Who knows whatâs going on in this kidâs head?
As a woman, Zhu Pingniangâs competitiveness and curiosity have genuinely been completely awakened.
Thatâs why she must try Xu Changâanâs fruit no matter what.
"...You." Li Zhibai sighed and put the ruler away.
She actually had guessed it.
As long as Tong Junâs curiosity isnât satisfied, nothing she says will work.
But if you really want to know whatâs hidden in the fruit... Li Zhibai thought she had explained it clearly, itâs nothing more than Ms. Yun.
However, because Changâan has a very good impression in Tong Junâs heart, she refuses to believe it and insists on experiencing it herself...
Li Zhibai was also helpless.
Forget it.
Just let this girl mess around, after all, itâs not a big deal. Itâs just that if this girl ends up grinding her teeth in bitterness, then donât blame her sister for not warning her.
Li Zhibai didnât really consider whether Zhu Pingniangâs attempt to peek into Xu Changâanâs mind would offend Xu Changâan or make him uncomfortable.
Her student is a smart person.
Xu Changâan has always known the methods of understanding emotions at Muyu Peak, and when taking care of the Beauty Fruit, he must have noticed that the special spiritual power circuits recorded some of his information.
But he doesnât mind.
Indeed.
Xu Changâan never felt that his relationship with Yun Qian was something to be ashamed of.
Otherwise, he wouldnât have carried Yun Qian on the main road to her Sword Hall, attracting so much attention from the girls to her residence.
Thinking about the trouble Xu Changâan caused her, Li Zhibai felt a bit itchy.
But the student has grown up and has a wife by his side, so itâs not appropriate to hit his palm.
"Tong Jun, Changâan... he also tolerates your temper." Li Zhibaiâs tone was full of helplessness.
"I canât help it, in Changâanâs mind, Iâm just an unreliable senior." Zhu Pingniang curled her lips: "So, unlike Ah Bai, I donât need to maintain an image; no matter how ridiculous I act, heâll indulge me... How about it, are you a bit envious?"
She doesnât know how relaxed she needs to be to avoid putting on airs like Li Zhibai in front of him.
Zhu Pingniang felt this was just right.
"But he doesnât really think youâre a ridiculous person." Li Zhibai hit the nail on the head.
"Exactly, thatâs why I like him." Zhu Pingniang nodded vigorously.
When Xu Changâan encounters difficulties, heâll come to her for help; as long as she says something, Xu Changâan never questions it for a second, so Zhu Pingniang is both satisfied with her indulgent demands and the feeling of being trusted as a senior.
A win-win.
"Letting you like him, he really doesnât find it exhausting." Li Zhibai raised her wine glass, and Zhu Pingniang leaned in, reminding Li Zhibai.
"It was I who sent him up the mountain."
Watching Zhu Pingniang acting so proud, even vying for favor, Li Zhibai held her forehead: "I know."
"Yun Qian, I was the one who arranged her position at Celestial Bright Peak." Zhu Pingniang clenched her fist: "I was even worried Yun Qian wouldnât adapt if she went directly to the fox spirit-infested Muyu Peak, so I specifically found a quiet spot at Celestial Bright Peak and placed her under someone I trust."
Qinling is her trusted person.
Zhu Pingniang felt that although she didnât say it, her many little thoughts, her kindness, and concern for Xu Changâan should and must be seen by him.
"But why! Why!"
Zhu Pingniang slammed the table hard.
"Why does he like Ah Bai you more? I donât understand, I canât comprehend."
Li Zhibai: "..."
Before her was a sister who had drunk wineâclearly not drunk, but acting crazy under the influence of alcohol.
What jealousy is she feeling now?
Li Zhibai sensibly didnât respond to her.
Zhu Pingniang didnât expect Li Zhibai to respond either; she licked the wine stains on her lips and chuckled: "I treat him well, but it doesnât compare to even a bit of Ah Baiâs teachings, so I want to crack open his head, eat his fruit, and see what heâs really thinking... Itâs reasonable, right?"
"If you say so, it is." Li Zhibaiâs tone was calm.
But even Li Zhibai had to admit... Zhu Pingniang is genuinely good to Xu Changâan.
This kindness is reflected in every aspect; not just taking care of Yun Qian, she even thought about things after Yun Qian went up the mountain... Li Zhibai thought if it were her, she definitely wouldnât have considered all these things.
It seems that Changâan knows Zhu Pingniang has treated him well and thatâs why he always goes along with her nonsense.
Looking at the indignant woman in front of her, Li Zhibai suddenly thought that although Xu Changâan always calls her âSenior Zhuâ behind her back, perhaps he truly sees Tong Jun as âMs. Zhu.â
Zhu Pingniang doesnât really need to be jealous because, often... Xu Changâan remembers Zhu Pingniangâs kindness towards him under her as his teacher.
Li Zhibai indeed has keen insight.
Xu Changâan does think that way.
Especially after discovering Zhu Pingniangâs affection for Li Zhibai, although he pretended to avoid meddling in this troublesome matter, he still agreed to act as Zhu Pingniangâs spy, even hoping to see both âsistersâ succeed.
Seeing two girls who have been kind to him so close is something very pleasing to Xu Changâan.
Therefore, at the banquet, watching Zhu Pingniang trying to âflirtâ with Li Zhibai, he couldnât help but find it amusing despite fearing to be rude.
If it were someone else âtormentingâ his teacher like that, how could Xu Changâan endure it?
One might say, the spoiling in this world never comes out of nowhere, and Zhu Pingniang always acts like a ridiculous child, so calling it âpettingâ isnât too far-fetched.
"One more thing," Zhu Pingniang suddenly said.
"What is it?"
"If I want to gain something from Changâan, it means Iâm greedy." Zhu Pingniang thought for a moment, rummaging through the Storage Ring as she spoke: "A greedy woman always has to pay something, right?"
"?" Li Zhibai didnât understand.
"I mean, Changâan... heâs actually a bit uneasy today." Although Zhu Pingniang was still smiling, her eyes were clearly very serious: "Ah Bai, I donât know if youâve noticed this."
"Is he uneasy?"
"Yes."
Didnât Li Zhibai notice?
No, she noticed some things.
But as a teacher, not a mother, she ignored it because if Xu Changâan doesnât actively seek help, she will definitely not interfere, itâs Li Zhibaiâs principle.
But Zhu Pingniang is different.
Because of taking care of the girls at the Flower Moon Building, she has gotten used to playing the role of a mother, used to considering things in all aspects.
If many things waited for the girls at Flower Moon to ask for help, theyâd be almost irretrievable... So, Zhu Pingniang wouldnât wait until itâs too late to intervene; sheâs used to dealing with everything in advance.
For instance, with Ah Qingâs arrangement, she truly arranged her thoroughly, from interpersonal relationships to work to gaining psychological recognition, even giving her a stage, afraid Ah Qing might get stuck in a rut, and even had a heart-to-heart with her.
Zhu Pingniang is the sister who takes the best care of people, drastically different from her outward ridiculousness.
Therefore, Xu Changâan can rest assured leaving Yun Qianâs safety to Zhu Pingniang while he goes up the mountain for cultivation.
Itâs precisely because of this that, when Zhu Pingniang found out Xu Changâan wanted a suitable weapon but didnât ask her, asking Li Zhibai instead... she felt wronged and unhappy.
Clearly, he should be asking for her help, shouldnât he?
But jealousy aside, as a sister, she still cannot let her younger brother wallow in uneasiness.
"Ah Bai, tell me... with Changâanâs temperament, what would make him uneasy?" Zhu Pingniang pondered: "I genuinely do not understand what heâs thinking."
"Of course itâs Yun..."
Li Zhibai was just about to speak when she suddenly froze.
Li Zhibai gazed in a daze at the black-dressed woman before her with cherry lips against the wine cup, the allure seemingly embedded in her very essence.
Is Tong Jun truly foolish?
Does Tong Jun really not understand Xu Changâanâs mind?