To make up for the Flower Boat incident where they fell into the water, Qi Yu generously spent a fortune that night, hosting a grand banquet at the Red Sleeve Pavilion, nearly emptying out the entire kitchen.

Shen Mengzhi substituted wine with tea, leisurely resting his cheek on his hand as he watched everyone down cup after cup of wine. Goblets clinked and voices were loud and clamorous. The entire table was full of heavy drinkers; they had barely touched the food, but several jars of wine were already empty. Even someone as shy as Xue Qin was flushed red, slurring his words as he chatted away with the group.

It was rare for Shen Mengzhi to see them so happy, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Qi Yu, hugging a wine pot, swayed over to his side and said with a grin, "Jiang Zhen, want some?"

Before the other could answer, he slapped his own head in sudden realization. "Oh, I forgot, you don't drink."

"It's fine," Shen Mengzhi said. "Pour me a little."

As if not expecting him to agree, Qi Yu was stunned for a moment before replying, "Alright."

The silver wine cup was filled to the brim. The clear, fragrant, and mellow liquor reflected his face. Shen Mengzhi took it and slowly drained it.

This wine was nothing like Yanling's Gardenia Brew. After one cup, he felt nothing and asked, "What is this wine called?"

Qi Yu declared heroically, "I don't know! I ordered the most expensive pot!"

Shen Mengzhi: "..."

Just as he was worrying about the wallet of the current Grand Censor, Qi Yu suddenly plopped down on the floor, facing him. With a rare serious expression, he called out, "Jiang Zhen."

Shen Mengzhi casually answered, "What is it?"

Qi Yu studied him carefully and suddenly said, "Actually, before you came today, Brother Chu and I made a bet."

Shen Mengzhi didn't reply, listening quietly for him to continue.

"We were betting on whether you would come today. I bet you wouldn't, and he bet the opposite." Qi Yu paused. "...I lost."

He lowered his head, looking somewhat defeated.

"He was right. I thought I knew you well enough, so I was always being presumptuous and making decisions for you. Thinking back, it seems I've always been the one with preconceived notions."

Since Heshan, his impression was that Shen Mengzhi never touched wine, but back then in the Shen Manor, the two boys had clearly snuck drinks together under the moon.

He was used to Shen Mengzhi's current gentle and well-behaved demeanor, but the one who had clenched his teeth and refused to yield under Shen Ke's whip back then was also clearly him.

He knew Shen Mengzhi rarely came down the mountain and took it for granted that he didn't like it, but he forgot that the child once trapped within the high walls of the Shen Manor had longed day and night to go out and see the world.

When did things change? Probably after Shen Mengzhi became "Jiang Zhen."

Too much time had passed, and he had gradually forgotten what his old friend was like. It wasn't until today that he was startled to realize he had been treating Shen Mengzhi like another person all along.

Never touching wine, never coming down the mountain, gentle and compliant—that was Jiang Zhen.

—Not Shen Mengzhi.

Qi Yu had seen the youthful-hearted Shen Mengzhi, but he had forgotten.

Besides him, who else was left to remember this old friend of his?

Qi Yu said blankly, "I've been derelict in my duty. I can't even compare to Chu Jin. It's because of him that you've gradually started to resemble your former self."

Only under the influence of alcohol did he dare to be so frank with Shen Mengzhi. Even so, Qi Yu couldn't stop his thoughts from running wild.

'What will Shen Mengzhi think? What will he say? Will he be utterly disappointed, or will he curse me out, or maybe even give me a beating?'

Qi Yu closed his eyes, as if resigned to his fate.

After a long while, he heard a soft sigh from above him.

"You're not wrong, it's me." Shen Mengzhi's voice was tinged with mockery. "The first person to forget myself was me."

He scoffed. "The one trapping me wasn't just you all, but also my former self."

Qi Yu shot his head up, uncertain and surprised. "You..."

"Yes, I know." Shen Mengzhi smiled calmly. "I heard it back then."

Because he had arrived a little early, he had heard that person arguing for him, standing against the crowd for him, breaking his shackles for him.

Those misunderstood, deliberately suppressed emotions, those fleeting thoughts that were laughed off—at this moment, they all found a home.

So it wasn't that he didn't dislike him. It was that he liked him.

He had never liked someone so much before.

That's why his heart pounded like a drum, why distracting thoughts arose.

Qi Yu looked into his eyes, and the effects of the alcohol very slowly began to fade.

Things having come to this, no matter how carefree or slow he was, he understood. He laughed in spite of himself. "You're... trying to force Teacher to add another rule to the precepts, aren't you."

Qi Yu heard Shen Mengzhi laugh, then murmur so softly it was almost inaudible.

"If that's the case," he said, "...then I'll accept it."

After three rounds of drinks, as expected, a large number of people were drunk. The group swayed like seaweed at the bottom of a river, barely able to hold their cups steady.

Under these circumstances, only old hands like Qi Yu and Chu Jin, who had long navigated drinking parties, still appeared normal. Even so, Chu Jin was also feeling the effects of the alcohol. He discreetly refused another of Qi Yu's attempts to make him drink, using the excuse of stepping outside for some air.

When he reached the corridor, however, he found someone was already there. He was leaning against the railing, and it was unclear how long he had been sitting there. His eyelids were lowered, seemingly hazy with sleep.

Chu Jin stopped by the door, gazing at him silently for a long time. The fine wine at the banquet couldn't get him drunk, but at this moment, he felt a little intoxicated. A fire began to burn secretly in his heart.

He subconsciously softened his movements and gently approached.

The person seemed to be asleep, completely unaware of his approach. His arm rested lightly on the Red Sleeve Pavilion's vermilion-lacquered wooden railing. The evening breeze blew gently, his sleeve was rolled up, revealing a section of his fair wrist. He rested his head on his arm, his dark hair falling to cover most of his face. The ends of his hair were slightly curled from the pressure, looking alluring.

Chu Jin felt that he had indeed been captivated. Either that, or the wine's after-effects were too strong, making him uncontrollably reach out and gently brush aside the stray hairs covering Shen Mengzhi's eyes.

The latter still didn't wake. Chu Jin breathed a sigh of relief and grew bolder, his gaze lingering intently from his smooth forehead all the way down to his pale lips.

It wasn't just his faint gaze; he had traced every part with his fingertips. So much so that every time he recalled it, it was the sensation and warmth from the pads of his fingers that came to mind.

Chu Jin rubbed his fingers together and murmured, "Senior Brother."

These two words, spoken from his lips, seemed to carry a secret and forbidden curse. He was so stimulated by this feeling that he laughed. He didn't speak again, quietly watching the other's sleeping face.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Mengzhi's eyelashes trembled, and he opened his eyes.

Before he opened his eyes, Chu Jin had already averted his gaze. Seeing someone next to him, Shen Mengzhi was startled, taking a moment to react. "Why are you out here too?"

Having slept for a while, his voice had become a little hoarse.

"It's a bunch of drunks inside. I came out for some peace and quiet," Chu Jin said. "What did you say to Qi Yu? From the way he was acting tonight, it looked like he wanted to drink me to death."

"..." Shen Mengzhi's reaction was a bit slow right now. It took him a while to clear his drowsy mind. With a helpless expression, he said, "Don't mind him."

"Vague and evasive." Chu Jin propped an arm on the railing, rested his cheek on his hand, and tilted his head to meet his gaze. "What did you say to him that I can't know?"

His expression was calm, and his voice was calm, but the dissatisfaction in his tone was so obvious even a passerby could hear it. Shen Mengzhi stared at him for a moment and couldn't help but smile.

He said meaningfully, "Why are you acting the same way you did on the Flower Boat?"

Chu Jin couldn't help but press, "What way?"

After speaking, he suddenly thought of something, frowning as he scanned the area as if to confirm Qi Yu wasn't nearby. Heaven knew that after being interrupted the last two times, he had almost been too angry to smile.

This action amused Shen Mengzhi. He rarely laughed so hard that his eyes curved, and he had to hold onto the railing, unable to stand up straight. "Hahaha, you really seem to hate seeing Qi Yu."

Chu Jin turned back to look at him. "Is it that obvious?"

Shen Mengzhi didn't tell Chu Jin that his expression was like a mouse seeing a cat. The smile on his lips hadn't faded as he nodded, and nodded again.

"You know why." Chu Jin gave a half-smile. "You still haven't answered. What way, exactly?"

Shen Mengzhi stopped smiling and looked at him steadily for a few seconds. Suddenly, he leaned forward, and the distance between them instantly shrank to mere inches. The action was so sudden and out of character that even Chu Jin froze on the spot, allowing him to study him blankly for a long time.