Surrounded by a crowd with no tact to disperse, Lu Zheng couldn’t train alone with Lin Wan.
No rush, though. He’d treat this visit as getting familiar with the place.
Lu Zheng mingled with the guys, exchanging moves and pointing out their weaknesses.
For someone who’d cultivated a martial artist’s vitality and honed traditional sabre techniques, their flaws were glaring.
Lunch was at the club, healthy meals provided. Lu Zheng’s was free, of course.
Then Lü Tieling appeared, announcing in high spirits that lunch was free for all.
Wonder what he’s so happy about—giving up on his dream girl or getting a thrashing?
By afternoon, Lu Zheng finally had time to coach Lin Wan one-on-one.
“Your weaknesses are obvious: not enough strength, speed, reaction, skill, or experience.”
Lin Wan, “…”
“Strength, speed, reaction—those take time to build,” Lu Zheng said. “Skill and experience, though, we can target.”
Lin Wan’s eyes lit up, “How?”
Lu Zheng grinned, “I’ll be your sparring partner.”
Lin Wan blinked, looking away, “That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
Lu Zheng shrugged, “Then forget it?”
“No way!” Lin Wan’s eyes flashed, “You busy usually?”
“Busy!” Lu Zheng nodded.
“Weekends?”
“Manageable.”
“Can you teach me weekends?” The detective turned into a shy bunny.
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, seeing her gaze grow sharper, then smiled, “No problem.”
A silent understanding formed.
For the afternoon, they stayed off the ring, focusing on training below. Lu Zheng showed her several grappling techniques and ways to adapt on the fly.
When they left the club, Lin Wan had linked her arm with his.
Got him!
…
“Gotten this easily?”
On his bed, Lu Zheng’s expression was serious, “I’m too young, too naive. One move from a pretty lady, and I surrendered without even playing hard to get. No hint of being a slick player, just an honest guy. So embarrassing.”
That said, Lu Zheng wasn’t that casual. Lin Wan’s bold confidence, her leopard-like agility, drew him in.
Who wouldn’t fall for a woman like that?
Lu Zheng sighed…
Lin Wan wasn’t there. They’d had dinner together, he’d walked her home, and got just a kiss.
“Pathetic!”
“But, gotta draw a line: hotel’s fine, living together’s not!”
“Guys need to protect themselves out there!”
Honestly, after so long in the ancient world, Lu Zheng felt a faint detachment from modern life. Having a girlfriend wasn’t bad.
Drifting off, he fell asleep.
…
“Got him?”
“Of course!”
“Then why’re you back?”
“Where else would I go?”
“His place!”
“Too soon, no?”
“Didn’t you say you’d wear him out?”
“You hooligan!”
“Me, a hooligan?” Huang Xiumin laughed, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. A twenty-something guy, full of energy, bad at saying no to pretty girls. Move slow, and someone else’ll snatch him.”
Thinking of the fiery-eyed women at the club, Lin Wan shifted, eyes darting, “Really?”
Huang Xiumin rolled her eyes, “I’m off to watch my show, don’t bug me!”
…
The next day, full of energy.
“Big Brother Lu!”
“Lu-lang!”
Lu Zheng stepped out, meeting the Liu sisters seeing off Old Man Liu.
“Morning, Old Man Liu, Qingquan, Miss Liu!”
Lu Zheng flashed his most honest, clean smile.
“Lu-lang, heading to Qingsheng Tower?” Old Man Liu asked.
Usually, when free, Lu Zheng went to Qingsheng Tower for morning tea, listening to storytelling for hours, sometimes staying for lunch.
“Yeah,” Lu Zheng nodded.
“You weren’t there yesterday, so you didn’t hear. Qingsheng Tower had a murder case, still sealed off,” Old Man Liu said.
“Murder?” Lu Zheng asked, surprised.
“Murder!” Liu Qingquan’s eyes widened, “They say the owner’s family was torn to shreds, blood everywhere.”
Lu Zheng’s brow twitched, “That gruesome, and you’re this excited?”
Liu Qingquan shrank back, “Just curious, that’s all.”
Lu Zheng squinted, smirking darkly, “Aren’t you scared the killer might sneak into your house at night…”
Liu Qingquan ducked behind her sister, “Not listening, not listening!”
“Don’t scare her, Lu-lang,” Liu Qingyan chided with a glance, and Lu Zheng grinned, pulling out an orange-flavoured lollipop.
“What happens to Qingsheng Tower now?” Lu Zheng asked Old Man Liu.
“No idea. The owner was an outsider, whole family of four killed, no heirs to claim the business,” Old Man Liu shook his head. “Probably confiscated, then sold off.”
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, then dismissed the idea.
Qingsheng Tower drew all sorts, not fitting his low-key approach.
“Guess no Qingsheng Tower then. I’ll wander Cong’an Lane instead.”
Liu Qingquan grabbed her sister, “Sis, it’s the market day. We’re free, why not join Big Brother Lu at Cong’an Lane?”
Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng, her willow-leaf eyes smiling, “Is that convenient, Lu-lang?”
“Totally!”
…
After escorting Old Man Liu to the clinic, Lu Zheng and the Liu sisters headed south, soon reaching Cong’an Lane.
“Miss Liu, what do you do at home all day?” Lu Zheng asked.
In the Da Jing Dynasty, entertainment was scarce. Women didn’t attend schools, and most venues weren’t female-friendly. What did refined ladies like Liu Qingyan do daily?
“Reading, writing, sewing, embroidery,” Liu Qingyan replied.
“Uh, doesn’t that get boring?”
Liu Qingyan covered her mouth, chuckling, “How can you look down on us sisters? Don’t you read behind closed doors too? Where’s the boredom?”
Lu Zheng: (||๐_๐)
Big misunderstanding…
True, a young, wealthy, idle guy like him, not gambling or visiting brothels, with no computers in Da Jing, what else would he do but read?
How to clear this up?
“Books hold golden houses, a thousand bushels of grain, and…”
“And what?” Liu Qingyan’s eyes sparkled, looking at him.
Lu Zheng laughed boldly, eyes blazing, “Books hold beauties like jade!”
Liu Qingyan quickly looked away, cheeks flushing, and changed the topic, “Lu-lang, planning to take the imperial exams?”
Lu Zheng shook his head, “The world’s vast, why cage myself? I read to broaden my mind, not for some goal. That’s a lesser pursuit.”
“Lu-lang, such an open heart,” Liu Qingyan stole a glance, then turned away.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she was about to speak when Liu Qingquan shouted ahead, “Big Brother Lu, Sis, I want candied hawthorn!”
Mood ruined!
