Chapter 75 suspects that this "Little Lotus Flip" is probably someone close to him...
Ouch!
Qingduo received a sharp rap on the head. She shrank her neck and covered her head with both hands, like a little bear who had just been hit by an arrow and was still shaken. She frantically checked whether her ears were still there.
Zhu Yi said irritably, "You bastard, are you gloating and laughing at me? Hey! Are you on my side or not? Why are you siding with outsiders?"
Qingduo covered her head and whispered, "Elbows are supposed to bend outwards. If they bend inwards, I'll be crippled! Ouch!" She received her second "thump" on the head.
She remained in the "checking the ear" posture, backing away repeatedly, and said angrily, "Are you an old monk? Always knocking!"
"If this continues, I'll really have to become a monk!" Zhu Yi said painfully.
"It's all your fault! You insisted on letting Miss Lu Nong join the book club! Now look what's happened! She's met new people, and that man can chat with her about anything and everything, from ancient times to the present, which are exactly what I'm worst at!"
"Oh dear, what should I do?"
He was extremely distressed: "Do you have any way to cram all those poems into my brain at once?"
Maybe in the next life.
Before Qingduo could speak, she saw his expression change. For a moment, she forgot that he couldn't read ventriloquism, and subconsciously took a few steps back. But she was still no match for Zhu Yi's speed. He grabbed Qingduo and pulled her to his side, pressing her firmly on the shoulder until she obediently squatted down.
He crouched down next to Qingduo, looking as if facing a formidable enemy. His voice was strained as he whispered, "They're here!"
Who are they?
The next moment, Qingduo's question was answered. She heard a familiar laugh; it was Sister Lu Nong. As for the other voice, without a doubt, it belonged to "that man" whom Zhu Yi hated to the core.
They crouched in the alley, listening to Lu Nong and the other person's footsteps as they passed by on another path. Qing Duo couldn't help but turn around to look, but Zhu Yi quickly pressed her down even lower, so she could only stare at the ants on the ground. Facing the cracks in the ground, the ants' antennae darted back and forth, hesitant to move forward.
As soon as the footsteps faded, Zhu Yi leaped up and pounced against the other wall to look outside. Qing Duo quickly grabbed a branch, placed it between the cracks, and stood up to peer down beside Zhu Yi, craning her neck to look over his large head—
The man had a handsome profile, so one could imagine that his face must be just as striking. He was tall and sturdy, and at first glance, he bore a resemblance to Zeng Zhengqing in terms of temperament, giving him an exceptionally composed air.
Qingduo looked up at his anxious chin and realized: No wonder he was so scared. Anyone would be intimidated by such a strong opponent!
What did that person say? Lu Nong covered her mouth and laughed again. Qing Duo was lost in thought when a sharp pain suddenly shot through her shoulder.
"You, you, you be gentle!" Qingduo whispered, enduring the pain.
Zhu Yi had just eased his grip, but when he saw the man take out a piece of paper and hand it to Lu Nong, the pressure in his hand suddenly increased.
"He's bribing her!" Zhu Yi gritted his teeth.
"You're trying to murder me!" Qingduo bared her teeth.
Zhu Yi was engrossed in his anger and didn't notice anything amiss. Qingduo, unable to bear it any longer, cried out, "Aaaaaah, it hurts so much!"
Her scream finally woke Zhu Yi. He paused for a moment and let go. Qingduo quickly ran to the side, keeping a certain distance from him, and rubbed her shoulder, saying aggrievedly, "It hurts so much!"
"Qingduo?"
She froze on the spot, completely still.
She forgot she was peeping and actually ran out!
Qingduo slowly turned her stiff body until she was face to face with Lu Nong. She forced out a few dry laughs: "Hehehe, Sister Lu Nong..."
"I was just looking for you, hehe..."
"What a coincidence!"
*
Qingduo was very loyal; she turned to the side to block their view. She could tolerate being exposed herself, but she couldn't let Brother Zhu be implicated!
He's already pitiful enough.
She walked up to them, feigning surprise, and asked, "Oh, who is this?"
"This is Young Master Shen Bingyan. He and I are in the same book club, and he usually takes good care of me," Lu Nong introduced.
Before Lu Nong could introduce her in return, Qing Duo rushed to introduce herself. She cupped her hands in greeting and said in a serious tone, "I have long admired your name. My name is Tang Qing Duo, and I am known in the martial arts world as the 'Ever-Winning Heroine'."
Shen Bingyan smiled and said, "Compared to the renowned 'Heroine Changying,' I am truly insignificant. I dare not accept the words 'I have long admired you.'"
She likes this person!
no!
He is Zhu Yige's rival, how could she betray him?
Qingduo pursed her lips tightly, afraid of revealing even a hint of a smile, but little did she know that her eyes were already brimming with joy.
"Every time I think of Ms. Tang's heroic deeds, I am filled with admiration! If you hadn't insisted on fighting to the death with that unscrupulous businessman who plagiarized others' hard work, how could you have protected the integrity of literature? Not only that, you also stayed true to your principles and refused to compromise your principles for profit. This sense of responsibility and courage is truly a role model for us all." Shen Bingyan looked very serious.
With a grin that stretched from ear to ear, Qingduo said happily, "Has word already gotten out?"
Shen Bingyan smiled, and Lu Nong couldn't help but laugh as well. Seeing Qing Duo looking over blankly, she said softly, "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. I've been working on a new story recently, and I'm discussing the plot with Young Master Shen. He even wrote me a lot of feedback." She unfolded the paper that Shen Bingyan had just given her.
"The protagonist plans to use you as a model to create a female knight-errant, and I want to name it 'The Legend of the Everlasting Heroine.' After all, it's based on your image, so I have to ask for your opinion first."
"Qingduo, are you willing?"
Qingduo stared at Lu Nong for a long time without saying a word. Lu Nong felt uneasy under her gaze. She exchanged a glance with Shen Bingyan and was about to explain that "it would never damage her image" when she heard Qingduo say in a trembling voice, "I, I'm going to become the protagonist?"
"Oh my god," she murmured, "I'm really going to be famous all over the world!"
Qingduo grabbed Lu Nong's hand and said earnestly, "You must write it! My fame depends on you, sister!"
Lu Nong breathed a sigh of relief: "Of course I will write it well, but whether it will make you famous is uncertain."
"Impossible!" Qingduo was absolutely certain. "Your 'Painting Hall Spring' is so popular, this one can't be any worse!"
Shen Bingyan smiled and said, "Just as Miss Lu Nong said, you are a cheerful and insightful person. You have just returned, and I imagine you two still have a lot to talk about. I won't disturb you any longer; we can discuss it in detail another day." With that, he bowed and took his leave.
He had only taken a few steps when Qingduo approached Lu Nong, her voice full of excitement: "Sister, sister, what do you want to know? What do you need my help with? Just tell me! I'll answer you in detail and help you portray Changying the Heroine as a valiant and heroic woman, so everyone will know how powerful I am!"
“First of all,” Lu Nong said, gently tapping her nose with her index finger, “the heroine Chang Ying should not act so furtively and secretly.”
She looked in the direction Zhu Yi was hiding and said, "I think you've been led astray by 'some people'!"
Qingduo said awkwardly, "So you saw everything..."
"Then Brother Zhu Yi doesn't need to hide anymore..." She was about to call out to Zhu Yi when Lu Nong covered her mouth.
Lu Nong snorted, "If he likes to hide, let him hide! Come on, let's go inside." She unlocked the door, took Qing Duo's hand, and walked in.
Seeing the man leave, Zhu Yi quietly peeked out and saw Lu Nong pulling Qing Duo into the courtyard. Qing Duo turned around, saw him, and waved to him.
He didn't realize this meant "goodbye," and thought she was telling him she hadn't betrayed him. He secretly praised her.
This girl still has some conscience; I haven't been treating her well for nothing.
He had just relaxed when he suddenly recalled the scene of Lu Nong laughing and talking with that man. The worry had just left his brow when it returned to his heart.
Zhu Yi sighed heavily.
Oh dear! What should he do?
*
Zeng Zhengqing examined the Qingming Festival scroll in his hand. The faces of the people in the painting were still not visible. Perhaps the elegance of their backs was more evocative than their faces.
The man knelt on both knees, yet his back remained as straight as bamboo. His posture was respectful, but not humble, and his entire being exuded an indomitable spirit. One could both admire his integrity and feel sorry for his plight.
this……
Zeng Zhengqing frowned deeply. Just looking at the content of the painting gave him the feeling that he was being watched. Not to mention the ancestral hall in the background.
This is clearly his family's ancestral hall!
Even the way the fruit was arranged and the number of fruits on the offering table were exactly the same as when he specifically checked that Qingduo had stolen some that day!
To call this a coincidence would be far too far-fetched!
His heart skipped a beat: this "Little Lotus Flip" was probably someone close to him!
Among those around him who could both paint and had seen the Zeng family ancestral hall, there were only two: his wife and his younger brother.
His first thought was Qingduo.
After all, he bought the "Mingzhu Painting Shop" specifically to acquire Qingduo's flower and bird paintings, giving her the confidence to continue creating. Logically, she should be the prime suspect!
Can……
The image of Qingduo immediately appeared in his mind: a round face and dark, bright eyes. She seemed to have just noticed his gaze and was giving him a slight smile.
It was as if she had suddenly heard his question; two blushes rose to her cheeks, and she hurriedly lowered her head to avoid his gaze, her lips slightly pouting. Her expression clearly said:
"I, I would never draw those pictures of handsome men!"
Yes, Madam is very shy. She's even reluctant to discuss normal marital relations, and doesn't know what to do when the topic comes up. So how could she possibly paint a man's body in a grand manner?
Although he acquired the art shop to help his wife regain her confidence, she only sold flower and bird paintings there, which were completely different from the figure paintings he owned and not her main focus!
Suddenly, a sentence that Qingduo had once said rang in his ears, and even the image became clear.
Then she held my hand, her expression meaningful yet exceptionally sincere: "Qingqing! You must remember this! If one day you find out what Zhengji has done, it has nothing to do with me!"
Zeng Zhengqing's heart skipped a beat: Could it be that Madam often came to sell paintings and inadvertently discovered what Zhengji had done? Because Zhengji asked her to keep it a secret, she didn't say anything, but couldn't help reminding herself?
"When did you receive the last 12th month map you mentioned?" Zeng Zhengqing asked Manager Fang, who was standing to the side.
Manager Fang replied, "It was the tenth day of last month, the morning of the day you returned to Luzhou."
Zeng Zhengqing fell silent.
He and Qingduo left early that morning, but Zhengji made an excuse that he had something to do and was a little late, only catching up at noon.
Did he go to do this this morning?
He examined the figure of the man in the painting more closely. The man's figure was similar to Zheng Ji's. At that time, the two of them were kneeling in the ancestral hall. Perhaps it was a self-portrait of Zheng Ji.
Zeng Zhengqing silently put the painting away and said, "I want to meet him on the day the contract is signed."
Manager Fang hesitated, "Well... I need to ask for his opinion. His only condition for signing the contract with us is that his identity cannot be revealed."
“Alright, ask him first. If he doesn’t agree,” Zeng Zhengqing smiled meaningfully, “it’s not like there’s no way. I can see him, but he can’t see me.”
"In short, I won't reveal his identity."
He handed the painting to Manager Fang: "When we meet, we can double the price we discussed for a single piece."
Shopkeeper Fang asked in surprise, "Add more?"
"It's alright. His painting on the theme of 'Qingming' is already a significant improvement over his previous works. Once his brushwork matures further and his style is established, he will only continue to improve. It's only a matter of time before his paintings sell for high prices."
"We don't need to focus on the immediate issue. Giving this talented young man a larger share of the profits would show our sincerity."
Shopkeeper Fang readily agreed.
He had already tried to stop Zhengji's dream, but now that he found out it was something his younger brother wanted to do, he naturally wanted to fully support him.
only……
Although Masaki can paint, can he reach this level?
Could it be...?
No, no.
Zeng Zhengqing immediately denied it.
Ah-Chao is innocent and naive, with a pure heart, and would never draw any pictures of handsome men!
-----------------------
Author's note: It's acting up again [laughing and crying while covering face]
I just discovered that the numbness in my hands was caused by cervical spondylosis.
I'm feeling dizzy and my writing is getting stiffer. I need to rest for a week to recover.
I'll continue updating next Thursday. (October 23)
Thanks for the new comments, mines, and water (likes/comments). It's been a great week, but I don't feel like I'm playing alone. [Heart][Heart][Heart]
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