Seeing the slight annoyance on Zhu Pingniangâs face from being ignored, Li Zhibai gently rubbed her temples with her fingers, feeling there was much to say, yet unable to voice it.
As an elder sister, perhaps thereâs no moment more helpless than this.
Thinking it over, any normal girl, upon understanding Lie SuâEr Yaâs character, would know heâs not the type to look down on others. Yet in Tong Junâs eyes, it provoked her irritation instead.
At this moment, Li Zhibai was even more certain that Tong Junâs sister must have figured something out.
After all, when it comes to understanding Sikong Lixu, the Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect, this old rival, wouldnât claim second place... probably no one could claim first. In this scenario, how could that manâs subtle intentions towards Tong Jun escape her sisterâs notice?
"Only you, this foolish girl... know nothing."
"Eh?"
Under Zhu Pingniangâs somewhat bewildered gaze, Li Zhibai tapped Zhu Pingniangâs forehead lightly with her fingertips twice.
"Ah Bai, what... are you doing?" Zhu Pingniang held her fair forehead, complaining, "Donât wipe off the new powder I just put on."
"..." Li Zhibai sighed, looking at this woman before her who, newly transformed with charming makeup, asked her, "Didnât you say that youâd never be willing to wipe off the makeup I put on for you for a lifetime?"
Zhu Pingniang felt a twinge of guilt.
Just now, when she was extracting the aura from the Enlightenment Tea, she broke into a sweat, so... she took the opportunity to freshen up, naturally washing off the makeup.
"How should I say this, Ah Bai, the Dianzhuang eyebrows you did for me, although they have an ancient elegance when matched with the makeup... no matter how I raise them, they look silly... maybe theyâre more suitable for your Ms. Yun." Zhu Pingniang blinked, "Iâm still more suited to Qiuniangâs Eyebrow now, itâs very ladylike."
"Who are you calling silly? If Changâan were to hear this... where would that leave you as his elder sister?" Li Zhibai sighed helplessly, then said, "What I taught Yun Qian is indeed nothing but silly things."
Zhu Pingniang realized her slip of the tongue, and gently took her hand, "Alright, arenât you staying here at Flower Moon Building for some time? There are plenty of opportunities to learn about todayâs makeup techniques from the girls."
As she spoke, Zhu Pingniang suddenly paused.
Wait a minute.
Could it be that Li Zhibai is staying at Flower Moon Building... to learn makeup, to better teach Yun Qian?
Her gaze suspiciously swept over Li Zhibaiâs face, then she shook her head.
Forget it, let her do as she pleases.
"Ah Bai, you just said... only Iâm the silly girl who doesnât understand... what do you mean by that?" Zhu Pingniang asked.
Li Zhibai looked at her.
There are many things she doesnât understand.
For instance, the Sect Leader is here in Flower Moon Building.
For instance, Sikong Lixuâs feelings for her.
Never mind, these are old grievances of the past generations, bringing them up now truly bears no significance; Li Zhibai told herself thereâs no need to worry.
She realized it too.
Bringing up the man.
Zhu Pingniang would only like Changâan. If Zhu Pingniang thought her slight fondness for Changâan went unnoticed by others... then sheâd underestimate Li Zhibaiâs insightful observation. Itâs simply because knowing Tong Junâs disposition, and now that Xu Changâan and Yun Qian have a great relationship, she knows a little affection doesnât really count for much.
"Some things are better left unknown," Li Zhibai said.
"You always say that." Zhu Pingniang wore an âI already knewâ expression, pouting, "So many things, if you donât tell me... how would I know?"
She blinked.
"Just now we were talking about Sikong Lixu, Ah Bai, are you saying... thereâs a secret about him I donât know?" Zhu Pingniangâs eyes lit up, "When we were studying together with him at your place, was there something embarrassing about him that I missed? Tell me all about it."
Zhu Pingniang was exceedingly excited.
This kind of bad woman living in the shadows loved gossiping about others behind their backs, especially when someone like Sikong Lixu, a gentleman in public, made a fool of himself, which brought her great joy.
"You still remember he studied with you." Li Zhibai rubbed her temples with her fingers, retorting, "What embarrassing things could Lixu have? Itâs more likely you have more."
"Do I?" Zhu Pingniang pondered.
When she was Zhu Tongjun, wasnât she quite well-behaved?
"Have you forgotten, that you used to... scold Lixu?" Li Zhibai reminded her.
Now, if these two truly clashed, facing the unmotivated Tong Jun, perhaps it would be the relentless Lixu who would gain the upper hand, but back then...
Sikong Lixu was nothing but ground into the dust by Zhu Tongjun.
Reallyâpushed to the ground and beaten.
Several times when she demanded a spar, facing Zhu Tongjun, Sikong Lixu, being the Young Sect Leader of the Profound Sword Bureau, couldnât even draw his sword before his face got swollen, and the key part was Zhu Tongjun couldnât grasp the concept of holding back, that blade strike... if he could still stand, it counted as Lixu having a thick skin.
Li Zhibai let her take action, and those moves were fast, faster than anyone today including Wen Li.
"I taught him a lesson..." Zhu Pingniang reflected, suddenly frozen, and then her pretty face turned crimson at an unimaginable speed.
She gently coughed, and bashfully said, "What happened back then... letâs not bring it up, Iâm a perfectly suitable virtuous lady now."
The Zhu Tongjun who beat people up, that indeed was black history.
"... As long as youâre happy." Li Zhibai was at a loss for words.
"But Ah Bai, you reminded me." Zhu Pingniangâs brows furrowed: "Sikong Lixu holds grudges, could it be because I used to teach him a lesson? Iâve forgotten about it, and he still remembers... what kind of a man is that?"