His Father Was Himself

After finishing his late-night snack, Liu Chang'an carried the wooden planks he was using for assembly upstairs, stacking them one by one. Zhou Shuling wanted to help carry some of the load, but Liu Chang'an refused, saying she was in the way. So she had no choice but to follow behind Liu Chang'an, running back and forth empty-handed for two round trips.

Zhou Dongdong was still gnawing on a piece of lamb chop in her hand, completely absorbed in the moment.

Liu Chang'an was assembling a bunk bed upstairs. He designed this simple double-decker bed that didn't require nails, making it safer and more stable.

"What can I do?" Zhou Shuling wanted to find something to do, but she felt that others were busy while she could only watch.

Liu Chang'an pointed to a small stool next to him.

Zhou Shuling quickly took it and handed it to Liu Chang'an.

"What I mean is, go sit over there and don't get in the way," Liu Chang'an waved his hand.

Zhou Shuling pursed her lips, stood beside Liu Chang'an on a small stool, and watched him work. As the small bed gradually took shape, she couldn't help but feel a warm feeling welling up in her chest.

Let alone Zhou Dongdong, even I often feel that it's rare to find a close friend or neighbor in life with whom you can live and get along. After all, in addition to desires, people have a variety of emotional needs, and we experience happiness, warmth, satisfaction, and being moved by these feelings.

"You're dressed so plainly today. If those heels were three centimeters higher and you wore a pair of semi-sheer black stockings, you'd definitely be the prettiest girl at a square dance." Liu Chang'an didn't even need to look up to see the woman's legs standing in front of him. If a woman isn't tall, high heels and high-waisted skirts are essential to accentuating her leg shape.

"What? I copied your cousin's outfit when I saw her last time. How is it tacky?" Zhou Shuling put down her small stool, opened her arms, and slowly turned around to examine herself.

Liu Chang'an was using his fist as a hammer to pound on the wooden board when he couldn't help but laugh. This man should know his place.

"What are you laughing at!" Zhou Shuling blushed at his laughter. This guy rarely laughed, and when he did, it was usually to mock people. He was probably laughing at her for imitating Qin Yanan.

"I wasn't laughing at anything, do as you please." Liu Chang'an thought for a moment. Zhou Shuling still needed encouragement. She had finally gained some confidence and even dared to slap her relatives in the face.

"How annoying... But I really envy your cousin. None of the celebrities on TV can compare to her figure, let alone her looks. I can't even tell if Miss Qin is wearing makeup or not. Her face looks like it's made up without any powder, but it's as smooth as tofu... Do you think she usually wears makeup?" Zhou Shuling sat down and asked enviously.

"You're so ignorant. She's just faking her bare face; you can't tell. It's true she has good skin and is pretty, but makeup is a form of self-cultivation for women, and you lack that cultivation." Liu Chang'an pointed at Zhou Shuling's face. "Do you think you can get away with just a bottle of Dabao (a Chinese skincare brand)? It's not a skincare issue; what you should really be learning is how to use makeup to enhance or change your overall style and personality."

"It's nothing, I'm not a little girl looking for a boyfriend," Zhou Shuling said nonchalantly.

"You're burning my eyes."

"How annoying... I should... I should be considered good-looking."

"Fine, you'll see."

Zhou Shuling turned her head away somewhat sullenly, thinking about how she usually browsed the mall and saw those lipsticks and such, each costing hundreds of yuan. Was it really necessary?

The next day, Liu Chang'an arrived at school intending to find Guan Yuan.

Since Guan Yuan was the one who gave him the script, who else could Liu Chang'an contact if not him? It's just that Liu Chang'an didn't have Guan Yuan's phone number.

Guan Yuan and Bai Hui are in the same class.

Liu Chang'an had no choice but to call Bai Hui, figuring she couldn't keep her phone off forever.

He called but no one answered. After thinking for a moment, Liu Chang'an decided to send a message to Qin Yanan asking her to check for him.

A fairy is a fairy; she's always causing trouble, but when you actually need her, there are all sorts of situations where she's unusable.

Compared to Bai Hui, Zhu Juntang was more reliable. Thinking this, Liu Chang'an suddenly felt a little... guilty about threatening to tear Zhu Juntang's socks and skirt.

After a while, Qin Yanan sent over Guan Yuan's phone number without even asking Liu Chang'an what he wanted to see Guan Yuan about.

Clean and efficient, without a single wasted word, Liu Chang'an liked this kind of well-behaved and capable young girl.

Liu Chang'an called Guan Yuan, but Guan Yuan said she had class later and asked Liu Chang'an to meet at noon to discuss things.

Liu Chang'an's decision not to simply sit and wait with the script in hand already showed a very proactive attitude, but he wasn't going to be too hasty either; noon it is then.

Liu Chang'an arrived at the classroom. Today was the last day of class before National Day. Many students were looking forward to their first long holiday since starting university. After all, with such convenient transportation now, it was the first time most of them had ever been so far from home.

Surprisingly, Yan Qingcheng sat with Zhu Juntang at the back. Perhaps because of Yan Qingcheng, there were a few other girls sitting in the same row with them... There were only a few girls in our class, so they were quite united.

There was an empty seat next to Zhu Juntang, but Liu Chang'an didn't sit there. Instead, he sat with Qin Zhiqiang.

"Not playing games today?" Liu Chang'an noticed that Qin Zhiqiang wasn't using his phone.

"It's too grindy. These events keep coming one after another, I can't take it. If I don't grind, I feel like I'm missing out on a fortune. But if I do grind, there's really nothing to gain. You painstakingly save up for a ten-pull, and then it's all for nothing." Qin Zhiqiang shook his head. "League of Legends is still the most fun. I'm planning to climb the ranks and try to get a Diamond frame this year."

"I didn't play much in high school. We didn't have a computer at home, so I had to go to internet cafes, but the air quality there wasn't very good, so I didn't really want to go," Liu Chang'an recalled.

"How good are you?" Qin Zhiqiang asked with great interest.

"Generally."

Do you watch the game?

"I don't watch it much."

"Yesterday WE beat YG 3-0. It felt like they just slaughtered their way through, taking down all the weaklings and advancing to the group stage undefeated. I've been a long-time WE fan, and I feel like this is WE's best year yet."

"I have a classmate who plays professionally, but he probably won't be able to play until next year's spring season."

"Wow! That's amazing! You must be at least a King in the first server!"

"It's said he once reached number one in the Korean server..."

Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!

Liu Chang'an was chatting with Qin Zhiqiang when Gao Dewei sent a message saying he would be arriving in Junsha that night and invited Liu Chang'an and An Nuan to come over tomorrow. Liu Chang'an had no choice but to tell him that only he could come tomorrow, as An Nuan was going on a family trip with her mother, grandparents, and other relatives to see the vast, dark landscape of China.

An Nuan and Liu Yuewang have winter and summer vacations, but their maternal grandparents are still working and don't have winter and summer vacations, so long holidays become the only option where the whole family has time.

Zhu Juntang was observing Liu Chang'an.

"Zhu Juntang, were you and Liu Chang'an high school classmates?" Yan Qingcheng started a conversation. Actually, she knew they weren't, because Zhu Juntang had filled out a student form that listed her high school as a school in Taiwan.

"No, if I were his high school classmate, who knows... Anyway, being his high school classmate definitely wouldn't be any good." Zhu Juntang observed for a while and confirmed that Liu Chang'an still had the potential to force himself on her skirt, but at the moment he didn't have the direct threat to do so. The information Qin Yanan provided made Zhu Juntang certain that Liu Chang'an had discovered her little thoughts, increasing his desire to force himself on her skirt... But now that she was behaving so obediently and not provoking him, he probably wouldn't do that.

"I see you two are quite familiar," Yan Qingcheng said casually, trying to maintain a conversational tone and not wanting Zhu Juntang to notice that she had been paying attention to Liu Chang'an lately.

"We are old friends." Zhu Juntang turned her head away, refusing to look at Liu Chang'an.

Yan Qingcheng pressed her pen, flipped through the book, and casually asked, "So your parents knew Professor Liu before?"

"Who is Professor Liu?" Zhu Juntang asked Yan Qingcheng with a puzzled look.

"Liu Chang'an's father?" Yan Qingcheng was even more puzzled. Where did they get such a family connection? It seemed like they didn't even know who Liu Chang'an's father was.

"His father?" Zhu Juntang looked at Yan Qingcheng with a strange expression, then couldn't help but laugh out loud while resting her hand on the back of her hand.

"What are you laughing at?" Yan Qingcheng felt that it was a bit impolite to show such an attitude when talking about elders.

Zhu Juntang laughed for a while, then looked up and glanced at Yan Qingcheng. Although Yan Qingcheng seemed to be chatting with her casually, the topic was clearly being deliberately steered towards Liu Chang'an. Had that old man stirred up the young girl's Heartbeat again? What a menace!

Zhu Juntang thought for a moment and asked, "How... how did you know that Liu Chang'an's father is Professor Liu?"

"My mother is his father's student." Yan Qingcheng didn't deliberately lower her voice to let people know that she had some connection with Liu Chang'an. That way, if she looked for Liu Chang'an in the future, people probably wouldn't misunderstand that she had any feelings for Liu Chang'an.

Zhu Juntang couldn't help but look at Yan Qingcheng's face again before realizing that she couldn't see anything special about her.

Zhu Juntang just felt that this Professor Liu was most likely Liu Chang'an himself. Since he was Professor Liu's student, it was perfectly normal for them to have some romantic teacher- Professor Liu relationship. Then, Yan Qingcheng was born and became Liu Chang'an's classmate... If Yan Qingcheng had a campus romance with Liu Chang'an... that would be too exciting!

Exciting as it was, Zhu Juntang knew it was all just her imagination. While Yan Qingcheng was indeed the daughter of Professor Liu's female student, Professor Liu himself simply didn't have the ability to propagate his own genes.

"I can't really go into details about this with you. Not many people know about Professor Liu's identity, so please don't tell anyone," Zhu Juntang said in a low voice, instructing Yan Qingcheng.

Yan Qingcheng was slightly surprised... but still nodded.

Zhu Juntang thought for a moment and decided not to ask Liu Chang'an for the time being. Firstly, Liu Chang'an might not be willing to satisfy her gossip desires, and secondly, if she angered him, there was a risk that she would be forced to wear her skirt and socks.

She had only learned about Professor Liu's deeds today, but since Yan Qingcheng knew about them, it wouldn't be difficult for her to verify them as well. The reason she said that not many people knew about Professor Liu's identity was also her speculation... Not many people knew about Ye Chenyu's identity either, which was probably the old man's usual style. He was only interested in all kinds of women, but had no desire to leave a mark on history or write his name in the annals.

Until noon, Zhu Juntang refrained from going to Liu Chang'an, Liu Chang'an, having nothing else to do, naturally wouldn't take the initiative to talk to her.

Liu Chang'an went to see Guan Yuan at the agreed time.

Guan Yuan also had classes in the morning. Although he felt like he had become the main character and there was no need to waste time at school, he couldn't think of anything to do, especially since he had run into Su Nanxiu.

Su Nanxiu stayed at school, and it seemed he had no right to leave the campus on his own and start his own life like a protagonist.

Guan Yuan actually had a strong desire to leave school. He always felt that his abilities would be suppressed by the campus, and he couldn't let his talents soar like a bird in the sky or leap like a fish in the sea.

The school environment acts as a ceiling, limiting one's achievements and actions. Moreover, there are people like Su Nanxiu and Liu Chang'an in the school, making Guan Yuan feel that they are the main characters, while he is just a minor supporting character.

The difference in height created by this sensation made Guan Yuan very uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Guan Yuan arranged to meet Liu Chang'an at the cafeteria, which was close to where Guan Yuan had classes. Guan Yuan figured Liu Chang'an must be interested in the script, so he decided to take the opportunity to show off.

Guan Yuan his food, saw Liu Chang'an, and pointed to the seat in front of him.

"Who gave you this script?" Liu Chang'an asked bluntly.

Guan Yuan slowly picked up a strand of vermicelli. It was a bit slippery, and the vermicelli fell from between his chopsticks. Guan Yuan scooped it up, lowered his head, put it in his mouth, and slurped it a few times before exhaling. He then began to eat the next strand of vermicelli with lingering satisfaction, not in a hurry to answer Liu Chang'an's question.

Liu Chang'an glanced at it twice, then went and got a serving of tofu and loach.

The tofu and loach dish in the cafeteria is, of course, stewed together with tofu, and definitely not the kind where live loach are cooked inside tofu... In fact, this method seems sophisticated, but it's unnecessary. The claim that it enhances the flavor of the tofu and meat is just pretentious.

Liu Chang'an carefully peeled the loach, slowly eating the meat, leaving only the bones and head on his plate.

"This script..." Seeing Liu Chang'an so relaxed, Guan Yuan couldn't sit still any longer and couldn't help but remind Liu Chang'an to continue asking him questions.

"Eat slowly, we'll talk after you finish," Liu Chang'an waved his hand.

Guan Yuan opened his mouth, then suddenly felt like he was choking.

After Guan Yuan finished his beef noodles, Liu Chang'an seemed to have barely eaten any of his bowl of loach, but Liu Chang'an continued to dawdle slowly.

"Eat first, we'll talk after you've finished." Guan Yuan snorted coldly. Since you're interested in the script, the situation has changed drastically, and the balance of power has shifted! Guan Yuan stood up and prepared to leave.

"Do you know how traditional tofu and loach is made?" Liu Chang'an asked without looking up.

"How did you do it?" Guan Yuan asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Put a large block of tofu in a big pot, then pour in cold water, put the loaches in the water, and heat it up. The loaches, afraid of the heat, will burrow into the tofu, and eventually die one by one inside." Liu Chang'an held a loach, looking at Guan Yuan with a gentle expression. "You've tasted being buried alive, have you ever tasted being boiled? I can't find a block of tofu this big for you to burrow into, but I can find a pot this big."

"Brother Liu, I was just joking." Guan Yuan sat down with a forced smile.

"I quite enjoy joking too," Liu Chang'an continued eating his loach. "Alright, just tell me, who gave you this script?"

"Su Nanxiu."

Liu Chang'an thought for a moment. It was a name he had no recollection of, but the surname was Su...

What does she want to do?

"Making a movie."

Liu Chang'an stared at Guan Yuan, who actually thought this was a script for a movie. Guan Yuan's expression and eyes were matter-of-fact; he didn't have the ability to act in front of Liu Chang'an.

It seems that Guan Yuan was just there to deliver the script, not some important figure behind the scenes... Such a person can only be a pawn, how could he have the ability to operate behind the scenes?

"Making a movie... You want me to be the male lead? What about the female lead?" Liu Chang'an asked casually.

"My only responsibility is to find you to be the male lead. The total investment is 300 million. As for everything else, that's handled by a professional company. You're basically bringing your own investment to the project..."

"Who sent you to ask me to be the male lead? Is it Su Nanxiu too?" Liu Chang'an interrupted Guan Yuan's wonderful expectations.

"Right."

Who is Su Nanxiu?

"You... you don't know Su Nanxiu?" Guan Yuan looked at Liu Chang'an suspiciously. There was no way Liu Chang'an wouldn't know Su Nanxiu... If Su Nanxiu and Liu Chang'an didn't know each other, and then Su Nanxiu was suddenly smitten and insisted that Liu Chang'an be her man, what kind of plot was that? In the military novels she read, the female protagonists weren't this devoted. At least there was a process of getting to know each other, misunderstanding, resolving past grievances, discovering the male protagonist's charm, and then becoming devoted to him.

"I don't know her. Can you describe what she looks like?"

Guan Yuan thought for a moment, and since Su Nanxiu didn't stop him from describing her appearance to Liu Chang'an, he described her in detail. Then he remembered that he had secretly taken a picture of Su Nanxiu, so he quickly took out his phone, found the picture of Su Nanxiu, and showed it to Liu Chang'an.

A beautiful young girl stood quietly in the glass house. Outside the window, a stream meandered around her, and before her stretched out branches and leaves. The lush greenery seemed to be drawn to her, and a whole branch broke off from the straight trunk and stretched out abruptly, swaying joyfully in front of her through the floor-to-ceiling window.

The girl's lips curled slightly, her demeanor elegant and serene, just like Su Mei's curious yet slightly shy appearance when she first met Ye Chenyu a hundred years ago.

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As of 6 PM today, we haven't reached 6800 votes yet, but thank you to everyone who has already voted. Here's a long chapter for you all, and another long chapter tomorrow to thank you all.