Vase

Zhu Juntang has a correct self-awareness, and it is normal for a fairy to have a high opinion of herself.

Liu Chang'an only knows special skills and magic tricks.

"I don't have a chance?" Zhu Juntang stretched out her slender finger and proudly pointed at the dimly lit city. "Men all over the world want me to be their personal fairy."

"Only mortals fantasize about fairies. Today, I've chosen a new title for myself: Death." Liu Chang'an said without looking up. "Death isn't interested in fairies; Death only wants to hold the hand of beautiful girls and kill without hesitation."

"I'm a beautiful girl too." Zhu Juntang is never modest about this kind of thing. She thinks modesty is a bad virtue, basically no different from lying, and a waste of everyone's time and breath.

"Your looks are just average, nowhere near as good as An Nuan or Qin Yanan, and not even as pretty as your mother. But you're more pleasing to the eye than your mother, barely comparable to Zhong Qing... no, that's not quite right. Zhong Qing has a pitiful, melancholic yet feigned stubbornness, mixed with the competence and self-discipline of a professional woman. For men, she's more attractive than you." Liu Chang'an pointed to a vase beside him. "Look, you're like that kind of vase. I reckon it's expensive, but useless. People are amazed, look at it, and that's it. Nobody really wants to pay any price to acquire it. Even if someone spent millions to buy it, their real intention might just be money laundering."

Zhu Juntang looked at Liu Chang'an in disbelief.

This was the first time someone had described her this way, and ironically, his analogy seemed to make some sense. Indeed, many people looked at her like she was just a pretty face, and many wanted to marry her, attracted by her wealth, status, and influence.

Although most of his comments were nonsense, some of them resonated with people. Zhu Juntang, enraged, retorted, "You're talking nonsense! I'm the most beautiful!"

Liu Chang'an nodded. What she thought was her business; he neither supported nor opposed it. What he thought was his business, and he didn't need to support or oppose it.

"Look closely, look at me!" Zhu Juntang reached out and tried to turn Liu Chang'an's face, making him raise his head and take a good look at himself. This man was practically blind!

Liu Chang'an pushed her hand away and looked up at Zhu Juntang.

Zhu Juntang withdrew her hand and placed it in front of her, quickly suppressing her intense expression. A girl is most beautiful when she is calm and gentle, just like the Mona Lisa's smile that everyone admires. Although Zhu Juntang couldn't see what was so beautiful about the Mona Lisa.

Liu Chang'an's eyes narrowed slightly, becoming somewhat elongated, as he quietly looked at Zhu Juntang. Zhu Juntang maintained her posture, her eyes moving within their sockets before slowly stopping and meeting his gaze. His eyes were dark and deep. This man possessed a profound and steady temperament, especially the distinct features of his eyebrows, eyes, and lips. He didn't exhibit the common traits of roughness or weakness; he was simply just right.

Zhu Juntang's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away, turning her head and stiffening her neck, "How do I look? Aren't I especially beautiful?"

Liu Chang'an pointed to the vase again. He wasn't blind; did he need to look any further? After looking at it from all angles, no flowers had grown on her face, so there was nothing prettier.

Zhu Juntang yelled and pounced angrily, not knowing what she wanted to do, but she was determined to bite him. Liu Chang'an reached out and pressed her face down, pushing Zhu Juntang aside.

Zhu Juntang rolled over and got up. Liu Chang'an said, "I'll throw you back into the swimming pool later."

Zhu Juntang glared angrily at Liu Chang'an, who calmly turned his head back to continue reading his book, and couldn't help but wonder how she could possibly deal with this guy.

"Actually, you don't need to care about my opinion. First, I could never like you. Second, even if you were really pretty, you'd just be a nobody in my eyes. Third, even if I thought you were pretty, what would it matter? As you said, there are plenty of people in the world who would treat you like a fairy. One more or one less won't make a difference." Liu Chang'an advised considerately and with concern, "If you really want to prove yourself so badly, go get plastic surgery. If you look like An Nuan or Qin Yanan, I'll feel too embarrassed to say you're not pretty."

"Liu Chang'an! How could An Nuan like you when you're so annoying?" Zhu Juntang was furious. She involuntarily pressed her hand to her chest and understood the meaning behind Qin Yanan's gesture. It was because she felt that the intense heaving might break free from the restraints of her bra and clasp... even though she didn't have that strength yet.

"Isn't this a very simple principle?" Liu Chang'an looked at Zhu Juntang in surprise. "Don't you understand? Because in front of someone I like, of course I'm witty and humorous, gentle and considerate, knowledgeable and talented, understanding and considerate, full of sweet words, doing everything I can to pamper them, and dashing and charming. Can I be the same as I am with you?"

"Goodbye."

Zhu Juntang could no longer tolerate Liu Chang'an, so she stood up and went downstairs by herself.

Seeing that it was still early, Liu Chang'an knew that some fruit would spoil if left uneaten after washing, so he couldn't bear to waste it. He ate the fruit while reading before leaving.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Juntang had disappeared, but Zhong Qing was waiting downstairs, fully demonstrating the high professionalism of an assistant. Although all she had to do was press the elevator button for Liu Chang'an, then escort him downstairs, watch his figure disappear, and then turn back upstairs.

It was already very late at night. Diagonally opposite Baolong Center was the once most prosperous commercial street in Junsha, with a large statue of revolutionary martyrs standing at the street entrance.

Some of the road-blocking fences were removed at night, and Liu Chang'an walked over easily. He saw many electric motorcycle drivers soliciting customers. There was also a traditional bar street directly opposite the commercial street. Although the bars hadn't completely quieted down yet, there were quite a few men and women coming out. After all, if they left too late, they might not have the energy to do anything enjoyable until dawn after taking a shower at the hotel.

Liu Chang'an looked up at the large statue, sighed as usual about the fragility and insignificance of humankind, and the traces they could leave behind to the best of their ability, before strolling around the vendors at the entrance of the pedestrian street.

During the day, vendors pushing carts are not allowed to freely hawk their wares on the pedestrian street. They only come out after 10 o'clock. Some even occupy 20 or 30 meters of space, set up many tables and chairs to open large late-night food stalls, and can operate until 4 or 5 in the morning.

There were stalls selling grilled lamb skewers with "Halal" signs, grilled ribs, fruit boxes, and fried rice and noodles. All of them were doing good business. Liu Chang'an ate some grilled ribs, bought a fruit box, ordered a stir-fried rice and noodles dish, and went home.

He remembered that he was also a businessman, and he needed to sell rice noodles tomorrow morning.

I will continue to work hard to update, please vote for me next month. Thank you for the crowdfunding and rewards in the book club yesterday, and thank you to all the book lovers for your generous support. Xia Hua was surprised and deeply moved, because Xia Hua reputation and character are probably at the bottom level, yet so many book lovers still support Xia Hua. I feel ashamed. Thank you to Duanmu Lanquan for becoming the sect leader, thank you to Poor Man Shenchu Ziranfeng for becoming the alliance leader, and thank you to the book club for your generous sponsorship of the alliance leader.