Thanks for another update
This drinking with scene with Ye Xue sets the tone for the introduction of a new strong character. Unexpectedly the author managed to throw in a funny scene with a parody of the same drinking scene with a jealous (I think) Liu Qingqing and it had me chuckling, especially these lines:
Originally:
“Who’d want to drink with me?” Ye Xue asked.
....
[And she drank with Lu XF]
...
Later:
As soon as he entered the room, Liu Qingqing was already sitting on the floor with an earthen jar of wine, “Who’d want to drink with me?” she asked.
Lu Xiaofeng looked forward, he looked backward, he looked to the right, he looked to the left, and then with a bitter laugh said, “It seems like I am the only one in this room.”
“Can you drink?” Liu Qingqing asked.
“Can I not drink?” Lu Xiaofeng asked.
“You can’t,” Liu Qingqing replied.
Lu Xiaofeng could only sit down to drink with her. When he sat down, he was already drunk.