Chapter 12

With Xiao Changyuan’s reassurance, Yun Pianpian felt at ease.
When Yun Pianpian first transmigrated into the book, she had intended to follow the path of a hardworking and courageous white moonlight, using sincerity and kindness to soften Xiao Changyuan’s heart.
But she quickly changed her mind because she realized that Xiao Changyuan, the tyrant, was incredibly useful.
With a simple wave of his hand, he effortlessly turned her into a wealthy woman.
With him around, she had no need to strive.
If she could win without lifting a finger, why should she keep working hard?
So Yun Pianpian decided she didn’t want to try anymore.
She only wanted to be a happy little parasite, nibbling away bit by bit at Xiao Changyuan’s icy heart.
When Yun Pianpian was a child, she once kept two goldfish as pets. She took meticulous care of them, making it her first task after returning from school each day to change their water and feed them. She would even hold the fishbowl and talk to them, reciting poetry for them to hear.
But in the end, both little goldfish died under her care.
Yun Pianpian hugged the fishbowl and wept bitterly.
She had never cried like that before.
Once a person invests their emotions, it’s hard to take them back.
Whether it’s the affection of an owner for their pet or the dependence of a pet on its owner.
In fact, the owner’s love for their pet often far exceeds the pet’s attachment to the owner.
Because the owner invests not only their time and energy but also their entire heart and soul.
And now, Yun Pianpian wanted Xiao Changyuan to pour all of his heart and soul into her.
Bit by bit, she eroded his heart.
The next day, Yun Pianpian went to the county town with Xiao Changyuan and bought some bows and arrows.
After much thought, Yun Pianpian still believed that Xiao Changyuan was well, suited to become a hunter.
To test his archery skills, she moved two long benches into the fenced yard, stacked them together, and placed over a dozen small wooden blocks on top. She then asked Xiao Changyuan to draw his bow and shoot arrows at the blocks.
Xiao Changyuan’s archery was remarkable. Aside from the first two misses, every arrow that followed hit its mark with unerring accuracy.
Watching this, Yun Pianpian clapped enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling as she praised him.
“Husband, you’re amazing! My husband is the best!”
Hearing this, Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly.
“Be quiet. You’re too noisy.”
Though his tone was somewhat cold, the delicate, fair earlobes hidden beneath his dark hair gradually flushed with a faint pink.
This guy was so awkward.
Pretending not to notice his embarrassment, Yun Pianpian simply curved her eyes into a smile as she looked at him.
“My husband will surely return triumphant tomorrow!”
Early the next morning, Yun Pianpian brewed medicine for Xiao Changyuan and cooked him a bowl of beef noodles. After he finished eating, she sent him off to the mountains to hunt and earn money.
Xiao Changyuan frowned and asked, “Aren’t you coming into the mountains with me?”
Yun Pianpian blinked. “Husband, you’re a mature husband now, so you must learn to earn money without your wife by your side.”
I’ve resolved to be a freeloader. Have you ever seen a freeloader who works to buy their own rice?
Xiao Changyuan’s frown deepened. “If I go hunting in the mountains, what will you do at home?”
Yun Pianpian replied matter, of, factly, “Naturally, I’ll stay at home, missing you so much that each day feels like a year…”
Xiao Changyuan grew displeased. “If each day feels like a year without me, why not come with me into the mountains?”
“If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?” Yun Pianpian patted his shoulder, spouting nonsense. “Husband, you have your own career. As a wise and virtuous wife, how could I hold you back and keep you from progressing?”
Go, Pikachu! Don’t linger in the warmth of this world, go forth and face the storms that belong to you!
Xiao Changyuan looked coldly at Yun Pianpian and mercilessly exposed her.
“It seems to me you just want to be lazy.”
Yun Pianpian: “…” This brat has such a handsome face, but why is his mouth so annoying!
Since gentle persuasion wasn’t working, Yun Pianpian had no choice but to deploy her ultimate move.
She furrowed her delicate brows, bit her red lips, and let her soft, slender eyes glisten with tears.
“Back then, my husband cherished and loved me, working day and night at my home, bearing hardships on my behalf. But now that you’ve lost your memory, all you think about is making me work and suffer. You don’t know how to care for me at all…”
As she spoke, Yun Pianpian became emotional and couldn’t hold back her tears.
She lifted her dewy almond, shaped eyes, gazing tearfully at Xiao Changyuan, and unleashed her finishing blow.
“Husband, do you not love me anymore?”
Hearing this, Xiao Changyuan’s brow furrowed deeply.
He dreaded it most when his wife asked him this question.
Every time she said it, it felt as though he had committed some unforgivable sin, tormenting him inside.
He could only let her have her way.
Xiao Changyuan knew nothing about his past.
The only connection between his past life and his present one was his wife.
Xiao Changyuan frowned and said reluctantly, “Then wait for me at home, don’t run around.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Pianpian’s face immediately brightened. “Got it, husband! Go early and come back soon. I’ll be waiting for you at home!”
Xiao Changyuan looked at Yun Pianpian, who could cry one moment and laugh the next, and his handsome face showed a hint of displeasure. “How do your tears disappear so quickly?”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback for a moment, then said with an air of righteousness, “Because your wife is a simple person. Simple people are easily happy!”
Xiao Changyuan found this quite reasonable. His wife was indeed too simple, no different from a fool. Since the fool didn’t want to go up the mountain, he wouldn’t force her.
Xiao Changyuan shouldered his bamboo basket, picked up his bow and arrows, and dutifully headed up the mountain.
Yun Pianpian stood at the doorstep, tearfully waving her little handkerchief, urging him to return early.
Only when Xiao Changyuan’s figure disappeared into the depths of the mountain forest did Yun Pianpian wipe away her tears and skip back into the house, full of energy.
She could finally avoid work and live as a happy little freeloader!
Yun Pianpian sat in front of her dressing mirror, gleefully counting the jewelry, cosmetics, and powders she had bought the day before. These treasures were the very things that could make her even more beautiful.
She gazed at her reflection in the mirror: the young woman in the glass had willow, leaf eyebrows like mist, almond, shaped eyes that sparkled with charm, and delicate, pleasing features. However, due to long, term malnutrition, her complexion looked somewhat lackluster.
Yun Pianpian felt this wasn’t a big problem. With her good foundation, as long as she nourished her skin for a while with the skincare cream she had bought yesterday and supplemented her diet with medicinal foods, her skin would soon become fair and dewy, more beautiful than a fairy.
With plenty of time on her hands, Yun Pianpian washed her face and applied a thick layer of the skincare cream. The cream was made from bletilla rhizome, aconite, angelica, peach kernel, and poria, a beauty ointment costing five taels of silver per box. After leaving it on for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, she washed it off.
She looked in the mirror again and saw that her cheeks, now treated with the cream, indeed appeared more hydrated than before.
As for the so, called “white moonlight,” Yun Pianpian believed it meant being as “white” as frost and snow, as beautiful as moonlight, and radiant enough to “glow”! One day, she would become the white moonlight that everyone would admire wholeheartedly.
Yun Pianpian happily applied a layer of facial cream to her face and hand cream to her hands.
After finishing all this, Yun Pianpian found herself with nothing else to do.
She suddenly felt a bit bored.
Yun Pianpian blinked, her eyes filled with confusion.
So this is how boring it is to be a freeloader.
Thus, Yun Pianpian decided to stop being a freeloader and go out for a stroll.
She had been in Jiangjia Village for quite some time but had never properly explored it.
It was autumn, and the villagers were busy with the harvest.
As Yun Pianpian stepped out, she happened to run into Jiang Cuicui, who was carrying a bamboo basket on her back.
“Cuicui, where are you going?”
Jiang Cuicui replied, “I'm going to help Grandpa pick corn.”
Yun Pianpian became interested. “I've never picked corn before. Could you take me along to broaden my horizons?”
Jiang Cuicui thought for a moment and said, “Alright then.”
The fields of Jiangjia Village lay to the west of the settlement. The two followed a small path, passing through the village, when the sound of clear, rhythmic reading reached their ears.
Yun Pianpian looked up and saw an elegant courtyard filled with desks, where children were reciting lessons along with their teacher.
The teacher was dressed in a blue robe, his figure slender and tall.
She couldn't see his face clearly, only his scholarly and delicate back.
Yun Pianpian was surprised. “I never expected there to be a private school here.”
Jiang Cuicui glanced at Yun Pianpian and explained, “Originally, there was no private school in Jiangjia Village. But after Brother A’Yu arrived, he established this school. The children can come here for their early education, and the tuition is very cheap, almost free.”
Yun Pianpian asked, “Who is Brother A’Yu?”
Jiang Cuicui blushed slightly and pointed toward the young man in the courtyard.
“That's Brother A’Yu.”
Yun Pianpian followed Jiang Cuicui's finger and looked over.
Hearing the voices, the young man in the courtyard happened to lift his head.
Their eyes met.
Yun Pianpian saw a pair of exceptionally gentle and captivating eyes.
His eyes were like an ink, wash painting, dark, serene, and profound, making one unconsciously hold their breath.
The young man in blue stood tall and graceful, holding a book scroll amidst the children.
He resembled a crane standing quietly among playful waterbirds, untouched by dust, elegant and transcendent.
He saw her, his red lips curling into a faint, gentle smile as he gave a slight nod.
His face was exquisitely fair, his features as picturesque as a painting, warm and refined as jade.
It was Jiang Sheyu.
Yun Pianpian was momentarily stunned before returning his greeting with a polite gesture.