Chapter 124: The Little Rascal’s Prank
Chapter 124: The Little Rascal’s Prank
After a night of sleep, all of Li Zian’s injuries had healed. There wasn’t a single spot on his body that felt pain. While washing up, he deliberately looked in the mirror for several minutes at his face. His face had been badly beaten the night before, with several swollen areas, but now it wasn’t swollen at all and had no scars left.
He breathed a long sigh of relief. It was good that his face wasn’t damaged.
Heaven had blessed him with a handsome face, and he had to cherish it.
He had just entered the kitchen and hadn’t started working when Tang Qing came in.
Li Zian greeted with a smile, “Good morning, Xiao Tang.”
A faint smile also appeared on Tang Qing’s face. “Good morning, Brother Zian. I’m here to help. What vegetables need washing?”
Li Zian said with a smile, “Girls should get their beauty sleep. It’s good for the skin. Why don’t you go back for a little more sleep?”
“I’m not that delicate. Back in high school, I used to make breakfast for my whole family.” Tang Qing glanced at the cucumbers in the sink, walked over directly, and started washing them, moving quickly and skillfully.
Li Zian didn’t try to persuade her to go back for beauty sleep anymore and began to beat eggs to make omelets.
“Brother Zian, last night my mom called me. She said she was already on the high-speed train back to Gui Region,” Tang Qing said.
“That’s for the best.”
Tang Qing was silent for a moment before speaking. “Brother Zian, am I very useless?”
“Why do you say that?”
“I already told her I would cut ties with her, but when she called, I still answered and even told her to be careful on the road. I…” It seemed she was angry at her own uselessness, as she couldn’t continue.
Li Zian said gently, “After all, she is your mother. You can’t truly sever ties with her; you can’t break the blood tie. But you must always remember that your life is your own, not your parents’. You have to make your own decisions, and from now on, you should live for yourself.”
Tang Qing nodded, her mood improving a little.
Li Zian actually disliked Tian Cuihua a lot, but from his position, he couldn’t advise the mother and daughter not to reconcile—that wouldn’t be right. Right and wrong, and her future life, were matters for Tang Qing herself to decide. At most, he could offer some comforting words.
“By the way, Brother Zian, you said I could work part-time in your Studio. What will my job be?” Tang Qing changed the subject.
Li Zian thought for a moment. “You said your major was… Precision…”
“Precision Instrument and Mechanical Manufacturing.”
“Yes, that’s what I meant to say. So, can you make instruments and machines?” Li Zian asked.
“That depends on what kind of instruments and machines. If it’s something complicated, I might not be able to, because some things require specialized tools and workbenches, plus electronic components and parts, but I might be able to make simpler things. What do you want me to make?”
Li Zian said, “I want a Silver Needle with a groove in the middle. Can you make that?”
Tang Qing thought for a moment. “Does it have to be silver?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Silver has low hardness. If you carve a groove into such a thin silver needle, it would break easily if you just poke with it lightly.”
Li Zian said, “Steel would work too. Anyway, I’m not using it to poke acupuncture points; it’s for surgery.”
“Well then, I’ll find some materials and try.”
“Do you need to buy materials and tools or anything? I’ll cover the cost.” Li Zian was being thoughtful.
Tang Qing smiled. “No need. My university teacher is very nice; I can go to the school to work. Also, I have some classmates who work in precision instruments and mechanical manufacturing companies. I can ask them for help. I don’t need to buy any materials or equipment.”
However, the scene of his fight with Huang Bo last night appeared in Li Zian’s mind. Thinking about it now still made him nervous and scared. An idea suddenly popped into his head: “Xiao Tang, I have an idea. Don’t laugh when I tell you.”
Before he even said it, Tang Qing laughed. “What idea?”
Li Zian said, “Have you seen 007? Um, and Batman, Kingsman, and stuff like that.”
“Yes, I’ve seen them. They’re all pretty old movies.” Tang Qing looked at Li Zian curiously, as if trying to guess how his so-called idea related to those movies.
Li Zian said, “So, whatever equipment and materials you need, I’ll buy them for you. Could you set up a props room and make some powerful props?”
Tang Qing said in surprise, “Brother Zian, do you want me to make you a gun or a Batmobile? I can’t make those.”
Li Zian smiled. “I’m not asking you to make guns. We don’t touch anything illegal. I just want you to set up a props room and make some props within your capability. For example, a Toolbox that can block bullets, a vest that can’t be pierced by a knife, and things like throwing darts, Wrist Darts, and so on.”
Tang Qing blinked her big eyes, looking completely confused. “Brother Zian, what do you need these things for?”
Li Zian said, “When you’re in this world, you can’t avoid getting hurt. People in our line of work easily attract jealousy, so it’s good to be prepared.”
Tang Qing said, “Okay, I’ll try. I’ll first think about what equipment, tools, and materials to buy. But there’s another problem to solve when setting up a props room: where to put all the equipment, tools, and materials once we buy them?”
Li Zian thought for a moment and said, “Later, I’ll ask the property management if there’s a basement or an empty room we can rent. The props room should be as close as possible so you don’t waste time on the road. You have to teach Xiaomei and also make props; if it’s too far, it wouldn’t be good.”
“Well, I’ll find some time today to make a plan for you to look at.”
She actually thought Li Zian’s idea was ridiculous, even playful, but Li Zian was paying her fifty thousand a month. Having something to do would help her feel at ease; otherwise, she’d just be taking the money without working.
And so, while making breakfast, the plan for the “Armament Master” was finalized.
Breakfast was ready, and Yu Meilin came downstairs. She was in an OL uniform, with flesh-colored stockings and black slippers—sexy, cold, and gorgeous, carrying the aloof aura of a female President as soon as she appeared.
Conquering such a woman was the dream of many men. Last night, Li Zian had a chance to conquer her, but he didn’t cherish it and voluntarily gave up.
If he had stayed in Yu Meilin’s room last night, she would have offered him a peach, and he would have returned her a beautiful gift. Husband and wife, intimate and close, falling asleep together and waking up together—they’d probably still be cuddling in bed, not wanting to get up.
But that was just a hypothesis. After all that happened over the past four years, the kind of life he had lived—how could it be so easily turned over?
Yu Meilin walked gracefully over, smiling. “Husband, was it you who carried me upstairs last night?”
Did she not remember anything?
Li Zian was puzzled inside, but on the surface, he still smiled in response. “Yes, you were drunk. I carried you up.”
Yu Meilin suddenly leaned close to Li Zian’s ear and whispered, “You really are a gentleman, aren’t you? Your wife was drunk, you put her on the bed, but didn’t even take off her clothes.”
Li Zian: “…”
He remembered clearly: last night when she was drinking with him, she was wearing a cotton nightgown and didn’t even have on her oversized connected mask. That was what she wore to sleep anyway—what was there to take off?
Although Yu Meilin’s voice was low, Tang Qing was standing right by the dining table and heard it too. She said awkwardly, “I’ll go call Xiaomei to get up for breakfast.”
“I’m up! I’m not a lazy bug.” Li Xiaomei came bouncing down the stairs.
Lin Shengnan followed behind her, nagging, “Walk slower. Your legs are so short and you’re running so fast. Be careful not to fall.”
But Li Xiaomei didn’t even pay attention to Lin Shengnan. Her little short legs churned, and she ran straight toward Li Zian. “Daddy, pick me up!”
Li Zian picked up his Little Cotton-padded Jacket and kissed her again and again.
Li Xiaomei giggled nonstop.
A smile appeared on Yu Meilin’s face, but a hint of bitterness hid at the corner of her mouth.
After finishing a bowl of porridge, Yu Meilin said, “Zian, I want to invite a friend and Mu Chuntao to dinner. Will you come with me?”
Inviting Mu Chuntao to dinner out of the blue—what was the purpose? What was the reason?
These thoughts flashed through his mind, but Li Zian kept a smile on his face. “Sure, where are we meeting?”
Yu Meilin said, “What do you think about The Peninsula Hotel?”
As soon as Li Zian heard “The Peninsula Hotel,” he felt a bit nervous inside and immediately followed up, “Last time, when Mr. Wen invited me to Peace Hotel, it was nice. For meals, a proper hotel is better.”
“Okay, as you wish. Let’s set it at Peace Hotel. I’ll call my friend. You can tell Chuntao, since you two are familiar anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll go tell her in a bit,” Li Zian said, starting again to ponder the word “familiar” that Yu Meilin had used.
He actually really wanted to ask who that friend was, but felt it wasn’t appropriate. The more he said, the more flaws might show. Anyway, he would meet them at dinner tonight, so why say more now?
“Then I’m off to work.” Yu Meilin leaned over again and kissed Li Xiaomei on the cheek. “Be good, Yaoyao. Study hard.”
“Mhm!” Li Xiaomei nodded, then suddenly remembered something. “Mommy, you should kiss Daddy too. I’ve never seen you kiss Daddy.”
“You…” A strange expression immediately appeared on Yu Meilin’s face, and she glanced at Li Zian.
Normally, if Li Xiaomei said something like this, Yu Meilin would definitely scold her, but this time she didn’t scold Li Xiaomei.
Li Zian was also very embarrassed. He pretended to put on a stern face. “Xiaomei, you’re only a three-year-old child. Where did you learn this from?”
Li Xiaomei pouted. “Crayon Shin-chan’s daddy kisses Shin-chan’s mommy, and they sleep in the same room. But my mommy and daddy sleep in two different rooms, and no one kisses anyone. Hmph!”
This was a soul-searching question from his Little Cotton-padded Jacket.
Li Zian was not only embarrassed but also felt guilty inside. He stood there frozen, not knowing how to explain to Li Xiaomei.
Just then, Li Xiaomei, sitting between the couple, raised her little hands—one wrapped around Li Zian’s neck, the other around Yu Meilin’s neck—and insisted on pushing the two adults’ heads together.
Both Yu Meilin’s and Li Zian’s necks stiffened.
Lin Shengnan didn’t even speak up to stop it; instead, she watched with interest.
Li Zian started to suspect—could it have been the Old Matriarch who taught her this?
Tang Qing turned her face away awkwardly.
“Yayayaya!” From Li Xiaomei’s little mouth, still missing teeth, came a fierce “baby predator” roar. Her little hands pushed Li Zian’s and Yu Meilin’s heads toward her.
Yu Meilin’s neck moved, slowly moving toward Li Xiaomei’s head, and she closed her eyes.
Li Zian’s neck was still stiff, but seeing Li Xiaomei’s little face turning red from the effort, his heart softened. His neck softened too, and his head moved closer to the middle, following Li Xiaomei’s little hands.
The two adults’ lips touched.
Li Zian felt something soft, like an electric shock.
Yu Meilin’s face turned red instantly, and she quickly pulled back.
Li Zian also pulled back somewhat flustered.
“Haha!” Li Xiaomei laughed joyfully.
Li Zian thought to himself, “You little rascal, just wait for your dad’s punishment!”
“I… I’m going to the company.” Yu Meilin stood up, not daring to look at Li Zian, and hurriedly left.
“Uh, be careful on the road,” Li Zian called out.
“Mhm,” Yu Meilin responded, changed into her High Heels, and went out.
Li Zian stared blankly at the closed door.
What should be done if things go on like this?