[{"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-221":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},596344,846,"Chapter 221: Group Photo: The First Otaku Across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-221",221,"\u003Cp>The final segment of the awards ceremony naturally involved everyone gathering for a group photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The responsibility of photography fell to none other than our Best Cinematography winner, Senior Brother Ouyang, whose sketching skills rivaled that of a human printing press.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone lined up in front of the counter, each holding a little golden statuette—after all, even Second Xu had won an award for \"Best Atmosphere Contributor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Little Jiang stood empty-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clutching the hem of her dress, she lingered at a distance, hugging her little woven basket, gazing at the scene with longing and envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t gone to the Wind-Listening Pavilion with Brother Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she hadn’t received an award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truthfully, she really wanted a little golden statuette—if anyone didn’t want theirs and threw it away, she could pick it up...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small golden statuette suddenly fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong looked up in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she saw Li Mo staring at the sky, muttering in feigned bewilderment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where’d my little golden statuette go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong picked it up, about to say something, when Li Mo winked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chulong deserves an award too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wh-what for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you often pick up trash?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm... yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations! You’ve set an exemplary model for local environmental hygiene! That absolutely deserves a reward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, trash-picking was just Jiang Chulong’s personal hobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she was pulled into the group, she was both delighted and a little embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone stood together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Smile, everyone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absentmindedly taking the little golden statuette from Ice Block’s hand, Li Mo instinctively called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the memories from before his rebirth, his family used to take a few group photos every year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing here with everyone now, it really did feel like those old family portraits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of smiles, Li Mo glanced at the person beside him—the smile-challenged Ice Block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, it’s all coming back to me now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That scalp-tingling sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong turned her head, her delicate frame suddenly shivering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Ice’s forced smile...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to make Ice Block smile quickly? Perhaps the greatest challenge of this ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I tried my best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing resumed her expressionless demeanor, which, oddly enough, made her seem gentler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, you really did...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo wanted to say that smiling wasn’t something effort alone could fix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Telling jokes like last time definitely wouldn’t work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a genius. A flash of inspiration struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s gaze landed on the slender curve of the girl’s waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every girl has a particularly sensitive spot—any guesses what it is?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s right, the ticklish spot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo seized the moment and launched a sneak attack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squish...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew Ice Block, despite her cold demeanor, would feel so soft and fragrant? Kinda nice, actually...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it’s not working, you don’t have to draw me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s words cut off abruptly, swallowed by her own tightly pressed lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An electric tingle shot through her waist, spreading like a current through her body, making her fingers curl and her neck shrink slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down, she saw the boy gazing up at her with hopeful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you smile?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing did not \"hehe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw the icy reproach in those phoenix-like eyes, Young Li realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh dear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not all of my brilliant ideas are actually brilliant...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>RIP.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the next moment, the soft flesh near his waist was pinched and given a full 180-degree twist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of his sneak attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ice Block had also abandoned all notions of fair play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ow ow ow... ahhh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sucked in a sharp breath, clutching at her cold little hand in vain—the more he tried to pry it off, the tighter she twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Bufan couldn’t bear to watch: \"...Tch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Jing laughed heartily: \"Tsk tsk, heh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu suddenly laughed in resignation: \"Hah... damn you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The older ones—including Ouyang and Shen Yunfei—fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it suddenly occurred to them that if they appeared in this painting, they might... seem a little superfluous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chulong was a bit worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Second Xu... well, he just wore a look of profound wisdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignore him. He’s insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang, ever the quick one, swiftly put brush to paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, this moment was forever immortalized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even thoughtfully included himself in the painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the rooftop of the tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was I... really like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing seemed lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the painting, her usual icy gaze was gone, replaced by a faint glare as she mercilessly twisted the flesh at Li Mo’s waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question was rhetorical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every detail in the painting—Elder Qian’s exasperation, Elder Xue’s amusement, Shang Wu’s scowl, Jiang Chulong’s timid posture, everyone leaning back in tactical retreat—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had all just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That ridiculous expression—clutching his waist, sucking in air through his teeth, his handsome face twisted in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unforgettable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let it be...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing took a sip of tea, her lips quirking slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why overthink it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t she fit perfectly into this scene?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though next time, I should tell him not to casually touch a woman’s...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the sensation, Ying Bing felt goosebumps rise faintly on her neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, this time, there was no system interference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why did his touch send the same jolt through her as during their swordplay that day...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ding—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, well, well. Speak of the devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system notification popped up right on cue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Countdown to next ranking comparison: One day.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Punishment: Request the winner to caress over 80% of your body...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing hadn’t thought much of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with the memory of that touch lingering stubbornly in her mind...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things were like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The harder you tried to forget, the more they took root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.........\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the tavern’s courtyard, by the Dragon-Tiger Alchemy Furnace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sat with the painting on his lap, waiting for Senior Brother Xiaobao and Elder Xue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight, he planned to condense the last of his seven Mystic Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once done, he could attempt the Heaven-Overturning Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong, Junior Brother Li?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing by, Ouyang saw him sighing dejectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Junior Brother Li... actually had worries?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was just thinking—even geniuses have moments when their ideas backfire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of ideas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang considered himself a genius too, and much older besides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely he could offer guidance and save this lost lamb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Brother Ouyang, do you understand what goes on in a woman’s mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve drawn so many beauties—you must know a thing or two, right? ...Senior Brother Ouyang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Senior Brother Ouyang had gone silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning, he found Senior Brother Ouyang staring at him with dead-fish eyes, radiating resentment thicker than a ghost’s grudge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh??\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Love is for fools. What’s so great about real women? The ladies in paintings are far sweeter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure why Senior Brother Ouyang’s reaction was so intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed like he had inadvertently given birth to the first \"two-dimensional\" phenomenon in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo quickly changed the subject:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, Senior Brother Ouyang, why are you in the painting too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally, I wield the brush with qi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think wielding a sword with qi is normal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what’s unreasonable about wielding a brush with qi and letting it paint on its own?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Fair point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1240,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","8087cfcb6da724560da1485f70e246e8b257405a9061834df15433d2f9b1477b","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-222","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-220",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]