Sister Thirty-Nine, give me a hug.

Xiao Yun’er quickly agreed. Whether from excitement or nerves, he poured the wine to the very brim of the cup. Only when he walked with it did he realize it was too full—just a slight movement would send the wine spilling over. There was no way to pour any back, for Miss Jiu was already watching him with her bright, expectant eyes.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth, carefully cradling the cup in both hands as he made his way toward her, step by cautious step.

Miss Jiu found it amusing—this boy who was usually so quick-witted, now fumbling and awkward. She couldn’t help but smile and tease him, “People say you’re clever, Xiao Yun’er, and sometimes you are! But you can be quite the fool too. Why did you fill the cup so much?”

Xiao Yun’er gave a wry smile. “Miss Jiu, perhaps I can’t hold my liquor. I haven’t even drunk any yet, and the fragrance alone has already made me dizzy. Once I’m tipsy, my hands and feet just won’t obey me.”

Miss Jiu came over, took the cup, and tasted the wine. “Not bad. You’ve done well. From now on, just mix it this way. Once you’ve finished, seal the wine jars properly, and that’s all there is to it.”

Xiao Yun’er thought to himself, So this famed and magical Ruyi Wine is really so simple to make? It was a bit unexpected.

After tasting it, Miss Jiu handed him the remaining wine in the cup. “Do you want to try what it tastes like?”

While mixing the wine, Xiao Yun’er had already felt dizzy from the aroma, his face flushed and ears burning.

Now, seeing Miss Jiu’s fair and lovely face, hearing her soft, poetic voice, and watching her slender hands offer him the cup—still bearing a faint trace of her lipstick—it was almost irresistible. The air was thick with the scent of wine, but it couldn’t mask the subtle fragrance of her perfume. A strange, unexplainable urge welled up in Xiao Yun’er’s heart—he wanted to rush forward and embrace her! If it had been Bai Xuehua or Lingzhi, he might have already done so. But this was Miss Jiu, whom he had just met, and he didn’t have the courage.

He took the cup and drank. The wine was fragrant and smooth, intoxicating to the senses. Though he wasn’t much of a drinker and couldn’t quite describe the taste, he couldn’t resist draining the rest in one gulp. Afterward, he brought the cup to his nose—was he inhaling the lingering aroma of the wine, or the trace of Miss Jiu’s lipstick left on the rim?

Miss Jiu watched his reluctant gesture and laughed. “The way you drink, you really look like a little wine lover.”

Xiao Yun’er replied, “Wine Lady, you must have tasted many kinds of wine to create Ruyi Wine, haven’t you?”

She laughed. “You keep calling me Wine Lady—do you think I’m a female drunkard? Of course, I’ve tasted many wines.”

It turned out that as a child, Miss Jiu had been mischievous and loved to spend time with strange characters. Later, a wine-loving wanderer became her master and taught her the art of brewing. Whenever loneliness crept into her heart, she would pass the time by making exquisite wines. She had initially created Ruyi Wine just for fun, but when it became a success, she realized it was a pleasant way to occupy herself and earn some money as well.

Recently, though, her interest in blending Ruyi Wine had waned. Yet, for the sake of the Ruyi Tavern, she had to continue. So she asked Xiao Hong to find someone to help with the blending. By custom, it was best to have a young boy do it—boys were pure, and Xiao Hong brought her Xiao Yun’er.

Hours passed. Whenever Xiao Yun’er was too busy to keep up, Miss Jiu would step in to help. He had no idea how much Ruyi Wine he had mixed, only that the air was thick with its fragrance, making his face flush and his head swim with a pleasant intoxication. Even Miss Jiu seemed faint from the fumes, her cheeks tinged pink.

Feeling overheated, she slipped off her mink cloak and told Xiao Yun’er to seal the jars. Then she returned to her chair, lost in thought.

Gazing at his delicate, rosy face, Miss Jiu found herself thinking, If only this child were a few years older and had a few more years of proper training, he would be a handsome and outstanding young man. It's a pity he's so young now. Otherwise, I would take him under my wing and see what he could become. For the first time, she began to consider her feelings for Xiao Yun’er in a way that went beyond mere friendship.

Xiao Yun’er, dizzied by the scent of wine, finally sealed the last jar, his head spinning and his chest burning with heat. He looked up just in time to see Miss Jiu’s flushed cheeks and those clear, enchanting eyes gazing back at him with a captivating light. The snow-white skin visible above the collar of her pink dress, the faint movement of her bodice—all this dazzled him.

He remembered only the warmth and comfort of laying his head in Sister Ling’s arms. Overcome with impulse, he blurted out, “Sister Ling, let Yun’er hug you.” In his haze, he thought the gentle figure before him was his ever-patient, never-angry Sister Ling.

He stumbled forward, but tripped over something on the floor, sprawling face-first at Miss Jiu’s feet, his hands landing squarely atop her shoes.

Miss Jiu, who had been gazing at him, was startled by his sudden lunge. Should she dodge, push him away, or…? She hesitated for a split second. Then, seeing him clumsily fall at her feet, she couldn’t help but smile. “What’s the matter with you?”

Xiao Yun’er’s face burned with embarrassment. “Miss Jiu, I’m sorry… I—I’m drunk.”

To his astonishment, Miss Jiu bent down and offered her hand, helping him to his feet. Their eyes met. She noticed he was staring at her bodice and, blushing, scolded him lightly, “So young and already so naughty! You’ve got your head full of nonsense. Come with me!”

Just now, as she bent over, Xiao Yun’er had caught a glimpse of the snowy skin at the base of her neck through her collar, and for a moment, he was mesmerized. Now, at her scolding, he deliberately put on an innocent face, pretending to be clueless—a little fool who understood nothing.

He followed her outside. The chilly wind instantly cleared his head. He recalled his earlier rashness and her scolding. Had she seen right through his thoughts? Shame and dread washed over him, and he lowered his head in silence.

Fortunately, Miss Jiu didn’t make things difficult for him, but returned to her study instead.

Without her summons, he dared not follow and, feeling both reluctant and disappointed, made his way back to his quarters.

On the way, the scenes kept replaying in his mind. He wondered, If only I hadn’t tripped—if I had really embraced Miss Jiu, how would she have reacted? Would she have slapped me? But when I held Sister Lingzhi, she never got angry… Lost in thought, he returned to his room.

The strange smell inside, which he hadn’t noticed before, now seemed particularly unpleasant.

His mind was filled with images of Miss Jiu—her flushed cheeks, her bright eyes, her enchanting gaze, her fair skin. He lay awake for a long time, unable to sleep. Beside him, Chu Xiaoyu reached out to touch his forehead. “Are you coming down with something?”