Chapter 66

The Listening Rain Pavilion is a rather famous pavilion of the Liu family, used to entertain young masters and misses from outside the family. Only the direct descendants of a few second-rank families in Wuling City can enter here.

Therefore, the Liu family took Lu Li very seriously this time, setting up such a grand scene, with a very clear purpose: to recruit Lu Li.

After Lu Li entered the Listening Rain Pavilion, he was indeed startled by the grand scene Liu Yi had set up. The Listening Rain Pavilion was opulent and luxurious to the extreme. Born into a humble background, Lu Li had never seen such a luxurious pavilion before, and he thought he had entered the imperial palace.

The Listening Rain Pavilion was not large, with five golden platforms placed on either side and two more at the main seat. All the golden platforms were piled high with delicious dishes. Liu Yi sat behind one of the golden platforms at the main seat, smiling at him.

People were seated behind the golden platforms on both sides, all beautiful young ladies with excellent looks and extraordinary demeanor. At first glance, Lu Li thought he had entered the emperor's harem, where three thousand beauties sat, dazzling his eyes.

"Stay calm, stay calm!"

Lu Li silently repeated these words in his mind. Because of Lu Ling's incomparably beautiful face, his resistance to beauty had increased significantly. The beauties here had transcendent status and myriad charms, but compared to Lu Ling, they were still far inferior. Lu Li was very clear about why Liu Yi had set up this grand scene, so how could he fall for it?

"Huh?"

Several young ladies saw Lu Li's eyes instantly clear up and their faces showed surprise. The most beautiful young lady of the Liu family had been mobilized, and they were quite confident in their looks. How could this country bumpkin from a tribe have such strong self-control?

However, a bitter smile appeared at the corner of Liu Yi's mouth. It seemed that today's beauty banquet was not very meaningful. This boy was really like a stone in a latrine, both smelly and hard.

Lu Li bowed slightly and said, "Lu Li pays respects to Miss Yi and all the young ladies!"

"Come and sit!" Liu Yi still wanted to make an effort, getting up and pointing to the golden platform beside her.

She was wearing a light yellow floral dress with a pink belt around her waist, her slender waist very alluring. Her hair was tied up high, revealing her snow-white neck, crystal-clear earlobes, and alluring collarbone, exuding extreme charm.

It was already close to dusk, and the flickering candlelight cast a dark yellow glow on Liu Yi's beautiful face, making her even more charming.

Lu Li did not look around, and after a slight nod, he walked briskly toward the golden platform. Before he even sat down, he felt a fragrant aroma wafting toward him, with the scent of rouge and the surrounding beauties. Even before drinking, Lu Li already felt a bit tipsy.

"Ladies, let me introduce you to Lu Li, whom I mentioned to you. He is also our family's guest scholar and once saved my life."

Liu Yi raised her wine glass and smiled, looking around and then smiling at Lu Li, "Lu Li, these are my sisters, all direct descendants of the Lu family. Today, the sisters have gathered to thank you for saving me. Come, let's all raise a glass to Lord Lu."

"Hehe!"

"Ha ha!"

"Lord Lu, we raise a glass to you, thank you for saving Sister Yi~"

"Lord Lu is so young, yet he has reached the peak of the Xuanwu realm, with a bright future ahead."

"..."

The young ladies stood up one after another, speaking in soft, sweet voices, their admiring and teasing gazes making Lu Li's heart race. He hurriedly stood up and raised his wine glass, "Thank you, all the young ladies, thank you, Miss Yi!"

Liu Yi looked at Lu Li's somewhat nervous and awkward appearance, smiled, and drank the wine in one gulp, then looked at Lu Li with bright eyes.

What could Lu Li do? He could only drink it in one gulp. The other young ladies also drank their glasses, and the conversation became lively.

"Lord Lu, I have long heard of your deeds, and today I finally get to meet you. My name is Liu Ying, I raise a glass to you."

"Lord Lu, you can't favor one over another. My name is Liu Yu, I also raise a glass to you..."

"Lord Lu..."

One after another, seven or eight people raised their glasses to him, and Lu Li was momentarily stunned. He couldn't refuse the sweet young ladies' toasts, but if he continued drinking, something would definitely go wrong.

If he got drunk and one of the Liu family's young ladies forced a relationship with him, he would have no choice but to join the Liu family...

After drinking a few more glasses, Lu Li saw that the toasts were still coming. He steeled his resolve and stood up, "Miss Yi, all the young ladies, Lu Li can't hold his liquor, so I won't drink with each of you. I will drink a cup to apologize, and let's call it a day. I have some matters to attend to, we can talk another day."

Lu Li drank the cup and was about to leave, but Liu Yi's smile froze. She knew that if this continued, today's effort would be in vain.

She stood up and said, "Lu Li, wait a moment, I have something important to discuss with you. How about we talk in the back garden?"

Liu Yi had been observing Lu Li since he entered, noticing that his gaze did not linger on any of the young ladies for more than three seconds. This meant that none of the ten young ladies from the Liu family had caught his eye, and continuing would only make Lu Li more wary.

Lu Li turned and looked at Liu Yi, seeing the pleading in her eyes, his heart softened, and he nodded, "Alright, all the young ladies, please continue to enjoy yourselves, Lu Li will take my leave for a moment."

Liu Yi swayed her snake-like waist and walked to the side corridor, with Lu Li following closely behind. After they left, the smiles on many of the young ladies' faces froze.

"Hmph!"

One of the young ladies huffed and put down her wine glass, "What is this country bumpkin? The family actually wants us to do everything to get him?"

"Exactly, he doesn't know what's good for him!"

Another young lady in a pink dress said coldly, "Does he really think he's a young master? A country bumpkin from a tribe, we gave him face, and he still puts on airs, what a joke..."

"Stop it!"

One of the young ladies made a shushing gesture and waved her hand, "Let's all disperse. It's better that he doesn't like us; we don't like him either. If he really chose one of us, the family might force us to marry him..."

Hearing this, most of the young ladies' faces changed, and they quickly left. The Listening Rain Pavilion, which had been bustling just moments ago, was now empty.

...

Lu Li followed Liu Yi to a small pavilion in the back garden. The stone table in the middle of the pavilion was already set with wine and dishes, and a servant girl was waiting on the side. Lu Li looked and smiled bitterly, "Still drinking?"

Liu Yi personally filled Lu Li's wine glass and said, "If you don't want to drink, I won't force you. I'll drink a full glass, and you drink half, how about that?"

Lu Li still smiled bitterly and said, "I really can't drink anymore, or something will happen."

Liu Yi waved the servant girl away, sat down directly, and looked at Lu Li, "Something will happen? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that if you get drunk, we'll misbehave? Haha, the young ladies of the Liu family are not so low."

When she said "misbehave," a slight blush appeared on Liu Yi's face, clearly implying something deeper. Lu Li's face turned red, and he said awkwardly, "Miss Yi, you're overthinking it, Lu Li didn't mean that."

"Then will you drink or not?"

Liu Yi glared and said angrily, "I'll drink a full glass, and you drink half. Are you a big man afraid of a weak woman?"

In this situation, no man could bear it. Lu Li was provoked and gritted his teeth, "Alright, if you drink, I'll drink with you. We won't stop until we're drunk."

Lu Li raised his wine glass and drank it in one gulp, not just half. He wanted to see what Liu Yi was up to today.

...