CHAPTER 253: 241 POOR AND SHABBY APPEARANCE

Ever since she became fairer, Tian Sangsang had been the center of attention among the military wives. As for the whitening product she developed, "Yan’s," the few lucky wives who managed to get a bottle went home and immediately opened it to try it out.

Qin Lan was the eldest daughter at home, with several younger siblings under her. She never had the chance to receive a good education, and from a young age, there wasn’t a single household chore or farm task she hadn’t done. When it came time to talk marriage, she finally saw some hope and married a soldier. After joining him in the army, her life wasn’t affluent, but it was still better than her past life in the countryside. Her husband’s rank was small—no problem. As long as they were in the army, there was a chance she might meet some high-ranking officer. Then, if she went back to her hometown, she would speak of this officer or that officer, and oh, how impressive that would be.

However, she was never satisfied with her appearance. Back in the countryside, she didn’t think much of it. But upon arriving at the residential compound and seeing all sorts of women—some from the city, some from rural areas, with all kinds of looks and forms—she began to notice.

She was thirty now, her skin sallow, her hair dull, her nose not prominent enough, her lips too thick, and her eyes too small. She couldn’t help but think of Tian Sangsang’s eyes. Her eyes were beautiful, smiling like blooming peach blossoms. Her gaze was so clean, so pure, so optimistic.

She couldn’t compare to her.

But now, the opportunity for transformation had arrived! No one could understand her feelings. A thirty-year-old woman, a woman who had dried up for so long, encountered Tian Sangsang’s rose essential oil. This was a product that could awaken her inner beast! It was truly beautiful, truly whitening!

Qin Lan stared at her reflection in the mirror, a trace of madness flashing in her eyes. Just earlier, she had applied Tian Sangsang’s rose essential oil, and she felt herself becoming prettier.

Her skin, when touched, was soft and supple—no longer the dry, lifeless texture it had been before. If she could use it continuously like Tian Sangsang, she was confident she could also become a budding beauty.

However, one bottle wasn’t enough—it wasn’t nearly enough!

So, when Squad Leader Luo returned home, he saw his wife sitting in the chair with her back to him. Her silhouette looked a bit eerie.

The dining table was utterly empty. No steaming hot dishes, no warm soup.

Squad Leader Luo’s heart skipped a beat as he hurriedly called out, "Qin Lan!" Sitting there motionless—what kind of trouble was this now?!

Qin Lan turned her head slowly, her small eyes meeting his, and she blinked once, slowly.

Was she out of it? Squad Leader Luo shuddered, wanting to check her forehead.

"Look at me~" she said in a coy, delicate voice.

Squad Leader Luo gazed at her earnestly. "Wife, are you feeling unwell? Should we find You Huixixi for a check-up?"

Qin Lan was fuming. After all this time, from the moment he walked in until now, he still hadn’t noticed any of her changes.

She stood up, grabbed Squad Leader Luo’s hand, and placed it on her face. "Touch me."

"Wife, it’s broad daylight—you want us to wait until tonight, can’t you?" Squad Leader Luo frowned. "On top of that, the food hasn’t even been put on the table yet! Where’s the energy for this?"

"All you think about is food!" Qin Lan flung his hand away. "Smell me—doesn’t my scent seem different?"

Squad Leader Luo leaned closer to sniff and asked, "It’s a floral scent? Did you buy perfume?"

"I’ve told you countless times how expensive those perfumes are. Where would I get the money? And remember, you’re already married. Stop acting like those single young women, fluttering around like butterflies. You’re representing me with everything you do!"

Qin Lan sneered, "Look at you, just look at your pathetic, poverty-stricken face. You couldn’t even bear to buy one bottle of perfume. Do you have any idea how much money Captain Jiang hands over to Tian Sangsang? Enough to buy countless bottles of perfume!!!"

"What other people do is their business. We are us. Why are you comparing yourself to them?" Squad Leader Luo felt on the verge of losing his mind. This woman wouldn’t stop stirring up trouble for a single day.

"Of course you can’t compare—you don’t dare let me bring it up." Qin Lan snorted with a laugh. "Let me tell you the truth then—so much your stingy face might crumble. This isn’t perfume. It’s a bottle of rose essential oil that Tian Sangsang gave me. Tian Sangsang used this oil to become beautiful."

Squad Leader Luo’s face darkened. He recalled that Tian Sangsang had indeed changed her appearance and said immediately, "Such an expensive item... How did she give it to you? Be honest—how exactly did you get it?"

A single bottle of essential oil, could it really work such wonders?

"She gave it to me for free, and she handed out several bottles to others too."

Squad Leader Luo breathed a sigh of relief. "The Captain’s wife sure is generous. In the future, don’t gossip behind her back anymore. She’s not someone you can afford to offend. Not to mention her husband is my superior, so we definitely can’t antagonize them. Besides, I can’t quite read Tian Sangsang—it always feels like she’s a formidable character."

"Who cares to offend her? I’ve got bigger plans." Qin Lan said, picking up the rose essential oil and studying it closely. "I’m going to learn how to make rose essential oil and become just like Tian Sangsang."

"You can’t do it—it’s hopeless." Squad Leader Luo shook his head. "Stop wasting time and go cook."

Being dismissed by her own husband, Qin Lan was seething with rage, glaring at him.

"You’re my wife. No matter how you try, you won’t turn into someone else. I see you every day, and you’re you. Why would you want to copy others to look prettier? Tian Sangsang isn’t the same as you."

"Oh, so Tian Sangsang fed you some kind of love potion, huh? Defending her so much." Qin Lan cursed inwardly, thinking of her as nothing less than a seductress. "How am I different from her?"

"She was just a bit dark-skinned, but she had good features to begin with. Now that she’s fairer, of course she looks even better." Squad Leader Luo spoke plainly. From a man’s perspective, Tian Sangsang wasn’t unattractive before.

But Qin Lan refused to heed his words, believing wholeheartedly that Tian Sangsang became beautiful through the essential oil. She was determined to become beautiful too. After transforming, maybe she could even land herself a young and ambitious officer.

**

In the dorms of the art troupe, the lights had yet to be turned off.

Ji Yao’er sat in front of the mirror, with various bottles and jars laid out on the table. However, she only picked up the bottle of rose essential oil in her hand and opened the cap.

She poured a few drops into her palm, and the liquid felt cool and refreshing, emitting a strong rose fragrance...

She dipped her fingertips into it, applied a bit to her face, and gently rubbed it in. To her surprise, the liquid felt like snowflakes, sinking into her skin instantly. Crystal clear, it seemed to open up her pores, leaving her face feeling entirely refreshed.

Ji Yao’er had used plenty of high-end skincare products before. She knew what was good or bad just based on its effect on her skin. This bottle—was undoubtedly top-tier.

"Yao’er, is this a new product you bought? It smells amazing." A girl from the bunk above peeked down. The girl’s comment stirred the entire dorm full of ladies.

No wonder they had all caught a hint of an intoxicating floral scent—it turned out it was coming from Yao’er.

"No, it’s not something I bought. It’s from Teacher Shui." Ji Yao’er smiled faintly. "Someone gifted it to Teacher Shui. They say Tian Sangsang used this to become fairer."

Wow. The group collectively gasped.

"Speaking of Tian Sangsang, I saw her from a distance today. She’s gotten so beautiful... Last time during the singing event, she wasn’t as fair or as pretty!"

"Really? I didn’t see her today."