Chapter 52

Two days later, the Four Beauties Pavilion opened for business.

The pavilion offered free admission and game play for the first two days before the grand opening, providing tea, snacks, and specialty drinks.

In addition to traditional mahjong and card games, there were also many tabletop games available. These included Werewolf, Avalon, UNO cards, Magic: The Gathering, Assassin and more.

Over those two days, the sisters had taught Yi, Fang Qing, and Wu Ying all of the rules and how to play each game.

For the first two days, only Werewolf was available for the tabletop games, with plans to open up the other games slowly over time.

Since it was free to play, many customers were naturally drawn to come.

The seven of them were extremely busy, explaining the rules to guests while Su Mo prepared small treats and drinks to gift each table.

Those who came in groups chose private rooms, while others teamed up randomly in the main hall.

Many felt this was much more fun than going to gamble with dice, and there were even quite a few female guests present.

Mahjong and card games appealed to both men and women, young and old alike.

Nearly every seat in the main hall was filled.

At that time, a few familiar figures appeared at the entrance.

Sang Li happened to glance over and was momentarily stunned.

It was Bai Yunhan and his companions.

"Young master, it really is big sister Su and the others!" Yi, who was next to Bai Yunhan, had already spotted Su Mo standing in the middle of the main hall explaining things to some guests. Bai Yunhan looked left and right, taking in the whole scene, and his eyes landed on Sang Li who was standing behind the front counter.

When Sang Li noticed his gaze, she gave him a faint smile. Bai Yunhan's heart seemed to skip a beat and he immediately walked over.

"Miss Sang, I didn't expect it to really be you all!" Bai Yunhan said in surprise.

They had also heard about this new Four Beauties Pavilion that had opened on North Street, with people raving about the novel games being offered there. As soon as they heard the description, they felt sure it was Sang Li and the others, so they rushed right over.

"Master Bai, what a coincidence," Sang Li gave a faint smile. "Have you come to play games?"

Bai Yunhan's eyes darkened slightly. "Miss Sang, we've been looking for you girls the past few days."

"I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly, but we really had no choice. Although, didn't I leave you a letter?" Sang Li replied. "Was it my mother who made you leave? Where are you all staying now?" Bai Yunhan asked.

"Master Bai, we really couldn't keep imposing on the Bai family. Thank you again for taking care of us these past days," Sang Li said after a brief pause.

Bai Yunhan hesitated a moment. "I...have something...I want to discuss with you privately. Can you spare some time for me?"

"I'm afraid not, the pavilion is much too busy for me to get away right now," Sang Li declined politely.

"Then...I'll wait here for you," Bai Yunhan insisted.

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate? Aren't you quite busy yourself?" Sang Li retorted.

"Just treat me as a customer who's here to play games," Bai Yunhan said decisively as he turned to Yi and Fang Qing. "Yi, Fang Qing - feel free to go join in whichever games you'd like."

"Oh! Of course, young master. Fang and I will go have a look around then," Yi immediately grabbed Fang Qing and headed over towards where Su Mo was.

"Mahjong! I've gone mahjong!" a guest at the next table suddenly cried out excitedly. "Miss Su, take a look - with my hand, about how much could I win?"

"Let me see...wow, you could win 12 times the bet with that!"

"Hahaha, now I'll win back everything I lost!"

"Big sister Su!" Yi ran over and called out to Su Mo.

Hearing his voice, Su Mo looked up, seeming a bit surprised to see Yi and Fang Qing there. "Yi? Fang Qing? What are you two doing here?"

"We came here with the young master. He's waiting over there to talk with Miss Sang, while Fang and I wandered over to play some games! These past few days we were looking everywhere for you girls. Where did you end up moving to?"

Su Mo smiled. "We're staying at Qinglin Courtyard now, over on West Street."

The Bai estate was on East Street, quite a ways from Qinglin Courtyard - no wonder they hadn't seen any sign of Su Mo and the others these past several days.

"Miss Su, you don't happen to know where Miss Xiao is at the moment, do you?" Fang Qing asked.

"Oh, she and Xiaomiao are upstairs teaching people how to play Werewolf. Did you want to join in?"

"You go on ahead, Fang. I'll stay down here for now," Yi said to Fang Qing.

"Sounds good. I'll head up to take a look then," Fang Qing replied and then made for the stairs.

Yi sidled up next to Su Mo. "Big sister Su, I grew a whole bunch of chili peppers for you that are all dried now. Want me to bring some over?"

Su Mo's eyes lit up at once. "I'd love some, thank you!"

Wu Ying, who happened to overhear their conversation from the other side of the room, suddenly looked up. His expression instantly darkened and a cold air seemed to emanate from his entire body.

Even the guests at the mahjong table next to him felt an odd chill in the air and wondered why it had gotten so cold all of a sudden.

"You look like you're doing well lately, big sister Su," Yi said with a grin, clearly recalling Su Mo's dejected mood those days after her falling out with Wu Ying. "Oh? So do I look more beautiful too?" Su Mo joked.

Yi's ears turned red. "You...you've always looked very beautiful..."

"Ah, you little flatterer!" Su Mo rapped him lightly over the head. "Since when did you become so sweet-talking?"

At that moment there was a loud "crack" as Wu Ying snapped one of the mahjong tiles he had been holding tightly in his hand.

The guests at his table nearly jumped in fright as they quickly stood up. "Easy there, sir! No need to get upset, we've really learned it now, no more teaching required, we're good!"

"Yeah, yeah, we've totally got it!"

Wu Ying gave them an icy glare that seemed to drip with killing intent. He flung the broken wooden tile fragment away and strode straight over to Su Mo.

"MoMo..." Wu Ying's voice came from behind her.

Su Mo turned around to look at him. Oblivious to any sense of impending danger, she said, "Oh Wu Ying, did you finish teaching those guests over there?"

"Seemed like you were enjoying your cozy little chat just now, hmm?" Wu Ying's gaze as he looked over at Yi was cold as frost.

Yi shrank back a little under Wu Ying's terrifying expression. "Mister...Wu Ying...so you're here too?"

Wu Ying completely ignored Yi's presence. He reached out and yanked Su Mo over to him with one swift movement. "You were having a pleasant conversation with him? Is that right?"

"Uh...I guess so," Su Mo answered, clearly unafraid.

Wu Ying's eyes darkened dangerously. Lowering down, he whispered directly in her ear, his voice a low growl carrying what almost sounded like a threat. "MoMo...kiss me..."

Su Mo gave Wu Ying an incredulous look and shoved his hands off her. "What's gotten into you today, Wu Ying?"

"Well, are you going to kiss me or not?" Wu Ying demanded, a cold glint flashing through his eyes as he gazed at her.

Now Su Mo was angry too, incensed by his attitude. "I refuse!"

Wu Ying was so furious he nearly spat blood. He stared fiercely at Su Mo for a moment before swooping down to capture her lips in a punishing bite.

The guests in the middle of their card game gaped with eyes wide as saucers, Yi included.

My, there was even a floor show to go with the entertainment today!

Su Mo pushed Wu Ying away forcefully, shocked by his behavior. But her lips had already been cut and bleeding from his bite.

"Wu Ying, what are you, some kind of mad dog?!" Su Mo said angrily.

"That was your repayment!" Wu Ying threw her one last blistering look before storming out of the Four Beauties Pavilion.

"You...just you wait! I'm not letting you kneel and scrub the laundry when we get back! Utterly absurd! I'm fuming!" Su Mo raged as she stamped her foot furiously on the ground.

"Big sister Su, you and Mister Wu Ying, are you two..." Yi started to ask.

Before he could even finish, Wu Ying had already returned. He grabbed Yi ruthlessly by the scruff of his neck, twisting him around and shoving him out the door.