Chapter 76: An Unexpected Person

“This is so troublesome, how did it get stuck again?”

On the stone-paved path in the mountain forest, Yu Qing bent down in frustration and pulled her heel out from a crack between the stones.

If Yu Qing once couldn’t quite understand her own Sister’s love-hate feelings towards high heels, now, she could truly relate.

Though it wasn’t her first time wearing them, she had always chosen chunky or low heels before, which at worst just made her toes ache a bit.

But now, with a slender eight-centimeter stiletto, both her toes and ankles were suffering a double torment.

Not to mention she was on a rock garden, where the decorative stone path was far less even than a smooth concrete road.

The stones were uneven and full of gaps, and one careless step could get a heel stuck in a crack—every time it took a great effort to pull it free.

Of course, Yu Qing could have changed back into the flat shoes she wore earlier.

But the problem lay with herself—or more precisely, with this transformation into Wen Wan.

Deep in Yu Qing’s heart, there had always been a pursuit of beauty, and after transforming, that pursuit shifted towards feminine beauty.

When she first transformed into Mei Xue, Yu Qing hadn’t really noticed it.

But after the Black Pearl fully fused with her body, she felt as if she had suddenly awakened.

Yu Qing had speculated about Mei Xue’s personality before, and combined with her own feelings, she roughly categorized it as a pursuit of pleasure and power.

In the state of Mei Xue’s transformation, Yu Qing also unconsciously grew indifferent to things around her because of that desire, and her interactions became naturally more assertive, as if she wanted to control everything.

This change only intensified during her time learning as Mei Xue.

The rapid surge in power didn’t make Yu Qing steadier—instead, it made her arrogant, and her ambition swelled as well.

Now that Mei Xue’s Black Pearl was part of her, it was impossible to say there was no influence left.

At most, she wasn’t as conceited as before, but there remained a mysterious confidence that she was the final winner.

From a timid, gloomy shut-in, she’d turned into a scheming petty villain.

Back to the present.

After transforming into Wen Wan, that pursuit of beauty shifted to a pursuit of elegance.

For Wen Wan, an elegant lady would never pair a qipao with flat shoes—a combination lacking all sense of beauty and even somewhat bizarre.

If Mei Xue hadn’t set the meeting place in a Pavilion on this rock garden, she would never have subjected herself to such discomfort.

Along the way, Yu Qing had attracted no end of attention—a graceful, gentle Jiangnan Beauty in a qipao and high heels.

Every expression and smile drew the eyes of passersby, making them stop in their tracks and gaze at her in awe.

Yu Qing enjoyed the admiring stares, walking at an unhurried pace as she headed deeper toward the Pavilion.

Passing through the woods, she entered a sizable Bamboo Grove, where the agreed-upon Pavilion sat.

Within the tranquil bamboo, the Pavilion’s eaves hung with old Lanterns, casting a warm, yellowish glow.

Yu Qing paused outside the Bamboo Grove.

It was nearing evening, and most students who had been studying inside had already left.

Beautiful as they were, the Lanterns couldn’t provide enough light for study after sunset.

The Pavilion itself was quiet; most students had gathered by the open pool, sitting on marble with their books beneath them as cushions, chatting and laughing.

So, there was only one person in the Pavilion.

Yu Qing could see her back at a glance.

Not Mei Xue?

Yu Qing was slightly surprised, but it was within the range of expectation.

She’d considered this possibility before coming.

If it wasn’t Mei Xue, then who?

Someone Mei Xue found to help?

Yu Qing stood still, hiding behind a tree thick enough for a person to embrace, and quietly observed.

The figure in the Pavilion looked increasingly familiar.

The woman sat with her back to Yu Qing, her posture elegant, wearing a light blue qipao and a green shawl.

She gazed at the shadows outside the Pavilion, her profile calm and gentle.

If not Cheng Qinghuan, then who?

How could it be her?

Did Mei Xue arrange to meet Cheng Qinghuan?

Or did Cheng Qinghuan just happen to be here?

After all, there was still some time before Mei Xue’s agreed meeting time.

Yu Qing had arrived half an hour early just to observe from afar and escape immediately if anything went wrong.

Becoming Wen Wan was further insurance against Mei Xue discovering her.

Questions rose in Yu Qing’s mind, and she instinctively took a step back.

With that step, she moved out from behind the tree.

Just as she hesitated over whether to quietly retreat, Cheng Qinghuan seemed to sense something and turned her head toward Yu Qing.

When she saw the gentle figure standing outside the Pavilion in the Lantern light, her face instantly lit up with undisguised delight and affection.

“Teacher Wen?!”

Cheng Qinghuan immediately stood up and hurried over, her voice full of surprise and joy.

“It really is you! Wonderful, I thought I was mistaken!”

This scene…

So familiar.

Yu Qing internally grumbled, but on her face, she swiftly mimicked the gentle and comfortable smile of Wen Wan from her memories, adding a hint of surprise.

She smiled, saying, “Little Qinghuan, it really is you. I watched for a while outside. You’ve changed so much in a few years.”

Memories of Wen Wan quickly surged in her mind. Though she wasn’t as sharp as Mei Xue after transforming, she could still handle simple analysis.

“A girl changes eighteen times as she grows, after all. But Teacher, you’re still as beautiful as ever after all these years. Your skin’s still so smooth—unlike me, I’ve even got a few white hairs now.”

Meeting her childhood teacher again, Cheng Qinghuan’s joy was evident.

She affectionately took Yu Qing’s arm, pulling her into the Pavilion, and they sat side by side.

“I came to meet a friend and was waiting here. I didn’t expect to see you! It’s been so long! And you came back without telling me!”

Cheng Qinghuan looked Yu Qing up and down, her eyes filled with genuine nostalgia.

With her childhood teacher suddenly by her side, she felt as if she’d returned to those years.

“You’re still so elegant—just the same as before.”

A friend, huh?

So Mei Xue did arrange this meeting.

But…

Why arrange for me to meet Cheng Qinghuan?

Yu Qing kept her smile, but her mind raced.

Thinking carefully, she realized that apart from knowing Cheng Qinghuan was Li Ming’s girlfriend, she knew nothing else.

“Yes, it has been a long time.”

Yu Qing followed along, sitting on the stone bench and unobtrusively putting some distance between them, her posture elegant and natural, not making it awkward.

“From your look, has something been troubling you lately?”

“A bit, but thanks to you, I’ve managed to get through it peacefully.”

Cheng Qinghuan gave a bitter smile but quickly regained her composure, her sharp gaze returning as she naturally shifted the topic.

“Speaking of which, if it wasn’t for your careful guidance back then, I don’t know how many embarrassing mistakes I’d have made when I first entered the social scene.”

Her tone carried clear gratitude, as well as a trace of fond remembrance.

“What does it have to do with me? You’re clever on your own.”

Yu Qing gently shook her head, continuing to imitate Wen Wan’s warm, encouraging manner. But inside, she couldn’t help but tense at Cheng Qinghuan’s words.

If she couldn’t slip away, she might have to endure a barrage of memories from Cheng Qinghuan. Once or twice was fine, but too many times would make it hard to keep up the act.

If she truly couldn’t escape, then she would have to guide Cheng Qinghuan into another topic—or perhaps, create a new one herself.