“I’m telling you, Old Tang, you just handed the person over to Jin’er’s girl so straightforwardly?”
After Tang Jin’er left in a whirlwind with A Da and A Er, a figure emerged from behind the rosewood carved screen in the study.
It was Madam Tang, dressed in a dark green velvet long dress. The pearl necklace around her neck gleamed softly, and the Jade Hairpin in her hair trembled lightly with her steps.
Her well-maintained face was delicately made up, bearing a striking resemblance to Tang Jin’er—easily eight or nine parts alike.
“Hmph, although I know that girl probably exaggerated some parts, it’s likely true that Gu Huaishan really wants her dead. If that’s the case, what’s wrong with me sending someone for her to investigate?”
“I know that. What I mean is, why are you giving people away so easily now? When Leila and Zhixian went missing, you wouldn’t let anyone near them at all.”
Madam Tang walked over to Tang Zhendong’s side and asked softly.
“Oh, wife, back then I thought their disappearance was definitely that old fox Leila’s scheme. How could she possibly…”
“Who are you calling an old fox! Day after day, can you keep your mouth clean? Jin’er’s going to pick up bad habits from you!”
Madam Tang put one hand on her hip and yanked Tang Zhendong’s ear, cutting off his words.
“Ouch, ouch… alright, alright, I won’t badmouth your good bestie anymore…”
“Seriously, I don’t see you scolding me when I insult others…”
Tang Zhendong rubbed his ear, a trace of grievance on his rugged face, earning a sharp eye roll from Madam Tang.
“Ah, anyway, your clever bestie will definitely be fine. Besides, we don’t even know if she really disappeared or if she just went out on some errand. Maybe, just like Zhixian, she’s gone to meet her lover…”
“Hey hey hey, wife, I was wrong, I was wrong! Don’t hit me!”
The man covered his head and began to flee, circling the table.
“Whoa!”
A flying pen holder struck Tang Zhendong’s head.
“I knew you couldn’t say anything nice!”
“Ahem, anyway, we are outsiders after all. Without concrete news, it’s best not to interfere, especially since the Ruan family is calm on the surface.”
After the chaotic scene, Tang Zhendong, nursing a swollen bump on his forehead, spoke awkwardly:
“Sending someone as young as Jin’er to investigate is already the limit of what we can do. If we do more, I’m afraid the Ruan family might misunderstand.”
“Let’s just hope Leila is as safe as Zhixian,” Madam Tang said with deep concern in her eyes.
“Lingling, I plan to start practicing painting this afternoon. What about you?”
***
After lunch, Ruan Zhixian lounged lazily on the sofa and asked the black-haired girl beside her.
“Huh?”
“Zhixian, aren’t you going to keep playing?”
Su Ling, who had been pondering how to persuade Ruan Zhixian to paint this afternoon, was surprised to hear this.
“Oh, even I know you have to work hard.”
“Especially now that Mom’s not around… I want her to see my progress when she comes back!”
Ruan Zhixian raised a slightly weak little fist to encourage herself.
“So, Lingling, what do you usually do when you’re free and alone?”
“Me? Uh… actually, not much…”
For some reason, the black-haired girl’s answer was hesitant.
“Hmm?”
This time Ruan Zhixian was fully alert and suddenly sat upright on the sofa.
“Come on, tell me~ good Lingling~ just tell me~”
Ruan Zhixian grabbed the black-haired girl’s slender arm and launched a sweet coaxing attack.
“Ah… I… Zhixian… do you really want to know?”
Su Ling slightly turned her face away, unable to meet Ruan Zhixian’s big, expectant peach blossom eyes.
“Mm!”
“Then, since Zhixian really wants to know, I, I’ll say it…”
“Come on, Lingling, just say it, I won’t laugh at you!”
Ruan Zhixian patted her own chest that bounced and swayed, giving her solemn promise.
“No, no, it’s not that I’m afraid you’ll laugh…”
Su Ling’s voice gradually faded.
I’m just afraid you’ll despise me…
(I’ve said it before, no matter what kind of person you are, Su Ling, I like you very much.)
The girl’s smile from that day flashed again in her mind. The black-haired girl pressed a hand to her chest and took a deep breath.
“Actually, when I’m free, I look at Zhixian… Zhixian’s photos, videos, things… even Zhixian’s surveillance footage…”
Finally confessing the truth, the black-haired girl lowered her head, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She dared not look up to meet those green eyes that were still full of hope.
“Sorry… a me like this… is really awful…”
“That’s perfect!”
Ruan Zhixian cheered and grabbed Su Ling’s hand.
“As long as you’re looking at me, right? Perfect, Lingling, you’ll be my model this afternoon!”
“Eh???”
Su Ling suddenly raised her head, staring incredulously at Ruan Zhixian’s face, which was as bright and pure as midsummer sunlight.
The girl’s green peach blossom eyes curved like crescent moons, free of any disgust or rejection—only pure happiness and expectation.
“Hmm… something still feels a bit off…”
In the Art Studio, Ruan Zhixian held her brush and tapped her forehead, troubled.
“Zhixian, is there something wrong with the way I’m posing?”
Opposite her, Su Ling shifted uneasily in her chair.
“No, no, Lingling, your sitting posture is very pretty and elegant! I just feel like something’s not quite right. Usually, you’re even more beautiful and attractive…”
More more more… more beautiful! So that’s how I’ve always looked in Zhixian’s eyes?!
The black-haired girl instantly blushed.
“Hmm… where exactly is it…”
Ruan Zhixian didn’t notice Su Ling’s expression and frowned, continuing to ponder in place.
The usual Lingling, the Lingling who I find so attractive, what exactly is she like…
Images of Su Ling flashed through the girl’s mind.
“Ah! I got it!!
The blonde girl slapped her forehead, suddenly enlightened.
“Lingling, you don’t need to look at the canvas, just look at me! And then, um, smile!”
Su Ling was a bit puzzled but followed the lively girl’s instructions, shifting her gaze toward her and then breaking into a gentle smile.
“Like that! That’s right!”
Ruan Zhixian nodded in satisfaction, then picked up colors from the palette and began to sweep her brush across the blank canvas, painting the image of the girl she cherished.