The Exasperatingly Airheaded Girl

"Is this art? I thought art was just something to fool people, or a tool for the rich to launder money. Is it because I've never seen a real School of Names in person, or is it because there's True Qi' in this world that even paintings have changed?"

If the food in this world can glow, then it seems acceptable that paintings can directly communicate with people's hearts.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Si Ming finally snapped out of his shock. He exhaled a deep breath and looked around, searching for the genius girl who had created these works of art.

"There, um, asleep?"

The girl was wearing a white nightgown, her hands pressed down as she lay on a drawing table. Her rather large breasts stretched the nightgown into a distinct curve due to gravity.

Perhaps due to a lack of sun exposure for a long time, her skin had an unhealthy white appearance, especially her hands, where the blood vessels under the skin were even visible.

Si Ming approached cautiously, looking down at her; her innocent and flawless profile made her look like a little angel.

He couldn't resist reaching out and gently poking it with his finger. The touch was incredibly soft, like the cheek of a newborn baby. So he couldn't help but poke it again, then a third time, then a fourth time...

"Oh no! This stuff is poisonous, and it's so addictive! My hands... I can't control them!"

"Hmm..."

Under the continuous, grotesque touches of her fingers, Hongdou finally woke up from her sleep.

She looked up, her eyes blank and lifeless, as if she hadn't yet returned from a dream world, and a drool unconsciously dripped from the corner of her mouth.

She opened her mouth and drawled, "I really want to merge..."

Chapter 83 The Annoying Natural Dullness

What kind of dream did you have?

Is he the Godmars, a fusion of six gods?

Si Ming felt his image of that little angel shatter instantly. "So, the brains of artists are really different from normal people?"

Hongdou raised her head, gazing up at Si Ming. The angle, so perfect it boosted male pride, combined with her unfocused eyes, the drool dangling from the corner of her mouth, and the curves of her breasts faintly visible through the neckline of her pajamas, made it seem as if she were shouting, "Hurry up and get your thoughts all dirty!"

"Would you... like to merge with me?"

"Oh no! Not only is the pose dangerous, but the lines are dangerous too!"

Fortunately Si Ming is not yet at the age of being most Blood Qi. Although he is mentally an old man, he is still a teenager who hasn't even grown all his hair yet, so he can pull back from the brink.

He quickly took a step back to create some distance, then found a towel, soaked it in warm water, and began to wipe Hongdou's face like he was kneading dough.

"Wake up! If a policeman walks in like this, I'll be in the Yellow River trouble no matter what."

It seems the face-washing technique worked; Hongdou finally shook off the remnants of the dream, blinked her big eyes, and looked at Si Ming, asking, "Xiao Ming, what are you doing here?"

"... Did you make this arrangement with Yao Bilian? By the way, have you always called me that kind of perpetual repeat student from elementary school textbooks?"

Si Ming thought back and realized that he and Hongdou had very few interactions. Although they lived in the same house, she was a complete homebody. She never left the house, not even her room. She ate, drank, and relieved herself all in the studio. He rarely saw her.

If I were to write my experiences after time travel into a novel, then Hongdou's appearance frequency would not exceed three chapters. Despite appearing so early in the story, she would seem to disappear without a trace, and I would meet her less often than Nan Kemeng, a new friend I met at the martial arts tournament.

Upon further reflection, Si Ming realized that even the body's former owner hadn't had a very good relationship with Hongdou; they were merely nodding acquaintances.

After all, the previous owner had an extremely insecure personality, while no matter how strange Hongdou's temper was, her talent was undeniable. At a young age, she was already a world-renowned rising star in the art world. Her works were highly sought after in the market, and each one, if not astronomically expensive, was at least equivalent to ten years' salary for a white-collar worker.

The former owner, who considered himself a good-for-nothing, would never want to communicate with Hongdou, who has the aura of a genius!

"Didn't Auntie Liu tell you that she's going abroad and I'll be taking care of you for the time being?"

"Huh, is that so?" Hongdou tilted her head, trying hard to remember. "It feels like I've said it before, but then again, I don't feel like I've said it..."

Before Si Ming could produce any evidence, she gave up thinking about it and said, "Forget it, it doesn't matter. I'll have to trouble you from now on. Auntie Liu also said that my living habits are terrible and my self-care ability is almost zero."

Auntie Liu had also explained this to Si Ming, especially since Hongdou would show extreme concentration once she started painting. Even if the world were ending outside, she wouldn't be distracted for a second. To get her out of her painting state, you had to use physical means.

"Just to ask, how low is your self-care ability? You can brush your teeth, wash your face, get dressed, and take a shower by yourself, right?"

After thinking for a moment, Hongdou gestured and said, "It's about a little higher than tying shoelaces, and a little lower than washing your hair."

"That's quite a subtle description..."

Si Ming suddenly realized a possibility: Auntie Liu was offering a daily wage of two hundred yuan not because she wanted to take care of a younger person, but because the job was truly worth the price.

"Fine, since I've taken the paycheck, I have to do my job well. What are your plans for today? Or are you going to keep sleeping?"

Hongdou sniffed, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Oh, right, I'm going out today to order some things."

"Related to painting?"

If it were everyday items, Si Ming felt he could do it for them; even buying sanitary napkins was no big deal, as long as he wasn't too embarrassed. But if it were drawing tools, he, as a complete novice, knew absolutely nothing about them.

Hongdou thought for a moment and said, "I guess there's a connection. I just happened to have some inspiration for my new work, but I lack actual observation. Just imagining it makes me feel like I'm missing a crucial piece, and I can't piece together a complete picture..."

"That's enough. It's all about technical stuff, right? I understand. Now you can get ready to go out, I'll go with you."

Hongdou stood up, puzzled, and asked, "What do we need to prepare? Can't we just go out?"

Si Ming looked him up and down and said, "You're planning to go out in this pajamas?"

Hongdou looked troubled. "But even for me, I'm still a little shy about going out without wearing anything."

"You're thinking from the wrong angle! And are you just 'a little' shy? Go change into some formal clothes right now! Otherwise, you're not allowed to leave the house!"

Si Ming thought he was actually a very patient person, but he found that it also depended on who he was dealing with.

Hongdou pouted and said, "Xiao Ming's tone of voice is starting to sound more and more like Auntie Liu's."