Chapter 67: The Xiao Family Teahouse

"Oh~" Another chorus of synchronized narration rang out, and the bystanders nearby looked stunned, as if realizing this development couldn't possibly be...

Xiao Xiao knew very well what Su Youjin was talking about, and he also understood that if he didn't let her treat him this once, this girl probably wouldn't let the matter rest.

Although it felt a bit awkward to let a girl treat him, Xiao Xiao didn't decline and simply and neatly agreed.

"Anytime is fine."

...

Until Su Youjin's graceful figure was completely out of sight, Zhang Bo, Zhuge Yun, and Zhao Lvzheng reluctantly withdrew their gazes and swarmed around Xiao Xiao, their faces practically spelling out the words: "Confess and you'll be dealt with leniently, resist and you'll suffer severely."

"Spill."

"Spill what?" Xiao Xiao asked, feigning complete innocence.

"Spill what? Can't you tell, you punk?!" Zhuge Yun grabbed Xiao Xiao by the shoulders, shaking him fiercely, his face a mask of envy, jealousy, and hatred. "Su Youjin! You actually know Su Youjin?! And she's even treating you to dinner?!"

"What kind of ungodly luck did you have, you punk?!" Zhang Bo gave Xiao Xiao a heavy slap on the back, his eyes turning green with envy.

If it were the old Xiao Xiao, he definitely would have staggered from that blow. But as for now, Xiao Xiao thought to himself: Hadn't these guys eaten yet? Why was their strength so light?

Zhao Lvzheng was brimming with excitement, circling around Xiao Xiao time and time again.

"Third Brother, you really are my brother, awesome!" Zhao Lvzheng gave a thumbs-up, his face filled with awe.

Xiao Xiao: ......

...

Dragging his suitcase, Xiao Xiao walked through the campus, which had grown much quieter than usual.

After the final exams concluded, students left for home one after another, and the once bustling and noisy campus grew increasingly desolate under the gloomy sky.

Xiao Xiao was the last one to leave his dorm, since his home was right here in Beijing.

Therefore, after seeing off Zhang Bo, Zhuge Yun, and Zhao Lvzheng, he finally locked the dorm door and prepared to head home.

......

Hm? Xiao Xiao suddenly felt a refreshing coolness on his cheek and couldn't help but look up—it was starting to snow.

Delicate snowflakes, fine as willow catkins, drifted down in flurries against a backdrop of vast, grey-blue skies. Under the subdued daylight, the individual snowflakes seemed to shimmer, illuminating the dim horizon.

Beijing was not in the south, so snow was hardly a rare sight. Yet, these cascading snowflakes always brought a sense of pleasant surprise.

At this moment of leaving the campus, being accompanied by falling snowflakes was undeniably a pleasing and delightful affair.

Xiao Xiao smiled and continued moving forward, pulling his suitcase along.

"Clatter, clatter~"

...

Xiao Xiao turned into an alley with some history. Both sides were lined with uniform white walls and black tiles, and nameless green plants peeked over the tops of the walls, their leaves already covered with a thin layer of snow.

The bluestone slab path beneath his feet was uneven, and the suitcase wheels bumped up and down, making a somewhat grating rolling sound.

At the very end of the path lay Xiao Xiao's home.

......

"Creeak~" Xiao Xiao pushed the door open and entered.

This was a clean and rustic little courtyard.

In the corner stood a tall parasol tree, its branches now stark and bare, possessing a sparse, rugged beauty.

Brown tree bark was blanketed in white snow, creating a distinct and lingering artistic conception.

There was no one in the house, which didn't surprise Xiao Xiao; he knew his parents and grandparents must all be busy in the front courtyard.

Xiao Xiao returned to his room, put down his luggage, tidied up a bit, and then headed to the front courtyard.

This was a modest teahouse, yet exquisitely decorated.

On the ground floor, there were only seven or eight tables, each paired with four chairs made entirely of reddish-brown pear wood.

These tables and chairs had been passed down through generations in the Xiao family and had been in continuous use to this day.

On the walls on either side of the main entrance were two lattice windows of delicate craftsmanship.

Hanging on the wall directly opposite the main entrance was a piece of calligraphy with a single character: Tea.

Penned with vigorous and sweeping strokes, amidst the curling aroma of tea, the character exuded an expansive and grand momentum.

On the left wall hung a horizontal scroll inscribed with the "First Source" chapter from Lu Yu's *Classic of Tea*.

On the right wall hung several ink-wash paintings of varying sizes, depicting mountains, water, and flowers.

In several corners of the main hall, flower stands were scattered casually, holding green potted plants and sporadic small blossoms, adding a touch of liveliness and elegance to the serene teahouse.

The teahouse had two floors, with private rooms located upstairs.

There were only four private rooms, named respectively: A Sprig of Spring, Early Summer Arrives, Song of Autumn Wind, and Snow Lion.

...

By the time of Xiao Xiao's father, the Xiao Family Teahouse was already in its third generation.

It was considered a time-honored brand with a modest reputation.

However, with the freezing weather and the approaching New Year, Xiao Xiao took a quick look and noticed only two elderly people sitting at a table by the window.

Enjoying the snow while drinking tea—how idyllic and pleasant.

The corners of Xiao Xiao's mouth were just about to curve upward when they suddenly stiffened, his gaze locking in a daze. What... was that?

Right beneath another table by the window, there was a small ball of snow whose body was twitching up and down, though it was unclear what it was doing.

The tail trailing behind it seemed to sway back and forth happily due to its owner's cheerful mood, adorned with eerie yet gorgeous red patterns that wound all the way up along its back.

Xiao Xiao had just stepped forward to take a closer look when—"Xiaoxiao, you're back?" Xiao Mother asked, coming down the stairs with a pleasantly surprised expression. "Have you had lunch? Do you want Mom to make you something?"

"Xiaoxiao is back?" Hearing the commotion, Xiao Xiao's grandmother pushed aside the curtain and walked out.

" Mom, Grandma, I'm back."

"Oh, as long as you're back. Are you hungry? Your grandpa and dad are making snow pear and barley soup; Grandma will bring you a bowl in a moment," Xiao Xiao's grandmother chattered lovingly.

...

Uh, Xiao Xiao wasn't really that hungry, but he still nodded. "Okay."

He first went to the kitchen to greet his grandfather and father, letting them know he had arrived, and then chose a window seat in the main hall to wait for the snow pear and barley soup.

However, there happened to be an unexpected creature under this very table.

"Xiaoxiao, come, drink some hot tea first to warm up."

"Mom, I'll do it myself."

"Sit down. You just got back, go take a rest," his grandmother said with a somewhat overbearing tone.

Alright, Xiao Xiao had no choice but to sit and wait to be "served."

...

More guests arrived, and Xiao Mother and Grandmother went forward to greet them.

Xiao Xiao picked up the purple clay teapot and poured himself a cup of tea.

The liquor was a reddish-bright color, with a golden halo ringing the junction of the bowl wall and the tea liquor—this was top-grade Jin Junmei black tea.

Steam curled upward, carrying a rich fragrance. Xiao Xiao took a single sip, feeling his mouth fill with aroma, while the taste was both sweet and mellow.

With the hot liquid sliding down his stomach, Xiao Xiao felt every pore on his body relax, experiencing absolute comfort.

Xiao Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of laziness and contentment hovering between his brows.

After finishing his cup of tea, Xiao Xiao subtly surveyed his surroundings. There weren't many people in the main hall; they were either conversing in low whispers or admiring the heavy snow outside, with no one glancing around randomly.

Moreover, modern people valued their privacy, so Xiao Mother had placed small partition screens beside the window seats. The red sandalwood wood-carved screens added a touch of antique charm to the teahouse.

Xiao Xiao withdrew his gaze, stood up, moved to the side, and squatted down as if tying his shoelaces.

His gaze swept casually over the small spirit beneath the table.

From this angle, Xiao Xiao was facing the small spirit directly.

It was only then that Xiao Xiao discovered the little spirit sitting on the floor, holding a pastry in both paws and eating away quite happily.