January 2, 2018
"I’m so angry, I’m so angry, I’m so angry! That woman is simply unreasonable!"
In the bamboo grove path outside the dining hall of the Li Family Mansion, Shen Qingming paced impatiently, each step as if practicing a war stomp, crushing the pebbles on the path one by one into fragnts.
Wang Jiu watched from the side, feeling like he was witnessing a brat who loved popping bubble wrap in packages, thinking to himself, no wonder she’s a descendant of Shen Kaishan. Back in the day, that nine-foot-tall guy with a habit of going shirtless would amuse himself by popping a huge roll of bubble wrap, constantly making popping sounds that drove Zhao Yuming and others mad, biting their teeth and scratching their ears.
Later, it was Rakugo who was clever enough to add a permanent illusion effect above Shen Kaishan’s head, so every ti he popped a bubble, a sign saying "Intelligence -1" would appear above, making viewers feel delighted and tolerate the annoying popping sound.
At that ti, Jiu Immortal Venerables and the Celestial Divine Sword would often delve deep into the Demon Race’s territory, with a single operation lasting several days and nights. While camping out, the group would often hear Shen Kaishan popping bubbles tirelessly throughout the night.
However, Shen Qingming had a higher level of intelligence compared to her ancestor. After crushing stones for a while, she felt bored herself, sighed, and said, "Ah Jiu, what can I do? Lu Xin is adamantly opposed to going to Shen City."
Wang Jiu said, "Then don’t go. I’ve thought about it carefully, even if the sandstone BBQ isn’t the authentic taste of Shen City, it doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t evaluate food solely based on its authenticity; you need to consider the local dining environnt and your own taste. In other words, you shouldn’t be a culinary fundantalist."
"No way, I’m going! This isn’t just about the business of the Shen and Li families, it’s also a personal grudge between and Lu Xin. Being blocked so unreasonably by her, I can’t stand it!" Shen Qingming said firmly, "Hurry and help think of a way to convince Lu Xin to agree to my going."
Wang Jiu thought for a mont and said, "You are her daughter. According to general human societal rules, you just need to go over, hold her leg, act cute, and roll around."
"..."
"Additionally, Lu Xin is a loyal fan of the Spirit Cat Plan. You could promise her that if she agrees to let you go to Shen City, you’ll dance for her in the new Spirit Cat Suit."
"..."
Seeing Shen Qingming’s bewildered face, Wang Jiu had to further explain, "Simply speaking, it’s a seductive tactic."
"Seductive tactic, my foot!" Shen Qingming’s face turned beet red, her anger and embarrassnt obvious. "I’d die before I stoop to such a shaless act!"
"Why? When you and Li Wanqing perform publicly in front of thousands, you don’t feel embarrassed dancing."
"It’s different in nature!" Shen Qingming retorted. "Besides, Lu Xin wouldn’t agree that easily."
Wang Jiu said, "How will you know if you don’t try? Here, wait a mont, I’ll demonstrate an experint for you."
"Wait, what are you going to do!?" Shen Qingming instinctively sensed trouble and wanted to stop Wang Jiu. But as his mount, she had no authority to resist her master, and Wang Jiu’s re thought rooted her to the spot.
Afterward, Wang Jiu walked along the bamboo grove path to Li Fengyun’s tea room, where Lu Xin was having post-al tea with Li Fengyun and softly reporting on family matters. Seeing Wang Jiu enter, Lu Xin politely stood and greeted him, saying, "Mr. Wang Jiu, is there sothing you need?"
Wang Jiu got straight to the point, "It’s like this, you previously strongly opposed Shen Qingming’s plan to go to Shen City..."
Before he could finish, Lu Xin interrupted without hesitating, "Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous. That child is too whimsical, thinking she can resolve decades of grudges between the two families with only wishful thinking. It’s not that simple! Shen Ruoshi is notoriously stubborn. In the past, the people from the Li family have tried countless tis to communicate with him over Fengyun’s issue, and every single ti, they got scolded terribly."
Beside her, Li Fengyun added, "In fact, we only got scolded the first few tis; after that, nothing happened."
Lu Xin angrily replied, "That’s because he outright refused to accept any letters from Qingcloud City and expelled all envoys from Shen City!"
Turning back, Lu Xin sighed and said, "Mr. Wang Jiu, I actually understand Qingming’s intentions. It makes us very happy that she’s so concerned about the family affairs and the senior mbers at a young age. But one cannot act on re whims; practical circumstances must also be considered. She can’t even persuade soone with the surna Lu, like , so how does she expect to convince the people of Shen City?"
Wang Jiu said, "Yes, that’s why I want to test just how persuasive Shen Qingming can be. For example, look at this."
As he spoke, Wang Jiu quickly drew and colored an image on a piece of white paper at lightning speed, then handed it to Lu Xin for viewing.
In the image, Shen Qingming was dressed in an orange cat-girl dance outfit, curled up like a lazy orange cat lying on the ground, basking in the warm afternoon sunlight, yawning gently with contentnt.
Thump thump!
With his keen hearing, Wang Jiu imdiately heard strong, powerful heartbeats coming from the tea room.
In front, although Lu Xin’s expression remained unchanged, her eyes brightened instantly, and monts later, her cheeks were unavoidably flushed.
"So, so cute... No, that’s not the point!" Lu Xin shook her head vigorously. "This has nothing to do with being cute or not..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Wang Jiu leaned over next to Lu Xin, picked up his brush, and added more to the picture. His hand was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, Lu Xin saw the image change.
Beside Shen Qingming, there was now another person—a petite figure like a young girl, dressed in lavish attire, squatting beside the orange cat, stroking Shen Qingming’s back affectionately, and touching Shen Qingming’s face with the back of her hand.
"..." Lu Xin beca unsteady and staggered backward, covering her cheeks with both hands, taking a long ti to calm herself before saying, "I still can’t agree."
Wang Jiu was sowhat disappointed: "I see. Well, okay then."
As he spoke, he intended to take back the drawing paper and report the result to Shen Qingming. However, the Shape Manipulation Array activated, yet he couldn’t retrieve the paper.
Wang Jiu looked at Lu Xin, puzzled.
Lu Xin coughed, "This painting... the technique is quite interesting. I’m planning to go back and study it seriously, and learn from it."
"I see, I didn’t know you were interested in painting. If there’s a chance in the future, we can exchange ideas more often."
Lu Xin nodded seriously, "If there are more paintings about Qingming in the future, please be sure to show them to !"
After speaking, Lu Xin carefully put away the drawing paper and let out a long breath. It was as if a gambler who had luckily bought the jackpot in a street lottery shop had successfully cashed in the full amount.
Just when Wang Jiu was about to turn and leave, a ten-year-old boy ca bouncing into the tea room, his face gleaming with enthusiastic sweat, and shouted, "Mom, I’ve finished my howork for the morning, I want to have so tea!"
Wang Jiu glanced over and recognized him as Li Wushuang, the child of Lu Xin and Li Fengyun. The bright-eyed boy saw Wang Jiu and bowed earnestly, "Good afternoon, Mr. Wang Jiu."
Afterwards, Li Wushuang turned his head and saw the painting in Lu Xin’s hand, his eyes imdiately lit up.
"Mom, do you have a new collection again?!"
Lu Xin was taken aback, then hurriedly pressed her lips together and said sternly, "What new collection? Don’t talk nonsense, especially in front of Mr. Wang Jiu!"
Li Wushuang looked aggrieved, "How am I talking nonsense? Don’t you have a collection room? You’ve bought all of Sister Qingming’s morabilia for your collection..."
"I don’t!" Lu Xin got anxious on the spot, her face couldn’t help but turn red, "Wushuang, from now on, you are not allowed to speak!"
Li Wushuang closed his mouth in grievance, helplessly.
At this mont, Li Fengyun suddenly clapped his hands, "Ah, it’s that room! The one I used to store weapons. A few months ago, you suddenly said you wanted to use it, turns out it was to store Qingming’s painting albums."
"No, no!"
Li Fengyun said earnestly, "I rember clearly, when you asked for it, I was daydreaming and you stepped on my foot."
"You have such a good mory for these useless things!"
Li Fengyun continued, "I rember that night, you were talking in your sleep, saying if Qingming would smile at you like that, you’d agree to any request."
"That was sleep talk!" Lu Xin broke down, "How can you take sleep talk seriously?! No, I never said such things in my sleep, you must have been half-asleep!"
Li Fengyun seriously refuted, "That night, I was too absorbed in solving equations, I didn’t sleep at all."
"Fascinated with solving equations but still hearing my sleep talk? You’re crazy!"
Seeing the couple was on the brink of a big argunt, Wang Jiu thought for a mont, then snapped his fingers.
The next mont, Shen Qingming walked in reluctantly, her mouth half-open but unable to produce a sound.
Once again, she was forced into a driving state by Wang Jiu, every move under Wang Jiu’s control.
Without reservation, Wang Jiu applied the driving experience accumulated during the Cyan Cloud competition, instantly taking on the role, controlling every detail of Shen Qingming.
With a flawless posture, she leapt to Lu Xin, hugged her slender waist, rubbing her face against Lu Xin’s shoulder and neck, and began to coquettishly implore.
"Mom~ I really want to go to Shen City, please let go, ow~"
Lu Xin imdiately felt a powerful rush of blood surge from her heart to her head, and up her nasal cavity...
The woman quickly lifted her head, covering her nose with her hand, speaking indistinctly, "Don’t get so close..."
Wang Jiu chose to seize the chance, continuing to have Shen Qingming nuzzle Lu Xin and plead, "Mom~ you’re the best, please say yes, ow~"
Within her divine sense, Lu Xin ignited the Golden Crow Fla, using the searing pain to maintain her rationality, resolutely saying, "Absolutely, absolutely not..."
In the next mont, before Lu Xin could finish speaking, Shen Qingming’s eyes were already red, tears streaming down her face.
"I, I really want to go to Shen City, ow~"
Seeing those reddened eyes and sparkling tears, Lu Xin felt the Golden Crow Fla in her divine sense explode, extinguishing the last flicker of clarity in an instant, leaving nothing behind.
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