A group of maids entered one after another, helping the drunken Jade Maiden Sect disciples up and escorting them to their rooms.
As the intoxicated Jade Maiden disciples departed, the wide and bustling banquet hall suddenly fell silent.
"Kid, congratulations on advancing again. This old man will take his leave first!"
The drunken Master Heaven-Secrets waved at Ian Song and left, supported by Hannah Murong.
Watching his departing figure, Ian Song's eyes flashed with doubt. Even with his cultivation advancing again, he still couldn't see through this old man's depths. He even had the illusion that, compared to him, his own master Gideon Skyreach was lacking.
Soon, nearly all the Jade Maiden Sect disciples had left the banquet hall, leaving only Lena Ling behind, silently drinking.
Unlike usual, the normally talkative Lena Ling grew unusually quiet tonight, as if something was weighing on her mind.
Lila Li glanced at Lena Ling with concern and whispered, "Her mood seems off. Husband, why don't you escort her back to her room?"
Ian Song was taken aback, but noticed a meaningful smile at the corner of Lila Li's lips.
Ian wasn't blind; Lena Ling's mood had changed ever since Lila Li showed up. As an old hand in romance, he knew exactly what was going on—Lena Ling had probably fallen for him. He'd always thought her care for him was just like a big sister looking after her little brother, but now it seemed he'd been wrong.
"Thank you for understanding, Madam!"
Ian gently squeezed Lila Li's hand, then walked over to the table, snatched the wine bottle from Lena Ling's hand, and said softly, "Senior Sister, let me take you back to rest."
With the wine bottle taken away, Lena Ling looked up at Ian, her cheeks flushed and eyes hazy. She seemed a bit slow to react, and after a long moment, she finally grinned at Ian and said, "Second Fool, stop messing around. Give the wine back to your Senior Sister."
"Come on, I'll take you back to your room!" Ian didn't bother arguing, simply helped Lena Ling up and supported her out of the banquet hall. There's no reasoning with a drunk—especially a drunk woman.
"No, I still want to drink, I still want to drink!"
Lena Ling's other hand flailed in the air as she shouted loudly, but she couldn't resist Ian and was forcibly escorted out of the banquet hall.
Even after walking some distance, Lena Ling kept mumbling, though her words were now unclear. Seeing this, Ian couldn't help but show a strange smile and whispered in her ear, "Senior Sister, you can drop the act now—there's no one else here."
Instantly, Lena Ling froze, her already flushed face turning even redder with embarrassment. She broke free from Ian's arm and asked, "How did you figure it out?"
Ian gave a playful smile. "Tonight's wine was pretty mild. Maybe someone who doesn't drink often would get drunk, but you're the wine fairy among women—how could you possibly get drunk? Still, I have to say, your drunk act is actually really cute."
"Cute?" Hearing that word, Lena Ling was stunned. Her already flushed cheeks grew even redder with embarrassment. She waved her fist and protested, "What kind of thing is that to say? I'm your Senior Sister! How can you call me cute?"
"Isn't that true?" Ian's smile grew even wider.
"Hmph, it is not!"
Lena Ling stiffened her expression and strode forward.
Ian quickly followed after her.
"You annoying guy, stop following me!" Lena Ling turned to glare at him.
"Looks like Senior Sister doesn't even know where her room is, huh?" Ian's smile turned smug. "If I don't follow you, you'll end up sleeping in the garden tonight!"
"So what? It's not like anyone cares." Lena Ling blurted out, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how strange they sounded—just like a girl pouting to the one she loves.
"Who says no one cares!"
Suddenly, Ian reached out and grabbed Lena Ling's hand.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Lena Ling struggled, but her strength was so weak that even she doubted she could break free from Ian's grip.
"Senior Sister, when did it start?" Ian reached out and took Lena Ling's other hand, turning her to face him.
"Start what? I don't understand what you mean." Meeting Ian's eyes—serious yet gentle—Lena Ling's gaze grew evasive, her heart pounding like a startled deer. She felt caught off guard, like a girl whose secret feelings had just been exposed.
"You really don't understand?" Ian leaned in closer.
As he leaned in, Lena Ling could feel his warm breath on her face. For some reason, it made her even more nervous, and she instinctively shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about... mm!"
Without warning, his lips sealed hers. Her mind exploded in a blank haze, and she could only make muffled sounds in protest.
Just as she started to regain some clarity, a nimble tongue pried open her teeth and invaded, causing chaos. Her mind slipped into confusion all over again.
She didn't know how long it lasted, but when Lena Ling finally came to her senses, she shyly realized her arms were tightly wrapped around Ian's neck, her body pressed close against his.
"Ah!"
She gasped and tried to push him away, but his arms held her firmly.
"Let me go!" Lena Ling cried out, secretly berating herself for being so shameless—how could she be pressed so close to her junior?
Smack!
Her shapely hips were struck, and a jolt of electricity shot from her tailbone through her entire body, leaving her completely limp and powerless in Ian's arms.
A wicked smile flashed at the corner of Ian's lips. He pressed his mouth to her delicate earlobe, then bit it gently and teased, "Now do you understand?"
"Mm!" Another wave of intense sensation made Lena Ling even weaker; her eyes grew misty, lips parted like a thirsty fish.
"Come on, tell me—do you understand now?" Ian pressed her again.
"Don't... don't... do this!" Lena Ling managed to stammer, but her voice was so soft and weak.
"Don't do what?" Ian nibbled her earlobe again.
"Mm, don't... bite me, let me go!"
Lena Ling was nearly in tears.
"Then answer me. If you answer, I'll let you go." Ian's eyes sparkled with playful mischief.
"I don't understand." Lena Ling bit her lip, as if using all her strength to say it.
"Didn't expect Senior Sister to be so stubborn. Looks like I need to step up my game as your junior." With that, Ian kissed her lips again.
"Mmm, stop!" Lena Ling protested with muffled sounds.
After a full fifteen minutes, Ian finally let Lena Ling go. He gazed at her, completely dazed from his kisses, and asked, "Do you understand now?"
"I do... I understand." Lena Ling replied weakly.
Ian pressed his advantage: "If you understand, then tell me—when did it start?"
"You bad guy, do you really have to make me say it out loud?" Lena Ling protested, feeling wronged, and lightly punched Ian's chest—but her strength was so feeble, it couldn't even make him itch.