Chapter 10 The Sorrows of Young Werther (Additional Chapter 78 for Golden Sprout @ Top Fan)_4

There exists a quality that is as pretty as peaches in early spring, as elegant as chrysanthemums in late autumn; one that sips the dew from magnolia flowers at dawn and dines on the fallen petals of autumn chrysanthemums at dusk.

"Dream of the Red Chamber" embedded within "Encountering Sorrow."

Nie Guangyi is allergic to the "classical."

Perhaps because he was forced to read too much of it as a child.

Or it could be that the temperament of Meng Xin Zhi had unlocked boundless potential within him.

Honestly, Nie Guangyi had only ever come across phrases like "skin as creamy as lard" before.

And every time he read it, he would scoff several times over.

Because he had never encountered such a presence in real life.

Or rather, no one had ever given him such a sensation.

Having lived in Europe for many years, he had seen countless white people.

Nie Guangyi didn't find pale skin to be attractive at all.

Especially those brimming with confidence despite their freckled faces.

Until this moment.

The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds, casting its rays on the surface of Aurora's Intention and lighting up an entire building that was already transparent.

Yet, it still couldn't conceal the snow-like luster emanating from Meng Xin Zhi's skin.

Having just finished dancing, beneath the snowy white skin, a faint hint of youthful pink was still visible.

This kind of white was completely different from the white skin of white people.

Nie Guangyi's already superior observational skills were heightened to their utmost at this time.

Beyond temperament and skin, Meng Xin Zhi's waist was something Nie Guangyi couldn't ignore either.

Without even thinking, the phrase "slender enough to be encompassed with a single hand" popped into his mind.

All of a sudden, Nie Guangyi understood a whole host of idioms.

Beautiful women, Guangyi had seen plenty.

But he had never seen one with such an aura.

In this world, there are always some people.

One doesn't need to ask what they do.

Just by standing there quietly, they exude a distinct temperament that stands out from the rest.

Even if the young girl hadn't mentioned it earlier,

Nie Guangyi could tell at first glance that her sister must be a skilled dancer.

As Zong Yi walked in, Xuan Shi and Nie Guangyi were still immersed in the astonishment Meng Xin Zhi's unique aura had brought them.

Xuan Shi was the first to snap out of it, exclaiming to Zong Yi who had already reached their side, "Wow, your sister's aura is just amazing!"

Nie Guangyi, equally overwhelmed, suppressed the similar exclamation that almost escaped his lips and coolly said to Xuan Shi, "You, a man with a girlfriend, might want to wipe that drool off your face."

Xuan Shi was a little embarrassed.

He had indeed been a bit too obvious, especially having Nie Guangyi point it out in front of Cheng Nuo.

On the contrary, it was Cheng Nuo who helped defuse the awkwardness, "Everyone has a love for beauty, I like that Ashi has eyes for appreciating beauty. Don't you think Xiaoyi's sister is beautiful?"

Nie Guangyi certainly thought so too.

But what he said was an entirely different matter, "Aren't all you women more or less the same? What's this about being beautiful or not?"

After saying that, he glanced at Meng Xin Zhi again.

Meng Xin Zhi stood at the door of the workshop, unable to hear what the people inside were saying.

She checked and saw that with Cheng Nuo there, Zong Yi wouldn't have any problems on her side, so she waved at Zong Yi, indicating she was going to go up first.

This waving gesture added another idiom to Nie Guangyi's literal interpretation — "hands as soft as tender shoots."

Even a simple wave was different when Meng Xin Zhi did it.

Seeing Meng Xin Zhi was about to leave, neither Xuan Shi nor Cheng Nuo made any move to stop her.

Nie Guangyi, facing the doorway, blurted out, "Miss, do you have an erhu?"

Meng Xin Zhi paused, her delicate hand pointing to herself, silently responding with a look that asked, "Are you talking to me?"

Miss.

Erhu.

Such a classical address, such an ancient instrument.

Nie Guangyi couldn't believe these words had come from his own mouth.

But since he had spoken them, and in front of so many people no less,

denying them now would be too late.

Nie Guangyi gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes, do you have an erhu?"

The mention of the erhu was irrevocable, with no suitable replacement.

To call it a huqin, xiqin, or jiqin would make it sound even more classical.

But the term "miss" could still be retracted in time.

Nie Guangyi didn't get a response from Meng Xin Zhi.

Because Zong Yi interposed between him and Meng Xin Zhi's line of sight.

Nie Guangyi, who was sitting, had a height well over 185 centimeters, yet he was solidly blocked from seeing by Zong Yi, who wasn't even one and a half meters tall.

Nie Guangyi tilted his head to the side, subconsciously trying to stand up.

Zong Yi shifted her position, still blocking his view, "You can just ask me if you want to know about the erhu."