They spent the whole afternoon at Peach Blossom Flat, but did not stay for dinner there. Instead they returned to Tonglin County.
By the time they reached the county town, Du Yueyao had already come back from Yizhou Prefecture. Lu Zheng made the introductions, everyone exchanged greetings, and then they all headed to the Lu residence together.
On the way, Ao Qi secretly sent a sound transmission to Yan Hongxia. “This Miss Du keeps looking at you in a really strange way.”
“Eh? Does she?” Yan Hongxia, ever carefree, hadn’t noticed. At the words she looked straight at Du Yueyao.
Du Yueyao jumped, hurriedly turned her head, and pretended to be calm.
But it was far too obvious. Even Yan Hongxia could tell something was off. “Miss Du, why are you staring at me like that?”
“No, no, nothing!” Du Yueyao waved her hands frantically. “I often heard Big Brother Lu and the two sisters mention you, so I’ve long been curious. I stared a little just now. If I offended you, please forgive me, Miss Yan.”
Yan Hongxia believed her immediately and even looked pleased. She raised an eyebrow at Lu Zheng. “Is that so, hahaha? What exactly did Brother Lu say about me?”
Du Yueyao blinked. “Well… he said Miss Yan is frank and straightforward, pays no heed to petty details, has a heart full of justice, and acts with lightning speed.”
The corner of Lu Zheng’s mouth twitched. Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying gripped each other’s hands, struggling to keep straight faces and not burst out laughing.
Yan Hongxia, however, was utterly delighted. The corners of her mouth curved upwards. She forced down her grin, waved modestly, and said with fake humility, “Not at all, not at all. Brother Lu flatters me. I merely possess a pure sword heart. It’s nothing worthy of mention, nothing at all, hahaha!”
Du Yueyao shook her head repeatedly. “Miss Yan is too modest. As the saying goes, hearing about someone a hundred times is not as good as meeting them once. To meet you today is truly an honour for Yueyao.”
She was completely sincere. To meet the living prototype of Yan Chixia from Lu Zheng’s *A Chinese Ghost Story* really did feel like an honour.
It was just… looking at Yan Hongxia’s petite, exquisite figure, and seeing that she seemed unaware of the matter, Du Yueyao did not dare speak the truth.
Meanwhile, Lu Zheng, who ought to have a clear conscience, inexplicably felt a twinge of guilt. He rubbed his chin, at a complete loss for words.
I really didn’t base Yan Chixia on Yan Hongxia! My hometown genuinely has a film called *A Chinese Ghost Story*! I have the movie as proof!
He sighed inwardly…
Over on the other side, seeing Du Yueyao’s behaviour, and knowing that Du Yueyao and Liu Qingyan were nominally sisters but actually master and disciple, Yan Hongxia found herself liking Du Yueyao even more. She stepped forward, took Du Yueyao’s hand, and showered her with enthusiastic praise.
Du Yueyao did her best to forget the influence of *A Chinese Ghost Story*, and soon the two were genuinely getting along splendidly.
Only Ao Qi kept glancing between Du Yueyao and the trio of Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and Shen Ying. She felt something was strange, grew secretly wary, and paid close attention.
Back at the Lu residence, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying played host while Lu Zheng personally cooked, using his precious wolf-meat stock to prepare several signature dishes.
It had to be said, his skill far outstripped Xiao Cui’s by several streets. Yan Hongxia ate to her heart’s content, and even Ao Qi devoured a huge amount.
Yan Hongxia spoke through a full mouth. “Brother Lu, your cooking is amazing! How come you weren’t this good last time?”
Lu Zheng laughed. “I’m just happy to see you, that’s all. I hardly ever cook normally. Today is a special welcome-back feast for you!”
Yan Hongxia swallowed a mouthful of fragrant stewed wolf meat, cupped her fists, and said, “Many thanks for your hospitality, Brother Lu!”
Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly. “Don’t mention it!”
Du Yueyao maintained perfect composure. Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying gave no sign. Only the two little girls kept looking left and right.
True, Lu Zheng didn’t cook often, but it wasn’t that rare either… Never mind. When they remembered that he only cooked in exchange for their completing their homework, yes, it really was quite rare.
Poor little girls. They had never connected the Yan Chixia from the story with the Yan Hongxia standing before them.
The gap was simply too vast.
…
After dinner, Du Yueyao was the first to excuse herself and fled as though her life depended on it.
Yan Hongxia was in high spirits and wanted to sleep foot-to-foot with Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying.
She had also tried to drag Ao Qi along, but Ao Qi said she wished to have some private sisterly talk with Ao Qian.
So Liu Qingyan stayed overnight at the Lu residence, while Ao Qi went to the Liu house to share a bed with little loli Ao Qian.
As for Lu Zheng, he could only sleep alone, gazing at the moon.
…
The next day.
“Brother Lu!!!!”
Lu Zheng was still asleep when Yan Hongxia’s shout jolted him awake.
He pushed open the door to see Yan Hongxia standing in the courtyard, facing his room, clutching a picture-book, her lips trembling.
“Wha… what’s wrong?”
Lu Zheng shivered. For some reason he instantly felt guilty.
Yan Hongxia brandished the illustrated copy of *A Chinese Ghost Story*. “This book… you… you…”
For a moment she didn’t know what emotion to express.
Should she thank Lu Zheng for remembering her and putting her in his story, or should she tear into him for turning her into a slovenly bearded man?
How would she ever hold her head up among friends again? Especially since the story was so good and clearly had the potential to spread far and wide. If it got out…
This was social death!
From a short distance away, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying stood hand in hand, watching Lu Zheng with playful mockery, clearly enjoying the show.
On the other side, Ao Qi had just leapt over the wall with Ao Qian in tow. Her gaze towards Lu Zheng was complicated, difficult to describe.
Last night, sharing a bed with Ao Qian, she had listened to the little loli sing Lu Zheng’s praises all night long.
His food was delicious, the toys he invented were fun, every ten days he organised entertaining activities, and he told wonderful stories…
Ao Qi had been stunned, then Ao Qian had recommended *A Chinese Ghost Story* to her as well. So now she understood why Yan Hongxia was exploding.
At last she realised why Du Yueyao’s gaze yesterday had been so strange.
After all, the difference between Yan Hongxia and Yan Chixia was enormous. Anyone meeting the real person for the first time would naturally compare.
Ao Qi looked at Lu Zheng and thought, so this fellow has this sort of wicked hobby. Thankfully we’re still strangers; I won’t end up written about.
…
Seeing Yan Hongxia speechless with emotion, Lu Zheng’s mind raced. He nodded decisively, beaming. “You don’t need to thank me!”
Ao Qi: ⚆_⚆?
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying: Õ_Õ??
Yan Hongxia: 〣(ºΔº)〣
No need to thank you?? Do I look like I’m about to thank you??
Yan Hongxia gaped, the words she had just managed to utter stuck in her throat.
“We’re friends, aren’t we? Giving you a little cameo role is no big deal.”
Lu Zheng waved cheerfully, looking utterly sincere. “Just look at the character I created for you. The abilities and personality are drawn from you, but the image is even more striking than the male and female leads!
To stop readers judging by appearances, I deliberately changed the gender so everyone would focus on your skill and character instead. That took a lot of thought!”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow proudly, wearing an expression that said *I did all this for your own good, you should be grateful*. Yan Hongxia was completely flummoxed.
She blinked. When he put it like that… it kind of made sense?
“Really? Oh… thank you, then.”
Yan Hongxia nodded in a daze. “I hadn’t thought of it that way…”
Nearby, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying stared in astonishment, exchanging stunned glances. He actually talked his way out of this??
Unfortunately, Lu Zheng had forgotten there was still one other person present. And so…
