video

[originalshen]

[The feed opens to a trio of pretty prismal girls in what appears to possibly be a Caihong brothel, judging by the aesthetic. Another young woman can be heard from the recording end: "There, it's on! Say hello, girls!" The girls happily wave at the camera!

"And now if you press this right here—" Ah there we go, selfie mode! Instead of those other girls, we now get a vision of another local lady with a curious-looking man in soft green robes.]

That easy, is it?

["That easy!" as she hands the communicator back to its rightful owner. He stares at the screen for a moment, contemplating whether he should just turn it off - but those girls are coaxing him to try saying something, so eventually he relents.]

So people can see this, is that right? [Awkward!] ......Well. I suppose if anyone here knows of quiet areas to visit or stores that serve good tea, I'm...open to suggestions. [Ahem.]

That is all.

[Aaand after some fumbling (and more help and laughter from his friends), he manages to turn the thing off. All replies will be in voice from here on out!]

Comments

[wooden_one]

[Hopefully, that seat doesn't have any else sitting near it because otherwise he's going to have to glare at that person until they leave before he'll sit.]

I said, I would, didn't I?

[No one is challenging him and yet he sounds like this was a challenge to be won.

He fully intends on pouring the wine himself.] I haven't tried this one before.

[originalshen]

[There was probably someone else sitting near it, but she moved over at that glare...which leads Shen Qingqiu to give him a disapproving look.]

There's no need to be rude. [And because he's a petty person, he turns to one of the other girls with a pleasant smile:] Why don't you pour our guest a cup? It seems to be all he's here for, after all.

[As if he'd invited him for anything else.]

[wooden_one]

[Why are you like this?]

I can pour my own wine.

[But, despite his over all demeanour he doesn't try to grab the wine from the girl who got to it first. He's so clearly uncomfortable sitting here...]

[originalshen]

[Because you disrespected women!!

Chu Wanning will have to content himself with watching as this very nice young woman pours a cup of wine and offers it to him, all smiles. Shen Qingqiu gets a cup as well, which he accepts with a perfectly pleasant thank-you.]

Oh my, you don't look to be in very good spirits. Are you feeling well? Perhaps we should trade your wine for a cup of tea? There's beds in this building as well, if you're in need of rest. [There's at least one little laugh or giggle from the girls in this room.]

[wooden_one]

[He disrespects everyone!

Also, even if he has to watch it happen, it doesn't mean he doesn't scowl. Why Mo Ran used to come to these sort of places he will never know.

(And will choose not to think about thank you very much.)]

Wine is fine! [He takes the cup once it's filled, but turns red even before he can drink it because even he knows what people do when they go sleep in a bed in a brothel!]

Shameless!

[originalshen]

[He raises an elegant eyebrow over the rim of his own cup.]

Shameless? I've never heard anyone refer to tea as shameless before. Ah, unless you meant the beds? I'm sure they're quite clean, if that's what you're afraid of.

[As if he has no idea what the man could possibly be referring to.]

[wooden_one]

[He scowls.]

You know what I mean. [He's certain of it.

...at least the wine's good.]

[originalshen]

[Oh, he knows. He knows perfectly well. And yet here he is, elegantly sipping his wine, looking for all the world like he's sitting in a high-class restaurant rather than a reasonably acceptable brothel.]

Young Master Chu, if you have such a low regard for establishments such as this, there was really no need for you to have come. Even not knowing what sort of place it was, you surely must have noticed long before sitting down with me.

[Another sip before he sets the cup down, trading it for his fan instead.]

That aside, the beds really are clean. It wouldn't be a very comfortable place to sleep, if they weren't.

[wooden_one]

[Because he didn't want to be caught running away.]

I said I'd be here, didn't I? And it's not that I have low regard for places like this. [His disciple, after all, was raised in such a place. And in addition to that, a person's merit isn't established by what they did with their body but how they treated others.

Even so...] It's just not the sort of place one should speak so openly about and one shouldn't flaunt their visit in public.

[originalshen]

[Please learn tactical retreats...]

Ah, but was I flaunting it? I'll admit the girls publicized our little lesson, but I don't remember displaying anything particularly inappropriate. Unless you mean my honest commentary in our earlier conversation?

[He honestly feels a little irritated at the criticism by this point - but also, he's being critized by a man who came all the way here to sit with him, in the actual brothel, with the girls still in the room. It's kind of a mixed message! So he'll just keep calmly fanning himself for now.]