Chapter 169

【Favorability: 8】

Seeing her own score, Qin Keqing, after her initial shock, could not help but fall into thought.

She had no diary副本 before because her favorability wasn't high enough, which meant that Jiang Sishui's previous opinion of her was at best "disgust."

Then why would he be disgusted with her?

And after the two met today, why did his favorability toward her rise so sharply?

This left Qin Keqing completely baffled....

After reading through the past diary entries, Qin Keqing, beyond her shock, formed a guess in her heart—

She must also be a character from some story, yet she had done something that Jiang Sishui found extremely distasteful.

So what had she done?

Qin Keqing could not help but recall that when Jiang Sishui saw her today in a wedding dress, he had deliberately asked the groom's name, and afterward seemed especially pleased.

From this, it was evident that the reason Jiang Sishui disliked her must be related to Liu Ruosong.

Otherwise, he could not have had his favorability toward her shoot up upon learning the marriage between the two had fallen through.

Qin Keqing figured it out, but at the same time, a thorn was left lodged in her heart.

A guess she was unwilling to think too deeply about lingered in her mind, refusing to dissipate.

Jiang Sishui saw that Qin Keqing was in low spirits, assumed she was unhappy because he had been "snatched away," and did not think much of it.

After the meal, he went, as usual, to write today's diary.

【Although the Flower Fairy is cold by nature, after spending time with her, I discovered she is actually quite cute】

【Different immortal blossoms vying to bloom is what looks good; uniformity actually lacks much charm】

【Among the orioles and swallows of Shanzhuang, she too is one of a kind】

【But when I saw her before, I felt something was off; today, on 3.7, I finally remembered】

【It's that her face is missing something】

"Cute? Me?"

The Flower Fairy was slightly taken aback—this was the first time anyone had described her that way.

Including Jiang Sishui.

Before this, Jiang Sishui had only praised her outward beauty; as for her inner qualities, his assessments were either "cold by nature" or "ruthless," never anything kind.

Of course, the Flower Fairy herself had not cared before.

But being called cute for the first time gave her a wonderfully novel sensation.

The feeling was hard to describe, but it simply made her mood lift without her being able to help it.

"Something missing from my face?"

Slender fingers lightly caressed her cheek, and the Flower Fairy was filled with doubt.

Wasn't this fine as it was? Nearly flawless—could something truly be missing?

【The Flower Fairy I remember most vividly had a flower-shaped mark on her right cheek】

【Of course, that wasn't innate; it came from a fight where she was accidentally splashed in the face with poisonous water by one of the Xueyueshen Sect's Dharma Protectors—Blood Phoenix】

【Although Blood Phoenix paid for it with her life, she also disfigured the Flower Fairy】

【Hmm... saying 'disfigured' isn't quite accurate either】

【Afterward, although the Flower Fairy's face did have a flaw, which somewhat marred her original beauty, it also gave her a different kind of charm】

【Sometimes, imperfection is itself another form of perfection】

【The most typical example is none other than the Second Dream from "Storm Riders"】

【When Second Dream appeared, her face was always veiled】

【Because she practiced both fierce saber force and gentle sword force, two streams of superior internal energy that repelled each other, leaving an indelible red mark on her face】

【Second Dream was therefore deeply insecure, always feeling she was ugly, and dared not show her true face to others】

【In fact, that faint "heart-shaped" red mark on her face didn't affect her looks at all; it even made her appear one of a kind】

【27 Second Dream, still that Second Dream of unmatched elegance】

【In this world, there are no shortage of narcissists, but those who are 'beautiful without knowing it' are truly few】

"Poisonous water? Disfigurement?"

The Flower Fairy's slender brows rose slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

She felt she was fine as she was now; her face didn't need anything else added to it.

As for Jiang Sishui's so-called "beauty of imperfection"?

Heh.

Imperfection wasn't on his own body, so of course it was easy for him to talk.

"Blood Phoenix, I hope you don't run into me."

The Flower Fairy had no intention of searching the world specifically to take revenge on Blood Phoenix over a story.

But if she happened to encounter her, she wouldn't mind giving the other party a profound lesson.

……

To Zhou, Duanqing Residence.

Second Dream sat by the window, slender fingers lightly stroking her pretty face beneath the veil, murmuring to herself: "Beautiful without knowing it... do you also think I'm very beautiful?"

Just as Jiang Sishui had said, after being "disfigured" from martial arts training back then, Second Dream had once fallen into depression, ashamed to face others.

Until one day a month ago, she obtained the diary副本.

Seeing that her appearance score on it was actually full marks, Second Dream's inner astonishment was imaginable; she even suspected for a time that something had gone wrong somewhere.

But now, having received Jiang Sishui's personal affirmation, she could not help but ask herself whether she had truly been too sensitive?

But no matter what was said, Jiang Sishui's affirmation undoubtedly brought her tremendous encouragement, making her far more confident.

……

"Second Dream? Surname 'Second'?"

The women grew curious about Second Dream's surname, for they had never heard of such an odd compound surname.

【Sightseeing in Suzhou, they happened upon a bridal escort procession passing by — two flower-decked sedan chairs, two young ladies leaving the boudoir together】

【Upon inquiring later, the two brides turned out to be Du Bingyan and Li Yuhu】

【This left me a bit dumbfounded】

【Du Bingyan, Li Yuhu — the two female leads of *The Wrong Bride, The Right Groom*, known in the drama together as the "Two Beauties of Yangzhou"】

【Now, the "Two Beauties of Yangzhou" have run off to Suzhou and become the "Two Common Beauties of Suzhou" — that's quite a change】

In the room, the newly arrived Du Bingyan and Li Yuhu shared one chamber.

"Sister Bingyan, so it turns out we not only have a story of our own, we're the heroines of it! I knew it — with a beauty like my sister, you'd never be shabby anywhere."

Li Yuhu excitedly threw her arms around one of Du Bingyan's arms.

Du Bingyan gave a faint smile: "Has Yuhu forgotten herself? Surely you're not planning to be a second Second Dream?"

"A second Second Dream? What do you mean?"

"Beautiful without knowing it."

"Aiya, stop it! Don't keep praising me, it's so embarrassing."

Du Bingyan smiled, gazing at the page, and murmured: "The wrong flower sedan, yet married the right groom — this story ought to be quite interesting."

"What's so interesting? Grand Secretary Hua's two sons are six of one, half a dozen of the other — whichever one of us sisters marries either of them will be a colossal mistake." Li Yuhu was unconvinced.

Du Bingyan shook her head and said: "Perhaps the ones we're meant to marry aren't them. Just as we in the drama were in Yangzhou, in reality we're in Suzhou."

Li Yuhu paused, thought it over, and indeed it made sense — her interest was immediately piqued.

【At the story's opening, the "Two Beauties of Yangzhou" were wed on the same day, but neither bride could be happy, because both were being forced into it】

【Du Bingyan was to marry the son of a wealthy merchant named Qi, who was said to be gravely ill and not long for this world】

【But Du Fu insisted on this match, demanding his daughter marry into the family no matter what】

【Because Du Fu had set his sights on the Qi family's fortune, believing that once the Qi family's young master died, Du Bingyan would be able to claim half the Qi family assets】

【When the time came, Du Bingyan would return to her maiden home, and those assets would be his — and Du Bingyan could simply marry again】

【In Du Fu's eyes, this way he'd net a fortune for nothing — a bargain by any measure】

【Du Bingyan, upon hearing this, was heartbroken beyond words】

【Li Yuhu was to marry a great general surnamed Yuan】