“Is it beautiful?”
“Really beautiful. Thank you, Lu Lang~~~”
On the bed, the brocade quilt covered them. Liu Qingyan extended her jade-like arm, gazing at the jade bangle on her wrist.
The bangle was milky white in colour, with a delicate lustre and smooth texture, as if it were the finest Hotan mutton-fat white jade.
The surface of the bangle was smooth, but on half of its outer edge there was a carving: an anthropomorphic beautiful white fox looking back at the moon.
“This bangle will be our family’s heirloom from now on,” Lu Zheng laughed. “Try it. Put something inside.”
This jade bangle was carved from the piece of white jade that the Jade Dragon King Ao Jin had given to Lu Zheng.
Now that Lu Zheng had a thousand years of cultivation and had learned the orthodox method for refining storage artefacts from the scripture pavilion of Baiyun Temple, he had cut the jade himself and then polished and crafted this White Fox Gazing at the Moon Bangle for Liu Qingyan, to use for storage.
“I have used one before. What is there to store?” Liu Qingyan said amusedly.
Yet, just like someone who has just got a new phone and wants to play with it more, Liu Qingyan actually wanted to try out this newly acquired jade bangle.
“Store what?” Liu Qingyan looked around.
Lu Zheng gave a sly smile, reached out and pulled the quilt. “Why not store this quilt!”
Liu Qingyan’s fair face flushed red in an instant. She immediately understood Lu Zheng’s meaning.
“Lu Lang~~~”
…
Compared to Liu Qingyan, Shen Ying was even more interested in the peach blossom bangle that Lu Zheng had given her.
She repeatedly stored and released everything in the bedroom, then giggled and stored Lu Zheng’s clothes.
…
Having crossed over to the modern world, Lu Zheng changed clothes while twisting his waist and called Lin Wan.
“Don’t work overtime this afternoon. I will come pick you up. I have something good for you,” Lu Zheng said.
“What good thing? The effects of that Jade Essence Pill from last time haven’t even fully absorbed yet,” Lin Wan said on the phone.
Compared to the pills given to Zhao Xiaodao and Zhang Weili, the effects of the Jade Essence Pill were on a completely different level.
Lin Wan had taken another Jade Essence Pill over the New Year, and even now she had not fully digested its power.
“It’s not a Jade Essence Pill.”
“Then what is it?”
“You will have to see it for yourself!”
“So mysterious?” Lin Wan laughed.
“Exactly so mysterious!” Lu Zheng said.
With the help of pills and a decent cultivation method, Lin Wan practised both Dao and martial arts. Now she had several decades of cultivation, enough to use a storage artefact. Moreover, the jade from the Jade Dragon King was substantial, so Lu Zheng had made a bangle for Lin Wan as well.
When the material quality was the same, the larger the original piece, the greater the storage space. This was why Lu Zheng made bangles rather than rings.
After hanging up, Lu Zheng checked the time, went home for a shower, then played a couple of rounds of Pesticide, thrashing some university students or stressed office workers who were squeezing in games. Only then did he leisurely unlock a shared bicycle and set off.
…
“President Lu?”
While waiting at a red light, the rear window of a nearby Mercedes rolled down, revealing the face of Xie Feng, a director of Huairen Hall.
“President Xie?”
Lu Zheng turned back, naturally raising his hand in greeting. “What brings you to Haicheng?”
“Discussing some business,” Xie Feng said casually, then immediately asked, “President Lu, are you free tonight? Shall we get together?”
The crowd waiting at the light exchanged glances. They had not expected a hidden big shot among them. It seemed the boss in the back of the Mercedes was the one being more deferential.
Unexpectedly, Lu Zheng declined.
“No time. I have a date with my girlfriend tonight,” Lu Zheng said.
“I understand!” Xie Feng nodded quickly. “My contract here is already signed. I will be in Haicheng for the next three or four days. Whenever you are free, I am at your disposal.”
Although Xie Feng did not know about Lu Zheng’s ability to procure miraculous pills, he had personally witnessed Lu Zheng saving Duan Yukai’s life. Add to that the exclusive channel for unique medicinal kings, and Xie Feng treated Lu Zheng with utmost flattery and courtesy.
Lu Zheng nodded. “Tomorrow then. Invite President Liu as well. I happen to have acquired some new teas. You can try them too.”
“Great!” Xie Feng smiled. “I will book a place tomorrow and send you a message once it’s set.”
“Good.” Lu Zheng agreed, then the people around him pedalled away one by one, leaving the two who seemed to be filming a video.
…
Lu Zheng had just arrived at the building of the International Criminal Police Haicheng Liaison Office when he saw Lin Wan appear together with her colleague Li Ying.
After Li Ying greeted Lu Zheng, she said to Lin Wan, “I won’t disturb your couple time. Remember the weekend gathering!”
“Yes!” Lin Wan smiled in reply, then watched Li Ying get into a nearby car and drive off.
“Weekend plans?” Lu Zheng asked.
“We had arranged for her to go watch a play with me. Since you are back, we can all go together.”
“Together?” Lu Zheng said. “Us two plus a third wheel?”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes. “She is bringing her boyfriend too.”
Lu Zheng understood. “So originally you were the third wheel?”
Lin Wan glared. “Who told you to never stay home, leaving me alone guarding an empty bedroom!”
“I surrender! My fault!” Lu Zheng immediately raised his hands in defeat.
Lin Wan pouted, kept driving, then asked, “What do you want for dinner?”
Lu Zheng said, “Hotpot. It has been ages.”
…
Back home, the moment the door closed, the lingering heat from the hotpot that had not yet subsided flared up again.
…
After showering and changing into pyjamas, Lin Wan lay in Lu Zheng’s arms, idly flicking through TV channels while asking curiously, “What is the good thing?”
Lu Zheng smiled. A jade bangle flew out from the mouth of the gourd on the coffee table, growing in the wind and landing in his hand.
“For you.”
“So pretty!”
Lin Wan took the bangle and saw its fine texture, flawless white jade. Only on half of the outer surface were some cloud patterns carved as decoration.
Lin Wan’s beautiful eyes turned to Lu Zheng. “Why suddenly think of giving me a gift? It is not my birthday today.”
“Take a closer look,” Lu Zheng laughed.
Lu Zheng’s smile was quite suggestive. Lin Wan’s heart stirred, and she infused a little true qi into the bangle.
The next moment, a vast space appeared in her senses.
“A storage bracelet!” Lin Wan exclaimed in shock.
“I obtained a fine piece of jade perfect for refining this kind of storage artefact, so I made a jade bangle for you. From now on it can be our family’s heirloom. How about it? Do you like it?”
“Of course I like it!”
Lin Wan cheered, sat up, leaned in and gave Lu Zheng a deep kiss on the cheek.
Then, the heat that had just subsided rose again…
…
All evening, Lin Wan was like a little girl who had just received her favourite Barbie doll, playing delightedly. She stored and released various things around the house, and along the way used a dust-removing spell for a thorough cleaning.
Only late into the night did she reluctantly remove the bangle and go to sleep with Lu Zheng.
