Chapter 142: Personal Habits

The work kept him extremely busy and disoriented. In Liu Liwa’s eyes, all he saw were wiggling bottoms, perky chests, and legs pressed together.

Basic posture training alone took half a day. The girls finally understood, and then it was time to bring in the male actors to rehearse the play. After all, modeling that day was secondary—the main event was the love story about a scholar on his way to the imperial exams who fell in love at first sight with a shy young lady.

The seven girls didn’t necessarily need to be paired with seven men. If all the girls wearing An Luwei dresses fell in love at first sight with the men, it would seem fake. But Liu Liwa had already settled the price with Miss Zhao. Only a fool would turn down money, especially when there were ready actors at hand—the Leftover Warriors!

Five men and seven girls—it looked like the Saints fighting the Spider Spirits in the Cave of Silken Webs. No one was more suitable for the male roles than the Leftover Warriors. They were originally from wealthy, spoiled backgrounds: harassing women was their main job, and fooling around was their pastime. As for the seven girls, no need to say more—putting on an act was their daily routine, playing the bride every day with love always on their lips. When these two groups partnered, it wasn’t really acting—they were just being themselves.

As the director and scriptwriter, Liu Liwa only briefly explained the play. The actors on both sides grasped it instantly and quickly found suitable partners for their scenes. Every scene was perfected in one take—they were all born actors!

Even though progress was fast, Director Liu, pursuing realistic effects and a serious, responsible attitude toward art, still kept making improvements. He even called Qin Wan’er to act with him, demonstrating personally. He really wanted to perform key romantic scenes himself, like kissing and bed scenes, but Qin Wan’er firmly refused. In the end, Director Liu attributed her reaction to acting like a diva!

They rehearsed until Intoxication Pavilion opened for the evening. Although the results were good, they still felt pressed for time because they had to leave at noon the next day. Miss Zhao sent word that only six girls and the male actors were needed. The remaining pair would be replaced by Third Miss Zhao and Young Master Ye, who were also rehearsing urgently. They were also playing themselves—not for the performance fee, but to put their own people in the spotlight!

Even though it was just an ad, Director Liu was furious that the sponsors interfered, undermined the art, and weakened his authority. Nowadays, sponsors were getting more and more outrageous—just because they had money, they could ignore art, throw some cash to shoot an ad, and promote some slept-with actress or new model. Damn it, despicable!

Director Liu was infinitely indignant, but he held it in for the sake of the performance fee.

That night, Liu Liwa did not launch any nighttime attacks, because he didn’t know if Yang Xiaosi, after delivering beef and mutton, would also deliver pork. Besides, he needed to conserve his energy for the next day’s performance, because aside from being the director, he would also act as a male actor.

Early the next morning, as soon as he got up, he received a notice: Miss Zhao requested his presence. As soon as he entered the main hall, his eyes shone brightly. It felt as if the entire Intoxication Pavilion had instantly upgraded its class. Yanhong and the other six girls had all changed into the trendy, avant-garde fashion outfits designed by Miss Zhao. The vibrant, eye-catching color combinations, cinched waists, body-hugging cuts, low necklines, and open fronts—each style highlighted a different trait of the wearer. On the girls, the outfits looked either elegant, charming, or pure, perfectly illustrating the saying: clothes make the person.

As for the five Leftover Warriors, they shed their usual ragged servant attire. Dressed in brocade robes, hair tied up in topknots and silk ribbons, each had rosy lips, white teeth, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes. Holding white paper fans, they looked dashing and distinguished, exactly like handsome scholars.

Director Liu was very satisfied with the combination of these handsome men and beautiful girls. Only he himself still wore the same coarse linen gown with a towel wrapped around his head—not like a director, more like a lunchbox delivery guy. But there was no helping it—the sponsors only provided costumes for the actors, not for the director.

Just as they were about to set off, Wu Liniang’s personal maid, who also served as a messenger between her and Liu Liwa, appeared. She told Liu Liwa to go upstairs to Wu Liniang’s room—the Madam wanted to see him.

Liu Liwa immediately felt an inexplicable call. He briskly headed upstairs. The last time he went to Wu Liniang’s room, it felt like viewing a national treasure—the woman lay on the couch behind a curtain, her vague, sexy silhouette unforgettable.

But today, not only was Wu Liniang up and about, she was also dressed neatly and thickly, as if preparing for winter—a completely different treatment from last time. When Liu Liwa arrived, she didn’t say much but tossed a set of men’s clothing to him, saying, “Wear this for the play.”

Liu Liwa was slightly startled. He unfolded the clothing—a blue robe. The fabric felt delicate, like ice-cold spun silk, cool to the touch. At a glance, it was clearly high-quality material. Overjoyed, Liu Liwa immediately thanked her: “Thank you! I’ll treasure this outfit like a love token!”

Wu Liniang shot him an annoyed glare and said coldly, “Can you be any more shameless?”

“Of course,” Liu Liwa replied readily. He immediately stripped off his tattered clothes and started changing right in front of her. He thought Wu Liniang, being a Pleasure House Madam, was experienced and unflappable, but unexpectedly, she turned her head away immediately. Faintly, he could see her fair neck blushing.

“Did you think I called you up here just to give you clothes? This is only to deceive others,” Wu Liniang said coldly, her back to him. As she spoke, she secretly passed him a piece of paper. Liu Liwa, still putting on his clothes, said, “What’s this? Besides a love token, you’re giving me a love letter too? You’re so playful!”

Wu Liniang trembled with anger. She didn’t know when Liu Liwa had started daring to banter with her like this. Was her authority fading, or had she given him too much leeway? But Wu Liniang had to endure it—this was a time when she needed capable people. Liu Liwa had skills but no backing, and he was even a criminal wanted by the Imperial Court, making him perfect for her use. Now that he knew some background details, if she treated him harshly, it might alarm him and ruin the plans she had for him.

Wu Liniang was someone who did big things—naturally, she had breadth of mind and composure. But faced with Liu Liwa’s sleazy expression and shameless teasing, she couldn’t help getting furious. At the very least, she had to glare at him to express her anger.

Wu Liniang widened her eyes and suddenly turned around, intending to strike Liu Liwa with her fierce gaze. She didn’t expect her opponent’s defense to be so strong—he directly shifted her fierce gaze from his head downward. Wu Liniang had widened her eyes, maximizing her vision, so she saw everything clearly and unmistakably!

She stared for what felt like an entire incense stick’s time. Wu Liniang’s fair face was now so red it seemed about to drip blood. She quickly turned away, gritting her teeth, and said, “I asked you to change your outer robe—did you have to strip completely?”

Liu Liwa tossed aside his underpants and chuckled, “No choice—personal habit. When putting on new clothes, I have to change into clean underpants too.”

“Those underpants are mine…”

“It’s fine, I don’t mind!”

“Get out of here…”