202: Cao Bu, are you happy?

Inside the Xiang Xiao Courtyard.

Li Xinxue sat alone at a round table, holding a shadow-recording stone in her hand, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.

After a long while, she regained her senses, put away the shadow-recording stone, and called out toward the door, "Xiao Ya."

"What are your orders, Young Miss?" Xiao Ya immediately appeared at the door.

Li Xinxue bit her lip and said with determination, "Go prepare a table of food and wine, and remember to get the Sleepless Drunken Dream wine."

"Also, go to the Cangfeng Residence yourself and tell the Clan Chief that it's time he drinks with me."

Xiao Ya nodded, "Yes, Young Miss, your servant will do it right away."

Having said that, she turned and left quickly.

Li Xinxue watched her back, picked up the cold tea on the table, and drank it in one gulp.

The cold liquid slid down her throat, but it could not suppress the emotions surging in her heart.

In less than half an hour.

Inside the pavilion of the Xiang Xiao Courtyard, a table was already laden with exquisite food and wine.

Not long after the Maidservants withdrew, steady footsteps were heard from outside the courtyard.

Li Xinxue looked up and saw Cao Bu dressed in maroon martial attire with a jade belt around his waist. Every step he took carried the majesty of one who had long held a high position.

She was slightly dazed; having not seen him for half a year, Cao Bu had actually developed such an air of authority.

Cao Bu strode into the courtyard, glanced at the table full of food and wine, and finally let his gaze rest on Li Xinxue, his lips curling slightly upward. "Heart Snow has quite the elegant mood today. When we drank before, there weren't so many formalities."

A flicker of imperceptible nervousness passed through Li Xinxue's eyes as she forced a smile.

"Big Brother, you've been busy with the Heavenly Pride Battle for the past six months and haven't had time to drink with me. You must have a few drinks with me tonight."

Cao Bu sat down opposite her. "Of course, tonight we won't return until we're drunk."

He had just returned from the Scholarly Fragrance Courtyard when he met Xiao Ya and immediately rushed over.

The two exchanged toasts and chatted casually.

"Big Brother, do you have any news of Gu Yun?" Li Xinxue's hand holding the cup paused slightly as she suddenly asked.

Cao Bu shook his head and looked up at her. "No. Why, do you miss him?"

Li Xinxue shook her head and said, "Not at all. Since he did such a bastardly thing, I can never forgive him."

"Oh?" Cao Bu clinked glasses with her and raised an eyebrow. "If he returns one day, do you really not intend to forgive him?"

Li Xinxue looked at him, a trace of tenderness hidden in her eyes. "Absolutely not. I wish he would die out there."

Cao Bu smiled. "Heart Snow, be careful with your words; the Eldest Adoptive Mother is still around."

Li Xinxue refilled his glass. "Why talk about such disappointing things? Come, let's drink."

"Alright, let's drink and not mention those sad matters."

The two drank cup after cup.

Cao Bu was surprised. Previously, Li Xinxue would be unconscious after one cup of Sleepless Drunken Dream, but now she could actually drink three cups without falling.

Could it be that she had become immune to this wine?

"Big Brother, what kind of women do you like?" Li Xinxue's cheeks flushed red, and she asked with hazy, drunken eyes as she rested her face on her hand.

Cao Bu also pretended to be slightly tipsy. "Beautiful ones, of course."

"How beautiful? Is someone like me enough?" Li Xinxue pressed, leaning forward slightly.

"More than enough." Cao Bu's gaze fell on her flushed cheeks. "To have half of your beauty would already be rare in this world."

"Big Brother's standards aren't high then!"

"You're wrong." Cao Bu shook his head, his tone serious. "Even with only half your beauty, there wouldn't be many to be found in this world."

A gleam of light flashed in Li Xinxue's eyes as she asked again, "Big Brother, can I ask a private question?"

"Go ahead."

"I've known you for centuries, yet I've always seen you alone. Have you... ever liked someone before?" She stared intently into Cao Bu's eyes, not wanting to miss a single expression.

Cao Bu rubbed the rim of the cup with his fingertips, seemingly falling into a distant memory. After a long while, he spoke: "I actually have."

Li Xinxue's interest was immediately piqued, and she leaned in closer. "Then can you tell me your story?"

Seeing his hesitation, she quickly added, "If it's inconvenient, just act as if I didn't ask."

"Just don't laugh at me, Heart Snow." Cao Bu sighed, his eyes turning red.

He raised his hand to wipe the moisture from the corners of his eyes. "When I was young, I loved three women. It's just a pity..."

"A pity what?" Li Xinxue pressed.

Cao Bu clenched his fists, his tone very indignant. "It's a pity that the people I was devoted to ultimately became other people's wives."

"What's even more infuriating is that these three women all married the same man and bore him five children."

"Whenever I think about this, I weep late at night."

As he spoke, he drained his cup in one go, his face full of bitterness and tears.

Li Xinxue muttered unconsciously:

"Big Brother, why don't you just say you like other people's wives? You have to insist that the people you liked married someone else."

A flash of embarrassment crossed Cao Bu's face, then he smiled. "Heart Snow is indeed clever; nothing can be hidden from you."

He raised his wine cup. "Come, let's not talk about other people's wives. Let's drink."

"Drink." Li Xinxue clinked glasses with him. As the wine went down her throat, a warmth spread throughout her body.

Time passed quietly amidst the exchange of toasts.

The doubt in Cao Bu's heart grew deeper and deeper.

Why hasn't Li Xinxue passed out yet?

He was already getting a bit impatient.

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that Li Xinxue's eyes finally began to lose focus.

"I... I can't anymore." She murmured indistinctly before her body went limp and she collapsed onto the table. The jade cup in her hand rolled onto the ground, making a crisp sound.

Cao Bu pushed her gently, a look of excitement flashing in his eyes. "Heart Snow, your alcohol tolerance is still no good."

Just then.

Xiao Ya stepped forward as usual. "Clan Chief, the Young Miss has passed out. Do you want to continue drinking?"

Cao Bu waved his hand. "Drinking alone is no fun."

He stood up unsteadily and said, "I'm leaving now. No need to see me out."

Xiao Ya watched Cao Bu walk away before withdrawing her gaze.

She turned and stepped forward to help up the "unconscious" Li Xinxue, walking toward the nearby bedroom.

Before long.

Xiao Ya quietly exited the room.

As the night deepened, the Xiang Xiao Courtyard fell into a blanket of silence.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

A dark shadow silently slipped back into the Xiang Xiao Courtyard; it was Cao Bu, who had returned.

He turned several corners and entered Li Xinxue's bedroom directly.

By the dim light, Cao Bu walked to the bedside and looked at the sleeping Li Xinxue. A dark glint flashed in his eyes.

Due to the alcohol, Li Xinxue appeared even more charming at this moment.

"Heart Snow, you were formerly the Clan Chief's wife, and now I am the Clan Chief. It's only reasonable for something to happen, right?"

Cao Bu murmured softly, reaching out to touch her cheek.

While this was happening.

Li Xinxue suddenly opened her eyes, her previously drunken gaze becoming incredibly clear.

After several years of adaptation, she had become completely immune to the Sleepless Drunken Dream.

Half a year ago.

She had noticed two words on a butterfly. Her last visit to the Cangfeng Residence was to confirm if it was Cao Bu's handwriting, and she hadn't expected it to truly be his.

And last time, she had secretly left a shadow-recording stone, which made her even more certain it was Cao Bu.

It was just that she hadn't expected Cao Bu's strength to be so terrifying; Gu Yun was practically like an ant before him.

She bit her lower lip hard, looking at the man drenched in sweat before her, a surge of unprecedented longing rising in her heart.

"Cao Bu, are you happy?"