My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 73 - 71: The Seven Great Aunts and Eight Great Aunties
The blue printed cloth is a traditional dyeing craft of Dong, generally divided into two forms: blue background with white patterns and white background with blue patterns, also known as indigo flower cloth. The blue is intense, the white is pure.
In ancient times, common folk would use this fabric to make clothes, but nowadays, few people wear it.
Because the fabric is too plain, with the average person’s looks and figure, wearing it would likely age them by seven or eight years, and their overall aura would transform into that of glorious working-class people.
So now it’s just treated as a style of clothing to be worn for fun.
"This is actually my first time wearing this kind of clothes too."
Huang Tianxuan swayed her figure in front of Li Peifeng, wearing a newly bought blue printed retro long sleeve, her smile radiant, her drifting hair turning golden under the setting sun.
"Does it look good?"
This question had been asked many times while Huang Tianxuan was changing clothes. Li Peifeng, having run out of words to praise her, decided to take a different approach this time.
"This was originally quite a simple outfit. When others wear it, they’re like fairies untouched by the earth or fresh and unassuming tea-picking girls."
Li Peifeng frowned, "Why does it become so provocative when you wear it?"
Huang Tianxuan was incredulous and slightly aggrieved, "Provocative? Say that again!"
Li Peifeng suddenly realized, "It must be because of your great figure, curvy and all. That’s something other beauties want but can’t have!"
"You’re so annoying!"
Huang Tianxuan’s anger turned into joy, and she extended her hand to signal, "Give me a few bags. Let’s go eat; it’s my treat. I’ve already reserved a spot."
"No need, I can carry them."
"Give them to me!"
In an irresistible manner, Huang Tianxuan took two bags from Li Peifeng’s hands.
It was a small act of help, but it touched Mr. Li deeply.
He’s been shopping with countless girls, many of whom considered his needs and helped him carry bags, and many offered to treat him to meals afterward. But none of the wealthy young ladies managed to do both.
This is normal, just like men can’t meet all three criteria: handsome, rich, and faithful at the same time.
Women can’t meet all three of: beautiful, rich, and considerate either.
Rich, beautiful women generally think highly of themselves. Having good upbringing is one thing, but being particularly sensible is rare.
This sensibility refers to the lack of drama of ordinary girls, being understanding, gentle, and reasonable, knowing how to be considerate and care for their boyfriends and taking care of emotional needs in small matters.
They certainly have emotional intelligence and know what actions would please their boyfriends, but rich, beautiful women don’t need to do that.
Because at its core, emotional intelligence is about serving others to gain benefits.
Do rich, beautiful women need to serve others to gain benefits?
In most cases, they don’t; people are eager to provide emotional services for them, and over time, they develop the habit of not being considerate in return.
Initially, when Li Peifeng shopped with Xu Manning, she wished she could hang everything on him, and then have him carry her to the restaurant, feeding her bite by bite during the meal.
And the situation now was even more complex because the bags Huang Tianxuan took over were clothes Li Peifeng intended to gift to other girls!
Such an understanding girl, willing to help him carry gifts meant for other girls, and not the slightest bit jealous. Are all southern girls like this?
Li Peifeng wasn’t that foolish. Analyzing rationally, he preferred to believe that Huang Tianxuan wasn’t that into him, so she wouldn’t be jealous of his actions.
Ultimately, they had only been interacting for a week in reality. Although they had held hands, hugged, and kissed, Huang Tianxuan was still five years older; a mature elder sister experienced in life’s affairs.
Even though her external appearance was no different from girls in their early twenties, it was just a façade. She likely approached relationships more calmly and viewed things more objectively, not letting a little flirtation lead to anything serious.
Huang Tianxuan must be fully aware that there’s no outcome between them, so she doesn’t mind how many flirtations he has, just wanting to enjoy the moment, savoring the youthful body and the feeling of flirtation.
With this in mind, everything made sense!
After Li Peifeng reached this conclusion, a mix of complex emotions arose in him.
"This pure, simple, no deeper emotional collision... hmm, it’s all coming back!"
Back in sophomore year, having gone through the ’Cave of Desires’ dungeon with thirteen senior girl players in a single week, Li Peifeng sighed deeply.
The ancients said: mature women have three virtues, sensible, saves money, enjoys younger partners!
The ancients were not wrong!
...
It’s five thirty in the afternoon at Bright Moon Building, third floor, water-view restaurant.
"Fishmint?"
Li Peifeng laughed, "No problem, I’m not picky. I can eat it with you!"
"Hmm."
Huang Tianxuan glanced at his smile, a bit surprised, and said to the waiter, "Braised lamb, champion fish ball soup, and two bowls of black rice please."
"Okay."
The waiter left, and Huang Tianxuan reminded, "Don’t eat too much, I’ll take you for a stroll later to try some local snacks. We were busy shopping yesterday and didn’t get to try them."
"Okay!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Huang Tianxuan felt a light kick under the table and thought he was joking around, rolling her eyes, "What are you doing?"
Li Peifeng looked innocent, "The table is a bit low, I couldn’t stretch my legs, sorry!"
Huang Tianxuan looked under the table and found it was indeed as he said, so she simply suggested, "Why don’t you sit next to me to avoid stepping on each other’s feet? Plus, this spot faces the window, we can watch the sunset together."
"That’s a good idea, why didn’t I think of that?"
Li Peifeng picked up his phone and sat on the sofa next to Huang Tianxuan. This spot faced the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling window, offering a partial view of Wuzhen outside.
Gentle melodies of ancient bridges, elegant and pristine; small black boats shuttling across the rippling river; rows of antique wooden houses and bridges complementing each other under the orange sunset, the scenery dreamlike, making one forget the restaurant’s noise.
The two were close, close enough to discern each other’s subtle facial expressions, feeling each other’s warmth, breath, and scent.
Generally, the next step at this distance is a hug and a kiss.
This is the intimate distance between genders proposed by anthropologist Edward Hall, beautifully named ’the optimal distance for generating love.’
Thus, without knowing who leaned on whom, who held whom, Huang Tianxuan and Li Peifeng unknowingly snuggled together.
"So strange, this just happened."
"What happened?"
Huang Tianxuan’s eyes were a bit dreamy, then she laughed, "Just got hugged by the author brother like this, I want to take a photo and send it to the book club!"
Old Huang, your thoughts are quite dangerous!
Li Peifeng quickly changed the topic, "Actually, after knowing about your work and family, I was quite surprised. You say you’re usually so busy, how do you have time to read novels?"
"Precisely because I’m busy, I need to entertain myself."
Huang Tianxuan laughed, "No time for travel, no time for movies, but there’s always time for novels. When I’m free, I’ll read a couple Chapters, if busy, I’ll put it down. It’s the most important among the few entertainment options I have."
Li Peifeng raised an eyebrow, "So when you joke around in the book club and talk fast, is that considered entertainment too?"
Huang Tianxuan nodded seriously, "Yes, those things allow me to temporarily escape the heavy work and find happiness in poetry and distance."
Sounds rather pitiful.
Li Peifeng couldn’t resist, and before the waiter brought the dishes, he tasted a bit of the appetizer in front of them, savoring the flavor as they closed their eyes, lost in thought...
"Ding ding ding ding ding~~"
A sudden ringtone rang out.
The phone on the table displayed a group chat titled [Happy Family]; "Wu Wenyue initiated a group video call..."
"Uh... hmm?"
With Li Peifeng’s self-restraint, he knew without looking that the call was not meant to be answered, so before Huang Tianxuan opened her eyes, he swiftly reached out to cover the screen and pressed the power button.
The world got quiet!
"Does your WeChat have voice messages?"
Huang Tianxuan’s face was slightly flushed as she covered her moist lips and asked confusedly, "Don’t need to answer?"
"Let me check."
Li Peifeng glanced at the screen, chose to hang up, breathed a sigh of relief, then shook the phone in front of Huang Tianxuan, calmly saying after she saw the group name, "It’s okay, family chat, it’s probably some aunt wanting to video chat with my parents, doesn’t really concern me."
"Oh." Huang Tianxuan nodded, possibly pressing her lips dry, then put her hand down and asked curiously, "Is this one of those chats with all your relatives in it?"
"Yes."
"What do your elders usually talk about?"
Huang Tianxuan seemed a bit puzzled, yet amused, "Mind if I take a look? I promise I’ll only check this group and not your other messages."
Li Peifeng’s expression froze.
Sis, you really know how to find the key point!
