Kapok and Vines

When men and women watch adult films together, they usually can't help but reach for the action, and the narration ends with "That was awesome!" However, because the plot of "The Female Divine Constable's Tale of Woe" was so exciting, it overshadowed the action, and no romantic atmosphere occurred at all. Si Ming and Liu Qingqing watched the whole movie attentively.

"... Although the movie was very good, I felt like I gained a little but lost a lot."

Si Ming lay sprawled on the sofa, his face filled with unspeakable regret.

What movies are good?

As Auntie Liu, who had just entered the house, took off her coat and hung it on the hook, she asked...

Si Ming wasn't startled by Auntie Liu's appearance. He had sensed her presence long ago, and even when he turned on the disc, he had already thought of the common plot in novels: when the male and female characters are doing something ambiguous but not actually having sex, the girl's parents suddenly barge in. There are only two possible outcomes: either they catch them on the spot and immediately misunderstand, or the male protagonist cleverly avoids them by hiding in the closet, on the balcony, under the covers, or under the bed.

Of course, a more astute author would add more variations to this, such as initially managing to avoid it, but then the woman's parents returned and caught them again, or initially avoiding it, but later discovering clues through subtle means.

But such a thing that the masses would love to see is impossible for Si Ming. Not to mention that he is Grandmaster who can sense the approach of others in advance, even if he is so engrossed in watching that he lets his guard down, he can still turn off the DVD player and TV with his finger strength after Auntie Liu enters the house.

However, he never expected that his preparations to prevent the movie from going wrong would be completely useless. As long as he cut out the two R-rated scenes, there would be no problem even if he watched the movie with Auntie Liu.

"The Female Divine Constable's Tale of Woe" is more of an Category III film than a royal film. Although people often confuse the two, for example, calling some vulgar movies Category III films, the two are fundamentally different.

The main content of adult films is to discuss the different applications of piston motion in human physics. Even those drama films use the plot as a foundation and take up a small proportion. However, Category III films intersperse some sexy and explicit scenes in the story plot. In essence, they are no different from those movies that use sex scenes for promotion. This is something that can be openly shown in theaters.

Unfortunately, the film industry in Su State was still in its infancy, lacking detailed film classifications and often confusing the two. This was a regret for the director and irresponsible towards the audience. Fortunately, "The Female Divine Constable's Tale of Woe" was well-made, otherwise Si Ming would have definitely yelled, "I took my pants off and this is what you show me!"

However, this director named Beneath the Eastern Fence is quite an interesting person; I'd like to get to know him sometime.

"A martial arts film with a female protagonist." Si Ming wasn't foolish enough to tell Auntie Liu the movie's name.

"A female protagonist? That's quite rare. Save this for me, I'll come back to take a look when I have time."

Si Ming made up his mind that he would ask his friends tomorrow for recommendations on martial arts films with female protagonists, anything that could get by. Luckily, he hadn't mentioned detective films, otherwise his choices would have been too limited.

"I'm exhausted after a long day. I'm going to take a shower now."

Auntie Liu was about to head to the bathroom when she suddenly stopped, turned to Si Ming, "You're still at my house so late? Are you planning to stay here tonight?"

Si Ming quickly said, "I'll leave right away."

Auntie Liu waved her hand and said, "It's not that I want to kick you out. Anyway, I don't care about those rumors. But it's always the girl who suffers more when the two of you are together without any official status. As your mother, even if I trust your character, I can't just sit idly by and watch my daughter be taken advantage of."

This was a declaration of commitment, and Si Ming wasn't so incompetent as to lack even this much responsibility. He immediately patted his chest and said, "I'll go back and write Qingqing's name on the marriage compatibility form."

That's more like it.

Auntie Liu nodded in satisfaction and headed to the bathroom on the second floor.

Si Ming breathed a sigh of relief, then scratched his head sheepishly and said to Liu Qingqing, "I'm sorry, I just spoke without asking for your permission."

Liu Qingqing shook her head and said softly, "Actually, most girls like guys who are a bit domineering and don't like guys who give up their choices. Hmm... the class monitor might prefer to take the initiative, but I've never had much of my own opinion since I was little. I do whatever my mom says. I don't particularly like Saintess Candidate, but I wouldn't say I'm against it either. So if my mom wants me to do it, I will, because I know she's thinking of me."

Si Ming quickly replied, "Me too."

"Yes, I know, that's why I went to the Barbarian Continent during the summer vacation when you asked me to. You're good to me, so I'll listen to you."

This straightforward confession caught Si Ming off guard. He was always more responsive to gentle persuasion than force, so he scratched his face sheepishly and deliberately changed the subject, saying, "What if your mother and I have conflicting ideas?"

I wanted to slap myself as soon as I said it. Asking such a question is as stupid as a woman asking her boyfriend, "If I and your mother fell into the river at the same time, who would you save first?" No matter how panicked you are, you shouldn't say something so mindless.

He was about to apologize when Liu Qingqing replied without hesitation, "My mother said, 'A woman should follow her husband wherever he goes,' so I'll listen to my mother now."

Si Ming was speechless for a moment. He suddenly felt that he might not be as clear-headed as the girls around him, including Murong Qing and Hongdou. They knew exactly what they wanted to do and what their standards of conduct were. They lived with clarity. Liu Qingqing seemed to have no opinions of her own and relied entirely on her mother for decisions, but she was never confused about her life.

Seeing that Si Ming remained silent, Liu Qingqing's tone softened. "Am I really that pathetic? Everyone says that a woman should be like a kapok tree, standing beside an oak tree, supporting each other, not climbing or bowing down, but being independent and strong. But I only want to be a vine, clinging to a tree, relying on it even in the wind and rain. If I lose the big tree, I'll have a hard time surviving... Am I being very shallow?"

Si Ming thought for a moment and then said, "Everyone has their own choices. You can't say which choice is definitely right or wrong. The main thing is to see which one is more suitable for you. Is being independent and self-reliant really that great? Is it the only standard for judging what is right? I don't think so."

Even among men, not everyone wants to be an oak tree. Standing tall against wind and rain is no easy feat. Many aspire to be blades of grass, vines, or even moss. If I could go back five or six years, and someone offered me a hundred million and taught me level four Internal Cultivation, on the condition that I'd be a lazy bum forever, I'd probably agree nine times out of ten.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing smiled faintly and said, "You have no ambition. The class monitor will definitely scold you if he finds out, and I look down on you too."

Si Ming protested, "Hey, didn't you also say you're useless and want to be a vine?"

"Yes, but vines can only twine around big trees. If vines are tied to other vines, they'll just fall to the ground together."

"That makes so much sense! It seems I need to strive harder and continue to grow stronger... Ah, I'm suddenly filled with energy!"

Once he became a towering tree, he imagined he could have many more vines twining around him, and Si Ming was quite pleased with himself.

Liu Qingqing glanced at him, then her arms suddenly transformed into tentacles that coiled around Si Ming's body like snakes. She asked, "So, which do you prefer: a vine like me who only relies on others, or a self-reliant kapok tree like Murong Qing?"

Oh no, is this retribution for my question earlier?

My Qingqing couldn't possibly be that petty!

Si Ming snorted, extended his five fingers, and said coldly, "Only the incompetent weak make choices; the strong, of course, want it all."

Is the next thing they're going to strangle me?

"No, it won't hurt you anyway," as if she could read Si Ming's mind, Liu Qingqing withdrew her tentacles and returned to normal. "I don't mind, because vines can't live without trees—whoever minds can just leave."

Is this magnanimity or cunning?

Si Ming didn't ask any more questions. He understood the principle of knowing when to stop while he was ahead; complaining after getting a good deal would only make him disliked.

"Oh, you haven't left yet?"

Auntie Liu came out wearing pajamas, drying her hair with a bath towel; her body was still radiating heat.