Seeing Wonder Woman
Li Qi looked forward to it, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as though he were about to unveil a mysterious treasure.
Ying Li brought over an antique-style armchair. Its seat was smooth, its grain fine, and it gave off a faint woody fragrance.
Li Qi sat down gracefully, facing the enormous transmission stone, his hands loosely folded on his lap. Filled with curiosity, he kept guessing who would appear on the other side. Would it be the renowned Wonder Woman, or her dignified, noble mother, the queen of Paradise Island?
The palace on the other side looked warm yet elegant, with pale pink gauze curtains drifting gently and exquisite ornaments scattered throughout. It also had a touch of youthful liveliness, suggesting that it was probably the princess's bedchamber.
No one appeared on the transmission stone for quite some time. The sisters, Ying Nan and Ying Li, stood quietly beside Li Qi, smiling, ready at any moment to respectfully obey his instructions, their eyes showing loyalty and obedience.
They had barely exchanged a few words when the image on the transmission stone suddenly flickered, and a woman entered through a doorway at the side of the screen. She wore a light bathrobe with delicate patterns embroidered along its edges, which swayed gently as she walked.
As she walked, she dried her soaking-wet long hair with a soft towel. Droplets slid down the strands, sparkling crystal-clear in the light.
The woman was tall, slender, and athletic. Every movement seemed meticulously sculpted, exuding a distinctive presence, a perfect combination of strength and feminine grace.
She rounded a corner, her steps light, drawing closer to the transmission stone. When she noticed that the stone not far from the head of her bed was lit, a flicker of delighted surprise instantly crossed her previously calm eyes, like a lamp suddenly kindled in the darkness.
She immediately broke into a radiant smile and greeted her warmly. "Hello, Sister Ying Nan! Long time no see! I just got back from the training grounds and returned to my chambers after a bath. Sorry for the wait!"
It was Wonder Woman, Diana. She exchanged familiar greetings with Ying Nan, her clear laughter echoing through the room.
She then hung the white towel in her hand on an exquisite clothes rack beside her, its distinctive form carved with delicate patterns.
She carefully adjusted her bathrobe, drawing the neckline a little tighter, and approached the transmission stone step by step. Each step carried confidence and elegance, until her entire figure appeared clearly in the image before Li Qi.
Only then did Diana notice an unfamiliar man sitting upright in the middle of the image on the other side.
His posture was steady, his back straight, like a towering mountain. His face was handsome and sharply defined, his features as exquisite as a sculpture. He exuded an innate air of leadership, as though he shone with his own light.
Diana was both surprised and delighted. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly open, as though she had seen the most incredible thing in the world.
Throughout all her years of communicating with Ta Lo Village, she had only ever spoken to women and had never seen a man. Since Paradise Island was also populated entirely by women, Li Qi was the first man she had ever seen in her life.
Diana quickly recovered, her face full of joy. Her cheeks flushed slightly with excitement, and her eyes sparkled with exhilaration.
She said excitedly to Li Qi, "Oh my god, it's actually a man, a real, live man! Sister Ying Nan, you've really surprised me. I've finally seen one of these legendary men! Thank you so much!"
Li Qi responded with a smile as warm and friendly as spring sunshine. "Hello, young lady. I'm the new chief of Ta Lo Village. Ying Nan told me we could communicate with you, so I was curious and tried making contact. I didn't expect an opening like this."
Diana responded enthusiastically, her words full of curiosity about the outside world and men. Her eyes brimmed with a thirst for knowledge as she kept asking Li Qi all sorts of questions.
"What is the outside world like? How are men different from women? What kinds of interesting things do you do?"
Li Qi realized that the young woman before him had always lived in a world of women. Her outlook was innocent, and so many things seemed new to her, like a child eager to explore an unknown world.
At Li Qi's signal, Ying Nan began patiently explaining the basic etiquette and ideas of the outside world to Diana.
Ying Nan's voice was gentle and clear, like a murmuring stream slowly flowing into Diana's heart.
Diana listened attentively, nodding frequently, her gaze focused, as though she wanted to engrave every word in her heart. Then she said politely, "I understand. I'll go change and be right back." She turned and went back to her room to change.
Before long, Diana appeared in the image again, wearing a short leather fighting outfit.
On her lower half, she wore a tight leather skirt that perfectly outlined her long, straight legs. Several exquisite gems were set into the skirt, gleaming mysteriously in the light.
On her upper half, she wore asymmetrical leather armor, with a strap over one shoulder and the other shoulder bare, revealing her healthy, powerful skin. Distinctive patterns were engraved on the armor, as though telling ancient tales.
She looked every inch a valiant female warrior, as though ready at any moment to charge onto the battlefield and defend justice.
As Li Qi looked at the spirited Diana before him, his interest grew stronger, his eyes showing appreciation and admiration.
The four of them then began chatting happily. Diana was lively and brave, and she spoke frankly. Like a refreshing breeze, she left a deep impression on Li Qi.
She was innocent at heart, like an untouched sheet of white paper, full of curiosity and love for the world. Through their conversation, Li Qi learned that Diana had never left Paradise Island. Her greatest wish was to see what the human world was really like, the world her mother, the queen, described as selfish, greedy, and weak.
At the mention of leaving the island, Diana complained to Li Qi with some indignation. "My mother the queen interferes with far too much. Even ordinary training and fighting were things I had to struggle hard to get permission to learn. She's always worried I'll get hurt, but she doesn't realize I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself."
After nearly an hour of conversation, Diana already regarded Li Qi as a close confidant and poured out her troubles without reservation.
Looking at Diana, who was cheerful on the outside but somewhat unhappy within, Li Qi silently resolved that he would help her leave Paradise Island and see the vast world beyond.
He thought, This girl has such a strong thirst for knowledge and spirit of exploration. She shouldn't be confined to this little world. She should see the wonders outside.