Chapter 74: Neighbor Sister

April 21st.

Sleepless for the entire night, Ding Suian sat cross-legged on the bed. His thin clothes were soaked through, and even the mattress beneath him was damp.

Compared to the difficulty of breaking through a Realm, the three minor Realms of Minor Achievement, Proficiency, and Perfection were more like the natural result of accumulated effort.

As long as the Protective Aura within the body was full, it was a matter of course.

Ding Suian had gradually begun to feel what the state of Perfection in the Manifesting Elemental State was like.

It was roughly similar to instant casting.

Originally, when the Protective Aura stored in the Zhongji Acupoint was infused into a weapon, there was a clear path of Qi Circulation.

But Perfection meant that with a single thought, the Protective Aura would instantly reach every bone and joint in the body; this was the Foundation for the Astral Realm’s ability to tear metal with bare hands.

It seemed that every sect and school had similar stages.

For example, in the State Religion’s Literature Institute and Law Academy, after reaching Enlightenment and entering the Silent Sound Realm, the Literature Institute no longer needed to chant, and the Law Academy no longer needed spirit-pivot musical instruments.

For the Dao sect’s Lightning Summoning Technique, Ruan Ruan needed to chant the incantation, but that Daoist from Jintai Temple back then did not need to.

To consume the swelling, bursting sensation caused by the excess Protective Aura, Ding Suian simply kept guiding the Qi to strike his three cold acupoints: Chize, Quchi, and Hegu.

It hurt!

It really hurt.

It was as if someone were relentlessly, like a torrential storm, performing the ‘Thousand Years of Death’ on you!

It was a sour, stinging, vicious pain.

Except the location was on his upper arm.

“Specific Qi Circulation Path!”

When the pain became unbearable, he couldn’t help but shout something.

At this moment, Young Master Ding felt that the name he had given this Cultivation Technique was just so damn appropriate!

A few days ago, he had returned to the capital alone without bringing Zhao Yan because he was worried that Chilao Alley was too crowded to settle her in.

Now that he had a large residence, Ding Suian had sent a letter yesterday asking Lin Hansu to send someone to bring her over.

However, by his calculations, it would still take a few days of waiting.

Noon.

Ding Suian rinsed himself by the well in the courtyard and went out to find food.

Old Ding had said something about ‘not wanting to leave his old home and being attached to the neighborhood,’ and refused to move. Now that Ding Suian lived here alone, let alone cooking utensils, even the bed he slept on was temporarily put together with bricks and boards.

A bachelor’s life is just this carefree.

After eating something haphazardly, Ding Suian headed to Craftsman Street, intending to hire someone to make a set of tables, chairs, and a bed.

The craftsman saw that he was young and didn’t look like the head of a household, so he quoted an exorbitant price.

Young Master Ding was not short of money now, but that didn’t mean he liked being a sucker.

After walking around and finding nothing, he bought two sesame flatbreads and wandered back home while eating.

Another meal, dealt with.

Shen hour, Suimian Street, Xingping Ward.

Ding Suian stood in front of his own gate, thinking he had gone to the wrong place.

One half of the courtyard gate was open.

Besides himself, the only other person with a key to this house was Old Lin, who had a spare set.

Was it Old Lin?

Or had a thief broken in?

Could a petty thief have set their sights on his brick-and-board bed?

Ding Suian slipped inside. Just as he passed through the second courtyard, he heard chattering coming from the back residence.

“I’m staying in this room!”

“Then I’ll stay in the one next door.”

“No, we’re still sleeping together.”

“Why?”

Zhao Yan’s aggrieved voice was very clear.

Ding Suian felt a surge of joy and couldn’t help but quicken his pace.

Little fox, you are truly the medicine for my ailment!

Stepping into the third courtyard, he saw a graceful figure standing in the courtyard, leisurely looking around at the scenery of the back residence.

Perhaps hearing footsteps, Lin Hansu turned and saw him. Her slightly cold expression melted like snow in the spring breeze, vanishing instantly.

First, the corners of her lips lifted, then she revealed a few fine, white teeth.

Dusty from travel, yet her smile was like a flower.

Ding Suian paused for a moment, then quickened his pace.

Lin Hansu stepped forward to meet him, moving faster as well.

One lightly stretched out his arms and wrapped them around her waist.

The other wrapped her jade-like arms around his neck.

Ding Suian held Lin Hansu and spun around in place, her skirt fluttering.

Lin Hansu laughed even more joyfully, yet both tacitly made no sound.

“Ruan Ruan, don’t you have a home of your own?”

“Mind your own business! I grew up in Brother Yuanxi’s home since I was little; back then, you didn’t even know where you were!”

Upstairs, Ruan Ruan and Zhao Yan were still fighting over the rights to use the bedroom.

Downstairs, the two heads were pressed together, their mouths almost kissed raw.

Granny Zhang, standing by the hanging flower gate, silently turned away, refusing to look at something improper.

“Thump, thump, thump~”

Until the sound of the two little ones coming downstairs rang out, Lin Hansu lightly pushed on Ding Suian’s chest, separating them.

She tidied her clothes slightly and walked to the flower bed, pretending to admire the flowers.

“Ah! Husband. Young Master~”

Zhao Yan came downstairs and called out in surprise. She glanced at Ruan Ruan, corrected herself, and then skipped forward to link arms with him, tilting her small face up to whine: “Young Master, Nunu missed you so much!”

“Brother Yuanxi, is this your new home?”

Ruan Ruan stepped forward and raised her hand to push at the arm Zhao Yan was holding. With him present, Zhao Yan’s fear of Ruan Ruan was significantly reduced; not only did she refuse to let go, but she hugged him even tighter.

“Yes, I’ll invite Aunt to visit another day.”

“Hmm, Brother Yuanxi, save me a room. Is this one okay?”

Ruan Ruan shot a fierce glare at Zhao Yan, decided not to bicker with her for now, and pointed to a room on the second floor.

“Okay!”

Seeing Ding Suian agree so readily, Ruan Ruan smiled brightly, a pair of sweet, sticky dimples appearing on her cheeks.

But the next moment, Ruan Ruan’s gaze stopped on Ding Suian’s lips, and she asked curiously: “Brother Yuanxi, what’s wrong with your mouth?”

Ding Suian subconsciously licked his lips. Oh, it was the taste of Lin Hansu’s lip rouge.

“I’m probably just suffering from internal heat.”

Ding Suian brushed it off with a random excuse and licked his lips again, eliminating the incriminating evidence.

Ruan Ruan’s suspicion hadn’t fully dissipated, while on the other side, Zhao Yan twitched her little nose and sniffed him fiercely.

Then she looked suspiciously at Lin Hansu.

Oh~ you smell like her perfume~

Not far away, Lin Hansu leaned down close to a hydrangea, looking intoxicated, as if completely immersed in the scent of the flowers, ignoring the little fox’s probing gaze.

“Why is it so simple?”

Lin Hansu stood in Ding Suian’s bedroom, staring blankly at the pitiful bed frame in the corner.

“This is simple? Sister, you need to accept re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants. A house like this is absolutely a top-tier luxury mansion in my Chilao Alley.”

“I’m not talking about the house, I’m talking about… where is your furniture?”

“I haven’t had time to get it yet. I’ll get started on it in the next two days.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Lin Hansu looked around and said in the tone of a hostess: “I’ll handle it. You don’t understand these things, so you won’t get ripped off.”

While speaking, she walked around the room, roughly measuring the length and width with her strides so she would know what to expect.

Just then, Ruan Ruan’s crisp, surprised voice suddenly rang out from the front residence: “Uncle! Why did you bring so much stuff?”

Ding Suian poked his head out to look; Ruan Ruan and Old Ding walked in, one after the other.

Old Ding was tucking bedding under his left arm and holding a pot in his hand; under his right arm, he was tucking a pillow and holding a bowl and chopsticks.

“My dad is here.”

Ding Suian turned around to let her know.

“…”

However, he saw that Lin Hansu, who had been standing there perfectly fine, suddenly stiffened. Her complexion began to turn red from her cheeks, gradually spreading; in just a few seconds, her face became like a monkey’s bottom.

The hand hanging by her side was trembling slightly, as if out of control.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Ding Suian was startled.

Lin Hansu, who had just been acting like the head of the Ding Family, turned her head with difficulty and looked around the room. There was nothing in the room except for that broken bed, yet she still stammered: “I… I… should I hide?”

“…” Ding Suian finally understood and couldn’t help but laugh: “The ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her father-in-law eventually; is there any need to be this nervous?”

Outside, Zhao Yan, who had been upstairs, thumped down the stairs.

She walked up to Old Ding and performed a slightly clumsy curtsy: “Zhao Yan greets Uncle. Uncle has worked hard.”

After the greeting, Zhao Yan eagerly stepped forward and reached out to help Old Ding take the things he was carrying.

“No need, no need~”

Making Old Ding flustered.

This scene made Ruan Ruan, who was standing nearby, feel a bit awkward. After all, she had greeted Uncle first but hadn’t thought to help him carry things.

Also, she discovered that Zhao Yan loved to imitate others.

Last time at Pinshu Pavilion, after seeing the girls dance, Zhao Yan would hide in her room all day, twisting and turning, striking seductive poses, and dancing those improper, lewd dances.

Ruan Ruan had caught her several times.

Today, when Zhao Yan saw Ruan Ruan call Old Ding ‘Uncle’, she immediately followed suit.

Hmph, sooner or later I’ll zap you!

Outside the door, after some scrambling, Zhao Yan and Ruan Ruan, as if competing, each grabbed a pile of things and hung them on themselves.

But… they had clearly already reached the destination!

Although Old Ding wasn’t used to it, he was secretly delighted: My son has his father’s style from back in the day!

He walked into the house happily, but couldn’t help but be stunned.

Why is there another one?

Lin Hansu, having lost her usual poise, blushed and hurriedly bowed: “G-Greetings, Uncle! I have some matters at home, so I will take my leave now.”

After saying that, she hurried out of the room as if fleeing, running away in a flash.

“Dad, have you decided to move here?”

“I’m not moving! I’m just bringing you some things for eating and sleeping, and I’ll be leaving in a moment.”

Old Ding looked suspiciously at that retreating figure, then looked suspiciously at his son: “Who is that?”

“Her? The neighbor sister next door. She heard that a new neighbor had moved in and came over to visit.”

“Look at how polite she is. Don’t forget to prepare a gift and pay a return visit. After moving into a new place, you need to get along well with your neighbors.”

“Don’t worry, I will get along with them very well.”

Thanks to: Guyue oooo, for the repeated rewards~