Seeing Third Mistress Again
The most dazzling embellishment in this world comes from the blazing sunlight hanging high in the sky. Whether it is sacred or a matter of faith, adding a golden halo to it always feels quite fitting.
The Third Mistress walked in under the sunlight, her skirt swaying gently, her waist supple as a snake, and the ends of her dancing long hair all seemingly plated with a layer of gold, dazzling like a fairy pointing to the mortal world from the clouds.
This ethereal quality of Zhu Juntang is probably a hundred years less than what the Third Mistress has cultivated.
Stepping into the shadows cast by the low-rise buildings is like entering the human world, where life comes alive, and the colors of the eyebrows, eyes, facial features, and limbs are breathtakingly beautiful.
Apart from Liu Chang'an, who was in charge of cooking, and Zhou Dongdong, who possessed a protective barrier, everyone else stopped what they were doing and greeted the Third Mistress.
The Third Mistress nodded slightly, raised her hand to indicate that she didn't need to be greeted, and only frowned slightly as she looked at the red envelope in Zhu Juntang's hand, but then said nothing.
Zhong Qing stood behind the Third Mistress, his face expressionless and serious, like an old accountant from the old days, a completely different feeling from when he was with Zhu Juntang.
Qin Yanan thought to herself that although Zhong Qing was born in mainland China, he grew up in Taiwan and received training from the Zhu Family during the period when his values were formed. Ultimately, he was still somewhat different from assistants and secretaries in mainland China.
Even the secretaries of one's own father and great-grandfather would not describe the tension and the strict hierarchical distinctions between superiors and subordinates in such a way.
Liu Chang'an's spatula was still scraping the pot with a teeth-grinding sound. He gestured for Zhou Shuling to hand him a bowl, but there was no response. Only then did he look up and glance at the Third Mistress. It seemed that this woman was waiting for him to come knocking on her door.
Yes, he did have this need, so Liu Chang'an smiled, looking very sincere and enthusiastic.
Zhu Juntang glanced at Liu Chang'an. He had been furious when she said she would introduce her mother to Liu Chang'an, but now he was all smiles. She had never seen him so happy when he met Zhu Juntang.
"Liu Chang'an, the Zhu Family and Ye Family are old friends. I heard you did very well in the college entrance examination. In the mainland, this kind of thing is usually celebrated, so I came here today to congratulate you. May your future be bright and your ambitions soar. Ten years of hard work have finally paid off, and your lofty aspirations have finally come true." The Third Mistress opened her mouth slightly, revealing red lips and white teeth. Her voice was like pearls rolling onto a jade plate, delicate and melodious, yet it was also like the sound of a flute passing through a bamboo forest on a winter night, inevitably carrying a hint of chill and coldness.
"Thank you." Liu Chang'an looked at the Third Mistress's lips, teeth, eyebrows, and eyes. "However, to be honest, the Ye Family and the Su Family are old friends, and I no longer have the surname Ye. My great-grandfather said that having experienced the proletarian revolution, the old custom of rank-based succession is unacceptable. Whether you have the surname Ye or Liu, as long as you study hard, work diligently, and serve your country, you are all successors to socialism."
Qin Yanan's eyes twitched. It was the first time she had ever seen someone so calm and collected, spouting nonsense and rambling on, even under the Third Mistress's imposing aura.
The Third Mistress looked at Liu Chang'an coldly. His casual manner was exactly the same as Ye Chenyu's. However, given Ye Chenyu's status and position, it was normal for a young person to admire their elders. But to imitate others' speech and actions indiscriminately was like Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi or the man from Handan trying to learn how to walk, resulting in something neither fish nor fowl.
The coldness in her eyes vanished in an instant, and she smiled faintly, "Is Senior Ye not here today either?"
As for what he said, she certainly didn't take it to heart.
"It's here," Liu Chang'an said.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yanan and Zhu Juntang looked around in confusion, while Zhou Shuling was bewildered and couldn't understand it anyway. Just then Zhou Dongdong reached out to her mother, and Zhou Shuling came over. Zhou Dongdong stuffed a dessert into Zhou Shuling's mouth.
"Where?" The Third Mistress clasped her hands together, still maintaining the elegant demeanor of a wealthy lady, though the veins on the back of her hands were bulging.
"He generally doesn't see strangers, as you probably know. Older people often only want to see old friends, and they usually refuse to see any unfamiliar guests who come to their door," Liu Chang'an said, turning to Qin Yanan and Zhu Juntang. "Your parents are the same way, aren't they?"
Qin Yanan and Zhu Juntang both nodded involuntarily. After Zhu Juntang finished nodding, she coughed and turned her head away. Fortunately, the Third Mistress did not notice her at all.
"That makes sense." The Third Mistress released her grip, not caring much about her disappointment. She was used to this feeling; she had often experienced separation and death in this world. What did disappointment matter, one after another?
"Thank you for your understanding. I also hope that in the future, if you have any issues, Third Mistress, you can communicate with me directly and send someone to investigate such matters. This kind of thing should only happen once, not twice." Liu Chang'an smiled slightly, appearing very gentle.
The Third Mistress did not agree, but simply looked Liu Chang'an over with a calm gaze.
Liu Chang'an didn't have time to make eye contact with her; he took three bowls and filled them with Hong Soup Spicy Rooster.
The Third Mistress didn't seem to suspect that he was Ye Chenyu, or perhaps she had suspicions but couldn't be sure, and even she herself wasn't entirely willing to accept this suspicion.
Liu Chang'an had his suspicions that the Third Mistress was Su Mei, but all the women who had received his essence, including Su Xiaocui, only had their lifespans extended, not their youth. Undoubtedly, the only one who had made him work to grant others Longevity was Shangguan Dandan, who relied on this coffin... Whether it was due to his efforts or just the coffin's effect, he still didn't know.
What exactly was she planning to do? Liu Chang'an was too lazy to guess. Let her do whatever she wanted. If she really angered him, he'd see if he cared about their past relationship and how he felt.
A harmless Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman, I truly radiate a benevolent and compassionate Lux; perhaps this is what it feels like to be a god.
Liu Chang'an was thinking about all sorts of random things while cooking.
"Ya Nan, have you met Senior Ye Chenyu?" The Third Mistress withdrew her gaze and turned to Qin Yanan.
"No." Qin Yanan put down the kitchen knife in her hand and shook her head seriously. Although the Third Mistress and Liu Yuewang were both clearly women in their thirties, Qin Yanan was very dissatisfied with Liu Yuewang, but she was still willing to maintain the attitude of a junior towards the Third Mistress because the Third Mistress had a good relationship with her parents.
The Third Mistress looked at Zhu Juntang again.
Zhu Juntang involuntarily glanced at Liu Chang'an, not knowing why she was looking at Liu Chang'an, then pointed at herself with her mouth open, looking completely bewildered.
The Third Mistress then ignored her. Zhu Juntang liked to daydream and have wild ideas, but she was also easily led astray by others. If you got clues from asking her questions, it would really leave you at a loss. Whether to take it seriously or ignore it would be a headache.
"I heard that when you came here, your great-grandfather sent someone to bring you here overnight?" the Third Mistress asked Qin Yanan again.
Didn't you ask that question before? Of course, this wasn't the first time the Third Mistress had met Qin Yanan or chatted with Qin Yanan since arriving in Junsha. Qin Yanan nodded in agreement.
"You guys have fun, I'm going to Andorra. I'll leave tonight and head back first." The Third Mistress glanced at Liu Chang'an again. "Successor to socialism, congratulations again."
"Thank you," Liu Chang'an said with a smile.
The Third Mistress nodded and left with Zhong Qing. As she turned the corner, she glanced at the transport truck and a thought struck her, "The news about Mrs. Karnstein is probably just a smokescreen. The coffin might contain Grand Empress Dowager Shangguan, but could it not be Ye Chenyu?"
I'm going to bed now. I'll continue writing when I wake up. Please vote with your monthly tickets!