Chapter 105 - 91: You’re Su Ran?
Su Ran’s killer comeback made Yiren so mad her chest hurt.
"ARGH! My carrier! I’ve lost all faith in love! WAAAH! I’m fucking porting my number!"
Xie Yiren, clad in the traditional silver-adorned attire of the Miao Clan, sat on a mountaintop deep in the ancient forests.
To put it one way, Su Ran’s Buchu Garden represented the "seclusion" of the rich, while Xie Yiren’s little Miaojiang tribe lived the "seclusion" of the poor—the kind where you couldn’t even get a 4G signal.
Every time she returned to her hometown, she could only get a signal by sitting on this small hillside. *Sigh*... Life was so hard.
In her circle of girlfriends, if they were holding a "who’s the poorest" contest, Xie Yiren could put her hands on her hips and shout, "Who could possibly be poorer than me?" and no one would dare to challenge her.
After all, her tribe was a small community of less than a hundred people in the deep mountains of Miaojiang, and they were indeed dirt poor. Even her living expenses for university were covered by the entire tribe gathering medicinal herbs, selling them at the market, and depositing the meager earnings into her account.
It wasn’t out of pity for Xie Yiren. On the contrary, every one of her tribespeople did this willingly, and with great pride.
After all, Xie Yiren’s status as the "Bathing Fire Phoenix" was extraordinary. She was the living faith of everyone in her small tribe.
She was the Saintess of this small Miaojiang tribe, a legacy that had been passed down for over a thousand years, now with fewer than a hundred members remaining.
’Hah, some Saintess I am,’ she thought. ’Su Ran is about to cut me off completely. Ugh...’
"Who is this Su Ran?"
Just then, an elderly man’s voice came from behind her. Xie Yiren quickly stood, ran over, and took his arm. "Ah Weng, what are you doing here?" she asked with a bright smile.
Xie Yiren’s parents had died in her early years; they had lost their footing and fallen from a cliff while gathering herbs on the mountain. She was raised by Ah Weng, the tribe’s most senior elder.
The small tribe was highly traditional and superstitious, having upheld the "Saintess System" as their faith for millennia. They also believed in reincarnation. As it happened, the previous Saintess had passed away on the very day Xie Yiren was born, so she was naturally enshrined as their new spiritual leader: the Miaojiang Saintess.
’"Saintess" sounds pretty impressive, like it comes with a lot of power. In reality, Xie Yiren could only laugh wryly. ’You’re thinking too much,’ she’d say. ’We’re just a "critically impoverished tribe" with a per capita annual GDP of less than five thousand yuan.’
Ah Weng dotingly stroked Xie Yiren’s head and asked, "Yiren, you just said someone, a Su-something-or-other Ran, was going to cut you off. Who is that?"
"No, no! Ah Weng, don’t misunderstand. No one would dare to cut me off."
Xie Yiren always reported the good news and hid the bad. She would never tell Ah Weng about any troubles she faced or any bullying she endured in the outside world. If he found out, all hell would break loose. ’Someone dares to bully the Saintess of our great tribe? I’m buying an overnight train ticket to go put a curse on him!’
To her tribespeople, the Saintess was sacred and inviolable.
Anyone who harmed her was courting death.
"Umm..." Xie Yiren couldn’t hold back anymore. "His name is Su Ran. He’s a new friend I made, and he’s really nice. He even said... he said... he wants to build a road for us."
"And why would he want to build a road for us?"
"I showed him pictures of this place. He said the scenery is beautiful, that it’s the kind of pristine, undeveloped paradise that everyone in the city dreams of. He said he’s willing to put up the money to be my first pioneer."
*Sigh...*
Ah Weng heaved a deep sigh. Looking into her sparkling, innocent, and naive eyes, he said, "Yiren, don’t let some man from the outside world fool you with his sweet talk."
"He’s not fooling me! What he said is true!"
"He..."
Ah Weng almost blurted out, ’Do you really think he’s talking about building a road? He’s talking about "developing" *you*!’
「Meanwhile」
ACHOO! Su Ran sneezed. ’Who’s talking bad about me now?’ he wondered.
He pulled out his phone and sent a message to a "new friend"—the author known as Young Master Shi Wushuang, who wrote the sappy romance novel *Senior Sister, Please Come Down First*, which Su Ran had recently gotten into.
Buddha says do not be arrogant: [I’m in Hangzhou. If you’re free, I’d like to treat you to dinner this evening and chat about the plot.]
BING BING BING.
Shan Weizi was at home. Having just showered, she was now putting on a Hanfu. Mmm, yes... she was a complete Hanfu fanatic.
She saw the dinner invitation from "Buddha says do not be arrogant."
Over the past month, she and Su Ran had become "good friends." Su Ran was incredibly dedicated to helping her manage her reader community, though he did occasionally tag her in the group chat with demands like, "Author, pictures of you in a dress!"
Shan Weizi had never posted a picture of herself in "women’s clothing" in the group chat. She had only sent him one photo privately—a picture of herself in a Hanfu, with her face hidden—as a small token of gratitude for his diligent work managing her community and his frequent "Alliance Leader" level donations.
Now that her Sponsor was in Hangzhou on a business trip, Shan Weizi was also eager to meet this "Buddha says do not be arrogant" in person. They both shared a passion for painting.
At first she’d thought of calling him Brother Yue, but she’d ended up calling him Brother Kuang. Now she was going to meet him and see for herself just how "arrogant" this "Brother Kuang" truly was.
Sponsor? Not that she needed one. The Shan Family wasn’t short on money. She’d started writing the novel on a whim during summer break, and since it had done surprisingly well, she just kept at it.
Young Master Shi Wushuang: [I have to head out to run some errands right now. Let’s meet at 7 p.m. at Louwailou Restaurant by West Lake.]
After seeing his "OK" reply, Shan Weizi put down her phone. She finished dressing in her flowing, pure white, Wei-Jin style Hanfu, then went downstairs. She called out to Shan Changqing, who was watering the flowers, "Grandpa, I’m heading out to take some pictures!"
"Come back early."
"Okay."
When Shan Weizi stepped outside, a few of her friends were already waiting. They all piled into her Bentley Continental GT and drove off.
Her entire family were Wu School artists. Her father’s paintings had recently started fetching upwards of a million yuan. And though her grandfather had officially retired, he still painted a piece or two on occasion, mostly for social obligations he couldn’t refuse. His masterpieces were frighteningly expensive.
The Shan Family was wealthy. This Bentley Continental GT was a gift from her grandfather to celebrate her getting into university.
Despite her privileged background, Shan Weizi had her own passions. More than painting, she loved promoting traditional Chinese culture. To that end, she designed her own Hanfu, modeled them for photoshoots, and even ran her own online store.
Mmm, but this woman—the very same Little Junior Sister who made Wang Changyue tremble at the mere mention of her name—was a force to be reckoned with. She had a gentle appearance that belied a fierce personality, a quirky and clever Little Huang Rong.
And her family didn’t live in some modern, Chinese-style villa community, but in a grand, antique mansion steeped in the traditional charm of Jiangnan—a home that perfectly suited a family of artists.
The Bentley Continental drove off, passing a taxi heading in the opposite direction. The taxi pulled to a stop. Su Ran got out, strode up the steps to the courtyard gate, and knocked. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Shan Changqing was in the backyard watering his plants. Unannounced visitors were a common occurrence; most were there to beg for a painting or invite him to give a lecture.
"Who is it?" Liu Piaopiao, clad in a dark green cheongsam with a high slit, walked briskly to the gate, her hips swaying. She opened half of the double gate and looked over the dapper young man standing there.
"Yes?"
Su Ran’s eyes swept over the mature beauty in the cheongsam. She was undeniably beautiful, possessing the unique charm of a woman from the Jiangnan water towns. He couldn’t help but look a second longer.
Whoa.
Being stared at like that by a boy, Liu Piaopiao didn’t blush like a young girl might. Instead, she let out a soft "Hmph," crossed her arms over her chest, and said, "Hey. Had your fill yet, you little lecher?"
"Uh... AHEM..." Su Ran coughed awkwardly and quickly explained, "My apologies. It’s just that you’re so beautiful, Sister. I was out of line."
"’Sister?’ Hahaha..." It had been a long time since anyone had called Liu Piaopiao "Sister," especially not a fresh-faced young man like him. She found it rather amusing. "What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Excuse me, is Teacher Shan Changqing at home?"
"What business do you have with my father?"
"You’re Liu Piaopiao?"
"You know who I am?"
The mature woman’s curiosity was piqued.
"Of course! You’re the champion of the women’s division from the National Martial Arts Tournament twenty years ago, right? Liu Piaopiao, the only daughter of the Sect Leader of the Spirit Sword Mountain Sect?"
Liu Piaopiao leaned against the doorframe. These days she was just a housewife, so for someone to suddenly recall her glorious history was rather invigorating. Her opinion of the young man improved considerably.
"Looks like you’ve done your homework just to see my father. So, out with it. What do you want with him?"
Su Ran nodded. "I’d like to commission a painting from him."
Hearing it was another request for a painting, Liu Piaopiao instantly lost interest. She pursed her red lips. "My father has retired his brush, little handsome. Please leave."
"Not even if I’m paying?"
"Why be so insistent, handsome? Look, if you’re willing to spend the money, my husband can paint something for you. His prices are steep, though."
"Shan Zhentian?"
"What’s with that face? Don’t tell me you’re looking down on him. Tsk."
’It wasn’t that he was looking down on the man,’ Su Ran thought. ’It’s just that he’d seen a few of Shan Zhentian’s works, and they were merely so-so. Both were Wu School artists, but Tang Yin was the ultimate representative of the school. Since I’m already proficient in Tang Yin’s Painting Skill, why would I need a painting from Shan Zhentian?’
"I’m not looking down on him at all. I greatly admire Teacher Shan Zhentian’s work," Su Ran said. "But the main reason I came today was for your father, Shan Changqing. I’m here to request a painting from him."
"It’s really not going to happen. You should go home, handsome."
Liu Piaopiao braced her other hand against the doorframe, her body falling into a graceful pose. Her every casual movement radiated the unique beauty of a mature woman.
Su Ran shook his head, silently cursing the author Chang Yu. ’I never should have read his novels.’
"Alright, then. Sorry to have bothered you."
Su Ran turned to leave, his disappointment clear.
"Wait."
Liu Piaopiao leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "Hey. Do young men have no staying power these days?"
"You’re the one who said no. Am I not supposed to leave?"
"Tsk..." Liu Piaopiao produced a pen and paper from somewhere. "Leave your name and number," she said, holding them out. "If my father happens to take an interest, we can contact you."
"Fair enough."
Su Ran stepped back onto the porch and reached for the pen, but Liu Piaopiao pulled it away. Tapping it against her chin, she said, "A word of warning, young man. Don’t call me Sister, you hear?"
"Okay, Sister."
With that, Su Ran snatched the pen and scribbled on the paper.
Liu Piaopiao scoffed, rendered speechless. ’This kid is a little rascal.’
After Su Ran finished, he handed the paper to her. Liu Piaopiao glanced at the note, then looked back up at him. Her gaze had changed; now, it was one of intense scrutiny.
To Su Ran, it felt like the kind of look a mother-in-law gives a potential suitor.
Su Ran started to panic a little.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"So you’re Su Ran?"
"Huh?" Su Ran was stunned. "You’ve heard of me?"
"Heh. Of course I have. You’re practically a celebrity in this house. How could I not have heard of you? Alright, you passed the test. Come in."
Still completely bewildered, Su Ran was ushered inside. He started to follow her into the courtyard, but after only a couple of steps, Liu Piaopiao stopped short. She turned and said, "You walk in front."
"I walk in front?" Su Ran was even more baffled. "This is your house. What kind of play is that?"
"It makes me uncomfortable having you walk behind me."
*PFFT—*
’As expected of a heroine from the Martial World, so blunt!’ he thought. ’Does she really think I’d be mentally undressing her if I walked behind her?’
"What are you standing there gawking for? Get in front."
"Fine."