Tang Fei left the Light Pavilion and returned to the Phoenix Pavilion.
After all, he hadn’t even managed to drink a cup of hot tea when he came over before, and Phoenix had said they should all have dinner together.
Tang Fei had been busy for most of the day, from negotiating with Qin Jianyi to slashing Wang Chao’s head off, to accompanying Yan Wenli to the palace for Zhong Daolong’s questioning. One event after another, all extremely draining, and he was indeed feeling hungry now.
After Tang Fei came back, Phoenix and Sheng Xinhua immediately pulled him aside to ask about his meeting with Zhong Tianque.
Hearing that Zhong Tianque had agreed to speak on Tang Fei’s behalf, Phoenix dropped a weight from his mind and said, "That’s good, my elder brother’s intervention means Tang Shengyan owes us some face."
"Later, I will go talk to my brother again, remind him not to forget to make that phone call..."
Sheng Xinhua’s eyes flickered, but in the end, he didn’t voice the words he had intended to.
Phoenix arranged for the servants to serve the dishes, touching her flat belly and saying, "Let’s eat, I’m really starving."
"Now you’re in the mood to eat? Just before, when I told you to have something, didn’t you say you had no appetite?" Sheng Xinhua teased.
"That was because the issue hadn’t been resolved yet. Now that it’s settled, I want to eat."
"Then let’s celebrate," Sheng Xinhua said. "This was a big deal, we should at least open a bottle of Phoenix Heart, right?"
"I only got a few bottles of that, and you’ve drunk them all," Phoenix complained.
"In this house, you only have two friends... if you don’t drink with us, who else will you drink with?" Mr. Sheng wasn’t shy with Phoenix, already taking the initiative to run to the wine cellar and bring out a bottle of red wine adorned with a golden Phoenix, more familiar than Phoenix with the hidden treasures of the cellar.
Phoenix Heart, an exclusive red wine brewed by the Royal Family’s winery, had a yearly production of just over three hundred bottles, and with those important figures in the Royal Family getting their share, distribution on the market was impossible.
Even if it occasionally surfaced, it would fetch an exorbitant price, becoming the treasure of wealthy collectors or wine connoisseurs.
Phoenix also liked drinking, but what he enjoyed was the atmosphere of drinking with friends.
Sheng Xinhua loved his wine, happy to share it with friends or savor it alone.
Seeing that she couldn’t stop him, Phoenix smiled bitterly, "Fine, fine, it’s all yours... whether you drink it sooner or later makes no difference."
"Then I’m lucky today as well," Tang Fei said with a smile.
Tang Fei wanted to drink today too.
Although everything was progressing according to the plan he and the old man had laid out, the more it did, the more uneasy he felt.
Because he knew that it meant the day would come very soon.
At that time, how would Phoenix and Mr. Sheng beside him view him?
Would they still consider him a friend?
Oh, that was far too luxurious a thought.
The person he loved most becoming the most familiar enemy in life and death.
"Rest easy, nothing’s going to happen," Phoenix offered his consolation.
He thought Tang Fei was simply worn out from dealing with all these matters, unaware of the emotional crisis looming in his mind.
"Hmm," Tang Fei replied, gazing into Phoenix’s clear and bright eyes, nodding deeply.
How could you let down such a girl?
After a satisfying meal and drinks, Tang Fei saw it was already late into the night and prepared to leave.
Sheng Xinhua also stood up, saying, "I’ll take you. I was about to head back anyway."
Tang Fei glanced at Phoenix and said, "No need, we’re not heading the same way, I can just hail a car outside."
"Just let Mr. Sheng drive you, after all, it’s just a matter of stepping on the gas," Phoenix said. "What’s wrong? Worried I’ll get jealous?"
"How could I?" Tang Fei said with a chuckle, "What kind of relationship do you two have? Only I would be jealous of the two of you."
"That’s right," Sheng Xinhua agreed with a nod, saying, "I’ve tucked her in bed since she was little, you haven’t done that, have you?"
Phoenix blushed with embarrassment, scolding angrily, "Sheng Xinhua..."
"Alright, alright, let’s head home."
Sheng Xinhua, seeing Phoenix getting angry, immediately made his escape.
Tang Fei turned to Phoenix and said, "I’m leaving too."
"Hmm," Phoenix stepped forward and hugged Tang Fei, whispering, "My brother is back now, I’m going to see him... Don’t worry about your business."
"Alright," Tang Fei grinned and added, "Mr. Sheng was right."
"It’s gotten a lot bigger."
Having drunk wine, Sheng Xinhua couldn’t choose her preferred manual driving and opted for the smart driving mode.
Tang Fei lay comfortably in the passenger seat, closing his eyes and thinking about his troubles.
"Do you trust Zhong Tianque?" Sheng Xinhua suddenly asked.
"Zhong Tianque?" Tang Fei was momentarily taken aback, opening his eyes to look at Sheng Xinhua lying beside him, so close he could smell the fragrant aroma of Phoenix Heart from her breath. "Why ask that?"
"There are some things I shouldn’t say, at least not coming from me..." Sheng Xinhua explained, "Phoenix and I are very, very close friends, Zhong Tianque is her elder brother, and someone who values you highly..."
"I shouldn’t speak ill of him, but we are also friends, and I can’t help but warn you, what Zhong Tianque has promised might not come to fruition."
"What? You’re concerned he will deceive me and not make that call to Tang Shengyan?"
"Yes," Sheng Xinhua admitted plainly, "Zhong Tianque is the Crown Prince, not the actual King... at this point, does he want to offend a military bigwig for your sake? Do you think, compared with Tang Shengyan, your significance is enough? Will he choose you or Tang Shengyan?"