Although Shi Miming was wearing old clothes, he remained handsome and distinguished.
He and Li Que walked shoulder to shoulder down the red carpet, one restrained and deep, the other bright and ardent. The collision of dark blue and brilliant red complemented each other, creating a perfect balance like deliberate contrast in a work of art.
The two were so outstanding in appearance that every other celebrity on the carpet became background scenery, and the entire venue abruptly seemed like their private stage.
Still, they did not linger on the red carpet and soon entered the main hall.
The music inside was gentle and elegant. Floral installations and lighting around the stage created a dreamlike atmosphere. They exchanged greetings with the other distinguished guests, smiling and expertly managing the occasion while playing the part of a loving married couple.
He found it a little strange but didn't ask. Before long, Shi Miming returned carrying a glass bottle of mineral water and placed it in front of him.
"Special mineral water supplied for the banquet," Shi Miming said. "I wonder if the noble Young Master Li can stomach it?"
Li Que had been somewhat touched, but the moment he remembered Shi Miming's tenderness toward the protagonist—the receptive partner in the dream and his cruelty toward Li Que himself, the feeling drained away. He said coldly, "Even the chauffeur knows I only drink Himalayan glacier water."
Shi Miming smiled. "Young Master Li's tastes change faster than fashion. At the beginning of the year, you said you only drank snowmelt from the Alps."
Shi Miming twisted open the bottle cap and handed it to him. "Young Master Li, this is glacier water."
Li Que froze. He carefully inspected the bottle and discovered that the label indeed said "low-deuterium glacier water," though whether it actually came from the Himalayas was another question.
But Li Que disliked drinking directly from a bottle and still didn't particularly want it.
Seeing how fussy he was, Shi Miming complained, "Young Master Li has so many rules," while asking a waiter to bring a glass.
The waiter brought an empty wineglass. Before Li Que could say anything, Shi Miming shook his head. "Young Master Li uses wineglasses for wine, teacups for tea, and only water glasses for water… He refuses to mix them up. Bring a water glass—the straight cylindrical kind with a round rim. A diamond-cut pattern would be even better."
The waiter nodded while saying aloud, "Mr. Shi really loves his wife. How considerate," while inwardly thinking, So many damn demands, and hardly any tip.
A moment later, the correct glass arrived. The waiter poured the low-deuterium glacier water from the glass bottle into the glass.