[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-150":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596910,846,"Chapter 150: The Scenery of That Smile","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-150",150,"\u003Cp>\"The painting is... quite good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu blinked and patted Li Mo's shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't know much about art, but at a glance, it did look impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing nodded slightly, a hint of surprise in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without facial features, she could recognize herself in the painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant the artist had mastered the essence and atmosphere so deeply that the work carried an almost lifelike spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just a trivial skill, hardly worth mentioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo curled his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This level of skill had taken him sixty years of relentless dedication!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ying Bing’s gaze linger on the painting, her expression momentarily dazed, $2oung Li suddenly felt the pain in his heart ease a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why didn’t you draw the face?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu pointed at the blank visage of the girl in the painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s my first time painting a portrait. I wanted to capture a smiling expression.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, the composition is set in the brilliance of midsummer. If the subject isn’t smiling, it would ruin the entire mood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t smiling just...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu trailed off as she realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t recall ever seeing Ying Bing smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo struggled to remember too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his memory, Ying Bing’s smiles were as rare as the sun rising in the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had he never seen her laugh, $2e couldn’t even imagine what the \"ice block\" would look like if she did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Bing, why don’t you... try smiling?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu coaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she relented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she owed Li Mo another favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she’d agreed to be his model until the painting was complete, $2he had no choice but to...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing parted her jade-like lips, slightly narrowing her eyes, forcing her usually frosty expression into something resembling a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yikes—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo and Shang Wu both recoiled, a chill shooting up their spines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a smile, but it was undeniably a cold one!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethereal and merciless, like the moon gazing down on mortals, silently uttering two words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Insects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he painted that, the artwork would instantly be rated R.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any minor who saw it would be traumatized for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What to do...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo pondered, then suddenly crossed his eyes (imagine the classic goofy face) and stuck out his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft— HAHAHA, are you stupid?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s frown deepened, utterly baffled by this bizarre behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo reset his face to normal and said solemnly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like it’s time for the Joke King to make his grand entrance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today, I will make you laugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qiushui Pavilion Comedy Challenge begins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First up: Contestant Shang Wu, the beautiful master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Full of determination, she vowed to crack the ice block’s stoicism!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She began with a deadpan expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A little butterfly was flying along when suddenly, she got so hungry she couldn’t fly anymore... HAHAHA... and then... and then—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could finish the joke, $2he was already wheezing with laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then... she fell into the mud and drowned in it, HAHAHA—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu doubled over, gasping for air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo and Ying Bing exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this funny?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was the punchline?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, what’s the joke supposed to be?\" Li Mo asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hungry mud butterfly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu wiped her tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a garbage pun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to Contestant Shang Wu’s use of a cringe-worthy pun, Judges Li Mo and Ice Block unanimously disqualified her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because the master’s sense of humor was so rotten that she’d laugh herself to death before finishing any joke longer than three words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next up: Contestant Li Mo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to deploy his ultimate secret weapon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A man’s farts were incredibly loud. Guess why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\" Shang Wu shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"Because he was wearing bell-bottoms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"HAHAHAHA—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing tilted her head, watching Shang Wu collapse in hysterics, utterly lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this... supposed to be amusing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still not laughing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s competitive spirit ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He refused to accept defeat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sat in stunned silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beautiful master was clutching her abs, begging him to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ice Block’s head was just collecting more and more question marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo, parched and defeated, slumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was starting to suspect Ying Bing simply lacked a funny bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m such a fool.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give up. Little Bing might just be born without the ability to laugh. Your jokes were great, dear disciple,\" Shang Wu consoled, finally catching her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can we make her smile?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo racked his brain, absentmindedly poking his cheek with a brush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So absorbed was he that he didn’t notice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d grabbed the brush backwards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inked tip left streaks of black across his handsome face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, stop laughing at me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo wiped his mouth irritably, smearing the ink further until he resembled a certain cartoon cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu turned to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One glance at his new look, and her barely-contained laughter erupted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honk honk honk—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this laughter was different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last stubborn rays of sunset clung to the horizon, $2asting a warm glow on Ying Bing, her ice-mirror eyes shimmering between light and shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evening breeze tousled her hair, softening her features—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fledgling artist reflected in her eyes was crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Li Mo felt time freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A masterpiece stood before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quit staring and paint,\" Shang Wu nudged him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah! Right!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo snapped back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing intently, he lifted his brush and finally filled in the blank face on the canvas—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a smile both delicate and radiant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, $2s those strokes settled, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Done? Let me see!\" Shang Wu leaned in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this... me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing stared at the painting, transfixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl in the artwork felt both foreign and familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even she couldn’t remember her own smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, $2ith just a few strokes, Li Mo had captured it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A perfect blend of cool elegance and vivid warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smile seemed eternal, so lifelike it was as if another version of her stood there, gazing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the moonlight, an indescribable emotion stirred in her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night wind whispered through the leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>",1060,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.269Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.889Z",1,"novelbin.me","da690c3a793ea4e6328538505ed769146b64d507743de0c6f6da829da772c862","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-551","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-149",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]