Xie Lin · Chat

On the second floor of the teahouse, the wooden corridor leading to the private room facing the street was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and tea smoke. Occasionally, the sound of strings and flutes from downstairs filtered through the heavy carved wooden windows, feeling rather stifling. Xie Lin had changed into a cyan long gown, his long hair loosely tied at the back of his head with a black silk ribbon. His cloth shoes trod on the crimson carpet without making a sound. Three days ago, Cui Yu had sent word that a guest had booked today's gathering and specifically asked to see this famous dan actor. These days, opera performers were nothing more than entertainment to accompany tea in the eyes of the powerful. He had always loathed such unavoidable social engagements, yet there was no way to avoid them. "Manager Cui, is the person inside?" Xie Lin stopped in front of the private room's door, turned his face slightly to look at Cui Yu, who had come up to greet him. His voice carried little fluctuation, and his eyes were slightly lowered, concealing the usual chill beneath them. Cui Yu glanced at him and answered in a lowered voice, hinting that the person sitting inside was of extraordinary status and that he should be a bit more careful with his words. Xie Lin sneered inwardly—after all these years of crawling through the mire of the opera world, there was no dirty scheme he hadn't seen. "Understood. At the very least, I won't tarnish the teahouse's reputation." Xie Lin raised his right hand, his slender fingertips pressing against the dark red carved wooden door. With a slight push, the door swung inward with the faintest creak of dry hinges. "Xie Lin greets the guest. May I ask what opera you would like to hear today?"