The sound of the bell drifted leisurely, accompanied by the warm midday sun, and Li Zhibai felt her heart pounding rapidly.
Yun Qian always had the ability to stir her youthful heart, easily shattering her mental realm.
However, Li Zhibai believed that this was not only because Yun Qian had a unique personality but also because she was Xu Changâanâs wife.
Li Zhibai trusted and adored Xu Changâan, so she gave Yun Qian enough trust, allowing her to disturb her mental realm.
ââ
At this moment, Yun Qian lowered her gaze, elegantly seated before the makeup table, like a jade statue. Li Zhibaiâs eyelashes trembled slightly as she stood behind Yun Qian, observing the half-open makeup box on the table.
Feeling Li Zhibaiâs delayed action, Yun Qian curiously opened her eyes and said, "Why arenât you moving, sister? If you delay any longer, heâll be back."
"Changâan?" Li Zhibai was momentarily shocked but then came to her senses and glanced outside: "Itâs fine, let him wait outside until the makeup is finished."
Since she had accepted being Xu Changâanâs mentor, it was naturally reasonable to make him listen.
"..." Yun Qian thought to herself, so it can be like this.
To cover her distraction, Li Zhibai went to the cabinet and took out several items for makeup enhancement, including a pair of Red Glazed Ear Pendants, an Inlaid Jade Butterfly Hairpin, and a pair of light-colored and elegant Imperial Consort Bracelets, ready to use them on Yun Qian later.
When had she ever seen someone as beautiful as Yun Qian?
Therefore, when Yun Qian sat with her eyes closed before the makeup table, appearing to let her do anything she wished, Li Zhibai found it difficult to act.
Although Li Zhibai hadnât become a Daoist, she had spent some time pretending to be one, always favoring acting according to circumstances.
Yet, applying makeup on Yun Qian was not acting according to circumstances. Instead, it felt like a sin of destroying perfectionâadding makeup to such a perfect face was like gilding the lily, trampling upon the worldâs most beautiful things.
Nevertheless, this was the "meeting gift" she promised to give Yun Qian, so she had to take it seriously.
Li Zhibai carefully and attentively observed Yun Qianâs face.
Today seemed like heavenâs favor, as the Great Sun outside the window was not as glaring as usual, warmly falling across Yun Qianâs face, onto her brows, as if suffused with a hint of rosy light.
"My makeup methods... might be a bit outdated," Li Zhibai suddenly recalled something.
Her techniques from her maiden days were centuries-old routines, possibly obsolete.
"Itâs alright," Yun Qian said without hesitation.
What she wanted was not exquisite makeup techniques but simply the person, Li Zhibai.
She was the teacher her husband admired, allowing her to apply makeup that Xu Changâan might also appreciate.
If it werenât for someone Xu Changâan favored, no matter how skilled the worldâs finest makeup artist was... Yun Qian would not spare her a glance.
"Since you trust me so, sister, I mustnât let you down," Li Zhibai took a deep breath and fetched various bottles and jars from the box, asking, "What kind of makeup do you want?"
"Me?" Yun Qian thought for a moment and said, "I donât really understand these things, so whatever sister thinks is good."
"Is there nothing specific you want?" Li Zhibai pursued.
"Something that he would like," Yun Qian responded.
Li Zhibai was taken aback, then shook her head: "If thatâs your request, itâs too simple."
Her student... probably wouldnât care how Yun Qian was made up; he would find her beautiful regardless.
Speaking of...
Yun Qian came to her for help in examining the Elixir Field, how did it turn into this?
Li Zhibai sighed softly.
Yun Qian didnât think that much. Listening to Li Zhibaiâs words, she shook her head in turn: "How to make him like me... Iâve always thought about how to do better; this is no easy task."
"..."
Li Zhibai, though not like those girls on the mountain who would be jealous of showy affection, still felt uneasy.
She straightened up and reached out to touch Yun Qianâs hair.
But as she touched it for a split second, she retracted her hand as if she had an electric shock, and that feeling of destroying perfection arose once more.
"Whatâs wrong?" Yun Qian asked.
"Itâs nothing." Li Zhibaiâs expression became more serious, and after mentally preparing herself, she tucked Yun Qianâs hair behind her ear: "Sister, shall I begin?"
"Mm." Yun Qian nodded, thinking that she was indeed her husbandâs teacher, someone who seemed like her husband in earthly thinking, both appearing to be unremarkable people.
This unremarkableness made Yun Qian like her even more.
Since she had allowed Li Zhibai to touch her, everything was already well-considered.
It was precisely because of Li Zhibaiâs unique identity and clear mind that if she truly harbored any improper thoughts, she would be unable to approach her regardless.
Once again receiving Yun Qianâs permission, Li Zhibai, the woman ranking just below Shi Qingjun in the Chaoyun Sect, finally adjusted her "modest" mindset and prepared herself to touch the perfect "dressed-up doll."
Li Zhibaiâs slender fingers brushed across Yun Qianâs face, gauging her face shape, and then rather than applying makeup immediately, she covered Yun Qianâs face with a warm cloth, watching the steam evaporate.
Not long after, Li Zhibai removed the damp cloth, and Yun Qianâs face, after a hot compression, had absorbed some moisture between her brows. Even without makeup, one could sense that ethereal aura, three parts tender, seven parts affectionate, full of femininity.
A beautiful lady is just like thisâshe could merely moisten her face, and it would appear as if she had applied makeup.
"Sister is truly beautiful; in fact, applying makeup might damage your aura." Li Zhibai remarked.
"The book says, no matter how beautiful the wife, if she remains unchanged... the husband will eventually grow tired of looking at her," Yun Qian said slowly.
"Maybe itâs like that? These things I donât really understand," Li Zhibai shook her head. She wasnât from the Hehuan Sect, just by chance had been brought to the mountain by Shi Qingjun... Now, she was merely a proper recluse, vastly different from those stunning women on Muyu Peak; apart from alchemy, she didnât care for anything.