Whose Head Fell Off? (Revised)
Shangguan Dandan found Zhou Dongdong, who had acquired more crab shells and was preparing to build a second crab army.
Do you need to use your tongue to nurse?
Zhou Dongdong looked up at Egg Sister, holding a crab shell and gazing at her expectantly.
Shangguan Dandan didn't want to be a general, and shook his head in refusal.
"Do you need to use your tongue to nurse?" Shangguan Dandan continued to ask.
Zhou Dongdong heard this and thought for a moment, "I'm not a baby who needs to be breastfed anymore, I'm all grown up."
"I'm not asking you to breastfeed, I'm just asking." Shangguan Dandan was very patient. Zhou Dongdong, like Liu Chang'an, was really difficult to communicate with. She either didn't answer or her answers were completely unrelated to the question.
"What are you asking?"
Shangguan Dandan repeated the question.
"Yes, we need to!" Zhou Dongdong licked her fingers and thought for a moment. "Of course we need to! I lick everything I eat with my tongue."
Shangguan Dandan nodded.
"Sister Egg, why are you asking this? You don't have any milk to feed anyone else." Zhou Dongdong asked curiously, "Do you have a baby? Is it yours with Brother Chang'an?"
"I'm his mother! He's my little baby!" Shangguan Dandan whispered shyly. This wasn't a secret, as she had already discussed this with Zhou Dongdong.
"Aww... Brother Chang'an wants to drink your milk." Zhou Dongdong realized that Sister Egg kept asking this question because she didn't know how to feed Brother Chang'an. But Brother Chang'an was already an adult and could eat three bowls of rice just like Zhou Dongdong. He was a very capable adult.
Everyone here is incredibly talented, like Brother Chang'an and Sister Egg, who are just as good at eating as Zhou Dongdong.
Although Mom doesn't eat much at the table, she always finishes any leftovers, which makes her a very capable adult.
My old kindergarten teacher wasn't very capable at all. She always ate the same amount of food as the other children, and Zhou Dongdong had to help her eat, otherwise she wouldn't be able to finish.
Shangguan Dandan walked away with her cheeks flushed. Men are so strange; even Zhou Dongdong knows that only babies act like that.
Liu Chang'an remained seated in front of the television, engrossed in the program. The television was showing a documentary about Rasputin, but it was actually mostly gossip. After all, since the person in question had been gone for so long, few people cared about the truth anymore; their interest lay only in either mythologizing him or demonizing him.
The producers responsible for providing the content are also well aware of the audience's psychology; the facts don't matter, what matters most are the ratings and the amount of buzz generated.
Seeing the blurry photos of Rasputin's enormous genitals flashing by on TV before the program ended, Liu Chang'an had a sudden, almost analogous thought: the handling of estrus cycles in male elephants.
Rasputin, as his name suggests, was Russian. Born in the 1860s and died in the early 20th century, he was rumored to be able to cure hemophilia, and thus control the Tsar and Tsarina, whose sons suffered from hemophilia. He also possessed prophetic abilities... Most gossipy of all, due to his extraordinary masculine power and influence, he was said to have had relationships with numerous noblewomen of Tsarist Russia, including the Tsarina, who was also rumored to have had an affair with him.
Throughout history, those who have cuckolded others have rarely met a good end, and Rasputin was no exception. He was ultimately murdered by the handsome Prince Yusupov. It is said that Rasputin was poisoned with potassium chloride and also shot by Prince Yusupov. When everyone had already killed him, he got up and broke free from the crowd, taking three more bullets, including one to the head.
Rasputin was still alive. Yusupov even struck Rasputin's temples repeatedly with dumbbells, but only managed to knock him unconscious again.
Finally Rasputin was thrown into the ice cellar of the river. When he awoke, the river was covered with a thick layer of ice, and he drowned.
His body was burned, and it's said that he sat up as he burned, glaring at the crowd around him, and shouted, "Remember my name, I will return!"
Rasputin was no ordinary wolf; his statement, "I will be back," terrified many of the high-ranking officials involved in his assassination attempt.
Whether Rasputin has returned or not is unknown, as Russia has experienced a unique era, and many events may not be widely publicized.
Liu Chang'an was somewhat interested in Rasputin and decided to look for relevant information. This was a troublesome matter; it wasn't something that could be done simply by opening a search bar and typing in Rasputin's name. You basically wouldn't find any real or reliable information that way.
However, once the era is determined, clues can be found in the written and visual materials of that era, including those involving people, biographies of contemporary figures, and even novels.
What he wanted to know was whether these rumors about Rasputin were just rumors, or whether there were some verifiable facts behind them.
This has always been his habit: if he sees strange or unusual people or things, and if he feels even the slightest possibility that they might be true, he will want to investigate.
Just like he had investigated zombies before, because Li Daoren kept saying that he had seen real zombies.
The fact that Liu Chang'an could be fooled speaks volumes about Li Daoren's abilities; his descendant Li Hongfang, is far less capable in this regard than her ancestor.
Liu Chang'an didn't mind that Li Hongfang was being monitored by Su Nanxiu at the Gao Family Manor — Gao Dewei's family's agritainment estate, which could also be shortened to the Gao Family Manor. He contacted Li Hongfang and asked if she knew any Russians so he could inquire about Rasputin's story.
For underground archaeologists like Li Hongfang to work in the underground world, they need extensive connections; otherwise, it will be difficult for them to sell their work and they are easily double-crossed. Russians have always been very active and proactive in the underground archaeological community, and this has been the case for more than just the last few decades.
In fact, the Western underground archaeology community has a more complete industrial chain and more information that is not found in official history and government documents.
Just like how she learned about Lady Xin Zhui Living Coffin from the former subordinates of Mrs. Karnstein, the source of which was also the foreigners she came into contact with.
Li Hongfang agreed, but she was still somewhat afraid of Liu Chang'an and couldn't figure out what the relationship was between the even more terrifying Su Nanxiu and Liu Chang'an.
Perhaps, like most people in history shrouded in mystery, he was simply mythologized or demonized. Liu Chang'an did not place his hopes on Li Hongfang possibly giving him any amazing news.
It's mythology, not deification; there's a difference.
After tidying up the kitchen, Zhou Shuling said that they would have salt-soaked hairy crab with crab roe noodles for breakfast tomorrow morning. Then she took the sleepy crab general upstairs to sleep, and reminded Shangguan Dandan that she was at a stage of growth and development and should go to bed early as well.
"Can you still grow and develop?" Liu Chang'an was still concerned about many issues related to Shangguan Dandan's physical condition.
Shangguan Dandan looked down at her chest, her face flushed, and took two steps back. Her voice involuntarily rose; the girl's voice was still somewhat sharp, but it couldn't conceal the authoritative aura, "What are you complaining about? Besides, I'm your mother."
Liu Chang'an took a deep breath.
After calming down, Liu Chang'an pointed outside on the balcony, "Go back to sleep."
"I can sleep whenever I want." Shangguan Dandan walked back and forth in the living room, refusing to listen.
Liu Chang'an walked over and picked up Shangguan Dandan.
Shangguan Dandan struggled wildly, but Liu Chang'an still managed to lift her off the balcony by the arm and put her down.
Shangguan Dandan glared angrily at Liu Chang'an, who was standing on the balcony, "My Owl You Vessel!"
"Don't imply I'm an unfilial son, it's useless. That's a thermos, completely different from the Owl You Vessel." Liu Chang'an went back, picked up the thermos she had placed on the sofa, and tossed it into her hand.
Shangguan Dandan raised her hands high and nervously caught it. She glared at Liu Chang'an one last time, then slowly moved to the door of the storage room, opened the narrow crack in the door, squeezed in, and immediately closed the door.
Liu Chang'an glanced at the clothes next to the sofa. He'd give them to her tomorrow; he wondered how she felt wearing them.
It seems Qin Yanan bought some new clothes for Shangguan Dandan, which is nice.
The night was deep. Liu Chang'an picked up a history book and began to read. Countless waves surged in the long river of history, and even the most extensive historical records often only documented the most brilliant ones. Countless details and behind-the-scenes stories remained unknown. Liu Chang'an knew more than most people, but it didn't matter much, because this extra knowledge was often just a collection of memories and stories. He ultimately had no interest in becoming a recorder, actively telling future generations what happened and what misunderstandings they had about history.
He was not familiar with Saint Petersburg in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but he could find out about the background of this history through many sources. The Pacific ports that had been seized from the declining dynasties in the Far East had been connected to Saint Petersburg by the Trans-Siberian Railway. Countless civilians were trampled to death at the Tsar's coronation ceremony, but this did not affect the Emperor and Empress's interest in attending the France ball.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Navy suffered repeated defeats under the attack of the Japan Navy. However, these battles were too far away, and the battlefields were also in the territory of another declining dynasty as a buffer. This did not seem to affect the mood of the bigwigs in Saint Petersburg to enjoy their aristocratic life. The admiral lost his fleet but gained a beautiful ballerina.
Nicholas II's loss of the Baltic Fleet did not dampen his spirits; hunting was clearly a more appealing activity. After checking the weather, he left behind the nobles and ministers who were focused on the war in the Far East and headed to the forests teeming with wild beasts to showcase his hunting prowess.
"No one can cross Siberia to attack Saint Petersburg!"
This was the greatest source of confidence for the emperor and his loyal ministers, and the geographical conditions that made them completely unconcerned about the defeats on the Far East battlefield—the distance was too great for them to feel much of a threat.
At this time, the Romanov Dynasty was no less corrupt than the declining dynasties in the Far East. It was also an Azure World, and eventually, new shoots would grow from this decay. This was true in the East and in the West. Few people at that time could predict who would ultimately lead their nation to regain its former glory.
It was at this time that Rasputin wielded immense power, and coincidentally, Ye Chenyu also became the eldest son of the Ye Family at this time, returning to this ancient land to witness a new beginning.
Some say Rasputin was the fuse that ignited the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty. While Ye Chenyu may not have been the fuse, he clearly stood on the side chosen by history and the side chosen by the people.
It was actually his own choice. He was shocked by the confidence and determination that countless people could not understand... It was like an AIDS patient who had completely lost his immunity, his whole body rotting and oozing pus. At this moment, several fresh cells suddenly said, "We can save him. We need to find other cells that have not yet rotted, make this body healthy, make him stand up, and make him strong!"
Some cells rebelled, for decay is always an easier thing to do; some cells died one after another, but in the end, they actually succeeded!
This was the greatest rescue in human history, unparalleled. How many years from now will history judge it in this way?
Liu Chang'an hopes that he will see such praise when he reads history books in the future.
As night deepened, Liu Chang'an's thoughts drifted from Rasputin to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation—a common pattern of thought leaps and recollections among those who have experienced too much.
After all, ordinary people's memories are usually only a few decades long. Memories spanning a hundred years are just a vivid memory for the Longevity.
Liu Chang'an stretched, a movement that made him appear more upright and dignified. He stood on the balcony, gazing silently at the sycamore tree before him, and then went back to his room to sleep.
When I got up in the morning, I went out onto the balcony to breathe in the morning air and saw Zhou Dongdong digging under the tree early in the morning. He also had a bucket of crabs next to him. Lu Si'en squatted down next to him and watched. He stretched out his claws and tentatively touched the large claws raised by the seemingly very fierce creature. Then he let out a curious but hurt screech and hurriedly retreated a long distance away.
Liu Chang'an immediately understood that Zhou Dongdong definitely wanted to dig a pit to raise crabs. She brought down all the crabs that her mother had bought to make salt-soaked hairy crabs and crab roe noodles today. Soon, he would hear Zhou Shuling beating her and making her cry loudly. It was truly a sight to behold.
Liu Chang'an took Lu Si'en to the market to buy some meat bones to feed the dog. Unfortunately, Zhou Dongdong hadn't killed the crab yet. Zhou Shuling wasn't particularly angry; she just scolded Zhou Dongdong, so Zhou Dongdong didn't cry loudly.
The salt-soaked hairy crab and crab roe noodles I had this morning were quite delicious because of the fresh ingredients. The salt-soaked hairy crab is easy to make, and the crab roe noodles are not difficult either. After steaming the hairy crab, carefully peel off the crab meat and crab roe, heat some oil in a pan, and then stir-fry the crab roe until the oil is rendered to make a topping. The color is golden with a beautiful red hue, and the taste is incredibly fresh and fragrant.
Crab roe can be compared to various condiments for fine caviar, but for the traditional tastes of most Chinese people, crab roe products are more suitable. Moreover, even the best crab roe is much cheaper than caviar, which is also of a high grade in the product line.
This was the most extravagant meal Liu Chang'an had this year. Liu Chang'an planned to buy some more crabs to make drunken crab. Many people don't like it, but many others do. Liu Chang'an had some experience with it; the key was to remove the fishy smell.
Shangguan Dandan was still holding her thermos while eating breakfast. Liu Chang'an thought she was just playing with it. Unexpectedly, she actually poured out hot drinks and shared them with everyone. They were made with effervescent tablets. As for where the effervescent tablets came from, Liu Chang'an had no idea. He hadn't actually bought any effervescent tablets and kept them in the storage room downstairs.
After breakfast, Zhou Dongdong and Lu Si'en went to school, and Liu Chang'an also prepared to leave. Shangguan Dandan followed him to the entrance of the residential area, carrying a thermos.
"I will also go to the foot of that mountain someday." Shangguan Dandan knew that Liu Chang'an's school was at the foot of Mount Lu.
"Why don't you leave the community now?" Liu Chang'an said to Shangguan Dandan, who was clinging to the wall and peering out from outside the community.
"If I go out, you won't bring me back." Shangguan Dandan hesitated for a moment. Of course, she could go out with Liu Chang'an now, but Liu Chang'an would leave on his own later, leaving her to walk back alone.
"Then you can try to probe slowly." Liu Chang'an nodded. Many small animals are like this, only daring to wander in their familiar territory and slowly expanding their range of activities. Shangguan Dandan had already strolled around the neighborhood with Liu Chang'an, but she didn't want to come out by herself.
Shangguan Dandan turned and walked back. Liu Chang'an watched her walk to the grape trellis and actually stand there watching a few old men and women who got up early to play cards.
Liu Chang'an then headed towards the school.
During this period, the clubs participating in the "Hundred Clubs Battle" have been extremely active in recruiting new members. Some clubs limit the total number of clubs an applicant can join, while others do not have such restrictions. For example, the Chess Academy does not have a limit. Therefore, Liu Chang'an will also check today to see if there are any other clubs he is interested in joining.
No.
Just as he was about to go back to his dorm to get his things, he saw Liu Yuewang and Qin Yanan chatting and laughing together.
How did these two get together?
He was stunned for a moment, and Liu Yuewang and Qin Yanan had already seen him and both smiled.
Liu Yuewang was asking Qin Yanan about buying a rice cooker at a low price. Last time, Qin Yanan spent five thousand yuan to buy Liu Chang'an a rice cooker that was worth at least seven thousand yuan on the market, which Liu Yuewang remembered vividly.
What I remember even more vividly is that my daughter came home Chirp that she was going to be angry for a long time, but the very next day she shamelessly became inseparable from Liu Chang'an again.
Liu Yuewang turned her head and saw a hint of shyness in Qin Yanan's eyes, her expression dazed like a young girl. She couldn't help but wonder, "You're already twenty-five, which is practically thirty. What's with that shy, yet immediately composed, and reserved hand-holding posture?"
"Professor Liu, Teacher Qin, what brings you two together?" Liu Chang'an asked casually.
"Aren't all the clubs and associations recruiting new members right now? I'm the advisor for the school's women's association. But I'm a bit overwhelmed. I raised this issue last semester, and this semester we added another advisor. The association nominated Teacher Qin, and Teacher Qin agreed." Liu Yuewang explained, not dwelling on the meaning behind Qin Yanan's expression. She just thought that if her jealous daughter were here, she would probably imagine a whole drama.
"The Women's Association? It seems I won't have the chance to join and receive guidance from the two teachers," Liu Chang'an said with great regret.
"You've got it backwards. You're the one who can accept the most guidance." Qin Yanan's shyness just now was merely a reflection of a dream from the past, mirroring some recent fragments of memories that should belong to Ye Sijin, making her feel somewhat ashamed when she saw Liu Chang'an. In front of outsiders, she could easily adjust her demeanor.
"What kind of guidance do you want?" Liu Yuewang looked at Liu Chang'an with a smile. "A talent like you, aside from my own field, I really wouldn't dare to offer guidance in other areas."
"A great talent?" Although she knew Liu Chang'an was definitely multi-talented, this was the first time she had heard someone praise Liu Chang'an like this... In front of Qin Yanan, Liu Chang'an seemed to be showing off his extraordinary abilities rather than his talent. It seems he really values beauty over... his sister. To win her heart and please his future mother-in-law, who knows how many talents he has put on a show for her? Qin Yanan rolled her eyes at Liu Chang'an.
"You don't know your cousin?" Liu Yuewang, a hint of pride in her voice, slightly puzzled. "What first surprised me about him was his ability to make clothes, especially cheongsams. Both the design and the craftsmanship are on par with the Explanation Weng Simei. His calligraphy and painting are also impeccable. I recently learned that he's also skilled in massage therapy... Isn't that multi-talented?"
"He gave you a massage?" Qin Yanan blurted out. She had every reason to suspect that such a thing had happened. The Liu Yuewang in front of her was charming and alluring, like a young woman in her early twenties. Her features and figure were also An Nuan's type... exactly the kind of woman he liked, and her breasts were even better than An Nuan's.
"No." Liu Yuewang gave Qin Yanan a reproachful look. Although massage is a very normal thing, the way you immediately connected it to a future son-in-law massaging his future mother-in-law sounds so ambiguous. You really don't know how to talk.
"Why don't you give him a massage?" Qin Yanan said casually, "He's given me massages before. It hurts a little at first, but then it feels good, and it's kind of addictive. I haven't had him massage me in a long time, and I miss it. I even dreamed about him giving me a massage last night... I'm thinking I've been feeling a bit hot lately, and my body isn't feeling right. When can you give me a massage again?"
Qin Yanan chatted casually, her tone slightly rambling and complaining, much like an older sister who dislikes but wants to boss around her younger brother.
"Okay, anytime." In front of Liu Yuewang, Liu Chang'an couldn't say much, so he could only nod repeatedly.
Although Qin Yanan knew that Liu Chang'an's nod and Shangguan Dandan's nod both meant "I don't want to say more, you get the idea!", Qin Yanan didn't want to get the idea right now and just took it as his nod as agreement.
Liu Yuewang glanced at Qin Yanan twice, then at Liu Chang'an.
Something just doesn't feel right.
Qin Yanan's words, on the surface, were about massage... but actually, they were about massage, right? But why did they sound so ambiguous? There was a hint of something sinister about them... addictive, something you crave, something you even dream about... no wonder Nuannuan is jealous of Qin Yanan.
Looking at Qin Yanan more closely, she's already twenty-five, and she's neither dating nor looking for a partner. I heard from her teachers at school that several teachers wanted to introduce her to potential partners, but she refused them all. None of the talented young men who are self-important and capable are the ones she's interested in.
This woman, however, also possessed a rather alluring face, with a flirtatious air about her. Despite her usual cold and aloof demeanor, as if everyone owed her money, she wasn't like that just now. She liked to act shy, reserved, and coy—wasn't that the same expression An Nuan liked to put on?
Liu Yuewang didn't know what to say, so she pointed at Liu Chang'an's arm with her finger to make him turn around, "Do you have class this afternoon?"
No more classes.
What about An Nuan?
"I have class."
"Never mind then... Come with me to the Explanation, I'd like to order two autumn outfits." Since Liu Yuewang fully accepted her daughter's boyfriend, she no longer maintained a distant and unenthusiastic attitude towards Liu Chang'an. Her daughter's boyfriend was indeed useful; whenever she was unsure or needed advice, Liu Chang'an's suggestions were always helpful.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have needed to bring Liu Chang'an along when she went to order clothes; she just needed him to do something.
"I was just about to go too." Liu Chang'an had nothing else to do, so he agreed.
"Then I'll go get the car..." Liu Yuewang glanced at Qin Yanan, then turned her head in a questioning tone, "Teacher Qin, who are you...?"
"I still have work to do." Qin Yanan, of course, wasn't going to join in the fun, and said with a smile, "You guys go ahead, I need to say a few words to my cousin."
"Alright." Liu Yuewang left.
That leaves Liu Chang'an and Qin Yanan.
The academy square was bustling with people, and those three people were quite eye-catching... mainly Liu Yuewang and Qin Yanan. The two most captivating mature women of Xiangnan University walking together attracted stares that weren't just limited to the male students with surging hormones.
Girls also love looking at beautiful women. Faced with someone like Liu Yuewang and Qin Yanan, even the most jealous girls would feel a bit powerless. With figures and faces like that, if they were to have surgery to fix them, how skilled and aesthetically discerning would the surgeon have to be? It would probably require dozens or even hundreds of surgeries, which would be expensive and their bodies couldn't handle it. It would be better to just be reborn.
The only hope is to be reincarnated.
Women think about nothing more than these things, while many men think about what kind of man can enjoy a woman like this? Or they might secretly take a picture of Qin Yanan and Liu Yuewang together and post it on a forum asking questions like "Which one do you choose?"... They spend all their time asking which one to choose, as if choosing one would actually make a difference.
As a result, Liu Chang'an received quite a few meaningful glances. However, apart from the sunlight, which gave him a feeling of being bathed in its glow, he didn't care about the gazes of others.
"What are you thinking...?" Liu Chang'an asked, wanting to know.
"What?" Qin Yanan crossed her arms, looking around. She knew she had acted impulsively, but wasn't it because Liu Yuewang was here? Could Liu Yuewang really be so prone to wild imaginations? If she really was, making wild guesses about the relationship between Qin Yanan and Liu Chang'an... then... then Qin Yanan would just be shy for now.
It's not like it's facing the fifth ocean beyond the An Nuan, Indian, Indian Ocean, and Arctic Oceans... the Vinegar Ocean.
When did I ever give you a massage?
"I'm talking about... you pressed against me, you touched me." Women hate men who deny things. This wasn't Qin Yanan deliberately bringing up old grievances. Everyone can let these things go, but you can't act like these things never happened. Qin Yanan was only arguing with him about this point, there was no other reason. As for wanting to use past events to interfere with how they get along now, Qin Yanan really didn't think that way, really.
Liu Chang'an took a deep breath. These women, none of them are easy to deal with.
"To be precise, it's Ye Sijin's feeling. Everything you touched and pressed was Ye Sijin's experience. What I said earlier about it hurting a little at first... that was also speaking up for Ye Sijin. I think you really wanted to know Ye Sijin's feelings and thoughts about what happened that night, right?" Qin Yanan seemed to be talking about someone else, but her eyes darted around, not quite natural, and she wouldn't meet Liu Chang'an's gaze. "Actually, that's just how Ye Sijin felt. She wasn't particularly averse to or disgusted by it. You didn't need to feel uncomfortable facing her and leave at the time."
Liu Chang'an opened his mouth slightly, but ultimately said nothing.
"No matter what you did to her, Ye Sijin has never blamed you. She loves you, so she can bear everything." Qin Yanan turned her head and looked at Liu Chang'an with a stubborn expression. "So, no matter what I've done, I won't allow you to blame me."
After Qin Yanan finished speaking, she didn't wait for Liu Chang'an to express his agreement or disagreement. She took a few hurried steps, slowed down, paused for a moment, and finally left without looking back.
Liu Chang'an couldn't be sure what her expression was like when she had her back to him.
Shyness, hesitation, regret, or relief, or perhaps like Ye Sijin back then, always wearing a faint smile whenever he saw him with Su Mei.
At this moment, one might think that if Su Mei hadn't planned things this way back then, and if these events had happened by chance, Qin Yanan might not exist today.
As time goes by, perspectives on some things change. Things change, perspectives change, and there is no final, settled outcome... It's just a matter of going through the motions.
Qin Yanan is a sensible person, but she really didn't expect her to use the massage as an excuse to bring up such a past event. Isn't she ashamed? She'll probably regret her audacity when she gets home.
Liu Chang'an smiled, saw Liu Yuewang's car drive up, got in, and said he needed to go to his dormitory to pick up something, asking her to turn around.
Liu Yuewang escorted Liu Chang'an back to his dormitory. After he went upstairs to retrieve a bag, she glanced at it and immediately recognized it as a woman's dress or skirt.
"An Nuan... I'm going with your mother to Explanation. Your mother said she wants to order two outfits, and I also have something to do." Liu Chang'an got into the car and called An Nuan first.
Liu Yuewang's lips curled slightly.
"I want to go too!" An Nuan shouted immediately, sensing the urgency of the situation. "Have Professor Liu turn the corner and come pick me up!"
"Don't you have class this afternoon?" Liu Chang'an wanted to surprise her; how could he possibly take her along?
"But I'm worried about you going alone with her!"
An Nuan shouted loudly, Liu Yuewang heard it all. Embarrassed, she blushed and snapped, "What are you yelling about! Do you believe I'll drive over and beat you up first!"
An Nuan was a little scared. It wasn't uncommon for Professor Liu to chase her around the Xiangtan University campus with a feather duster when she was little... For example, the time when she and Han Zhizhi were bitten by a dog.
If someone gets beaten up in public, how can they ever maintain their image as a well-behaved and docile child again?
"Then... then you must control yourself, don't be tempted, and always remember how cute I am, how beautiful I am, how you like me." An Nuan had no choice but to give up unwillingly, and lowered her voice to teach him the method of remaining unmoved in front of a peerless beauty like Professor Liu.
"Okay, okay, I'll take my phone out and check the wallpaper in a bit." Liu Chang'an agreed.
"If you behave well, I'll give you a special reward next time you massage me." An Nuan decided to go all out and help Liu Chang'an stabilize his Dao heart first.
It's not that I really distrust or worry... it's just that girls generally enjoy tempting their boyfriends, even if they're not mentally prepared to actually do something with them.
"Okay, remember what you said." Liu Chang'an immediately acted expectantly, using this attitude to satisfy her and make her believe that his charm was controlling her, lest she go on and on.
An Nuan then hung up the phone, shaking her head shyly and proudly.
"I didn't realize you had bronchitis. You need to ask for permission to go out with me." Liu Yuewang was both surprised and amused, and she could also sense the sweetness in the words... Was An Nuan feeling proud inside?
"You know, I know, I'm afraid of her." Liu Chang'an smiled.
Liu Yuewang laughed too. There was an unspoken understanding between them; they were all people who loved her and couldn't do anything about her jealous temper.
"I have something to ask you. When I'm choosing the pattern and explaining my ideas to Wang Jiangzi, could you give me some feedback? I think the cheongsam you designed for An Nuan is very professional and outstanding, from the choice of materials to the design theme." Liu Yuewang revealed her real reason for seeking help from Liu Chang'an.
Liu Chang'an hummed in agreement. This kind of custom clothing isn't something you can just take a size and then leave everything to the designer.
"What are you carrying?" Liu Yuewang asked curiously about the bag Liu Chang'an was holding.
"This is a Lolita dress, which I used as a reference. An Nuan actually likes this kind of gorgeous yet cute dress, but she's too tall, so the mass-produced Lolita dresses don't really suit her."
"I don't think this style suits me very well," Liu Yuewang said somewhat unwillingly.
Liu Chang'an smiled but didn't nod. These were just casual remarks she made; it was best not to agree with her and imply that it wasn't suitable for her.
Upon arriving at the Explanation, Liu Yuewang parked her car and went inside with Liu Chang'an. Wang Jiangzi was upstairs. Liu Yuewang and Wang Jiangzi were friends, and since they had made an appointment, they didn't need a staff member to lead them and went directly to Wang Jiangzi's studio.
"You brought your son-in-law along for support, huh?" Wang Jiangzi said with a smile.
"He's incredibly skilled. You saw the cheongsam he made for An Nuan, didn't you? If my daughter didn't cherish him so much, she definitely wouldn't let me use him as a tailor, and I wouldn't be doing business with you," Liu Yuewang said with a smile.
"That won't do... Every time I make you new clothes, I take a few photos and post them on WeChat Moments, which really attracts business." Wang Jiangzi was being honest. Women are always impulsive shoppers, always thinking, "Look how good she looks in these clothes, I want to try them on too..." Comparisons between buyer's photos and seller's photos are common, but I've never seen a seller use models with more ordinary features to show buyers a "what you see is what you get" effect.
Liu Chang'an first chatted with Liu Yuewang and Wang Jiangzi for a while to understand Liu Yuewang's needs before borrowing Wang Jiangzi's studio to start writing and drawing.
Liu Yuewang and Wang Jiangzi brewed tea and chatted while keeping an eye on Liu Chang'an's movements.
He wrote poems, lyrics, and songs.
The painting depicts An Nuan voice and smiling face.
As the two middle-aged women watched his earnest expression, their eyes gradually softened. If he didn't truly love her, how could he exude such a quiet and attentive aura? The corners of his mouth would occasionally turn up, indicating that he was thinking of her regularly.
"I think the most beautiful artistic conception is still expressed in thousands of years of poetry and songs, but in this vast sea of literature, finding the sentences that best express the feelings An Nuan gives me to form a picture is not an easy task." Liu Chang'an looked up by chance and saw that they were staring at him. Unbeknownst to him, they had already drunk a pot of tea and chatted for a long time. He then explained, "First, we need to determine an artistic conception as the theme of the design, and then look for suitable patterns. If you want to Explanation, we might not have them here. I would appreciate it if Master Wang could keep an eye out for me."
"No problem." Wang Jiangzi's tone was gentle, thinking to herself how wonderful it would be to have a man treat her with such care when she was young.
In comparison, his skill level is not so important... women are ultimately emotional.
Liu Yuewang couldn't stay there indefinitely. After a while, she received a phone call and prepared to leave. Wang Jiangzi accompanied her to a special room to take her measurements and saw Liu Yuewang off.
Wang Jiangzi watched Liu Chang'an write and paint for a while longer. What amazed her was that the more she watched, the more she saw his skill level. Putting aside the intangible qualities like inspiration and style, his skill was truly solid, something that ordinary people could not achieve even after studying for ten or eight years.
This talent... this isn't just talent, it must be something he started training from the moment he was born! Wang Jiangzi was utterly puzzled, and could only explain it as the growth of a genius being beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
Watching Liu Chang'an write calligraphy and paint is a pleasure; Wang Jiangzi no longer cares that her original intention was to verify Liu Chang'an's skill level.
After Liu Yuewang left, Liu Chang'an didn't stay any longer. He thanked her and left.
Not far after passing the archway at the entrance of Ziping Street, Liu Chang'an saw Liu Yuewang's car, which had been gone for some time, parked on the side of the road, seemingly in the event of a car accident.
A head fell to the ground; it was a horrifying sight.
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Here comes a long chapter of 10,000 words. I'm asking for monthly votes and recommendations. I got up at eight in the morning, writing on and off, and finally finished it before the pain from my kidney stones became unbearable.