Chapter 95: All Three Are Full of Joy

"Whoosh..."

Meng Chunqiu pedaled the bike rapidly, the cold wind whistling past his face, his chest filled with grand emotions.

He was just a hair's breadth away from having a timeless masterpiece of a line pop out.

Yes, just that little bit away.

"Looks like we're here."

The cousin beside him shouted, holding a wooden sign.

This shattered the fantasies in Meng Chunqiu's mind—in his fantasies, he was one moment a nationally renowned genius, the next a tragic general, and the next a member of the Imperial Family forced to sacrifice his life for the nation in the face of a foreign invasion.

The reason he had pedaled the bicycle so fast just now was that it was a critical moment to save the country and its people.

Now, well, he couldn't save them anymore.

"Is that so..."

Meng Chunqiu checked the time.

The city wall was just over eighteen kilometers in circumference, and there were many snack shops on top; the three of them had walked and played, and it had taken less than two hours to finish the ride.

Crown Princess Zhusha slowly brought her bike to a stop.

Meng Chunqiu got off the bike with regret.

After returning the bikes, the three of them, feeling very satisfied, walked down the city wall happily and found an authentic restaurant to open a private room for a meal.

The dishes were light and elegant.

Meng Chunqiu was reminded of the dishes his roommate cooked and couldn't help but say to his two cousins beside him:

"Have you ever eaten Yuanzhou cuisine?"

"No, is it good?" the cousin without a name asked.

"It's exceptionally good!" Meng Chunqiu replied.

"I went to Yuanzhou once while recording a variety show and ate two dishes," Crown Princess Zhusha said. "But I thought they were average at the time; maybe I didn't get to eat the good ones. They were only served after the production team finished the games, so they were already cold."

"I have a roommate who is from Yuanzhou. He often cooks in the Dormitory, basically two or three times a week," Meng Chunqiu said, waiting for their questions.

"Is it delicious?" the younger cousin asked.

"It is, and there are many dishes I've never eaten before, but every single one is delicious," Meng Chunqiu said, suddenly looking at Crown Princess Zhusha with a teasing expression. "My roommate used to be a fan of yours, but he said he's already stopped being a fan. Hahaha, it kills me..."

"How sad..."

"Hahahaha..." Meng Chunqiu laughed, then suddenly said, "By the way, I heard you're going to record the New Year's Eve gala?"

"Yes, doesn't the New Year's Eve gala have that national vote? I'm ranked third, and the top five can perform." Crown Princess Zhusha implied that she didn't get on just by relying on her Imperial Family bloodline, which was something the current Imperial Family was very sensitive about.

"What song are you singing at the gala?"

"'Time Thief'."

"Is that the new song you released this month?"

"Yes, yes, this album is currently number one in sales," Crown Princess Zhusha said with some pride. "I really like this song, and the gala director does too."

"I quite like this one too, and for some reason, it sounds quite familiar, as if I've heard it somewhere before," Meng Chunqiu said.

"I like it a lot too!" the other cousin said.

"Maybe the melody is a bit familiar," Crown Princess Zhusha said sweetly.

"That's likely the reason," Meng Chunqiu nodded, then asked, "But why aren't you singing 'Rice Field'?"

"You like 'Rice Field'?"

"I quite like the lyrics of 'Rice Field', though the lyrics of 'Time Thief' are also written quite well," Meng Chunqiu said with the air of someone pointing out the landscape. "By the way, have you met Jay Chou and Jin Wenqi? What do they look like?"

"I haven't met them..."

"You haven't met them?"

"How could you not have met them?"

Meng Chunqiu and the other cousin both expressed great Surprise.

Crown Princess Zhusha chewed slowly and very gracefully, struggling to swallow what was in her mouth before saying: "Those two are seniors from a hidden sect. All the Cultivators in that sect are very skilled at music; it's called the Hua Yue Sect. Several songs on this album of mine were written by seniors from the Hua Yue Sect, and for this, I even cut three songs I had originally prepared. But because it's a hidden sect, they generally don't show themselves."

"Then how did you find them?"

"When I buy songs or record them, it's all done through a young man named Chen Shu who acts as an intermediary. The young man is very nice and also very professional in music; he gave me quite a few suggestions and guidance. It's just that to sing the effect he wanted, I practiced so hard."

"What was his name again?"

"Chen Shu! Chen as in 'ear', Shu as in 'give and take'!"

"Chen as in 'ear', Shu as in 'give and take'..."

"Yes, you're even at the same school," Crown Princess Zhusha nodded repeatedly, then looked at Meng Chunqiu with anticipation. "Cousin, do you know him?"

"Wait a second..."

Meng Chunqiu took out his Mobile Phone and pulled up a photo: "Does he look like this?"

Crown Princess Zhusha looked and nodded excitedly:

"That's him, that's him!

"You really know each other!

"What a coincidence!

"He's amazing, very professional. Although he didn't write these songs, I can tell he's also very talented! And humorous, with such charisma!

"Are you in the same class? How do you know each other?

"Hmm?

"Cousin?

"Cousin, why aren't you saying anything?"

"..."

About twenty minutes later.

The dishes on the table were eaten clean.

In recent years, the country has advocated for saving food, and the Imperial Family must take the lead; even if no one knows they are the Imperial Family, they must still restrain themselves.

The three cousins sat in the private room without moving.

Through the cousin's explanation and boasting, which even faintly revealed a tiny bit of admiration, Meng Chunqiu was deeply shocked inside.

He never expected that Brother Chen not only had great talent and cooking skills, but was also so accomplished in music—although he didn't write those songs, according to his cousin, his coaching of her was completely at a producer's level, and his guidance on certain details could be called the finishing touch.

Brother Chen hides his depth so well!!

He had originally thought Brother Chen was just an ordinary person who could sing a couple of songs and sang them quite well.

Never expected it, never expected it...

Meng Chunqiu's heart tightened fiercely.

The most shocking thing was—

Meng Chunqiu had seen many young talents, but not one could shock him like this.

Why was it like this?

Was it because of the sense of contrast?

Could it be that the true way to be awesome should be this smooth? Was his own pride, showing off his talent to the whole world, actually just a petty path!? Could it be that he also needed to learn from Brother Chen to hide his own radiance and then wait for others to discover it themselves?

Crown Princess Zhusha was also silent, clenching her fists tightly.

Through her cousin's words, she learned that Teacher Chen Shu, whom she had a very good impression of, had actually declared behind her back that he had unfollowed her!

Clearly, he had said he was her fan last time!

Clearly, half a year ago, he had so bravely faced the camera to express his love for her dancing and figure!

Clearly, last month when he was coaching her to record "Time Boils the Rain," he was still complimenting her like a fan and even asked her to dance for him! Of course, as a member of the Meng family, she had politely refused him, and she had even felt sorry in her heart for a long time because of it.

Was it just because of this?

Or was it because she hadn't danced for half a year?

In any case, hateful!

Hateful, hateful!!

But, how should she interact with him next time they meet?

The other cousin held her Mobile Phone in her hand, pretending to keep her gaze on the phone, but she looked at Meng Chunqiu from time to time, and then at Crown Princess Zhusha.

The private room was very quiet, and the atmosphere was somewhat frozen.

"Emmm..."

The nameless cousin was very puzzled; was the adult world always this complicated?

It was just the cost of a meal!

And it wasn't expensive!

Was it worth it?

They were at least descendants of the Meng family; couldn't they be a bit more sensible?

Time passed bit by bit.

The nameless cousin sat in her seat looking at her Mobile Phone for a long time, while Meng Chunqiu and Crown Princess Zhusha also had no intention of moving, sitting blankly in their original spots; the two occasionally looked at each other, both showing expressions of deep thought.

Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore and stood up:

"I'll pay the bill!"

The little cousin was calm on the surface, but her heart was bleeding—

I'm not even an adult yet!

My pocket money is for buying two-dimensional clothes!

You guys are the older ones!

You guys were the ones who asked me out!

The wooden door of Ning Qing's house was knocked upon.

The little girl ran over with a clatter to open the door, saw that it was her brother-in-law standing outside, hurriedly stepped aside to let him in, peeked outside, then closed the door and slid the bolt, following her brother-in-law inside.

The courtyard was full of spring.

Except for the coldest and hottest days of the year, Bai City maintained a temperature between ten and twenty degrees year-round, which was the most suitable climate for roses to grow.

If it were any colder, some flowers wouldn't open, and if it were any hotter, some wouldn't bloom well; this temperature was the best, and growth was rapid. At the same time, Yuanzhou was not like the two provinces by the sea in the far south that had no winter at all; having no winter meant that some varieties requiring vernalization could not vernalize, making it very difficult for them to bloom the following year.

In short, it was hard to find a place more suitable for gardening than Yuanzhou.

Chen Shu had stayed in Yujing for too long, and seeing this scene of spring warmth and blooming flowers, he found it quite rare; ten minutes passed, and he still remained in the courtyard.

The little girl was not in a hurry either, just standing by the side waiting for him.

Her brother-in-law asked her while looking at the flowers:

"Are Mom and Dad home?"

"No."

"Are they out at work?"

"Mom is at the martial arts gym; I don't know if she'll be back today." The little girl thought about it, "Dad seems to have gone on a business trip."

"Will Dad be back today?"

"I don't know."

"Then you must help me ask."

"I'll ask in a bit."

"And Mom."

"Got it." The little girl blinked her eyes. "Are you going to stay in Sister's room tonight, Brother-in-law?"

"Don't let your imagination run wild," Chen Shu said, turning his head. "I'm going to attempt an advancement today, and I want your sister to watch over me. Plus, after taking the Great Return Pill, I'll be unconscious for the night, so I'll need her by my side to guard me, otherwise, an accident might happen."

"Mm," the little girl nodded obediently.

"By the way, where is your sister?"

"Inside."

"Why isn't she coming out?"

"Because she is inside."

"?"

"She's inside practicing her physique."

"!!"

"What's wrong, Brother-in-law?"

"You should have said so sooner!!"

Chen Shu instantly dropped the pot of Monet in front of him and walked straight inside.

The living room television was on, playing a physique training course.

Qingqing was wearing a plum-colored short, long-sleeved top; it was thin and form-fitting. The two arms beneath the long sleeves were slender and long, her neck was beautiful and elegant, a large expanse of snow-white skin was visible at her collarbone, and her chest beneath the top was round and full. Further down was a slender, snow-white waist, and a pair of grey elastic leggings made her legs appear long and straight; the sides of the leggings had mesh panels for breathability, which added a touch of subtle allure.

In short, the beautiful lines of her body were completely outlined and magnified by the athletic style, appearing both youthful and sexy.

She was perfectly proportioned, with a slender figure, shoulders as if carved, and a waist as if bound by white silk.

Qingqing was currently doing a pose to stretch her back.

While a Cultivator's body is indeed powerful, the body itself has no mind; it cannot distinguish right from wrong. It will become stronger through correct exercise, and naturally, it will also develop unhealthy posture due to incorrect personal habits.

At best, it affects one's temperament; at worst, it triggers illness.

It can only be said that Cultivators are less prone to unhealthy postures than ordinary people, but once their posture is affected, it is also harder to correct than it is for ordinary people.

However, this only applies to Low Tier and mid-tier Cultivators.

Upon reaching High-Tier, one will possess a more powerful autonomous control over the body, and at that point, it no longer matters.

But before reaching High-Tier, if one wants to ensure their posture remains healthy and graceful—without a hunched back, forward-leaning pelvis or neck, or X- or O-shaped legs—one still needs appropriate exercise and training to actively control it.

Qingqing has always kept her posture well-controlled.

She also practices her physique regularly in the Dormitory; Zhang Suannai once saw it and exclaimed in disbelief.

Because she felt that Ning Qing shouldn't care about these things; in Ning Qing's eyes, these things should all be external objects, mere fleeting clouds.

In fact, the reason is very simple—

Someone is a total pervert.

A woman adorns herself for the one she loves.

That is all.