. Light footsteps preceded the arrival of a subtle fragrance that filled the room.

It wasn't any sort of perfumed incense, but rather a natural scent that reminded one of water. A term surfaced in Lin Han's mind... body fragrance? For a moment, he was spellbound. They say a person's scent can reveal their beauty, and by that measure, Su Xiaoxiao was undeniably beautiful.

"Young Master Lin, you've been waiting a long time. Aren't you curious about what kept me away for so long?"

Su Xiaoxiao glided gracefully over to Lin Han and took her seat with natural ease, her eyes sparkling with layers of curiosity as she gazed at him. This man intrigued her; at first glance, he reacted like any other man, his eyes betraying a whirlwind of emotions. But just as quickly, he regained his composure, much like a lake returning to stillness after being disturbed by the wind. Su Xiaoxiao had never encountered a man like him before.

"Curiosity may not kill a cat, but it can certainly be lethal to humans... Unlike cats, I don't have nine lives to spare, so I must be cautious with the one I have. Some beauties are indeed captivating, but they come at a steep price to appreciate... The world may know me for my poetry, but what I truly take pride in is not my talent, but my wisdom..."

Lin Han steadied his fluttering heart and politely accepted the small cup of wine Su Xiaoxiao poured for him. In terms of beauty, she was on par with Lau Mingzhu, particularly when she smiled. Her smile began at her brows, curving down to her eyelashes and lighting up her eyes, before finally spreading to the corners of her mouth. Such a smile was utterly enchanting...

Lin Han had to constantly remind himself of a warning from Zhang Wuji's mother: the more beautiful the woman, the more dangerous she could be. This thought barely steadied his mind.

Panic flickered across Su Xiaoxiao's face, and her hand shook slightly as she poured Lin Han's wine. A disbelieving notion surfaced in her mind: he knew her intentions...

"I've clearly underestimated you, Young Master Lin. Knowing that I'm taking advantage of you, why would you still keep our appointment?"

Su Xiaoxiao quickly regained her composure, refilled the wine with a light laugh, and gave Lin Han a knowing smile. In doing so, she tacitly acknowledged her hidden agenda for inviting him. Yet, it was this very honesty that endeared her to Lin Han.

"Does it matter?"

A glint of appreciation passed through Lin Han's eyes. He had never partaken of the wine before, but he accepted the cup from Su Xiaoxiao and savored a sip. The delicate scent of osmanthus lingered between his lips and teeth. The alcohol content was modest, yet it surpassed many others available on the market.