Chapter 67: Clipping the Tail to Be Human

The next two days, Su Ruan was busy helping Jiang Jiaojiao alter a Skirt, while Jiang Ran both assisted as a helper and continued his creation.

He also, based on Jiang Jiaojiao's temperament, secretly drew a Sketch of a Modified Cheongsam, giving the collar and slit a more fashionable and bold treatment, and quietly showed it to Su Ruan.

After Su Ruan saw it, she was again amazed by his idea and encouraged him that once his Handcraft matured, he should make one for Jiang Jiaojiao.

A few days later, Jiang Jiaojiao came to pick up the altered Skirt.

When she walked out of the fitting room and faced the shop's only floor‑length mirror, she was completely stunned.

In the mirror, her waist was a waist, her hips were hips, the hem swayed lightly with her movements, outlining graceful curves; the originally somewhat rustic pattern, under the fitted tailoring, turned out elegant and lively.

"This… is this really me?"

Jiang Jiaojiao, unable to believe it, spun around, touching her noticeably slimmer waist, her face showing an uncontainable delight.

"Of course it's you, sis, looks good, right?"

Jiang Ran crossed his arms, leaned against the doorframe, looking smug, as if the Skirt were his own design and creation.

"Too beautiful!" Jiang Jiaojiao exclaimed, hugging Su Ruan excitedly, "RuanRuan, you're amazing!"

Su Ruan smiled and returned the hug, but her gaze turned to Jiang Ran, hinting, "Mainly because Ranran has a keen eye; he spotted the problem right away."

Jiang Jiaojiao then recalled her brother's earlier advice, released Su Ruan, walked up to Jiang Ran, scanned him from head to toe a few times, as if meeting this brother for the first time.

"Alright, you kid! When did you secretly learn this skill? You sound like you actually know what you're talking about!"

Jiang Ran felt a bit embarrassed by his sister's praise, but was mostly proud; he raised an eyebrow, trying to keep a composed expression, "Well, also, take a look at who I am."

"In the future, whatever clothes you want to make, ask your brother first; I guarantee you'll become the most fashionable girl in our city!"

"Virtue!" Jiang Jiaojiao scolded him with a playful pat, her eyes full of amusement.

This incident, like a small verification, gave Jiang Ran a bit more confidence in himself.

He no longer was satisfied with just drawing Sketches; he began learning the basics of cutting and sewing from Su Ruan.

His hand strength was great; at first he couldn't control the force, either tearing the thread or cutting the fabric crookedly, but he had an unyielding tenacity, practicing repeatedly, his fingertips pricked by needles countless times without a sound.

Su Ruan watched his focused profile, saw the goofy grin he flashed after successfully stitching a straight line, and felt her heart melt completely.

Her little puppy was rapidly growing in a way she hadn't expected.

That night, after closing, Douzi and Yaya had already been taken away by Zhou Da Niang.

Only Su Ruan and Jiang Ran remained in the shop, tidying up.

Jiang Ran suddenly, mysteriously, pulled a piece wrapped in shredded cloth from the small drawer where he usually kept tools, handed it to Su Ruan, his eyes sparkling with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

"Sweetheart, this is for you."

Su Ruan took it puzzled, opened the shredded cloth, and found a… hairpin.

The hairpin's base was bent from fine wire, some parts not perfectly smooth, and it was wrapped with soft light‑blue silk, the silk cleverly folded and twisted into an abstract little flower, with a tiny round white bead at its center.

The workmanship was evidently immature, even a bit rough, yet the color scheme and shape possessed a clumsy freshness and uniqueness.

Clearly this was not something you could buy on the market.

"You… you made this yourself?" Su Ruan asked, surprised, looking up at him.

Jiang Ran's ears flushed slightly, he nodded, his gaze a bit evasive, his voice lowered, "Um… made from leftover scraps and… that missing button of yours. If it's not good, don't reject it…"

The more he spoke, the softer his voice became, like a student waiting for a teacher's judgment.

Su Ruan looked at the one‑of‑a‑kind hairpin in her palm, then at the tall, handsome man before her, realizing how long he had secretly tinkered to make her a little gift, how many times he'd been pricked by needles, those tiny wounds on his fingers seemed to answer everything.

A warm current surged from her heart to her limbs, sour‑tinged yet full of sweetness.

She picked up the hairpin, carefully clipped it to the side of her hair, then looked up at Jiang Ran, her eyes curving like a crescent, "Does it look good?"

Under the warm yellow light, the light‑blue silk flower swayed gently among her jet‑black hair, highlighting her skin whiter than snow, her brows and eyes gentle.

Those tiny clumsy handcrafted marks instead became the most distinctive embellishment, full of handmade warmth and intention.

Jiang Ran stared at this Su Ruan, and for a moment was utterly entranced.

He only felt his heart as if something had struck it hard, both soft and numb.

His wife, why is she so beautiful?

Even wearing his ugly creation, it looks so good!

"Very… beautiful!" His Adam's apple rolled, his voice a bit hoarse, his gaze deepened, swirling with familiar, burning affection, "My wife looks good in anything!"

He stepped forward, pulling Su Ruan tightly into his arms, his chin resting on the top of her hair, inhaling the faint fragrance from her hair, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and achievement.

"Do you like it?" he asked softly, a hint of uncertainty.

Su Ruan returned the embrace, clutching his sturdy waist, her face pressed against his solid chest, listening to his strong, slightly rapid heartbeat, she said softly and firmly, "I like it, very, very much. This is the best gift I've ever received."

More precious than any gold, silver, or jewels.

Jiang Ran's lingering heart finally settled, he grinned, hugging Su Ruan's arm even tighter, as if he possessed the whole world.

"From now on, I'll make you more and better." He made the promise, his tone unusually serious, "I'll make you clothes, skirts, everything you like."

"Okay."

Su Ruan gently nodded in his arms, her smile happy and content.

Elsewhere, Su Yanhua has lately been clipping her tail to act as a human.

She no longer dared to brazenly provoke Su Ruan, fearing that if it spread, it would truly affect Liu Wenbin's future.

In this life, she clung tightly to Liu Wenbin as a potential stock, hoping he would, like in a past life, become the respected, prosperous Professor Liu, so she could enjoy the benefits and trample Su Ruan beneath her feet.

Any factor that might hinder Liu Wenbin's ascent she must eliminate, including the trouble she herself caused.

These days, Liu Wenbin, in preparation for an important public lecture, has been working sleeplessly.

The lecture concerns his evaluation at the school and could even affect his year‑end title assessment.

He has always been a deep thinker who loves to nitpick; the more he values it, the greater the pressure, revising the lesson plan over and over, never satisfied, visibly becoming gaunt, his temper growing increasingly irritable.

At the dinner table, Liu Wenbin scooped two bites of rice then set down his chopsticks, his brows knit, sighing heavily.

After much hesitation, Su Yanhua carefully spoke, "Wen Bin, is there something troubling your lesson plan?"

Liu Wenbin was irritated, shot her a sour glance and said, "I told you, you still wouldn't understand."