Bai Qingqing came to Yanlai Tower once again. Compared to her first visit filled with curiosity, she was much more composed this time.

  As soon as she reported her name at the entrance, someone respectfully escorted her upstairs. Bai Qingqing was secretly surprised—could it be that the last time Ning Yan was stopped outside, he felt humiliated, and now he wanted to save face?

  "Miss, please wait here for a moment."

  The waiter lowered his head, exited the room, and closed the door. Zidai looked around in astonishment, her eyes sparkling. "Miss, this place is much bigger and more luxurious than where we were last time!"

  Bai Qingqing shared the same sentiment. The elegance and refinement of this private room far exceeded her expectations. Many of the furnishings inside were rare even in their own Duke’s residence.

  Ning Yan sure was extravagant for the sake of appearances!

  Bai Qingqing was dumbfounded. How much silver would it take to reserve a place like this? She had thought Ning Yan was a carefree and unrestrained person, but it turned out he cared a lot about his reputation.

  Before long, a waiter from Yanlai Tower knocked on the door. Soon, the table was filled to the brim with dishes, all of them the most popular delicacies of the restaurant. The green cloud pastry that Yao Yao had been longing for was placed in the center, yet it didn't even stand out among the rest.

  "These…"

  The waiter replied respectfully, "Miss, please enjoy at your leisure. I won’t disturb you further."

  Bai Qingqing stared at the table full of pastries in a daze. Compared to other places, Yanlai Tower’s pastries were more exquisite. In fact, they even seemed superior to the imperial pastries her father once brought home as a reward from the palace. This whole table of delicacies must be extremely expensive.

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  "Zidai, how much silver did we bring with us?"

  Zidai reported a number, and Bai Qingqing frowned, feeling that it might not be enough. Ning Yan probably wasn’t familiar with the costs of a place like this. If they couldn’t pay for the meal in the end, it would be utterly humiliating!

  "Go back to the residence and bring more silver."

  "How can I leave you here alone, Miss? What if something happens?"

  "Not having enough silver is a bigger problem. I can't afford this embarrassment. Don’t worry, I’ll manage until you return. You saw it yourself—there are plenty of guards downstairs. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare cause trouble here."

  Seeing Bai Qingqing's insistence, Zidai hurried off to handle the matter.

  Only then did Bai Qingqing breathe a sigh of relief. It wasn’t for Ning Yan’s sake—she just felt a little guilty about that incense incident. It was better if she paid for this meal herself.

  Having made up her mind, Bai Qingqing started tasting the pastries. The green cloud pastry lived up to Yao Yao’s expectations—it was as soft and fluffy as clouds, with a subtle tea fragrance that was rich yet delicate, and not overly sweet.

  Her eyes lit up as she took another bite, then tried other pastries as well. She had to admit, Yanlai Tower’s reputation was well deserved. These pastries were better than any she had ever eaten before.

  When Ning Yan arrived, the first thing he saw was Bai Qingqing enjoying her food with a delighted expression. Her eyes curved into a smile, her cheeks were puffed up, and she looked utterly content.

  Bai Qingqing: "…!"

  A miscalculation!

  She quickly swallowed the pastry in her mouth, took a sip of tea to cleanse her palate, and used her handkerchief to wipe her lips clean before speaking somewhat awkwardly, "Lord Ning."

  "Do the pastries suit your taste?"

  Bai Qingqing wanted to retort—why did he sound like these were his own pastries? But she only thought about it and remained polite on the surface, nodding mildly. "Yanlai Tower's pastries are indeed excellent." Then, she changed the subject. "I imagine they must be quite expensive."

  Ning Yan completely missed her hint. "As long as you like them, eat as much as you want. If it's not enough, we can order more."

  Bai Qingqing: "…"