My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 59 - 57: Enchanting Beauty

During the conversation, the food and drinks arrived, and the two began tasting the dishes while drinking.

There’s no denying it, the restaurant Huang Tianxuan, a local, chose was indeed excellent. The food was delicious, and being right next to West Lake, the environment was beyond words. The price was a bit steep, but it was still within Li Peifeng’s budget.

After they confirmed that tomorrow’s book club would be held here, they called the restaurant manager, began selecting dishes for the next day’s banquet, chose a private room, and booked a meeting hall suitable for holding activities, entrusting them to purchase the necessary items, and so on...

At nine-thirty in the evening, after several rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, the two had almost finished eating, and everything for tomorrow’s book club was settled.

Huang Tianxuan posted a new announcement in the [Feng Sheng Shui Qi] chat group, and seeing the replies from group members confirming receipt made her feel relieved.

"Everything is ready except for the east wind, now we just wait for people to come tomorrow."

"You’ve worked hard."

Li Peifeng gently patted her shoulder, concerned, "How about it, are you not drunk?"

Huang Tianxuan, with a flushed face, showed a hint of intoxication and a bit of pride in her eyes, "I’m okay, I took a hangover pill beforehand. Don’t forget what I do for a living!"

Li Peifeng was speechless, "No wonder you can drink so much, you must have a thousand tricks up your sleeve!"

"What else did you think?"

Huang Tianxuan waved her hand, "Let’s go, I see you’re not drunk either. In a while, I’ll get my clothes from the car, and you can accompany me for a walk around West Lake. Let me think about which scenic spots to take them to tomorrow afternoon..."

Wandering around West Lake at this late hour after drinking?

"No need, when the time comes, if they want, just let them explore freely."

Li Peifeng glanced at the time, thinking that if he stayed with her a bit longer, something might happen, he reminded her, "Besides, won’t your parents be worried if you don’t go home tonight?"

"Them... heh."

Mentioning her parents, Huang Tianxuan’s expression became unnatural, and she softly snorted, "Brother, I moved out a long time ago. Who do you think you’re looking down on with such a question?"

"Alright, let’s go."

As the host spoke, Li Peifeng had no choice but to agree. He had already paid the bill, and the two walked straight out of the guesthouse.

The moon tonight reigns over the world, washing it with its brilliance. The summer’s heat retreats, and the autumn air is clear and pure.

The autumn moon over West Lake was exceptionally charming, but it wasn’t alone, with one in the sky and one on the lake, they echoed each other.

However, the one on the lake, blown by the breeze, appeared hazy and more shy.

In the distance, the sound of a three-stringed instrument accompanying murmuring Southern tunes added another layer of unique atmosphere to the scenery.

"Forty-six billion years have passed, seas have turned to mulberry fields, stars have shifted, species have changed, and countless grievances have dissipated in the misty rain. Yet, the wind arises as it always does."

Suddenly, Huang Tianxuan began softly yet melodiously reciting a mysterious line, then laughed and asked, "Do you remember which book this line you wrote is from?"

"It should be from ’Bald Girl’."

"I really like this line."

"Thank you."

"It’s cold."

The two strolled along the West Lake’s railing, and as Li Peifeng noticed the arm wrapped around his at some unknown point, he sighed inside, thinking that tonight might indeed lead to a story.

I didn’t mean for it, but this is West Lake!

Here, the White Lady of a thousand years of cultivation, at the sight of Xu Xian, would feel so moved that she would promise herself to him.

Xu Xian, an ordinary mortal, dared to face such a long white snake head-on.

West Lake, a magical and romantic lake where men and women are willing to risk everything for love.

What choice do I have? I’ll... I’ll just promise not to make the first move!

...

...

October 11th, West Lake State Guesthouse, Lingbo Hall.

At seven in the morning, Li Peifeng hurriedly arrived here.

"Mr. Li, the restaurant you reserved is this way."

"Alright."

Under the guidance of a server, Li Peifeng entered the room that he and Huang Tianxuan booked right after dinner yesterday, which they both agreed was the best venue for holding the book club.

The restaurant can accommodate thirty people, surrounded by the lake on three sides, with large floor-to-ceiling windows that make it feel like sailing on the lake, offering a full view of the beautiful scenery of West Lake.

The path leading to the restaurant is also very beautiful, with the West Lake State Guesthouse located on the Xili Lake shore on the west side of Sudi, known for being the most tranquil piece of water in West Lake. The buildings are connected by corridors, bridges, roads, and water, representing the epitome of a centralized-style garden, acclaimed as the number one garden in West Lake.

Although Li Peifeng had dinner here yesterday, since he came at night, he truly didn’t see such an ink painting-like scenery of Jiangnan.

"Where are the things I asked you to buy for me?"

"They’re on the table for you."

A young female server in her early twenties smiled, "You can call me Xiaoyan, I am the dedicated butler for Lingbo Hall, and also your dedicated butler today. If you need anything, you can press the bell on the wall to call me at any time."

"Alright, then I’ll have to trouble you today!"

Li Peifeng nodded, walked into the dining room, and headed straight to the desk in the room.

On it, the Four Treasures of the Study were all present, and there were several large bags under the table, each containing gift boxes in either long strips or small squares.

Li Peifeng opened them to check the quantity, nodding to himself: "Thirty of each kind, that’s definitely enough!"

These were the gifts he was giving to the fans attending the meeting, two sandalwood bookmarks and a Hangzhou fan for each person.

The bookmarks were as wide and thick as rulers, about thirteen centimeters, made from dark and hard material, smooth with visible streak patterns, stamped with scenes of the Ten Views of West Lake in brass, exuding artistic charm.

The fan bones of the Hangzhou fans were made from top-grade black-green bamboo, finely textured and clearly grained. The fan surfaces varied among white paper, gold paper, or sprinkled gold paper, but regardless of the fan surface, they were all blank.

Li Peifeng arrived early just to inscribe on these fans.

After all, neither of these gifts held much monetary value, so they needed to be imbued with special meaning.

Li Peifeng was confident in his calligraphy, but not fully confident.

"A bit nervous, haven’t practiced in a long time!"

"I wonder if the brush still recognizes me... Sorry, I can’t rely on you for food, and that keyboard is just too convenient, I can’t help it either."

Li Peifeng calmed himself, prepared the ink, and neatly laid the Xuan paper on the desk for practice, then gazed with interest at the beautiful view of West Lake outside the window.

"Great! So beautiful!"

"Absorb the spirit of heaven and earth, harness the essence of sun and moon, and let it work for me!"

"It’s back, it’s all back, just this feeling!"

Li Peifeng closed his eyes, took a couple of deep breaths, then suddenly opened them, emitting a sharp gaze...

He picked up the brush!

With elegant strokes, he wrote four big characters: "Virtue and Art."

Li Peifeng looked at it for a long time, tempted to break the brush.

"What kind of crap is this?!"

"Did I create this?"

It was inevitable; although Li Peifeng had learned calligraphy from his father since childhood, he hadn’t touched a brush since starting graduate school and had no idea where he’d put the Four Treasures of the Study. Naturally, he couldn’t write smoothly now.

Fortunately, there was still time, so Li Peifeng gathered his concentration, practiced seriously on the Xuan paper, and gradually found his touch again.

An hour later, Huang Tianxuan pushed the door open.

Without looking up, Li Peifeng said, "You’re here?"

Seeing Li Peifeng, who was writing at the desk, she hesitated, blushed, felt shy yet resolute, and came over to his side.

"Yesterday..."

She stopped short, hesitating.

Li Peifeng paused and looked up puzzled, "What about yesterday?"

If his memory hadn’t been altered, yesterday had been a peaceful day, no drunken nonsense occurred.

After walking around West Lake with Huang Tianxuan for over half an hour, he arranged a driver to accompany her home and watched her enter her over four-hundred-square-meter mansion, then took a taxi home himself.

Nothing happened at all!

"Yesterday..."

Huang Tianxuan was a bit shy, stammered, then said resolutely, "Yesterday, I was drunk, and by West Lake, I kissed you!"

"Ah."

Li Peifeng was stunned, so it was about this? No need to mention it.

A kiss, indeed they had kissed. Huang Tianxuan initiated it, which surprised him with its awkwardness, completely unlike her usual self. But it was just a brief kiss, and after that, they both went home.

"This, this."

Struggling for words, Li Peifeng laughed, "It’s not your fault nor mine, it’s only because the moonlight was too gentle last night, the West Lake water too enchanting, and the yellow wine of Suzhou and Hangzhou too intoxicating."

Interrupting seriously, Huang Tianxuan said, "I will take responsibility for you!"

"..."

Silently, Li Peifeng picked up a fan, opened the box, unfolded the fan, and wrote four big characters in one go;

Beautiful beyond words!

He made a gesture of offering: "The first fan is for you."

"Huh?" Initially a bit disappointed with his reaction, after seeing the characters, Huang Tianxuan smiled happily: "Thank you."

Li Peifeng nodded, looking at her radiant smile, hoping she understood his meaning.

You are indeed beautiful, but your thinking is even more beautiful!