"Emmm, the writing is good, but the couplet itself… uh, it's a bit underwhelming."
If you ignored the overall meaning of the couplet, Fu Lin's handwriting did indeed have the air of a master. But the problem was the content of the couplet was utterly unserious,
"Upper line, Once the new year comes, I know nothing."
"Lower line, Won't get up in the morning, won't sleep at night."
"Horizontal inscription, Ah yes, yes, yes."
Rita walked into the living room with a plate of fruit, glanced at the ink-still-wet couplet on the table, and covered her mouth as she laughed,
"Mr. Fu Lin, you truly have a way with words."
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Fu Lin rolled up the couplets, hugged them in his arms, picked up a roll of tape, and walked out the door. Then he suddenly turned back, looking at Rita, who was smiling sweetly, and said,
"Why do I feel like you're mocking me?"
"I'm just speaking from the heart, sincerely praising you." Hearing Rita's explanation, Fu Lin gave her a doubtful glance but believed her and continued walking out.
Rita's lips curled into a triumphant smile before her expression turned cold as she looked at Bianca, who was shrinking into the sofa, trying to reduce her presence. With a helpless sigh, she confiscated all the snacks in Bianca's arms. Then, she picked up a skewer, pierced a glossy purple grape, and fed it to Bianca.
"Lady Bianca, your body fat has increased slightly recently. Please refrain from eating these puffed snacks."
"Rita, have mercy~ Let me finish this last bag! Who knows how long it will be until I see Fu Lin again?" Bianca clung to Rita's arm, her clear eyes brimming with plea, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness.
Rita averted her gaze and said, "Hmm… and what does eating chips have to do with Fu Lin?"
"Because these all belong to Fu Lin! I can only eat them when he's around!" Bianca puffed out her chest proudly, her face full of confidence.
"So I should be thanking Mr. Fu Lin then?" Rita narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone laced with coldness, clearly making a mental note of Fu Lin's 'kindness.'
However, Bianca didn't pick up on it and thought Rita was genuinely going to thank Fu Lin. She leaned forward, reaching out her slender arm to grab the snacks on the table.
"Lady Bianca! …This is the last time." Rita called out sternly, but looking at Bianca acting like a little glutton, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by her cuteness. Whatever she originally intended to say was forgotten, and her mind went blank.
"Hehe." Bianca hugged the snacks in her arms and giggled foolishly.
Just as Fu Lin finished pasting the couplets and walked back in, he happened to witness this scene. He scratched his head in frustration, feeling like he needed to be more cautious,
"Hiss… Bianca is evolving into a dumb goose so soon?"
"Dumb goose? Are you craving braised goose in an iron pot?"
Bianca, still holding her snacks, walked over to Fu Lin. Hearing him mention a goose, her mind immediately conjured up images of the delicious dish she had eaten before.
Her eyes sparkled as if she saw a lavish feast before her, and drool unconsciously dripped from her mouth.
Bianca quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but she couldn't hide her growing appetite. She gazed at Fu Lin expectantly.
"…Fine, I'll go buy one now." Fu Lin twitched the corner of his mouth and turned around to leave the house again.
Some time later, he returned with a plump, loudly honking white goose in his arms, leaving Bianca and the others dumbfounded.
"…Alive?"
"Of course. If we're eating, we might as well have it fresh."
Bianca reached out a finger to poke it, and just as she did, Fu Lin let go. The goose immediately puffed out its chest, stretched its neck, and flapped its wings, charging at Bianca aggressively.
Bianca quickly dodged to the side, covering her head as she ran around the living room, with the furious goose chasing after her relentlessly.
"Truly a dumb goose." Watching the amusing scene unfold before him, Fu Lin smirked mischievously and sighed, though it was unclear which goose he was referring to.
Rita turned to look at Fu Lin, crossing her arms and smiling meaningfully. "Mr. Fu Lin, is there a hidden meaning in your words?"
Fu Lin laughed awkwardly. "Hahaha… How could that be? Are there any other geese here?"
"I suppose I misunderstood then." Rita lowered her arms and walked toward Bianca, decisively grabbing the white goose by its slender neck.
"Quack?" Facing the goose's bewildered little eyes, Rita smiled slightly, her voice sultry yet tinged with an eerie chill,
"The ingredients are fighting back~" With that, she carried the fresh 'ingredient' outside. At some point, a sharp knife had appeared in her other hand.
Soon, the goose's pitiful cries echoed outside, growing weaker and weaker until they fell silent.
A life had been sacrificed to satisfy others' hunger—what a noble sacrifice. Amen.
Meanwhile, Bianca, who had narrowly escaped disaster, supported herself on her knees, gazing weakly at the snacks scattered on the floor, her eyes filled with resentment and fury.
Amid the spilled snacks, Bianca made a vow to herself, No matter what it takes, she must eat more of that goose.
Fu Lin broke the tense atmosphere by picking up a fallen chip and tossing it into his mouth. He then teased, "…If you wanna eat, just say so. Why are you acting like your ancestors or something?"