The Night Was Just Right (8,000-Character Mega Chapter)

Zhu Juntang sat in the sunlight, hugging her knees, listening to Qin Yanan finish explaining her plan, nodding occasionally and tapping her chin against her knees.

"So you've been doing all these shady things behind my back!" Zhu Juntang was furious. Were they even still best friends?

"Back then, you wouldn't tell me either? You even said it was related to a major process of human natural evolution." Qin Yanan retorted to Zhu Juntang, slightly embarrassed but also confident.

"I wasn't sure at the time, and he wouldn't admit it!" Zhu Juntang was also a little embarrassed, and her original anger was no longer so confident.

Qin Yanan playfully hit Zhu Juntang, Zhu Juntang shoved Qin Yanan back with a hum, and the two smiled at each other and hugged.

"So your sleepwalking was quite something. I knew my gut feeling was right. You fooled me this morning, but now look what's happened. I don't want my best friend to really become a different person." Qin Yanan explained her plan and also casually told Zhu Juntang this big secret. Since both of them were interested in Liu Chang'an, two heads are better than Zhuge Liang... well, maybe not, since Zhu Juntang often dragged him down.

"You know what to do, right? Just don't give yourself away." Qin Yanan pulled Zhu Juntang aside to rehearse a few times, emphasizing the importance of keeping her expression and tone natural, as Liu Chang'an wasn't so easily fooled.

Liu Chang'an spent the whole morning disassembling the drone, and then put it back together, but found a few extra parts whose purpose he didn't know.

After a moment of stunned silence, Liu Chang'an disassembled the drone into a pile and threw it all into a toolbox. He didn't care about the chip positioning issue inside the drone. He figured the footage of him jumping up and grabbing the drone yesterday had been transmitted back. Even though the drone couldn't fly afterward, the signal transmission must still be working normally. How could he not know that it was Liu Chang'an who did it?

As for the bats, they were not discovered by Liu Chang'an.

Liu Chang'an recalled a legend about bats:

Long, long ago, during a war between birds and beasts, the bat initially watched from the sidelines. When the birds gained the upper hand, it joined their army. Later, as the tide of battle turned, it joined the beast army, claiming to be a flying mouse that nursed its offspring with its penis. It vowed to be forever loyal to the beasts. Little did it know that the birds would eventually win, and the eagles would hunt down the bat. Terrified, the bat hid in a cave.

So bats have such a dark history, they deserved to die. Liu Chang'an had some realizations.

Liu Chang'an and Zhou Shuling went to sell rice noodles together and didn't return until the afternoon. They saw Zhu Juntang waiting for him under the sycamore tree with a serious expression.

"What's up?" Liu Chang'an took the door panel off; his plan for the afternoon was to glue the canopy of the oil-paper umbrella back on.

"Of course, do you think I don't know how to take a nap in my room?" Zhu Juntang yawned, looking a little sleepy, but the movement was small. Because such large movements would be considered a bit rude, while small movements made her look a little adorably absent-minded.

"You're right," Liu Chang'an agreed.

"I'm really sleepy because I didn't sleep well last night." Zhu Juntang continued to act sleepy, stretching a little more than usual, but still within the cute, slightly drowsy range... or so she thought.

"I noticed your yawn went really deep; it felt like I could see right through your stomach and esophagus. Looks like you rinsed your mouth after eating; I didn't see any food residue," Liu Chang'an observed casually.

Zhu Juntang's expression changed slightly, and she quickly covered her mouth. Liu Chang'an must be teasing her; she didn't yawn that exaggeratedly!

"Why don't you ask me why I didn't sleep well last night?" Liu Chang'an was so annoying. Zhu Juntang didn't plan to get angry for the time being and had to endure the humiliation.

"Why didn't you sleep well last night?" Liu Chang'an asked, trying to appease her. Although he didn't care whether she slept well or not, he figured that if he didn't want this fairy-like creature to turn into a chattering little hen, he could just go along with her and get rid of her sooner.

"Qin Yanan sleepwalked again last night." Zhu Juntang lowered her voice and leaned closer to Liu Chang'an's cheek. "Do you remember when I told you that I personally witnessed her sleepwalking? Although she managed to fool me, I'm sure her sleepwalking last night wasn't that simple!"

Liu Chang'an poked Zhu Juntang's cheek with the umbrella frame in his hand, telling her to stay away from him. Did she think that just because she rinsed her mouth after eating and her lips tasted fresh and fragrant, she could casually approach others and talk to them? How impolite.

"Sleepwalking is certainly not simple. It involves both physiological and psychological factors. Any symptoms related to the brain are not simple." After poking Zhu Juntang, Liu Chang'an continued with his own actions.

Zhu Juntang touched her cheek. Girls are very sensitive to small gestures. She had noticed long ago that apart from being very intimate with his girlfriend and being able to accept Zhou Dongdong's hugging, Liu Chang'an would clearly and without hesitation reject any other girl who got close to him.

But Zhu Juntang didn't do it on purpose! Who would want to be close to him? It's just that his scent isn't unpleasant. It's not her fault; she just unconsciously finds his scent pleasant.

Zhu Juntang continued to endure the humiliation and said, "Watch the video."

Liu Chang'an glanced at Zhu Juntang with slight doubt, looking at the phone screen Zhu Juntang handed him. It seemed to be a copy of the surveillance footage, but it wasn't very clear.

Why would you install surveillance cameras in your room if there's nothing going on?

"Of course there are security cameras in my room, but no one but me has permission to access the video footage. If my security is fine, this data will be deleted within a specified time," Zhu Juntang said matter-of-factly. "Look at the video!"

Liu Chang'an continued watching the video. Although the video wasn't very clear, it showed that this was Zhu Juntang's bedroom. The curtains were drawn, and it seemed to be nighttime. Zhu Juntang and Qin Yanan were lying side by side in their pajamas, one on each side, with the edges of the blankets neatly tucked in. This wasn't strange... Wasn't it normal for a maid to help Zhu Juntang tidy up the blankets before she slept?

In the video, Qin Yanan got up and slowly walked out of the surveillance range. When she came back, she was not only wearing a cheongsam, but also holding an oil-paper umbrella!

Qin Yanan walked around the room holding an oil-paper umbrella. After a while, she put down the umbrella and stood there motionless, staring blankly. As the video ended, she finally sat down on the edge of the bed and lay down.

"Is it over?" Liu Chang'an said with slight disappointment, "There's no eerie atmosphere at all, not even as good as the possession story you described the other day."

"Don't you think it's strange to be sleepwalking while holding an umbrella? Umbrella, umbrella... In superstition, umbrellas are believed to have the function of summoning and guiding souls, right?" Zhu Juntang felt a little embarrassed, but quickly adjusted herself and said slowly in a creepy tone.

"I'm sorry, but the revolution on the mainland is more thorough. Even though we've never completely eradicated superstitious activities, compared to your side, we're still far behind... You know what? Many of us watch ghost movies and horror movies, and the screen is filled with messages like: Prosperity, Democracy, Civility, Harmony, Freedom, Equality, Fairness, Rule of Law, Patriotism, Dedication, Integrity, Friendliness... When you go back, copy down the core socialist values and have Qin Yanan stick them on her body tonight. You can also copy them down yourself and stick them at the entrance of Baolong Center, and all evil will be banished."

After Liu Chang'an finished speaking, he waved his hand, indicating that Zhu Juntang should go play somewhere else.

Zhu Juntang was at a loss for what to do, "You... how come you don't care about Qin Yanan at all?"

"Aren't you worried about her being possessed by a ghost? I've already told you what to do. If you don't believe me, go find a professional sorcerer. I remember when Baolong Center opened, they hired a sorcerer to perform a ritual. Why don't you go find that master?"

"I think you should stay overnight at the top of Mount Lu again to observe Qin Yanan's sleepwalking." Zhu Juntang's true intentions were revealed.

"I'm not going."

"Ah..." Zhu Juntang stared blankly at Liu Chang'an. How could he be so decisive and efficient? It was completely different from what she had imagined.

Liu Chang'an continued doing his own thing.

Zhu Juntang was unsure how to react, so she just stood aside and watched Liu Chang'an.

The umbrella surface Liu Chang'an used was made of the finest peach blossom paper, soaked in persimmon lacquer, and then pasted onto the umbrella frame one sheet at a time.

Persimmon lacquer is made by mashing and squeezing out the juice from unripe persimmons. Few people make this, but fortunately, with the development of logistics and the convenience of online shopping, it saves a lot of effort.

After gluing the umbrella surface, Liu Chang'an placed the oil-paper umbrella on the roof of the transport vehicle and weighed down the handle with bricks to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.

Liu Chang'an ignored Zhu Juntang completely, so Zhu Juntang had no choice but to return home.

"Who told you to embellish it? Just do as I said. Didn't I tell you not to say a word or do anything extra after showing him the video?" Qin Yanan was quite helpless after hearing Zhu Juntang's report. "Any lie is very detailed because liars add a lot of details to try to make it believable. So, conversely, when you embellish something he already finds suspicious, do you think Liu Chang'an, with his intelligence, will believe it?"

"He doesn't know how?" So he didn't believe it! Zhu Juntang suddenly realized, then felt a little annoyed. "What you said makes a lot of sense. When Liu Chang'an told me stories before, because they were true, he rarely went into too much detail. I filled in the details myself in my mind."

"That's just you enjoying acting out your inner thoughts; it has nothing to do with whether he's being serious or not." Qin Yanan shook her head, crossing her arms. "Never mind, I'll think of something else."

"What other ideas do you have?" Zhu Juntang immediately perked up again, pointing to himself, "This time I definitely won't let you down, I'll definitely get it in no time!"

"I don't need you anymore."

"Ah!"

"Just don't ruin things for me, I'll tell you what's going on."

"Okay... but I suggest you use elements of seduction."

"Tempting you my foot! He likes young, innocent girls like you."

"You look so young!"

Qin Yanan drove back to the top of Mount Lu. Along the way, she had already come up with several plans, and Zhu Juntang had already alerted the enemy today.

Coupled with his probing yesterday, Liu Chang'an must have become wary and realized that his identity might be exposed.

Qin Yanan felt that Liu Chang'an had no reason to hide his identity from her, but Liu Chang'an probably felt that there was no need for her to know either.

It all comes down to his whim, not to any personal gain, but simply to his mood and desire. I need to work on that myself.

If he admits that he is Ye Chenyu, Qin Yanan will tell him her ultimate secret. Perhaps only he knows what really happened.

Qin Yanan got out of the car and saw Ma Weiming again. Ma Weiming had actually come to the top of Mount Lu again. This time, his face didn't look good, and he looked a bit listless. It seemed that "Ye Chenyu" had beaten him quite badly last time.

Ma Weiming also brought more than ten bodyguards. Undoubtedly, he prioritized safety over making Qin Yanan dislike him; what was the point of him leaving a good impression on Qin Yanan if he were to lose his life?

Qin Yanan simply nodded to Ma Weiming and prepared to press the elevator button to go upstairs, but Ma Weiming spoke up, "Miss Qin, please wait."

Qin Yanan was slightly puzzled, but her upbringing made her look expectant, her finger still hovering over the elevator button, her meaning clear: if you have something to say, say it quickly.

"I'm very sorry for the trouble I've caused you recently. I sincerely apologize." Ma Weiming waved away the bodyguards who were helping him, steadied himself, and bowed deeply in apology.

Qin Yanan didn't care whether he was just putting on an act or not, but Ma Weiming probably didn't have the confidence to go back on his word in front of her, so she nodded, said no more polite words, and walked into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, Qin Yanan looked at Ma Weiming, maintaining a reserved and indifferent polite smile.

Ma Weiming stood up and turned around after the elevator doors closed, his face grim.

Being beaten on the top of Mount Lu, the first investigation yielded no results, and the second time Ma Weiming called the police, not only using his father's connections but also directly contacting the Mount Lu District. As an entrepreneur investing in his hometown, being repeatedly beaten without cause—what kind of investment environment is this?

As a high-flying unicorn company, it would be welcomed anywhere to set up shop. Moreover, the incident of Ma Weiming being beaten is indeed very strange. Who would have the time to beat up a young, successful, wealthy man with a rich background?

Although the company that settled in Junsha was not under Ma Weiming's name due to the need to circumvent certain policies, and there was no clear connection between Ma Weiming and the company in terms of equity.

With someone in charge, many investigations became much easier. However, just as quickly, Ma Weiming's father, Ma Xingguo, was summoned before Qin Yanan's father.

After Ma Xingguo returned, he summoned Ma Weiming to his study.

Ma Weiming saw that his father's expression was solemn, not like someone facing imminent disaster, but rather unusually serious.

"This whole thing started because you harassed Qin Yanan, which is why you got beaten up. You need to figure out the cause and effect, right and wrong," Ma Xingguo said to Ma Weiming.

"What?" Ma Weiming was quite surprised, because Ma Xingguo had always supported him in pursuing Qin Yanan, and Ma Xingguo was also quite certain that Qin Yanan's parents did not interfere in her love life or marriage. Qin Yanan's father had also praised Ma Weiming as a promising young entrepreneur and welcomed him to contribute to the economy of Junsha and South Hunan.

"The person who hit you is the fiancé that Old Master Qin found for Qin Yanan, the person Old Master Qin favors, so... don't continue this jealous squabble where you're in the wrong." Ma Weiming said calmly, a completely different expression from when he left Qin Yanan's father's office.

However, he also knew that his son was ultimately the one who suffered the loss, and the Qin Family would not punish him for such a small matter. Those in high positions naturally had the composure to issue a warning, and there would be no further repercussions. He didn't need to be anxious and trembling with fear.

However, if he ignores what his son is doing and indulges him, allowing him to continue causing trouble for others, then it becomes a provocation, and the nature of the matter is completely different.

Ma Xingguo didn't have the guts, so he also warned his son that no matter how Ma Weiming's company was, it was not qualified to chat and laugh with Qin Yanan's father like the chairman of Baojun Group.

It's still time to keep a low profile.

"Old Master Qin... that Old Master Qin who lives in Jinling now?" Ma Weiming asked in shock. "Even if he is Qin Yanan's fiancé, how come our investigation has already alarmed Qin Yanan's father?"

This doesn't make sense. Ma Weiming isn't a novice. The higher a person's position and power, the less likely they are to act rashly. Why would such a trivial matter alarm him?

"Would I lie to you?" Ma Xingguo still maintained some authority in front of his son, and snorted angrily, "He's Qin Yanan's fiancé. If you were in his shoes, and a guy was loitering outside your fiancée's door every day, wouldn't you beat him up? So this beating was for nothing; you'll be beaten so badly you won't have a chance to complain!"

Ma Weiming was speechless, feeling a surge of frustration. For the first time, he experienced the helplessness and anger of facing the oppressive power of a stronger authority.

After apologizing to Qin Yanan, Ma Weiming knew he would never come to the top of Mount Lu again. But one day, he would make Qin Yanan realize just how dazzling the man she had once looked down upon could be!

River East River West every thirty years; never underestimate a young person's potential.

Junsha City is divided by the river, and it is indeed called River East) and River West).

The River East is the traditional old town, while the River West used to be called the countryside. People from the River East often look down on people from the River West.

Today, as the River East continues to develop its economic development zone eastward, the River West is also developing well, thanks to its university town and various excellent educational and environmental resources. With preferential development policies, many places in the River West are the envy of people in the River East.

Liu Chang'an spent the afternoon making oil-paper umbrellas. After dinner, he didn't go to the mahjong parlor to play cards. Instead, he took a walk around the neighborhood and didn't see any more drones or bats, which he found a bit of a pity.

If he still had the drone, he could take it apart again and compare its internal structure. He also searched for some related information online, which gave him a better understanding of drones and made him even more interested. However, with his current financial situation, buying a drone that wasn't so much like a toy was simply beyond his means.

Liu Chang'an didn't pay much attention to his poverty. After taking a short walk, he put the drone issue out of his mind and started running. He hadn't been running much lately anyway. He ran from the east bank of the River East to the River West, along the riverside scenic belt to the Silver Basin Ridge Bridge, making a long detour. He even passed by the old zinc factory where he had a friendly sparring session with the Peel brothers, who had unwittingly fallen into a well.

"May you ascend to heaven, "Liu Chang'an said, offering a brief moment of condolence.

Liu Chang'an recalled the name Nikola Tesla. In the general understanding of nine-year compulsory education and high school, this name refers to a physicist. However, according to the Peel brothers, this name refers to a biomedical research center.

In Liu Chang'an's memory, she was a red-haired girl with the air of an English island. She invited Liu Chang'an to watch the atomic bomb explosion, and then she was probably killed by the atomic bomb. Liu Chang'an only felt strange, not sad, and the impression was not very deep.

Nikola Tesla, a physicist, died in 1943, and then a red-haired girl named Nikola Tesla appeared and approached Liu Chang'an.

Now, another Tesla Biological Research Center, has approached Liu Chang'an.

These three things may be related. Liu Chang'an continued running while using his phone to search for information related to the name "Nikola Tesla," including derivative novels and even anime characters.

After searching for a while, Liu Chang'an received a message from a girl who hadn't been sending him frequent text messages for some time.

"Uncle, why do you never reply to messages?"

"The message you sent me last time was meaningless and nonsensical. How am I supposed to reply?"

"Heh, you're actually here."

"Um."

My mom said she added you on WeChat. Have you chatted with her?

"No."

"Oh, I wanted to ask you today, what are your thoughts on 'Li Bai and Du Fu'?"

"This is Guo Moruo's questioning of Du Fu. At that time, many people called Du Fu the people's poet. Guo Moruo thought it was fine to call him the Sage of Poetry, but as for the title 'people,' he felt he should ask on behalf of the people whether Du Fu was qualified to do so."

"I've been writing something recently that touches on this issue. Could you tell me more about it?"

Having been a teacher for so long, Liu Chang'an preferred to answer these questions rather than listen to the young girl's ambiguous arrogance and playfulness.

"Guo Moruo's work mainly criticizes Xiao Difeng's 'Studies on Du Fu,' Feng Zhi's 'Biography of Du Fu,' and Fu Gengsheng's 'On Du Fu's Poetry.' These three books were considered representative works of Du Fu studies at the time. Guo Moruo wrote this book as a dialogue with these three authors. He believed that Du Fu upheld the existing system and advocated discipline, arguing that whether dealing with the emperor or the people, one should act within the existing system..."

Liu Chang'an typed for a while, then cleared his throat while running, changed his voice, and sent her a voice message, sharing his thoughts. He reminded her to be careful to distinguish truth from falsehood regarding the many pieces of information about Guo Moruo that she found online, and to consider the origins of those "stories" related to him, who spread them, the relationship between the "masters" who spread these stories and Guo at the time, and the historical context of that time and the present.

This is a way of thinking like when doing reading comprehension questions—a very simple and obvious way of thinking. It's just that many people only remember that "the author didn't even know what he was thinking at the time," and use this to make fun of it endlessly.

After chatting with the young girl, Liu Chang'an realized she was still quite young and asked him many questions. In fact, as long as they were talking about current events and history, having a proper conversation, Liu Chang'an would reply to their messages quickly. However, many girls have a problem: they tend to become strange and irrational while chatting.

For example, suddenly asking meaningless questions like, "Do you think pigtails or a bun look better?", "Do you think a cheongsam looks better on a slightly chubby person or a tall person?", "Do you think it's better for a girl to be mature or childish?", "Why aren't you replying to my text messages?", "What are you doing?", "Where are you?"

Let's get straight to the point.

After Liu Chang'an ran back to River East, he saw a hearse drive by, and a Maserati that he had seen before stopped next to Liu Chang'an.

Liu Chang'an stopped and turned to look at Zhong Qing, who looked exhausted. "Please accept my condolences."

According to Bai Hui, Qin Yanan was dragged along by Zhu Juntang to watch the commotion. The reason Liu Chang'an was certain that Qin Yanan was dragged along was because only a fairy like Zhu Juntang would be interested in watching someone else's funeral.

"It's good that you died, what's there to grieve over?" Zhong Qing revealed a deliberate smile, which, although unable to hide her exhaustion, exuded a languid charm.

"That's good, then cheer up." Liu Chang'an said with a sudden realization. He didn't believe in the idea that death is the greatest tragedy. If someone who deserved to die died, everyone would be happy. He would still joke about it and make people laugh. Who cared about the idea that death is the greatest tragedy?

"Let's have a drink together." Zhong Qing bent down and changed his shoes in the car.

Upon hearing the word "bar," Liu Chang'an shook his head, showing no interest.

"I'll treat you to a late-night snack. I know you like to drink ice-cold beer while eating crayfish." Zhong Qing got out of the car. As long as she wasn't with Zhu Juntang, Zhong Qing usually wore black stockings.

Many people associate black stockings with smelly feet and a sense of vulgarity. This is simply because the black stockings most people see are the kind worn by their neighbors, often the kind that's inexpensive and only costs a few dollars a pair. Can this be considered beautiful compared to the delicate, smooth black stockings worn by beautiful, well-off young women?

Some dance streamers and content creators often buy cheap black stockings for their performances, which naturally affects the overall look of these stockings.

"Okay." In this season where the lingering heat is still sweltering, ice-cold beer and crayfish are still very tempting. Liu Chang'an didn't feel anything for black stockings, but he was willing to accept the invitation to a late-night snack.

"Is the Third Mistress still paying attention to me?" Liu Chang'an asked casually.

Zhong Qing hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Liu Chang'an was pleased with her frankness and patted Zhong Qing on the shoulder, "Honest! Let's drink until we're stuffed!"

He certainly wouldn't make things difficult for her or ask her any more questions. He could always go to Su Xiaocui again to find out about the Third Mistress's matter.

Zhong Qing almost stumbled from the slap. This guy was really something... Zhong Qing quickened his pace and pointed to a late-night snack stall.

This kind of late-night snack stall, with its river breeze and river view, was doing brisk business. After Liu Chang'an and Zhong Qing sat down, Liu Chang'an didn't even look at the menu, "Let's start with a dozen beers, three servings of crayfish, five skewers of lamb kidneys, and some butter? Come on, come on..."

"You really can eat." Zhong Qing greatly admired Liu Chang'an's appetite, having already witnessed it firsthand. "I'll call Bai Hui over."

Go ahead and invite them. They're treating, and Liu Chang'an has no objection. You're the one waiting to eat, so you should be considerate.

"My dad and my uncle died together. They were drunk driving and had a car accident. The car caught fire, and because it was the middle of the night, there was no time to help them. It was burned to ashes, leaving only some bone fragments," Zhong Qing said.

Liu Chang'an nodded. "That's good."

"Don't you think I'm very unfilial, and not unhappy at all?" Zhong Qing revealed a few unrestrained smiles.

"No. There are reasons to be happy, and reasons to be sad. It's stupid to think that others must behave in a way that's considered normal just because of your own preconceived notions." Liu Chang'an shook his head.

"That's right. They deserve to die..." Zhong Qing smiled. "Back in the 1990s, they still wanted a boy to carry on the family line. My mother had some health problems after giving birth to me and couldn't have any more children. So that beast and his family beat and verbally abused my mother every day, demanding a divorce and telling my mother to take me and get out of the house..."

"They're dead. They got what they deserved," Liu Chang'an interrupted Zhong Qing's lament. "You need to understand, their remains are gone, but you can strive to live in the sunlight. Making yourself happy is more important."

Zhong Qing was slightly surprised and laughed, "I didn't expect you to be able to seriously comfort people."

"You treated me to a late-night snack, do you think I can't at least offer a few words of comfort? Do you think I'm the kind of person who doesn't know how to be ungrateful?" Liu Chang'an said matter-of-factly.

"The effectiveness of this comfort seems to have decreased significantly all of a sudden." Zhong Qing actually smiled.

"Drink, drink."

Before the food and barbecue even arrived, the beer was brought out first. "A good drink can wash away all your troubles," Liu Chang'an said, handing Zhong Qing a bottle. "Here, drink from the bottle. Don't spill it, it'll be a hassle."

A gentle breeze caressed Zhong Qing's face, his long hair fluttering in the wind. Holding the bottle and raising his head, he exuded a rather bold and unrestrained air.

When the food was served, Bai Hui rushed over. Seeing Liu Chang'an there, she couldn't help but feel a little reserved. She hesitated for a moment, then pointed to her bag, indicating that it was the Hermès had bought with Liu Chang'an at Baolong Center that day.

Bai Hui sat down happily. She had only come because her cousin sounded a little down, and she was worried about her. She hadn't expected Liu Chang'an to be here too. She didn't know what was making her so happy; perhaps it was the beautiful night and the gentle river breeze?

This is a very rare long chapter! Regardless of what others say, Xia Hua has done her best. Please give me monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Look, it just past 12 o'clock, and it's been refreshed.