CHAPTER 532: 0317 PARENTING INSIGHTS (2-IN-1)_2

The clear-eyed youth she imagined was actually far ahead of her, a true senior, fundamentally different from a woman holding a bunch of "dirty books" but completely inexperienced.

This time, when Xu Chang’an asked her for a dual cultivation technique, Zhu Pingniang thoroughly realized one thing.

This might be what Qinling wanted to tell her.

The youth in front of her is not a child.

He’s a man.

——

"..."

Zhu Pingniang bit her lip slightly, stubbornly approached Xu Chang’an, tightly grabbed his clothes, and muttered, "Teach me a lesson? Why does Qin’Er want me to avoid suspicion? Just because you’ve grown up? No... I won’t."

Zhu Pingniang found it absurd and annoying that Qinling was jealous even involving herself and Xu Chang’an.

"Ms. Zhu... What’s the matter with you?" Xu Chang’an looked at Zhu Pingniang with her puffed-up face, feeling very helpless.

"Don’t worry about it, that Qin’Er is overly sensitive. I refuse to avoid suspicion anyway, neither you nor Miss Yun will misunderstand." Zhu Pingniang spat: "Even if I avoid suspicion and don’t cozy up with you, it won’t be Qin’Er’s place."

Xu Chang’an: "..."

"Chang’an." Zhu Pingniang held onto the corner of Xu Chang’an’s clothes, with a face questioning life’s choices: "Do you think I have no talent in raising a daughter? Back when Ah Ling was a lovable girl, now she’s always thinking about pushing me away?"

Listening to Zhu Pingniang’s words, Xu Chang’an too began to question life’s decisions.

My dear Miss Zhu.

Can you really say this to me?

What does Qinling mean by always thinking of pushing her?

Clearly, she doesn’t treat me as an outsider.

"Back then, I treated her too well, always thinking of her... that’s why she clings to me like this." Zhu Pingniang regretted deeply: "Had I known, three-day beatings wouldn’t have caused so much trouble."

Xu Chang’an: "..."

He’s a smart person.

Seeing Xu Chang’an pretending death, Zhu Pingniang pouted, released his clothes, nudged him, and said, "Don’t play dumb, Qin’Er wants you to deliver a letter, Ah Bai wants you to deliver wine... Whether it’s them or me, where have we ever treated you as an outsider? Speak your mind, don’t play dumb, or else I’ll be mad."

"..." Xu Chang’an’s fingers froze momentarily, he could only say, "Ms. Zhu, that Miss Lu is a nice person."

"Hmm? That’s true." Zhu Pingniang nodded satisfactorily: "From past experience, Lu’Er is taught with heart and hasn’t gone astray after Qin’Er."

"..." Xu Chang’an remained silent.

That Miss Lu is Zhu Pingniang’s deputy.

In fact, he noticed Miss Lu also likes Zhu Pingniang, just not as blatantly as Qinling.

"I don’t know how I raised Qin’Er into such a gloomy character." Zhu Pingniang glanced at Xu Chang’an.

There were some words she kept unsaid.

Qinling was indeed an obnoxious and vile woman. She felt embarrassed in front of Xu Chang’an, very unclean.

So she gave him that kind of medicine, trying to make him use it on Yun Qian, making him the same level and less "clean."

This straightforward "evil woman’s" action was the real reason Zhu Pingniang said she was ashamed of Qinling for venting for Xu Chang’an.

It’s a pity, Xu Chang’an did not appreciate the gesture.

Rather...

Even if Xu Chang’an understood Qinling’s intention, he wouldn’t care, just helplessly smile.

One could say Qinling was bold and fearless.

Both she and Xu Chang’an were manipulated by Qinling.

Zhu Pingniang paused, shifted her thoughts away from that rebellious daughter.

Suddenly, she realized that the cultivation techniques used between couples seemed normal to her, so when Xu Chang’an asked, she didn’t think much about it. After all, coming from the Hehuan Sect, such a small matter wouldn’t make her shy...

To Zhu Pingniang, the cultivation techniques of the Hehuan Sect and regular techniques were the same.

But what about in a normal person’s view?

Dual cultivation techniques involving Yin and Yang would generally be considered improper, right?

Realizing this, the corners of Zhu Pingniang’s eyes twitched slightly, she silently released Xu Chang’an’s hand, stepped back a few steps, and pointed at herself: "Chang’an, do I look good?"

"You look good."

Xu Chang’an nodded earnestly, and when it came to perfunctory replies, he had truly inherited Yun Qian’s teachings.

"Oh." Zhu Pingniang covered her face at Xu Chang’an’s emotionless gaze: "So... in your eyes, I’m not a woman?"

She finally realized this.

If Xu Chang’an saw her as a woman, he wouldn’t be so calm asking her for a Hehuan Sect cultivation technique, or rather... a regular man asking a woman for a Hehuan Sect technique would have some ambiguity, right?

Xu Chang’an’s side was a pool of still water; ambiguity never appeared.

"Senior is, naturally, a senior." Xu Chang’an said truthfully.

"Nothing more to say."

Zhu Pingniang was somewhat deflated, a rare moment of insecurity.

Could it be... she and Miss Yun have such a vast difference?

She believed she was quite attractive too.

Comments about Zhu Tongjun being pursued all over Qing Province wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Zhu Pingniang originally thought that even if Xu Chang’an knew how to avoid suspicion, it should only mean he could restrain himself. But Li Zhibai used this matter to tell her... Xu Chang’an never considered them as women.

"Ah Bai... is also admonishing me?" Zhu Pingniang bit her lip.

Li Zhibai made her realize this, perhaps to warn her not to insert any woman by Xu Chang’an’s side, since Xu Chang’an didn’t even care for her own charms, to say nothing of other women.

Zhu Pingniang thought Li Zhibai was simply overthinking it; she was merely caring for Liu Qingluo’s thoughts, not trying to let Liu Qingluo interfere.

And now she’s indeed unhappy.

"Chang’an... are you perhaps into men?" Zhu Pingniang asked with a peculiar expression.

"???" Xu Chang’an found himself puzzled.

"What kind of charm did Miss Yun use on you, so strange." Zhu Pingniang shook her head; she has never been more curious about Miss Yun.

Comparing Qinling she raised.

And looking at Xu Chang’an raised by Yun Qian.

Why is there such a stark contrast between people?

All of a sudden, she wanted to discuss "parenting issues" with Miss Yun... seeing her tonight, perhaps she could get some insights.

"I’m not going to talk to you anymore. Go to the resting area I prepared for you and make dinner, later I’ll send a few girls to the side courtyard to take your instructions." Zhu Pingniang was eager for a close encounter with Yun Qian.

Xu Chang’an thought about it and realized everything worth saying has been said.

Except for the matter of the Beauty Fruit still hasn’t been brought up... But the Beauty Fruit matter can wait until dessert is needed after dinner.

Xu Chang’an stood up, ready to leave.

"Take the umbrella." Zhu Pingniang threw an umbrella from the Storage Ring, pointing at the rain outside the window.

Xu Chang’an nodded, took the umbrella, and left.

Only Zhu Pingniang remained, pulling back the curtains and quietly watching his back, then... tilted her head, covering her heart with one hand, feeling the faint heartbeat.

"..."

Zhu Pingniang suddenly letting Xu Chang’an leave was because she felt her state wasn’t quite right.

Her heart felt stifled.

Not knowing what it was.

Even if just a little, even if she considers herself a sister... but as a sister, she doesn’t want her charm to be denied, does she? This sense of defeat is truly uncomfortable.

Zhu Pingniang frowned.

Xu Chang’an, whose eyes only have Yun Qian in them, how did Li Zhibai tolerate it?

True, Li Zhibai in those ragged clothes wouldn’t count as a woman.

Zhu Pingniang rarely feels a bit moved, yet realizes that in Xu Chang’an’s eyes, she’s not even considered a woman.

From the start, Li Zhibai denied her feminine charm, thinking Xu Chang’an wouldn’t see her as a woman—even though that’s true.

Why does Ah Bai think she lacks charm—

Could it be that, in Ah Bai’s heart, she truly lacks charm? Believing she can’t enchant a young boy from the countryside?

Unpleasant.

At tonight’s banquet, she must dress up properly.

She definitely can’t seduce Xu Chang’an.

Then... let’s try with Miss Yun.

Try to make Yun Qian admit she’s good-looking!

To prove that her charm is far from what Li Zhibai assumes.