Chapter 54 is very beautiful.

They were probably worried that Ling Zhao would really compromise his principles for five yuan and work alone on the roadside.

After guiding the two away from the jianbing (Chinese crepe) stall, the staff handed them a task card without wasting a minute.

Welcome to L City's 5A-level scenic area. Renowned for its unique peaks, sea of ​​clouds, and ancient temples, this area offers distinct scenery in each season, making it an excellent destination for experiencing the fusion of nature and history.

[To ensure a smooth travel experience, guests can choose one of the following hidden tasks to complete. Each task presents a different level of challenge, with more difficult hidden tasks yielding greater amounts of travel funds.]

Each group of guests can choose one task from the following three options to complete:

[1. Go together to a temporary wildlife rescue center to help feed small animals (such as sika deer, squirrels, etc.). Reward for completing the task: 100 yuan.]

[2. Challenge yourself to wear Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) for a couple's outing, climb to the highest observation deck, and take a photo that fits the 'sweet' theme. Reward for completion: 500 yuan.]

[3. Together, complete the famous tandem bungee jumping challenge within the scenic area. Reward for completion: 1000 yuan.]

When Mu Jiu saw the last task, his eyes lit up. He subconsciously looked to his side and saw Ling Zhao looking up from the task card.

Before she could speak, he had already discerned something from her excited expression and refused without any room for negotiation: "The last one won't do."

[A man shouldn't say no so easily! /doge/doge]

Bungee jumping... a thousand dollars... clinging tightly to each other as we plummet from a great height, our hearts pounding as we face each other in disbelief upon landing... that moment of dazed disorientation felt like a past love...

[This mission is practically tailor-made for Chaomu, why can't it be! /Grabs her and shakes her violently by the shoulder]

I've been bungee jumping there! Standing on the platform and looking down really made my legs weak, but the feeling of jumping off strapped together... it was definitely unique.

[500 yuan for Hanfu is not bad, and you can take beautiful photos too.]

Am I the only one who thinks it's heartwarming to feed small animals for 100 yuan? Even though it's not much money...

After being firmly rejected, Mu Jiu pouted and looked away.

But she didn't give up immediately. Instead, she tried to communicate with the staff again in a friendly manner: "If I jump alone, can I get five hundred yuan?"

The staff member was clearly taken aback by this unusual line of thinking, and after a pause, shook his head: "No, the task clearly requires 'two people to complete it together'."

"……All right."

Having failed in her attempt to exploit a loophole in the rules, Mu Jiu sighed regretfully, her attention returning to the task card: "So... do we need to find a shop to rent Hanfu ourselves? How much does it cost?"

"Need not."

The staff responded quickly this time, "The production team has prepared several sets of matching Hanfu in advance, both men's and women's styles, at the service point at the entrance. The two teachers only need to go to the designated location to change, and there is no extra charge."

It's free?

A reward of 500 yuan, a Hanfu that's practically given away for free, and a group photo that can be done with a perfunctory effort—when did the production team become so generous and kind?

She had even prepared for the Hanfu rental and possible deposit to consume some of her funds, but surprisingly, she didn't.

In terms of time and effort, caring for animals should take much more time and effort, but it is far less than the reward for this task.

Mu Jiu vaguely sensed that something was not quite right.

But five hundred yuan can indeed solve their immediate problem, at least ensuring that they don't have to worry about sleeping outdoors anymore.

Blinded by money, Mu Jiu temporarily set aside his doubts and followed the directions to the service point.

Upon arriving at their destination, she and Ling Zhao parted ways after being reminded by staff, and headed to another room.

As Mu Jiu pushed open the door, he paused at the entrance.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Ling Zhao picked up the set of dark Hanfu hanging on the wall, his fingertips brushing over the patterns on the sleeves, his expression turning serious.

He had seen this outfit before.

It wasn't a similar style; if he remembered correctly... it should have been the exact same uniform.

It's easy to imagine how the public would react if he wore this outfit and it ended up on social media.

Ling Zhao was silent for a moment, then asked without much hope, "Don't you have any other clothes?"

Stylist: "No, Ms. Ling Zhao."

Naturally, he was used to this kind of occasion.

Looking back now, this outfit must have appeared in his memories even earlier than it did on the show.

The images that flashed through his mind did not allow him to immediately recall the specific details.

But all in all, there was a vague, subtle impression.

"...Teacher Ling Zhao?"

The stylist, who had said something to him earlier, was now looking at him impatiently: "Can we begin?"

...After all, it's five hundred yuan.

Ling Zhao took a deep breath, went into the changing room, and quickly changed into the outfit.

Just as he was tying his outer robe and preparing to walk out, he was stopped by the stylist.

"Teacher Ling Zhao, you also need to wear the matching hairpiece."

The stylist handed him a long hair wig that had been tied up, and looked at him with a smile: "Please do not leave the room until the styling is complete."

"……knew."

Wow, this outfit is so high quality! Did the production team finally do something about it?

Why is it only Ling Zhao's perspective? What about Jiu Jiu's? Why is it suddenly not showing up?

[Doesn't anyone else think that Ling Zhao looks like a sealed-away husky with the hood on? Handsome, but radiating an aura of "Don't touch me," hahaha!]

He seems to be in a hurry, but I don't know what he's in a hurry for. /Funny

During the styling process, Ling Zhao never looked at the camera.

They either close their eyes and wait for the makeup artist to apply their makeup, or they stare blankly at the floating object.

But as time went by and his makeup was nearing completion, almost everyone in the live stream noticed something was wrong.

[…Wait, I finally know what looks familiar! Isn't this the outfit Fang Yucheng wore in the episode where they went on a date in the ancient town?]

【！！！】

[The production team is deliberately stirring up trouble! It's absolutely outrageous! Are they intentionally creating a body double/body double comparison group?]

[I have a feeling that Mu Jiu might wear Meng Shuning's pale yellow dress, right?]

[I knew Zhao Zhao's expression was so strange just now; turns out she recognized her all along.]

[This production team is trash! They can't make a show without riding the coattails of trending topics, huh?!]

Just as the comments section was filled with righteous indignation, the camera shifted to the stylist who, after fixing the last strand of hair, clapped his hands in satisfaction: "All done."

Ling Zhao opened his eyes and stood up expressionlessly.

His dark robes with silver patterns accentuated the coldness of his skin and the depth of his features. His long hair did not soften his features; instead, it highlighted the sharp, razor-like edge he exuded.

He is sharp and shrewd, yet he remains reserved and patient.

The barrage of comments, which had been scrolling with jokes and speculations, suddenly fell silent for a moment.

[Wow...that profile!]

Is this something I can say? This outfit really looks like a leaked photo from someone's drama! It's giving me goosebumps.

Although they look somewhat alike, their appearances and demeanors are completely different upon closer inspection. FYC has a more aristocratic air about him, while LZ is more like the male protagonist in the original novel who lost his father at a young age and grew up in an environment surrounded by wolves.

Don't start a fight!

[Can't we even speak the truth? If Ling Zhao had been cast as that role, the original novel's fans would have had three fewer years of criticism.]

I used to think he looked better in modern clothes and might not suit period costumes, but I was being narrow-minded... He's more than just suitable for period dramas!

"Though subservient to others, he retains no dignity; his brows and eyes are like cold blades hidden in their sheaths, their sharpness hidden in silence." — "The Return of an Old Friend with a Broken Halberd"

Ling Zhao raised his hand, slightly adjusted his cuffs, and said calmly, "May I go out now?"

The stylist was also intimidated by his aura, and hesitated for a moment before nodding. Then she quickly waved her hand, "Okay... no, no, please wait a moment. Teacher Mu Jiu should be done soon, she should be coming over—"

Before the sound had even faded completely, a clear bell rang out from the doorway.

jingle--

Light and nimble, it leaped and carelessly shattered the silence of the room.

Immediately afterwards, a bright red, almost blindingly intense, caught everyone's eye.

[Holy crap!!! The production team is amazing!!!]

[Hissing sounds - Is this something I can watch without paying?]

[I must have had amnesia before, I completely forgot that when Mu Jiu's debut drama became a hit, #MuJiuHumanDemonWoman# immediately went viral and trended on Weibo.]

[That waist! Those collarbones! You can't resist, can you?!]

[Did you finish watching, Darkheart Bro? It's my turn now. Hurry up and let me get close to the beautiful lady/nosebleed]

The red veil fluttered in the wind.

In the whistling wind, those slightly upturned fox eyes did not have a seductive or alluring feel; instead, they looked warm and bright in the sunlight.

In contrast, she was wearing a dancer's outfit that accentuated her beautiful figure.

A bright red strapless top tightly hugged her beautiful curves, over which she wore a matching sheer brocade long gown. The collar of the gown was not fastened, and it slipped off her shoulders, revealing a large expanse of her fair and delicate shoulders and neck.

Her crystal-clear, snow-white skin was set off like the finest mutton fat jade, and covered with a layer of ambiguous warm red.

A waist chain adorned with tiny gemstones and silver chains loosely encircled her slender waist, reflecting shimmering light with her breath and movements.

Almost the instant Ling Zhao saw Mu Jiu's attire, he reflexively averted his gaze.

I waited until the bell rang.

Mu Jiu's voice came from the direction of the door: "Are you all done?"

Stylist: "Alright, alright, you two can continue with your task now."

The conversation broke the strange atmosphere that had just begun. Ling Zhao hesitated for a moment before slowly turning his head.

Ling Zhao: "...It's very windy on the mountain, won't you be cold dressed like this?"

【？？？？？？】

[That's it??? Ling Zhao, are you even capable?!]

I suspect he's being possessive and doesn't want others to see... but this excuse is so typical of typical straight men!

Is it possible that... his brain temporarily shut down, and this is the only thing he can think of?

I don't see anything wrong with that statement. The wind is naturally very strong at the mountaintop.

[The ones before him, like Anshuang, are completely impervious to reason.]

The stylist suppressed a laugh and earnestly reminded him, "Teacher Ling Zhao, the mission requires you to wear the specified clothing to the top of the mountain. Wearing an extra jacket will not count as completing the mission. Besides, the daytime temperature in the scenic area is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius today, which is quite warm."

Mu Jiu seemed taken aback by Ling Zhao's unexpected reaction. Then, her gaze finally focused on Ling Zhao, who had already changed his clothes.

She looked at him with great curiosity, her gaze moving from his hair ornament to the silver thread pattern on his clothes, and then to his straight back.

Looking around, Ling Zhao, who had been calm, began to flinch and asked awkwardly, "...What's wrong?"

"nothing,"

Mu Jiu's eyes crinkled into a smile: "It's just that you're dressed... too formally, it looks a bit strange."

[An angel! That's an angel's smile!]

I almost cried after watching "The Return of the Broken Swordsman"... The carefree little princess from back then, her smile was so unguarded and radiant!

[Doctor, my heart races, I have trouble breathing, and I feel dizzy whenever I think of Mu Jiu. Is there any hope for me?]

[Ling Zhao (emotionless voiceover): It's hopeless, terminal stage, just wait to die.]

There was no response for a long time after those words were spoken.

Mu Jiu looked at Ling Zhao with some confusion, only to see his gaze fall directly on her.

"What's wrong?"

Mu Jiu looked down at her clothes: "Is there something I didn't wear correctly? Or is there something strange about it?"

The air fell silent once again.

Unlike before, this time there seemed to be a hint of heat and thirst.

"……No."

Ling Zhao lowered her eyes: "Very beautiful."