Chapter 444: The Act Begins
"This big brother, you've misunderstood. We didn't come to your manor today to cause trouble. Instead, we genuinely wish to use this New Year's opportunity to pay you our respects."
Seeing that Ye Zhiqiu was about to botch the act completely, Yang Haoran quickly intervened, a smile plastered on his face.
As he spoke, he naturally drew the goatee man's gaze to himself, alleviating the pressure on Ye Zhiqiu.
As his words fell, Yang Haoran pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, smiling as he drew one out and offered it to the goatee man. His attitude was warm, as if he were greeting a close friend.
The goatee man stared at the smiling Yang Haoran, confusion etched on his face. After several seconds of hesitation, he finally accepted the cigarette.
As the goatee man took the cigarette, Yang Haoran drew another from the pack and offered it to Ye Zhiqiu.
Ye Zhiqiu hesitated for a moment, then took the cigarette Yang Haoran offered. He pulled out his lighter, lit it himself, and began to 'wash down' his beer with smoke.
The goatee man didn't light his cigarette immediately after taking it. Only after seeing Ye Zhiqiu light his did he put the cigarette into his mouth. Just as he reached for the lighter on the small side table beside him, a flame ignited from a lighter already held before him.
It wasn't Bai Xue who did this, and it certainly couldn't have been Ye Zhiqiu. Other than the two of them, only Yang Haoran remained.
The goatee man didn't stand on ceremony either. After a glance at the smiling Yang Haoran, he nonchalantly lit the cigarette in his mouth.
If the goatee man had known Yang Haoran's true identity, he would never have disregarded him so completely.
If the goatee man had known Yang Haoran's true purpose for this visit, he certainly wouldn't have been able to remain seated.
However, tragically, he knew none of this.
The goatee man sensed no power fluctuations from Yang Haoran, nor from Bai Xue. Yet, he knew in his heart that neither of them could be ordinary individuals. The reason he couldn't detect any power fluctuations was undoubtedly because they had sealed their powers.
Although he perceived that Yang Haoran and Bai Xue were not ordinary people, he didn't believe their strength to be particularly great, as he observed that they deferred to Ye Zhiqiu.
In his estimation, since both of them deferred to Ye Zhiqiu, it clearly indicated that their strength was inferior to his.
Ye Zhiqiu's strength was decent, but still a step below his own. Since he didn't even put Ye Zhiqiu in his eyes, how could he possibly care about the strength of Yang Haoran and Bai Xue?
Furthermore, even if he was mistaken, and Yang Haoran and Bai Xue weren't as weak as he imagined, what of it?
This Cloud Mist Mountain Manor was his territory. What could they do to him? What dared they do to him?
Therefore, he was somewhat arrogant and disdainful, for he believed it was only natural.
Beyond his arrogance, the goatee man also harbored a measure of self-important vigilance. After just receiving the cigarette from Yang Haoran, he hadn't intended to light it. Only after witnessing Ye Zhiqiu light the same brand did he place the cigarette in his mouth.
The reason he acted this way was, of course, to guard against Yang Haoran having tampered with the cigarette.
Yang Haoran clearly observed this detail. In his view, the goatee man's vigilance was utterly superfluous, a mere decoration, for it was far too inadequate—nothing but an empty shell.
The goatee man took a drag from his cigarette, and Yang Haoran's demeanor caused his expression to soften somewhat.
Yang Haoran, meanwhile, smilingly put away his cigarettes and lighter, but he didn't light one for himself.
Seeing this, the goatee man's brow furrowed slightly. He glanced at the cigarette in his hand, then turned his gaze back to Yang Haoran and asked, "Why aren't you smoking? Don't tell me you don't smoke."
Upon hearing this, Yang Haoran's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a hint of awkwardness. He said, "I'd like to, but wouldn't that be a bit impolite?"
"What's there to be impolite about? If you don't smoke, *I'd* feel it's impolite," the goatee man retorted.
"Then I apologize," Yang Haoran replied with a smile, then, feigning embarrassment, he pulled out the same pack of cigarettes from his pocket again, took out one, and lit it for himself.
He took a deep drag, and a subtle expression of satisfaction and enjoyment flickered across his face.
Although Yang Haoran's expression was not overtly pronounced, the goatee man clearly noticed it, and his slightly furrowed brow consequently relaxed.
"Who are you? " the goatee man inquired.
"Heh heh, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Shata, and this is my younger sister, Shani. We are both friends of Brother Ye," Yang Haoran replied with a smile.
"Shata? Shani? Heh heh, your name is a bit odd, but your sister's name certainly has flavor—just like her figure."
A smile spread across the goatee man's face. As he spoke, he merely glanced at Yang Haoran before his gaze completely settled on Bai Xue.
Although Bai Xue was dressed in athletic wear, it couldn't entirely conceal her excellent figure. Anyone with even a slight understanding of the female physique could tell at a glance that Bai Xue's body was anything but simple.
Evidently, the goatee man before them possessed more than a common understanding of such matters.
"Heh heh, Brother has excellent taste. I'm dressed so conservatively, yet I still couldn't hide it from Brother's discerning eyes," Bai Xue's lips curved slightly upwards, and her seductive voice followed.
Upon hearing this, the goatee man's mood seemed to improve considerably. He let out a hearty laugh, then said, "Haha, I do have some discernment. Not only is your figure good, but your voice is even more enchanting. Though you wear a mask, I'm certain that beneath it lies a face capable of astonishing the world."
Bai Xue understood the goatee man's meaning. She smiled alluringly and said, "If Brother wishes to see, I can take off my mask for you at any time. It's just a shame some people are too strict."
As she finished speaking, Bai Xue cast a glance at Yang Haoran. The implication was clear, and the goatee man, of course, understood.
"Haha, your brother made you wear this mask, didn't he? " the goatee man chuckled.
Bai Xue didn't speak, merely nodding gently.
The goatee man took a drag from his cigarette, then smiled as he turned his gaze to Yang Haoran.
"As a big brother, you shouldn't be too harsh on your sister. Why make such a beautiful woman wear a mask all day long?"
Although the goatee man hadn't yet seen Bai Xue's true face, he was already certain that she was undeniably a great beauty.
"Sigh, having my little sister wear a mask is truly a last resort. If I had a choice, who would want their own sister to wear a mask all day, making strangers think her face is too hideous to be seen? But to prevent her face from attracting unwanted attention and causing unnecessary trouble, we decided she should wear one," Yang Haoran sighed softly, a wry smile on his face as he explained.
The goatee man's interest was piqued, but he didn't relentlessly cling to the topic of Bai Xue's appearance. He knew he couldn't be too obvious; a balanced approach of offense and defense was necessary to achieve his ultimate goal.
"Don't just stand there. If you don't mind, why don't we all go into the pavilion and sit?"
The goatee man stubbed out his cigarette, then finally stood up and extended an invitation to the two of them.
"Then we'll intrude," Yang Haoran said with a smile.
"Thank you for the invitation, Brother," Bai Xue also said with a smile, her voice bone-numbingly sweet.
The goatee man chuckled again, then turned his gaze to Ye Zhiqiu, who was still drinking and smoking alone.
"Brother Ye, why don't you come in and sit as well?"
It was clear the goatee man's invitation was reluctant. Ye Zhiqiu shook his head and said, "No need. I'm fine drinking out here and enjoying the scenery."
Upon hearing this, Yang Haoran felt a deep sense of helplessness, though he showed not the slightest hint of it on his face. He looked at Ye Zhiqiu with a beaming smile and said, "Brother Ye, if our introducer doesn't come in and sit, wouldn't my little sister and I be terribly awkward?"
Ye Zhiqiu didn't answer Yang Haoran, but he still carried his beer into the pavilion, though his expression betrayed a degree of reluctance.
Watching Ye Zhiqiu's reluctant demeanor, the goatee man couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
"That you can befriend such an eccentric person truly impresses me,"
As his words fell, the goatee man also stepped into the pavilion.
Yang Haoran's smile remained unchanged; he seemed utterly unbothered by the goatee man's comment. He glanced at Bai Xue, and the two of them then followed him into the pavilion.
Comments