Zhu Juntang gazed at Liu Chang’an, thinking about the many scenarios she had imagined when they would meet again. Would she be excited, or would she remain calm and composed, like the emperors of old, threatening him to reveal the source of his secrets?
But she never expected that Liu Chang’an would start talking about that night, before he jumped off, and then suddenly say, “It’s like evaluating a book, and I’ll just say…”
“You didn’t say ‘please listen to the next episode’ either?” Liu Chang’an added, and Zhu Juntang’s train of thought was interrupted. She came back to her senses and asked, “How come you didn’t continue?”
“I became Liu He, changed into Liu Che’s grandson, was an emperor for a few days, and then was abandoned by a young lady from the official’s family, but I didn’t get caught easily. I struggled and lived until now.”
“What’s next?”
“There’s no more, I couldn’t think of anything else.”
“Think of?”
“Yes.”
Liu Chang’an and Zhu Juntang locked eyes. Liu Chang’an’s eyes were dark and shone with a faint light, while Zhu Juntang’s eyes were big and bright, like a cat’s, with a hint of sparkle, making her eyes seem extremely bright and agile. She blinked, and her eyelashes fluttered, making her eyes seem narrow and cunning.
The night wind gradually picked up, and Zhu Juntang’s straight legs were pressed tightly together, her white stockings shining like jade in the night. Her fluffy skirt was like a dandelion blown by the wind, and Zhu Juntang pointed at the floor below, saying, “Jump down and show me.”
“I won’t jump,” Liu Chang’an refused without hesitation. “You want me to jump, and I’ll jump?”
This was what Zhu Juntang had said to Liu Chang’an before, and she didn’t expect him to remember it. Zhu Juntang didn’t care about his cautiousness, and at this moment, her emotions were very complex.
“That night, you casually jumped down!”
She was somewhat excited, but also a bit suppressed, and the wind was blowing hard. It felt absurd, like a dream, and she doubted herself and Liu Chang’an in front of her, wanting to verify it again.
What she most wanted to see was herself standing there, Liu Chang’an jumping down, and then coming back up, jumping down again, repeating it ten times. Zhu Juntang felt that she could slowly accept reality if that happened.
“As long as you jump down, I’ll give you everything you want,” Zhu Juntang tempted Liu Chang’an to jump, with an air of confidence.
Liu Chang’an smiled, like a foolish woman.
“I am Zhu Juntang, the third young lady of the Zhu family. This building beneath your feet is mine, not the Zhu family’s. It’s one of my properties, listed on the Forbes list, and I have more than enough,” Zhu Juntang calmly persuaded, “Even if you have superpowers, you still need to live in this real world, where you need material enjoyment, spiritual satisfaction, and physical pleasure… As long as you have desires, I can fulfill them all.”
As she spoke, Zhu Juntang pointed at the city below her feet. “I am a goddess, and anyone who can satisfy me will be satisfied in return.”
Zhu Juntang thought that Liu Chang’an’s story of living forever might be fabricated, but if she wasn’t dreaming that night, then he must have superpowers.
When she said she was a goddess, she truly believed it. Liu Chang’an had seen many kinds of people, including those with imaginary illnesses, especially the emperor’s mental disorders.
“Following your guess, I am someone with superpowers. So why wouldn’t I use my own powers to satisfy my desires, but instead rely on you?” Liu Chang’an asked, wanting to understand the arrogant and ambitious inner thoughts of Zhu Juntang.
“It’s clear that you’re not a foolish person, but your current refusal to recognize this… Whether you recognize it or not, it’s a kind of reverence for the ordinary people ruling this world.” Zhu Juntang lifted her chin, took a step forward, and said, “People need faith, and they will believe in gods. However, rulers don’t need gods to truly exist. If gods appear, they will be eliminated, just like people with superpowers.”
“You can only live a low-key life in this world, and your superpowers can only help you gain wealth. Seeing your current state, I feel that you’re not good at using your powers to gain wealth, so this is our reason to cooperate. You have superpowers, and I have worldly wealth. We can take what we need, so why refuse?”
Zhu Juntang looked at Liu Chang’an with confidence, and she couldn’t think of a reason for his refusal.
“Turn around,” Liu Chang’an hinted.
Zhu Juntang turned around excitedly, thinking that Liu Chang’an was going to perform a jump.
A great force erupted from Zhu Juntang’s buttocks, and she let out a startled cry, feeling like she was flying in the air!
” Splash!”
Water splashed everywhere, and Zhu Juntang was kicked into the swimming pool by Liu Chang’an. He carefully controlled his strength, not wanting to hurt the “little flower.”
Zhu Juntang emerged from the water, shaking her hair, and slapping the water surface, her anger and embarrassment written all over her face as she glared at Liu Chang’an.
“Liu Chang’an, are you crazy?”
“You’re the one who’s crazy,” Liu Chang’an replied, walking to the poolside, tapping her on the head, and looking at her as if she was a floating marker. “I, of course, have reverence, but do I need to reverence you? Your foolishness makes you very lovable.”
Zhu Juntang’s eyes widened, and she was infuriated, her anger and humiliation unfamiliar to her. The third young lady of the Zhu family would never experience such treatment, and even a slight wrongdoing from others would be met with fear and trembling.
Zhu Juntang shook off Liu Chang’an’s hand, climbed out of the pool, and stood in front of him, her clothes clinging to her body.
Apart from her stockings becoming transparent and her skirt sticking to her body, Zhu Juntang shivered, glared at Liu Chang’an, and then snatched his sleeve, pulling him towards the stairs without saying a word.
Zhao the Fourth was waiting downstairs, and she couldn’t leave Zhu Juntang and Liu Chang’an alone upstairs.
When she saw Zhu Juntang’s state, Zhao the Fourth was shocked, and quickly called the servants over, sending towels, hot water, and blankets.
“Don’t let him fly away,” Zhu Juntang said, not wanting others to see her like this for too long. She was usually a dignified and elegant goddess.
Fly away? Zhao the Fourth didn’t understand, but she knew Zhu Juntang would come out again to see Liu Chang’an.
Liu Chang’an didn’t mind Zhu Juntang giving him an extra superpower, and he wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He was going to guard the night, and it would be a long one. Besides, Fan Jian wouldn’t mind him killing time on the rooftop.
Zhao the Fourth led Liu Chang’an to the living room, looking at him still carrying his safety helmet and flashlight, taking a deep breath, and suppressing her surprise and anger. “Would you like to drink something?”
“Tea.”
The servant brought over a teapot, and Liu Chang’an smelled the tea aroma, a very rare and good tea, sadly, he couldn’t discern the specifics of its origin.
Zhao the Fourth looked at Liu Chang’an drinking tea. “What just happened?”
“She thought I should reverence her, so I kicked her into the swimming pool to wake her up.” Liu Chang’an furrowed his brows. “Why didn’t you remind her that she’s not a goddess?”
“Third Young Lady Zhu is, of course, a goddess.” Zhao the Fourth said each word clearly, her tone firm, and her emotions evident. She had seen Zhu Juntang grow up, and she felt a strong sense of belonging to the Zhu family. She was offended by the humiliation and disrespect Liu Chang’an showed Zhu Juntang.
“Doesn’t one have to fly to be a goddess?” Liu Chang’an asked, smiling.
Zhao the Fourth’s tone was filled with anger, but Liu Chang’an just laughed, thinking that they were all used to it. He reached for his phone, feeling it vibrate, and took it out.
The tea aroma grew stronger, and Liu Chang’an took a photo of the tea and sent it to his “online friend,” remembering that she also liked drinking tea and would occasionally share some tea-related promotional articles.
Zhao the Fourth saw it and told the servant to bring over a set of tea utensils to give to Liu Chang’an.
“Third Young Lady will definitely come looking for you again. Please don’t be so reckless in the future.” Zhao the Fourth didn’t want to threaten Liu Chang’an, but according to her, Liu Chang’an’s brain wasn’t normal, and threats or persuasion wouldn’t work.
“You’re the one who’s being reckless, not me,” Liu Chang’an said, waving his hand. “If you truly care for her, you should tell her that she’s not a goddess whom everyone will dote on, rather than indulging her.”
Liu Chang’an continued, “The gentleman says, ‘Benefit a friend in three ways, harm a friend in three ways. Be true, be honest, and be multi-talented, and you will benefit. Be convenient, be gentle, and be flattering, and you will harm.'”
Zhao the Fourth thought that Liu Chang’an was quoting the Analects of Confucius, saying that a gentleman doesn’t move his hands, but just his mouth. “You’re a man, and she’s a woman! You just kicked her into the swimming pool!”
“This isn’t what he said,” Liu Chang’an corrected Zhao the Fourth. “I’ve repeatedly expressed my refusal to meet her, but you kept bothering me under her orders. I didn’t throw you into the pool; I threw her in to teach her a lesson. I’ve been very reasonable. Reason doesn’t distinguish between men and women.”
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