"Miss Chu, let me tell you, this courtyard is huge. It dates back to the Guangxu era. Let me show you the bedroom—it's stunning."
Miss Qin led the way, hips swaying dramatically. Chu Qingning tried imitating her a couple of times but gave up—she couldn't replicate that innate sultriness. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the gardeners arranging azaleas into landscape art across the courtyard.
"Miss Qin, does this client like azaleas too?"
"They say it's his girlfriend who likes them, so the client asked for azaleas to be placed everywhere in the yard."
"Oh~ nice taste. I like azaleas too."
As they chatted, they arrived at the master bedroom in the back courtyard. The living room inside was styled in modern Chinese decor, and electricians were replacing all the lighting.
"This client's biggest expense was this bedroom. He specifically requested that it have an ultra-romantic Chinese vibe. He absolutely hated the lights, had all of them replaced. My uncle bought new ones from the lighting market based on the designs the company provided. And they're only going to be used for one night! Tsk, tsk—such outrageous extravagance."
Chu Qingning glanced around and sighed. "All this romance just to make a girl fall for him completely... If he doesn't marry her in the end, ha—she's going to chop him to death with a firewood knife!"
"Exactly! Come on, there's more—" Miss Qin grabbed her and led her into a bedroom behind bead curtains. "The client said he doesn't like his girlfriend using things others have used before, so everything—the bedding, mattress, curtains, slippers, towels—all brand new, all from big-name brands. Just this mattress alone—personally selected by the client—180,000 yuan."
"180,000?" Chu Qingning was shocked. "All for just one night? Is that necessary?"
"Hehehe~ The guy's loaded. He just wants the best experience possible. I'm guessing... hehe~ the girl sleeping on this mattress tomorrow night is probably a virgin. Only rich second-gens spend that much."
"Everything's well prepared, but... Miss Qin, why didn't you prepare any 'protection'?"
"The rich kid said he didn't need any. It's his girlfriend's first time. Using that would be a waste. Hehehe~"
"Oh wow~ these rich guys really know how to play."
"We commoners don't need to understand rich people's lives. Anyway, Miss Chu, you're the expert here. We're counting on you to guide the Chinese-style decorations for this site."
"No problem. I'll make sure the rich guy and his girlfriend are satisfied."
"I believe in you. Okay, here's the final render. The site's all yours. Don't worry about payment—5,000 yuan. If the client's happy, there'll be a bonus. I'm off to get more supplies, see you later."
Chu Qingning, the hanfu girl, loved Chinese aesthetics. What started as a hobby eventually grew into real knowledge. Whenever her mother's friends had related needs, they would ask for her help. Word spread in the community, and she thought, Why not turn my passion into income? So during school breaks, she'd take on projects to earn some money for herself.
A wave of heat swept through the courtyard, sending azalea petals flying and stirring her light cyan hanfu skirt. It rustled her long hair. As she stared at the renderings, she thought: Whose taste is this? It's so similar to mine.
The midsummer heat hit 40°C outside. It was brutal.
Workers bustled in and out, rushing to meet deadlines. They were nearly overhauling the entire interior of the guesthouse—for just one night, for a few drops of blood.
Chu Qingning didn't understand the world of the wealthy. Tying her apron and rolling up her sleeves, she picked up the renderings and got to work.
"Master Liu, you've got this bonsai pine facing directly at the entrance. That's bad feng shui. Move it more to the right, rotate it slightly so the curve of the branches faces this way... a little more."
"Aiya, Miss Chu, good enough is fine. Who cares about feng shui? The client won't notice. Even if he's not happy, he won't blame one tree."
"No!"
"Okay, okay—whatever you say."
"Hey hey hey~ Master Wang, I told you to buy oil-paper umbrellas. Why did you bring regular umbrellas?"
"They're close enough."
"There it is again, 'close enough'! I swear—look, I'm hanging the oil-paper umbrellas in the backyard. That way, when we shine lights on them at night, the whole yard will have that Chinese vibe. Got it? Go back and buy the right kind."
"Alright, alright, I'll go."
Doo-doo-doo~
Phone call.
"Hello? Miss Qin, why aren't you back yet? Hurry! Why're you calling—huh? What kind of client wants a red dudou for his girlfriend? Fine, I've got a mandarin-duck dudou at home. I'll bring it tomorrow. But I'm charging extra!"
Chu Qingning's bangs were stuck to her sweaty forehead as she sat on a rock, panting. She was giving it her all to earn money and serve her client well.
"What? One dudou isn't enough? He wants her to try on multiple ones for him? What kind of perv—Ugh, and his girlfriend just goes along with everything? I can't even—Fine, fine, hanging up now. Get back here quickly."
She ended the call.
"Master Gou, what are you doing now? I told you to find someone who can write calligraphy for Shanglin Fu, and you went to the advertising company and printed out a regular font version?"
"It's close enough."
"…"
Chu Qingning held her forehead and took two steps back, on the verge of exploding. The phrase she heard most today was: close enough.
"Forget it, just go buy a calligraphy brush and ink. I'll write Shanglin Fu myself. This counts as an add-on—make sure to tell Miss Qin to charge extra."
When words failed, she did it herself.
After a while, Miss Qin returned and ran into Zhao Hong at the front of the guesthouse. The two walked in together, chatting.
Zhao Hong: "Yo~ this courtyard looks nice. The decorations really have an artistic touch. Your uncle did a solid job."
Miss Qin: "Of course! But mainly, we hired an expert who really knows Chinese style. She's the one guiding all of this."
Zhao Hong: "Really? Where is she?"
Miss Qin: "Master Gao, where's Miss Chu?"
Master Gao: "In the living room."
"Come on, I'll introduce you to the master herself."
Before even entering the room, from across the courtyard they saw a captivating scene.
Inside the elegantly furnished room, sheer white curtains had just been hung, obscuring the interior in a soft veil. Only when the breeze stirred could one glimpse the scene inside—a girl in flowing pale blue hanfu, standing on the wooden floor, dipping her brush in ink and writing flowing cursive calligraphy on the curtains.
Miss Qin stepped into the doorway and introduced Zhao Hong.
"'Long brows and slender eyes, a sidelong glance beguiles the soul...' Miss Chu, are you writing Shanglin Fu?"
Pa!
Chu Qingning smacked her hand away.
"The ink's still wet. Don't touch."
She dipped the brush again and walked to another curtain hanging from the beam to continue writing.
"Oh right—this is an add-on too. Make sure I get paid for it."
"Looks good. Boss Zhao, what do you think?"
Zhao Hong nodded. "Very nice. A true talent. Yes, we'll pay more for this."
Miss Qin chuckled. "They say writing Shanglin Fu with feeling can summon your beloved. Maybe yours will show up, Miss Chu~"
She shouldn't have said that.
At the mention of it, Chu Qingning's expression dimmed slightly.
Càncàn probably doesn't like me anymore.
He hasn't even come looking for me.
After touring the site, Zhao Hong asked, "Very impressive, Miss Chu. Can it be finished by tomorrow night?"
Chu Qingning, still writing Shanglin Fu, replied, "Nope."
"What? No?"
"24 hours, with this much to do—renovating an entire courtyard? Not possible. It's hot, the workers are slow, and the client has such high standards. Unless nobody sleeps tonight and everyone works straight through."
"That's not going to work. It must be done on time. Miss Qin, Miss Chu—how about hiring more workers and doing night shifts?"
Miss Qin took the opportunity. "Sure, but it'll cost extra. And your quote is missing a lot of items. Also, look at the workers—they're exhausted. Even Miss Chu is about to get heatstroke. What you're paying isn't enough."
"Hold on." Zhao Hong stepped outside to call the client.
Chu Qingning: "Miss Qin, I'm not working overtime. I clock out at six sharp. Anything after that isn't my problem."
Miss Qin: "Let's hear what Zhao Hong says first. Don't worry, you'll be compensated."
Meanwhile...
Zzzzz~
Aaaaah~
Lin Càn was at Happy Valley Water Park, wearing just a pair of swim trunks and holding a water gun, gleefully spraying water at several bikini-clad beauties.
It didn't take long for the handsome guy to bond with the pretty girls—especially since he wasn't stingy. Anything they wanted to eat or play inside the park, he covered it, as long as they kept playing with him.
"Girls, let's get him together!"
A group of bikini girls picked up water guns and surrounded Lin Càn.
Lin Càn spun in circles, spraying wildly with his water gun.
"Aaaah~ you're so bad, don't spray my chest!"
Doo-doo-doo—
His phone rang. It was Zhao Hong. His waterproof phone case hung from his wrist.
On the other end, Zhao Hong, in business attire, was at the construction site under the scorching sun. Her white blouse was drenched in sweat. From the back, her black lace lingerie was clearly visible. That's how hot it was.
She answered the call.
She didn't just hear Lin Càn's voice—there were girls laughing and saying things like, "You're so naughty," "Let's get him," "Don't spray my face~"
Zhao Hong: !!!
She instantly figured out what Lin Càn was doing.
This morning, it was all "my beloved girlfriend." By the afternoon, he was "playing poker" with a bunch of girls?
Hmph. Men.
"Hello, Manager Zhao? What's up?"
Lin Càn answered while fending off a horde of bikini girls with his water gun.
"Mr. Lin, the heat is unbearable. The workers are exhausted. Materials are delayed, and I'm worried we won't finish everything by tomorrow night. Can we have one more day?"
"Not my problem. I go by the contract. You figure it out. I expect it done by tomorrow night."
"Alright then."
"Anything else?"
"Well, since it's Chinese-themed, should I get a few pretty college girls to dress as handmaidens and serve you and your girlfriend tomorrow night?"
"We must uphold positive values!'"
Click—he hung up.
Lin Càn laughed. "Trying to soak me, huh? Watch me soak you! Don't run~"
He picked up a Gatling-style water gun and blasted away at the fleeing girls.
"Aaah~ you're so bad!"