Chapter Five: Beverages

“What a pity,” Su Ziye remarked, producing a second small glass bottle from his coat, identical to the first, filled with the same deep brown liquid.

He pulled out the stopper and, tilting his head back, downed it in one gulp. Then, turning to Qingyi, he asked, “Would the Vice President care to try it this time?”

Qingyi was not truly worried that Su Ziye might have put poison in the bottle; she simply didn’t want to try something whose origins were so unclear. But since Su Ziye had gone this far, she could only force herself to examine the bottle in her hand, pull out the stopper, and take a cautious sip.

The instant the liquid touched her tongue, countless bubbles burst forth; the drink was cool and refreshing, its taste a blend of sweetness and tartness, layered with an array of complex flavors.

She wasn’t certain if it was delicious, but the novel sensation it brought was without precedent for her. She had only taken the tiniest sip, yet the taste vanished almost instantly. Seized by a strange impulse, she lifted the bottle and took another.

Once again, the same effervescent explosion, the same sweet and tart notes, those same layers of flavor. Putting the bottle down, Qingyi glanced at Su Ziye and asked, “What is this?”

“Let’s call it a kind of beverage,” Su Ziye replied with a calm smile, watching her with bright eyes. “Vice President, if I were to promote this drink in the Academy, how much do you think I could earn?”

“I have no idea,” Qingyi replied.

Indeed, she truly didn’t know. But she was beginning to grasp Su Ziye’s plan.

First of all, the Academy managed every aspect of its students’ lives: food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. If Su Ziye intended to sell this drink within the Academy, none of the students would need to spend a single coin—the Academy would foot the bill for everything.

“You really have quite a clever scheme,” Qingyi sighed.

Business with the Academy was almost the easiest venture in the world. After all, the Academy controlled all the tax revenue of Leafnight City; centuries of accumulation had filled its treasury with riches beyond reckoning. Otherwise, the Withered Dragon would never have bent the rules for Su Ziye’s sake, just for a chance to work with the Academy.

“All within the rules,” Su Ziye replied.

“So all that sugar and spice you’ve been buying is for making this drink? I’m rather curious—just how much can you make? Or rather, how many people do you have to help you? And while I don’t know what price you intend to set for it, the reality is that, whether it’s price or quantity, it’ll be hard for you to reach the scale you’re hoping for,” Qingyi said coolly.

“I know,” Su Ziye answered with a smile, as if untroubled.

“But you do move quickly—I can see you came prepared,” Qingyi sighed. “When do you plan to start selling this drink?”

“Care to guess?” Su Ziye said, almost carelessly.

“I don’t guess. I observe,” Qingyi replied evenly.

“Then tomorrow, it is,” Su Ziye said.

“Tomorrow?” Qingyi couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Yes,” Su Ziye smiled. “Tomorrow.”

…

…

Office at the top of the Sun Tower.

Kalotes gazed at the small bottle set on his desk, half-filled with deep brown liquid.

“This is the beverage Su Ziye made?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes,” Qingyi answered him.

“Interesting. Did you try it?” Kalotes smiled.

“I did,” she nodded.

“I’d love to know how he convinced you,” Kalotes said with a grin. “What did it taste like?”

“It’s hard to describe. I suggest you try it yourself,” Qingyi answered earnestly.

She had never tasted anything like it before, so it was difficult to put into words. If you want to know the flavor of a pear, the best way is to take a bite yourself.

Kalotes sighed and clapped his hands gently. “Your Highness, Third Princess.”

In the next instant, a girl in a black cloak materialized silently before them.

Qingyi showed no surprise. Among all the presidents of the student council, Kalotes had the closest, most harmonious relationship with the Third Princess. Yet, no one knew how he managed it. There were just too many unexplainable mysteries about this man, so the best course was simply to ignore them.

The Third Princess fixed Kalotes with her emotionless, flame-red eyes.

“Would you like to try it?” Kalotes asked, gesturing toward the bottle.

The Third Princess tilted her head slightly, as if pondering for a moment.

Then she shook her head.

Kalotes sighed. “But this was made by Su Ziye—I thought you might be interested.”

At the mention of Su Ziye’s name, the Third Princess’s eyes brightened a little.

When Su Ziye had been staying at her house, he’d acted as the chef, making all kinds of delicious food to feed her. But ever since the end of the third trial, both of them had moved into the Academy, and her side of the house had grown quiet once more.

Yet the Third Princess probably didn’t know what loneliness felt like, so life simply went on as before.

But today, Kalotes had suddenly summoned her and presented this drink, reputedly made by Su Ziye. Unexpectedly, the Third Princess began to show a glimmer of interest.

She stretched out her hand—the bottle vanished from the desk and appeared in her grasp. The girl studied it, then brought it to her lips and took a tentative sip.

“So?” Kalotes asked curiously.

It seemed he was using the Third Princess as a taste tester, Qingyi thought wryly, though she kept the comment to herself.

The Third Princess sipped only the tiniest amount, paused, then tilted her head back and finished the rest of the bottle in several quick gulps before setting it down.

“Seems like it’s quite good,” Kalotes mused. “Pity I should have tried it first.”

Qingyi had only brought back half a bottle—the remainder after her own tasting—and now the Third Princess had finished that off as well. If Kalotes wanted to try, he was out of luck.

The Third Princess took up her writing board, picked up her pen, and carefully wrote, then flipped it over.

“Not very good.”

She turned to the next page and continued writing: “Where is he?”

Why ask someone’s whereabouts if the drink wasn’t good?

“Don’t you know?” Kalotes asked calmly.

The Third Princess could find anyone she wished to meet in Leafnight City, whenever she wanted.

“Impolite,” she wrote.

Qingyi sighed. “Seventy-ninth floor.”

“Mm,” the girl murmured, then vanished on the spot.

Only the empty bottle remained on the desk.

Kalotes gazed at the air before him and sighed. “Had I known, I’d have tried it myself.”