Chapter 71: Da Yizi's Life Mentor

"My Qi's gone… hmm… my Qi's gone…"

Chen Qiaoqiao covered her face, gently swaying her delicate frame, and, with a soft gasp, pleaded.

"Mmm…"

Before she could finish, Xu Yuexin pressed his lips against her cherry‑red mouth.

……

When the two were done, it was already noon.

Xu Yuexin cradled the frail Chen Qiaoqiao, planted a few kisses on her forehead, then got up to cook for her.

Xu Yuexin can't handle other dishes, but a tomato‑egg noodle is no trouble.

"Slurp… slurp…"

The two hadn't paused since last night, and Chen Qiaoqiao was genuinely hungry; it didn't take long before she polished off two bowls of noodles.

Her little mouth sucks quite well.

Xu Yuexin watched her noodle‑eating speed, thinking silently.

In the afternoon, Xu Yuexin went to the Dianbao Fang to send a telegram to Ye Tianrong, inviting him to a tea house in Keyuan Community the morning after tomorrow to discuss publishing The Wreath Under the High Mountain in Xiangjiang—no delays.

After sending the telegram, Xu Yuexin returned home, fetched the already developed photos, and admired them together with Chen Qiaoqiao.

Chen Qiaoqiao took the photos and, brimming with interest, examined them closely.

"This one looks great; it makes my sister look truly beautiful."

"The technique is good; this one makes me appear taller."

"You're already tall."

"You really know how to speak; tomorrow at noon I'll make four dishes to reward you."

"Then a pork rib soup, and a fried chicken leg."

"So much meat—aren't you afraid of getting stuffed?"

Chen Qiaoqiao rested one hand on her apricot cheek, a smile in her eyes, and said.

"I have a heavy workload at night, so I need to replenish promptly."

Xu Yuexin said seriously.

"You're not proper."

Chen Qiaoqiao slightly curled the corner of her mouth, gave his shoulder a light pat, and turned to the next photo.

Xu Yuexin developed six prints of each photo; after Chen Qiaoqiao finished viewing them, she decided to keep three and give three to Chen Yixue.

"This one isn't needed; it's best to destroy its negative too."

While tallying the photos, she pointed to the one that showed Chen Yixue's exposed thigh and said, her gaze a little evasive.

"What, not taken well?"

Xu Yuexin asked knowingly.

"It's not bad, just a bit revealing… Of course that's not my fault; nobody noticed back then."

Chen Qiaoqiao, with a simple and kind expression, answered earnestly, "So we should still not keep it."

"What you said is wrong; I must criticize and educate you."

Xu Yuexin feigned seriousness, "That's art; it shouldn't be judged with a vulgar perspective."

"If we follow your standard, countless famous artworks in the world would have to vanish."

"Well…"

Chen Qiaoqiao looked at Xu Yuexin in confusion, always feeling something wrong in his words yet finding it hard to rebut.

"You're afraid Yixue will be embarrassed if she sees it—fine. Keep it with us; just don't send it to her."

Xu Yuexin, without allowing debate, ruled, "Put the film roll away together."

"Then… okay."

After some hesitation, Chen Qiaoqiao finally nodded in agreement, "If she asks, say the negative wasn't processed properly and got ruined."

"Alright, I'll send the other photos to Yixue in a moment."

Xu Yuexin readily agreed.

The most beautiful photo of Da Yizi—throwing it away would be a shame, so I'll keep it for myself!

In the evening, Xu Yuexin, carrying the carefully packaged photos, headed to the Cultural Troupe where Chen Yixue was.

It was the end‑of‑work hour; when Xu Yuexin arrived at the Cultural Troupe gate, he saw Chen Yixue riding a bicycle out from inside.

A few rather attractive girls were with her. They gathered around Chen Yixue like a constellation around the moon, keeping the most striking Chen Yixue at the center.

"Yixue, the photos are ready."

Xu Yuexin stood across the street, greeting her.

Chen Yixue glanced sideways at him, said "my brother‑in‑law" to the girls, then turned and rode swiftly toward him.

Both shooting and developing—truly a hard job for you.

Even with a short distance still between them, Chen Yixue thanked him cheerfully.

"Not hard at all; these are just photos."

Xu Yuexin handed the bag to the Chen Yixue who stopped before him, saying, "Open it and have a look."

"Alright, let me see…"

Chen Yixue lowered her head, opened the package, and examined it seriously. "This group photo is nice; the blue sky above me and Qiaoqiao creates a blank‑space effect."

"Hmm, this one is shot even better; you take a look too…"

Chen Yixue praised repeatedly, her expression very satisfied.

"You're referring to this one?"

Xu Yuexin walked to the opposite side and, shoulder to shoulder with Chen Yixue, looked at the photos, discovering that the one she liked best was the picture where Qiao Qiao covered her eyes.

As the distance between them narrowed, Xu Yuexin inadvertently caught the faint scent on Chen Yixue.

The familiar fragrance couldn't help but make him recall the scene from last night when Qiao Qiao, wearing a cheongsam, had a scattered gaze, messy hair, and trembling blossoms…

While reminiscing, he also glanced at the face beside him, which resembled Qiao Qiao in several ways yet possessed its own distinct beauty, and Xu Yuexin's attention drifted a bit.

"Watch closely; they're all great."

"Let me treat you to a bowl of noodles."

At that moment, Da Yizi put away the photos and invited warmly.

"Alright, I want the lamb."

Xu Yuexin immediately pulled his thoughts back and said.

At the lamb noodle shop, Xu Yuexin and Chen Yixue each ordered a bowl of noodles and, taking advantage of the waiting time, started chatting.

Chen Yixue had interacted with Xu Yuexin many times, yet had never learned about his past.

Today, Chen Yixue seemed quite interested in Xu Yuexin and asked him several questions.

"Did you know her before you rescued Qiao Qiao?"

After the lamb noodles arrived, Chen Yixue continued to ask curiously, not eating the noodles right away.

Xu Yuexin took a big bite, swallowed, and smiled: "Of course, among all the male Educated Youth in the Communist, I'm the one who looks the most upright."

"How could Qiao Qiao not know me."

Pfft…

Chen Yixue was amused, her usually indifferent face rarely showing a smile: "You really are willing to praise yourself."

So beautiful.

Why can't she smile more often? Xu Yuexin looked at Da Yizi's peach‑blossom eyes full of laughter and thought.

"Confidence is a man's best calling card, and besides, I'm pragmatic."

Xu Yuexin said confidently.

He is quite interesting.

Chen Yixue smiled, thought to herself, and, pretending to be serious, examined him with both eyes.

"That's not wrong. To lure Qiao Qiao back, there must be something about this face inside."

After the appraisal, Chen Yixue teased, then buried her face in the noodles.

"How can that be called a trick."

Xu Yuexin pursed his lips and said, "I was very kind to her."

"That's true."

Chen Yixue took a bite of noodles, nodded in agreement, and said, "Among the married girls I know, Qiao Qiao is the happiest."

"Having you look after her, I, as her older sister, feel at peace."

From her eyes and tone, it was clear that, as an older sister, she truly cared about Qiao Qiao.

"Hmm, you sisters get along well."

Xu Yuexin sighed sincerely.

"Yes, from childhood onward, when I cared for Qiao Qiao, I did it more than my mother did…"

Chen Yixue seemed to have opened a floodgate; once she mentioned this younger sister, she talked endlessly about their shared past.

"You have devoted so much to Qiao Qiao."

Xu Yuexin listened quietly, and after she finished speaking, said, "Now Qiao Qiao is married, the other sister has parents to look after her, so you don't need to worry anymore; you can redirect your energy to your own life."

"Hmm… I've been thinking about this lately."

Speaking of that, a rare hint of bewilderment appeared in Chen Yixue's usually indifferent and clear eyes: "Logically, having been rated a First-Class Actor, I should feel content."

"But the more I think about it, the more uneasy I become."

"Uneasy about what?"

"You know, First-Class is the highest title. That means I have no room for further advancement."

"Just thinking that makes me uncomfortable; life is still so long…"

"Whether it's the highest or not only matters within the Cultural Troupe system."

"But if I'm not staying in the Cultural Troupe, where else can I go?"

Chen Yixue seemed at a loss and asked in confusion.

"You can jump out. The sky is high for birds to fly, the sea is vast for fish to leap."

"Out there, as long as you're willing to strive, there's never a limit."

Xu Yuexin gave a slight smile and answered Da Yizi.

(End of Chapter)