Gu Luotang's long, jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders. Her fair skin, as delicate as solidified cream, complemented her elegantly arched brows, which were exquisitely beautiful. Her long eyelashes were particularly enviable. She sat with her eyes closed, immersed in the joy of practicing her cultivation.
Wan Yunting squatted beside her, a smile playing on his lips. Seeing how quickly she grasped the concept of channeling energy, he couldn't resist picking up a strand of her hair. He playfully tickled Gu Luotang's delicate nose with it. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, but she managed to refrain from opening her eyes.
Wan Yunting grinned mischievously. With a sudden pounce, he reached out and tickled Gu Luotang's slender, easily graspable waist.
"Hee hee, Brother Yunting, you're so naughty! It tickles…"
Gu Luotang, who was most ticklish, could no longer hold back. She opened her eyes, struggled, and gave Wan Yunting a seductive sidelong glance. She then asked, "Was that President Fang who called you just now?"
Wan Yunting's expression faltered for a moment. He sat down, pulled Gu Luotang into his embrace, and said with a gentle smile, "Yes, he wanted to talk to me about the calligraphy Lan Ting Award competition."
Gu Luotang lay in his arms, her watery, limpid eyes fixed on his jawline. She couldn't resist reaching out her jade-like hand to touch his slightly stubbly beard. With a soft smile, she said, "President Fang wants you to win first place."
Wan Yunting looked down at her and chuckled, "I don't care. All I want now is…"
As the man's hands grew bolder, Gu Luotang's pretty face flushed crimson. Her eyes, filled with infinite affection, became alluring. She shyly giggled, "Brother Yunting, you're so bad, always bullying me…"
"Heh heh…"
Wan Yunting's face was full of mischievous smiles. He pointed his finger at Gu Luotang's cute nose and said, "Who told you to be so adorable…"
Gu Luotang giggled. Immediately, her jade hands wrapped around Wan Yunting's neck, and she leaned in to kiss him.
They embraced again, entwined and whispering sweet nothings to each other.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when Qi Miaomiao woke up in the next room. Seeing the empty bed beside her, she knew Gu Luotang must be in Wan Yunting's room next door.
"This is so annoying! I shouldn't have come if I knew I'd be a third wheel…" The vexed Qi Miaomiao could faintly hear the sounds of the man and woman practicing their cultivation next door, which agitated her.
Especially after witnessing the scene between her senior sister and Brother Yunting in the dark bamboo forest of the small park last night, Qi Miaomiao's mind was now filled with those lingering images. She had even dreamt of being with Brother Yunting herself last night.
Waking up, she felt shy and embarrassed. Now, seeing her senior sister going to Brother Yunting's room again to have fun, how could Qi Miaomiao not feel driven to distraction!
By noon, Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang were still in the room. Qi Miaomiao, who had woken up, couldn't be bothered to call them and even went downstairs to eat lunch by herself.
"Are you hungry?"
Wan Yunting, who had spent the entire morning teaching Gu Luotang martial arts on the large bed, asked her gently.
"Mmm, a little…"
Gu Luotang's limpid eyes were filled with charming light. She leaned into his embrace, her gaze unwilling to leave him for a moment.
"Then let's go down and get something to eat. We can visit Mr. Lu Xun's former residence this afternoon," Wan Yunting said with a smile.
"Mmm-hmm…"
The couple finally got out of bed. Gu Luotang opened the room door and cautiously glanced left and right down the hotel corridor. Seeing no one, she quickly slipped out of the man's room and hurried into her own room next door.
She found Qi Miaomiao sitting listlessly on the bed, flipping channels with the TV remote. Even when Gu Luotang stood in front of the TV and looked at the distracted Qi Miaomiao with a confused gaze, and then waved her hand in front of her eyes, calling out, "Miaomiao, what are you spacing out about?"
Qi Miaomiao snapped back to attention. Looking at Gu Luotang, she rolled her eyes and said expressionlessly, "It's nothing. Why did you even come back?"
Gu Luotang glanced at the girl's words and said, "I'm going to change clothes. We'll go out to eat something with Brother Yunting later, and then visit Mr. Lu Xun's former residence this afternoon…"
"You guys go ahead. I won't tag along to be a third wheel."
Qi Miaomiao said indifferently, leaning against the headboard, putting on a deadpan act.
Gu Luotang was opening her suitcase to get clothes. Hearing her words, she got up and went over, "Miaomiao, what's wrong?"
"Oh, senior sister, you go ahead. I won't go. I'll just stay in the room and watch TV. You don't need to worry about me. Go on your date with Brother Yunting, have fun." Qi Miaomiao pushed her and waved her little hands. She truly didn't want to be a third wheel.
Seeing this, Gu Luotang didn't insist. She took out an outfit and went to take a shower and change. After practicing martial arts with the man all morning, she was sweaty.
Just then, the door opened, and Wan Yunting walked in. He looked at Qi Miaomiao, who was leaning against the headboard with a blank expression, and asked with a smile, "Miaomiao, where's your senior sister?"
Qi Miaomiao turned her head, her gaze listlessly flicking towards him, and said, "She's showering."
Wan Yunting went over and sat at the foot of her bed. Looking at her, he smiled and asked, "What's wrong? You're frowning, looking unhappy. Who upset you?"
Qi Miaomiao glared at him with a hint of grievance, pouting her lips and humming, "You and senior sister upset me!"
Wan Yunting's expression froze. He immediately understood why the girl was acting like this and couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Haha, it's because you don't have a boyfriend! If you had one, you wouldn't be tagging along with us."
This comment made Qi Miaomiao sit up abruptly. Still in her pajamas, her V-neckline revealed a expanse of white, catching Wan Yunting's gaze. He inwardly exclaimed: I didn't expect this girl to be so well-endowed. She's even more so than her senior sister.
"Brother Yunting, you have the nerve to say that! I don't have a boyfriend, isn't that because of you?" Qi Miaomiao's eyes widened, and she huffed angrily.
Wan Yunting was taken aback. He shrugged and spread his hands, "You don't have a boyfriend, what does that have to do with me?"
"You…"
Qi Miaomiao gave him a sidelong, resentful glance, her small mouth pouting high with annoyance. She finally leaned back against the headboard, her lips pursed, and hummed, "Forget it, I won't talk to you anymore."
Wan Yunting smiled, shaking his head at her adorable demeanor, and said nothing more.
"Brother Yunting, you're here."
At this moment, Gu Luotang emerged from the shower room. Seeing Wan Yunting, she smiled joyfully, "Wait a moment, I'll be ready soon."
"Mmm."
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile and sat at the foot of Qi Miaomiao's bed, watching with admiration as Gu Luotang put on an ancient-style Hanfu. He saw how troublesome it was for her to get dressed in a complete Hanfu, which took several minutes.
"Miaomiao, are you really not coming out with us?"
Gu Luotang, holding her bag, linked arms with Wan Yunting and finally asked Qi Miaomiao.
"No, you guys go ahead. Don't block my view of the TV."
Qi Miaomiao glared at them with her resentful eyes and waved her hands, urging them to leave quickly.
"Alright, then Brother Yunting, let's go."
Helpless, Gu Luotang had no choice but to leave with Wan Yunting. She also knew why Qi Miaomiao was unhappy.
The couple went downstairs and left the hotel. They found a small noodle shop nearby and ate some noodles. Then, they took a taxi directly to Lu Xun Middle Road, the former residence of Mr. Lu Xun, which had now become a tourist hotspot.
"Brother Yunting, look quickly, that should be it up ahead."
Gu Luotang, dressed in a long Hanfu gown, her eyes as clear as pools of water, possessed a temperament as beautiful as orchids. A slight smile from her could enchant the moon and shame the flowers, and captivate the dragon and put the phoenix to flight. She seemed like a fairy who had accidentally stumbled into the mortal world, experiencing the mundane affairs of life for the first time. passersby couldn't help but turn their heads to steal a second glance.
Unfortunately, Gu Luotang intimately linked her arm with Wan Yunting's. As they walked down the street, they looked like any ordinary young couple. Moreover, since this was Shaoxing City, Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang were not worried about being recognized.
If they were in Huadu City, they would never dare to go out like this, because Wan Yunting was somewhat of a public figure, and media reporters often followed him to capture his whereabouts.
The couple arrived at Mr. Lu Xun's former residence. Although the house had endured the ravages of war and stood through many turbulent years, it still remained. In honor of Mr. Lu Xun, his former residence was naturally protected by the state, and a Lu Xun Memorial Hall was also rebuilt.
After viewing Mr. Lu Xun's former residence, Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang visited the memorial hall.
There were many people today as well. The calligraphy Lan Ting Award competition had attracted many tourists, so the memorial hall was crowded and bustling.
"Mr. Lu Xun's woodcut prints are truly unique."
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang entered an exhibition hall. Looking at a woodcut print by Mr. Lu Xun hanging on the wall behind the glass, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Although he had seen Mr. Lu Xun's woodcut prints in textbooks or elsewhere, those were later prints. These were original works left behind by Mr. Lu Xun himself, making them far more impactful.
"Yes."
Gu Luotang's understanding of art was far superior to Wan Yunting's. "Mr. Lu Xun's woodcut prints have smooth lines full of justice. The content is filled with descriptions of the suffering and humiliation endured by the people in that era, showcasing their indomitable spirit against oppression. It is deeply moving and admirable."
"Mmm, you're right, girl."
Wan Yunting nodded in agreement. However, it was an elderly man with long silver hair who continued Gu Luotang's sentence. His hairline was high, his forehead smooth and bright, and he wore a pair of old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses. His grizzled eyebrows slanted upwards, giving him an imposing aura.
Especially the man's sharp, piercing gaze, which even his glasses could not conceal. He wore a mask, obscuring his full face. He was dressed in a black cotton jacket, similar in style to a Tang suit.
Below, he wore black trousers and a pair of old Beijing cloth shoes. His attire was very simple, making him look like any elderly man passing by on the street. He was not tall, but he was spirited and stood with a straight back. Judging by his demeanor, he was clearly no ordinary old man.