"This one doesn't know what kind of tradition thinks cold and wet is an attractive snack," Huaisang says, lifting his freshly filled glass briefly before taking a considerable sip. "No wonder they were so cheap..."

But okay, let's survey these other snacks. He's got a load of fancy-looking desserts, for the discerning wine drinker who thinks about things like 'pairing'— and some kind of candied nut in a bowl, which he goes for next, dragging the bowl to sit between the two of them. Now this is some real school days at Cloud Recesses energy.

"If you ask me, Shen-ge should accept his defeat so that he can relax properly." Chew... is he being subtle enough, Shen Yuan. "Competition is going to do horrible things to your skin."