"Is the Sichuan opera face-changing technique being considered for World Heritage status here?"
"That's truly terrifying."
"Xiao Qi and Junjun are coming over? That's great, it's going to be lively," Li Juan happily clapped her hands, still damp with water, and then wiped them on her apron. She smiled at Gu Luo and his companion with a touch of sentimentality:
"Qianrou's parents are often away on archaeological digs, so it's usually just the two of us at home. Xiao Luo, you should come over often. Young people have so much in common, you can share your interests and studies."
"Sure, I'll bring them over often," Gu Luo replied with a quick smile.
Of course, this was just a polite reply, meant to please the elderly woman for the time being.
As for whether they'd actually come over in the future, that was a matter for another day.
Besides, he was somewhat intimidated by the Sichuan opera face-changing expert beside him.
And he couldn't shake the feeling that Wen Qianrou's gaze held a hint of aggression.
Luo Shuling chimed in with a playful smile, "Don't worry, Grandma Li, even if my brother doesn't want to come, I'll drag him over."
"Such good kids," Li Juan said with a gratified smile, her wrinkles seeming to smooth out as she continued:
"Why don't you rest a bit while I take care of the meat?"
With that, she turned and headed back to the kitchen.
In the next instant, Gu Luo was enveloped by a fragrant breeze.
Turning his head, he saw Wen Qianrou had scooted over, sitting so close they were nearly touching, maintaining only the faintest hint of distance.
Her demeanor shifted instantly from the innocent girl-next-door to an excited, fervent fan.
Gu Luo's mouth twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly, before he quickly stood up and feigned nonchalance:
"Qianrou, why don't you and Xiao Ling chat for a bit? I'll go help Grandma Li in the kitchen."
After a polite smile, he made his way to the kitchen.
He couldn't help but think how fortunate he was that the little angel, little devil, and little tsundere weren't present, or it would have been a battlefield.
Such situations were the worst.
The little angel might not say anything, but she'd probably feel hurt inside.
The little tsundere would definitely be sulking and jealous.
And the little devil would undoubtedly drag him aside for a 'punishment'—either a forceful kiss or a surprise attack later.
Indeed, the little sunshine was the least troublesome.
With her, he didn't have to worry about a thing, and his mood was always uplifted.
Comparing them, Gu Luo subconsciously preferred spending time with the little sunshine.
The other girls would only get jealous, while the little sunshine would just silently shower him with affection.
Wen Qianrou clasped her hands together, watching Gu Luo's retreating figure. Only when he disappeared into the kitchen did she murmur to herself:
"So handsome, so incredibly handsome..."
"How can someone be so good-looking in this world?"
"My heart..."
She clutched her chest and closed her eyes, taking a small breath before turning to Luo Shuling, speaking with envy:
"Ling, you guys eat so well, don't you?"
"Gu Shen's looks, staring at them for a long time will definitely prolong your life."
"And he's even more handsome in person than in photos, plus he can cook, oh my gosh..."
Listening to this, Luo Shuling couldn't help but smile. She stood up and sat beside her, nodding in agreement:
"Of course, my brother is the most handsome guy in the world, bar none."
"Yes, yes, bar none! I used to really like the TEO boy band, but compared to Gu Shen... there's just no comparison..." Wen Qianrou said, covering her fair and innocent face with her hand:
"I'll be a fan of Gu Shen for life, just him and Sister Qi."
She paused, then slapped her forehead and explained:
"Oh, by the way, when I say Sister Qi, I'm talking about the big star Tang Qi, who's coming to dinner with her daughter later."
"Ah... it's Tang Qi."
Luo Shuling nodded, her face showing no particular change.
Wen Qianrou wasn't surprised by her reaction either.
Although she didn't know much about Luo Shuling's family, being a student at Guangya, her family might be quite wealthy and influential, so she wouldn't be too surprised by celebrities.
The two of them praised Gu Luo a few more times before each started looking at their phones.
By now, the group chat was already buzzing.
Everyone was @mentioning Wen Qianrou.
[***: Qianrou!!! You're so unfair! Your guest is really Gu Luo, no wonder you didn't come to sing, you were hogging him all to yourself!]
[**: Exactly, exactly, now post a group photo in the chat to show off, this is too much, I strongly suggest we take you out for a five-minute firing squad!]
[***: Gu Shen is really so handsome, Qianrou is already pretty enough, but taking a photo with Gu Shen, I actually feel like they're not even in the same style?!]
[**: No, no, I'm not singing anymore, @Wen Qianrou, I want to come to your house, I want to take a photo with Gu Shen too!]
[***:....]
Wen Qianrou looked at her increasingly agitated classmates in the group chat, unable to suppress her rising smile.
Currently, everyone in the group chat, except Luo Shuling, is from the same class and very familiar with each other, so they speak quite casually.
Of course, the plan is to gradually expand to the entire school.
But having them come to her house is definitely out of the question.
Otherwise, if they meet Tang Qi, they might explode with excitement on the spot.
Thinking of this, Wen Qianrou quickly typed a reply:
[Wen Qianrou: Grandma is taking us out for dinner, and there are other guests, next time, next time for sure! (drooling husky.jpg)]
[**: Qianrou, Qianrou, do you have Gu Shen's contact information?]
[Wen Qianrou: I do, but you guys can forget about it, it's his privacy. (backflipping milk cat.jpg)]
[***: @Wen Qianrou, you're so awful!]
[**: @Wen Qianrou, you're so awful!]
[***: @..., you're so...]
Indeed, the essence of humanity is being a repeat machine.
"Qianrou."
At this moment, Luo Shuling called out to her.
Hearing the voice, Wen Qianrou instinctively turned her head and saw a peeled banana being handed to her mouth.
"Ah, thank you."
Wen Qianrou reached out and took the banana.
Then she heard Luo Shuling continue, "Qianrou, I have some questions I'd like to ask you."
"Hmm? What’s the question?"
Luo Shuling immediately leaned in close to her ear. "It’s about girls..."
As she listened, Wen Qianrou adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, narrowed her beautiful eyes, and gave a faint smile that was both teasing and playful. She patted Luo Shuling on the shoulder and said with a laugh:
"Shuling, you’ve come to the right person for this."
"But this isn’t the right time to talk about it. Let’s discuss it properly tonight."
She paused for a moment, then added seriously:
"This is completely normal. We’re not kids anymore. Some things, well, heh, you know, they’re impossible to resist."
"I really don’t know much about this... I’ll be counting on you," Luo Shuling said, her cheeks already tinged with a faint blush, making her look utterly adorable.
"Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m a seasoned pro," Wen Qianrou said with a grin, pointing to her black-rimmed glasses. "These are my seal. Once I take them off, I become a completely different person, someone you’d find terrifying."
"Let’s have a proper chat tonight. I’ll share all my tips."
"Okay, okay!" Luo Shuling nodded enthusiastically, her eyes squinting with a smile.
Who knows what thoughts were running through her mind.
The two exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.
Their bond grew closer in an instant.
Wen Qianrou, emboldened by the moment, leaned in toward Luo Shuling’s ear and asked mischievously in a hushed tone:
"Shuling, you’re so pretty, and Gu Luo is so handsome. You two live under the same roof every day—haven’t you ever had any... peculiar thoughts?"
"Not at all. Our relationship is very pure. Everyone at school knows that," Luo Shuling replied with a gentle smile, her tone light and easy.
"Ah... what a pity," Wen Qianrou said, though inwardly, she let out a sigh of relief.
After all, a single idol is the best kind of idol.
Even if it were her favorite idol, she secretly hoped Gu Luo would stay single forever.
Of course, if it were with her, that’d be a different story.
Hehe...
*Slurp...*
The two chatted a bit more, but just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.
In an instant, Wen Qianrou transformed into the image of the sweet girl-next-door—serene and pure.
Her ability to switch personas was truly top-notch.
"Shuling, wait here for a moment," she said with a soft smile.
Then she stood up and walked toward the door.
Peeking through the peephole, she saw a woman standing outside, bundled up tightly, holding a little girl who was also wrapped up snugly in her arms.
It was Tang Qi and her precious daughter, Lin Mengyun.
Wen Qianrou was momentarily stunned.
Didn’t they say they’d arrive in ten minutes?
It had barely been ten minutes, right?
But her surprise only lasted a moment. Quickly recovering, she opened the door and greeted them warmly:
"Qi-jie, Mengyun!"
"Qianrou, we’re here to crash your dinner party!" Tang Qi said with a grin.
"You’re always welcome! Let me grab some slippers for you."
As Wen Qianrou bent down to fetch the slippers, Tang Qi immediately glanced into the living room through her sunglasses. All she saw was a beautiful girl with a short pixie haircut sitting there.
She looked around but didn’t see anyone else.
Her heart started to race. Unable to hold back, she asked:
"Qianrou, um... where’s Gu Luo?"
"He's helping Grandma in the kitchen," Wen Qianrou said, placing slippers at Tang Qi's feet and then opening her arms to the little girl in Tang Qi's arms.
"Come here, little Yun, let big sister hold you."
However, Lin Mengyun just glanced at Wen Qianrou and then buried her head in Tang Qi's neck.
"Little Yun is still so shy, huh?"
"Yes, I'm worried. She's already four years old, but she only clings to me. She doesn't even let her dad hold her," Tang Qi said indulgently, smiling as she stepped out of her flats and into the slippers.
"It's okay, she'll grow out of it."
After putting her flats in the shoe cabinet and closing the door, Wen Qianrou quickly walked to the kitchen and softly said to the two people inside:
"Grandma, Brother Gu Luo, Qi is here."
"Ah, Qi is here already, that was quick."
Li Juan wiped her hands on her apron and smiled at Gu Luo beside her:
"Xiao Luo, did Qianrou tell you who this Qi is?"
"...No."
"No worries, even if she didn't say, you'll surely recognize her."
With that, the three of them walked out of the kitchen.
At this moment, Tang Qi had already taken off her tightly wrapped coat, hat, sunglasses, and other items, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face.
The little Lin Mengyun in her arms was also a budding beauty, with a fair little face full of collagen, making one want to gently pinch her cheeks.
...
...