Chapter 49: There’s No Need To Teach At All, The Skills Are Natural
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Auntie Zhou went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Xi Mo turned her face, and she saw Ruan Yesheng staring at her intently.
Xi Mo: "..."
"No wonder you asked me what I liked to eat on the way." Ruan Yesheng seemed unusually shy, with her hands folded on her lap as she spoke gently, "Were you afraid I wouldn't be used to the dishes you usually have at home, so you deliberately arranged dishes that I like?"
Xi Mo: "..."
Why are you so shy all of a sudden?
Xi Mo could only say, "... You're overthinking. I just guessed that Aunt Zhou would ask like this and prepared an answer in advance."
"Is that so?" Ruan Yesheng suddenly abandoned her shyness, straightened her posture, and glanced at Xi Mo from the corner of her eye.
Xi Mo: "..."
Why are you so pretentious all of a sudden?
Xi Mo sat on the living room sofa, looking Ruan Yesheng up and down, feeling that this person was truly quite complicated.
In the past, she was clearly so sharp-tongued; couldn't have a few words with her without a retort. Sometimes, her words were gentle enough to melt people, often sexy and alluring, seemingly unaware of shame. Occasionally, she even managed to act shyly and innocently. It's unclear what she's really thinking. It's a mix of conflicting traits, yet somehow they harmoniously blend in her. Perhaps she's a master at acting, effortlessly handling various roles, inevitably splitting into many facets. The more time Xi Mo spent with her, the more curiosity arose in her mind, wondering which side of her was the real one.
Upon second thought, perhaps all these aspects added together make up the complete Ruan Yesheng.
She is colorful.
Ruan Yesheng noticed Xi Mo suddenly fell silent, and she saw Xi Mo continuously looking at her with a penetrating gaze, almost as if Xi Mo's scrutiny wanted to strip her bare, leaving no room to hide her feelings of guilt.
She has always been unable to withstand Xi Mo's direct gaze. Under Xi Mo's continued scrutiny, she wasn't sure if she could maintain self-control. After a pause, Ruan Yesheng laughed, "I've realized you're really a block of wood."
Xi Mo squinted at her, "What's wrong with me?"
"If an ordinary person says something like that to you, even if it's not what you're thinking, you should at least go with the flow and say something like 'I am indeed worried you might not be accustomed.' Why do you have to explain so seriously, not knowing how to say a few nice words to go along with it?"
Xi Mo was probably touched on a sensitive point and said in a subdued tone, "Sorry, I'm not good at coaxing people."
Ruan Yesheng thought this "block of wood" was surprisingly cute, feeling like setting off fireworks in her heart. However, afraid of not controlling the brilliance of the fireworks, and accidentally igniting this "block of wood," she had to feign restraint. Suppressing a laugh, she said, "It's okay if you don't know how to coax people; I can teach you."
"You can teach me, but why should I learn?" Xi Mo remained impassive.
Ruan Yesheng thought for a moment and said, "If you ever have someone you like in the future, you'll know how to coax them."
Xi Mo: "..."
...It's really impressive how far ahead you're thinking for me.
"Do you want to learn?" Ruan Yesheng urged with a smile.
"...No." Xi Mo stood up. "Come with me."
"Where to?"
"Dinner is still some time away. I'll show you around the house. You'll be staying here tonight; getting familiar with it will be beneficial for you."
Ruan Yesheng walked around with Xi Mo's company. The place was quite large, and after a while of wandering, they hadn't covered it all. In the yard, Ruan Yesheng noticed a fenced small house, judging by its size and design, it seemed to be a doghouse. However, since she entered the estate today, she hadn't seen any signs of any pets.
"Do you have a dog?" Ruan Yesheng asked.
Xi Mo explained, "No, it's Uncle Ding's dog. Sometimes when he stays here for a while, he brings his dog along. To make it convenient for care, our house has an extra doghouse, but it's not frequently used."
Ruan Yesheng nodded.
In the end, the two went upstairs, and Xi Mo opened a room on the second floor, saying, "This is my room; you'll sleep here tonight."
The room was a large suite, meticulously divided into different areas. Inside, there was even a study. The layout and style of the room seemed to align with Xi Mo's consistent preferences. Ruan Yesheng glanced around and sought Xi Mo's opinion, "Can I look around freely here? Is there anything I should be aware of? Just let me know."
This was the first time she came to Xi Mo's room.
A room is a particularly special space for a person, where daily life revolves around, inevitably carrying a distinct personal touch. Especially since outsiders rarely have the chance to enter, people tend to place their more important belongings in the room. The room naturally becomes a relatively safe and private entity, like a small shell enveloping within the outer world.
Ruan Yesheng was well aware of this principle, so she approached the inquiry with caution.
In their previous interactions, Xi Mo had long understood that Ruan Yesheng was someone who respected others' privacy greatly. When they initially swapped bodies, Xi Mo fell into a strong sense of distrust, unable to sleep soundly for nights. To ease her anxiety, she had to join the film crew together with Ruan Yesheng, ensuring her body remained within a visible and touchable range. Now that they were familiar with each other, Xi Mo knew those worries were entirely unnecessary.
Ruan Yesheng trusts her.
And she trusts Ruan Yesheng.
"You can freely look through and use anything in my room," Xi Mo said.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
While her words were understated, Ruan Yesheng felt a profound sense of trust within them. It's worth noting that Xi Mo has always been extremely cautious, even with people in the industry who seem familiar. She maintains a certain distance, making earning her trust a truly precious thing.
Ruan Yesheng felt pleased and sat in the chair beside the desk, looking up at Xi Mo. "Aren't you afraid that some things you don't want others to see might be seen by me?"
Xi Mo glanced at her and said, "If I don't want them to be seen, I'll lock them up. If it's locked, how could you see? I believe you wouldn't peek."
Ruan Yesheng, being sensitive, noticed a slight furrow in Xi Mo's brows when she spoke, and there seemed to be a hint of a different meaning in her gaze—something peculiar.
It appeared that Xi Mo became a bit restrained and somber, and Ruan Yesheng's keen intuition told her that now might not be the right time to continue discussing these matters with Xi Mo.
However, that sense of restraint was just a momentary thing. Soon, Xi Mo returned to her usual expression, and Ruan Yesheng naturally steered away from the topic. Standing up, she casually looked around and walked to the bookshelf, exclaiming, "You seem to really like leaf specimens, don't you?"
Several layers of handmade leaf specimens were neatly arranged on the bookshelf and carefully placed in frames. Judging by the color, they seemed to have some age.
"...Kind of," Xi Mo's face darkened, looking even more peculiar.
Ruan Yesheng was engrossed in looking at them and didn't notice the change in Xi Mo's expression. After a while, her attention was drawn to another layer of frames on the bookshelf, and she walked over.
Xi Mo also noticed, and quicker than her, she swiftly knocked over one of the frames.
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Xi Mo: "..."
"Didn't you say I can look at anything in the room as long as it's not locked?" Ruan Yesheng had already seen the contents of that frame clearly. She floated lightly, as if walking on clouds, and smiled.
Xi Mo saw her smile and knew she must have seen it clearly. It was too late to knock it over now. After a pause, she picked up the frame, also floating lightly, and said, "I thought it was in the wrong position just now and wanted to adjust it a bit. It accidentally fell over. It's not that I didn't want you to see."
"Is that so?" Ruan Yesheng looked at her own face in the frame, once slightly youthful, with a cheerful mood. She smiled, "It's really thoughtful of you to care so much about my photo. Thank you for adjusting it for me."
Xi Mo sneered, "Is it your photo? Count for yourself, how many people are there?"
She pointed to the frame.
In the photo, a group of young men and women gathered together, wearing costumes for a play, celebrating with a trophy raised high, freezing the moment of victory.
"Well, at least I'm in it. It can be considered my photo, or yours, or the photo of each person in it," Ruan Yesheng argued, recalling the drama competition held during the film academy's anniversary celebration. Although it was organized by the school, its significance was crucial. Many well-known directors and celebrities from the industry were in the audience, invited by the school.
If they performed well, there was a chance of catching the eye of those directors or receiving recognition from those influential seniors. For students with almost no substantial performing experience, this was undoubtedly an opportunity to showcase themselves, and the competition was intense.
At that time, Xi Mo played the female lead in the play, while Ruan Yesheng took on the role of the second female lead. In the end, their class won the first place. The classmates who participated gathered around the trophy for a group photo, and she also kept a copy, never expecting that Xi Mo would also keep one.
"Look at you back then. Everyone was laughing while holding the trophy, but you stood in the middle with a straight face, as if people owed you billions. I thought you wouldn't keep this photo," Ruan Yesheng patted Xi Mo's shoulder, saying, "Back then, everyone went to have barbecue to celebrate. I invited you several times, and it took a lot of effort to finally drag you along."
"Barbecue isn't good; it's too heaty."
"In the end, you still went."
"That's because you're too clingy."
"Don't you like me clinging to you?"
Xi Mo: "..."
Ruan Yesheng lowered her gaze, apologetically saying, "I was a bit persistent back then. If you found me annoying, it's understandable." She looked into Xi Mo's eyes, "But I only clung with you."
"...I didn't really find you annoying back then," Xi Mo observed her expression, considered for a moment, and whispered, "I just wasn't used to it."
“I'm sorry," Ruan Yesheng said, "Is it too late to apologize for the immaturity I had back then?"
Xi Mo said, "Why apologize? At that time, everyone was happy about winning the award and eager to go for barbecue. I rarely participated in class activities. If I didn't go to the barbecue celebration, they might hold it against me, thinking I was putting on airs. Dragging me there was another way of helping me."
Ruan Yesheng smiled, looking much more relaxed. "But you indeed don't like participating in those activities. It must have been tough for you."
"It was okay. It was quite lively at the time," Xi Mo glanced at the frame. "After all, it's a memory."
It was indeed lively.
Perhaps because she was used to being alone, her classmates didn't expect her to actually come. Once she arrived, she immediately became the center of attention. Some classmates even gathered the courage to invite her for a drink. She rarely played with classmates, and seeing their enthusiastic expressions, she suddenly didn't know how to respond.
Luckily, Ruan Yesheng was always by her side. Whenever someone offered a toast, Ruan Yesheng would either intercept it for her or sometimes drink it herself. As the night went on, Ruan Yesheng drank a bit and gently leaned on her shoulder.
The barbecue shop near the school was cramped and stuffy, with the air conditioning having limited effect. The noise of classmates—laughter, clinking glasses—had blended with the expanding aroma of barbecue sauces and the scent of beer. The scene where Ruan Yesheng sat beside her that day, not leaving her side, was still vivid. Ruan Yesheng got a bit drunk, leaning on her shoulder and laughing as they talked. However, it had been a long time, and Ruan Yesheng's words had become blurry.
"Why did you keep this photo?" Ruan Yesheng's question brought Xi Mo's thoughts back to the present.
"This is the first trophy I received related to acting, even though it's just a drama competition held by the school. Even though it doesn't solely belong to me; it belongs to everyone." Xi Mo's gaze rested quietly on Ruan Yesheng's face. "That day, I was happy."
"I was happy too," Ruan Yesheng said with a smile.
Auntie Zhou came from downstairs to knock on the door, calling them for dinner, and then they left the room together.
Xi Ji had already returned, seated at the dining table. Upon seeing him, both Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo felt a simultaneous sense of pressure.
"Dad," Ruan Yesheng greeted.
"Uncle Xi," Xi Mo also greeted quickly.
"Come over and have dinner," Xi Ji nodded.
The two of them walked over and, without planning, both sat upright.
Xi Ji looked at Xi Mo and said amicably, "Xiao Ruan, just consider this your own home, feel free."
Xi Mo, who had never received such kind words from Xi Ji as his daughter, was now, surprisingly, given special attention from her father as a guest. Feeling both pleasantly surprised and somewhat uncomfortable, she sat up straight and said, "Thank you, Uncle Xi."
Auntie Zhou came over with a smile to serve the dishes, glancing at Xi Mo. "I was wondering why Miss Ruan looked so familiar. Now I remember, she's one of Xi Mo's classmates. There's a group photo in Xi Mo's room, and Miss Ruan is in it. I often wipe and clean her room."
Xi Mo: "..."
"I'm Xi Mo's college classmate," Xi Mo said, unsure of what else to say. "We used to hang out a lot and talk about everything during our time in school."
Ruan Yesheng listened to her improvisation, finding it amusing but keeping a straight face.
"Classmates in college and colleagues in the drama group, no wonder you're such good friends," Auntie Zhou said with a smile. "You have a great bond."
"Yes, very good," Xi Mo replied awkwardly.
Finally getting through Auntie Zhou's questions, the dishes were served, and they could finally start eating.
Xi Ji sat alone at the head of the table, resembling a dignified Buddha. Both Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo dared not cast their gaze towards him.
Due to Xi Mo's strict upbringing, she developed a habit of eating in silence from a young age, adhering to proper dining etiquette. Even now, in this setting where Ruan Yesheng was dining with Xi Mo's family, the familiar environment and the influence of her father's strict upbringing made it impossible for her to break free from that ingrained sense of formality. She followed the dining etiquette meticulously.
Ruan Yesheng, portraying Xi Mo, also had to emulate Xi Mo's past behavior. She sat there, dining with grace, and maintaining silence.
No one uttered a word.
In the past, dining with Xi Ji in silence wasn't something Xi Mo found uncomfortable. It had become a routine. Ironically, it was Xi Ji's attempts at conversation that made her uneasy. However, the current silent atmosphere was reaching a level of discomfort that seemed unbearable.
The air was thick with awkwardness, making it almost difficult to breathe.
"Xi Mo," Xi Ji was the first to speak.
Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo lifted their heads simultaneously.
Ruan Yesheng promptly set down her chopsticks, asking, "Dad, what's the matter?"
Xi Ji said, "Talk with Xiao Ruan, don't sit there in silence."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Xi Mo: "..."
Dad, what are you talking about?
Xi Ji looked at Xi Mo and spoke in a gentle tone, "Xiao Ruan, don't mind. Xi Mo is like this and doesn't understand how to entertain guests. It's my fault for not teaching her well."
Xi Mo: "..."
Dad, you taught me this!
Ruan Yesheng had learned some aspects of Xi Ji's character from Xi Mo's descriptions. She initially thought Xi Ji was strict and believed that speaking at the dinner table was inappropriate. Now, Xi Ji was encouraging her to chat. Even though she was usually articulate in public, she felt a bit at a loss in this situation.
Xi Ji glanced at Ruan Yesheng and turned to Xi Mo, saying, "Xiao Ruan, the flower seeds you brought today are excellent. You mentioned it's a new variety cultivated by someone you know, right? What's the name of that gentleman? If I could meet him, it would be my honor."
Seeing Xi Ji effortlessly taking over the conversation, Ruan Yesheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Xi Mo, however, remained composed, leveraging the information Ruan Yesheng had provided earlier. "His name is Professor Yu Zhengren. He conducts plant research at the institute and has done extensive cultivation of flowers."
"Ah, Professor Yu Zhengren, he's quite renowned. I've read some of his articles in books."
"You know Professor Yu, that's great! If you ever need some new flower varieties, I can talk to Professor Yu and have them delivered to you. Both of you share a love for flowers, and Professor Yu will surely be delighted."
"Then I'll trouble you, Xiao Ruan."
After finishing dinner, Xi Mo unknowingly engaged in a lengthy conversation with Xi Ji, completely overturning her perception of Xi Ji over the years.
Stepping out of the role of a daughter and into a different perspective, she realized that her father could be so talkative.
In the evening, after Xi Mo went to the guest room for a shower, Ruan Yesheng and Xi Ji stayed in the living room to watch TV together. The TV images flickered, and the sound changed, but Ruan Yesheng paid no attention. She was tense, hoping Xi Mo would finish her shower soon and come downstairs to find her.
Xi Ji remained silent while watching TV, maintaining an air of solemnity.
Xi Ji didn't say a word while watching TV; acting like he was worshiping Buddha.
When Xi Ji saw Xi Mo's advertisement on TV, his gaze flickered, and he said, "Another new advertisement?"
Ruan Yesheng replied, "Yes, it's for a brand I recently endorsed."
"The products from that company are decent. I've had dealings with them. However, if a product or company has a questionable reputation, our company should avoid taking up endorsements to prevent any negative impact on you. It's essential to thoroughly understand the other party's background in everything."
"Lu Qingming will handle the endorsements carefully. Thank you, Dad."
After a while, Xi Ji added: "You also know what day it is next month, right? Don't make too many engagements then. If there's a conflict, just reject them. Remember to go home early."
“Okay, I understand." Ruan Yesheng actually had no idea about any special date next month. Xi Mo had never mentioned it to her. However, agreeing wouldn't hurt, and she could always ask Xi Mo about it later.
Xi Ji simply nodded and continued watching TV.
Xi Mo finally came down after her shower, and Ruan Yesheng felt like being pardoned. She was about to go upstairs with Xi Mo when Xi Ji said, "Xiao Ruan, do you want to watch TV?"
Xi Mo clearly understood Xi Ji's intention; it wasn't about watching TV but rather an opportunity for a private conversation.
Ruan Yesheng also grasped the situation and had to say, "Then I'll go shower first."
This time, it was Xi Mo who sat down, feeling tense. She hoped Ruan Yesheng would finish her shower soon and come downstairs to join her.
Xi Ji's tone changed, and he said kindly: "Are you used to being here? If you need anything, just tell Auntie Zhou or Xi Mo, feel free."
"It's great. Thanks a lot for your care, Uncle Xi."
"You're Xi Mo's friend, and Xi Mo is the one who should thank you for taking care of her."
Xi Mo talked to Xi Ji despite the pressure: "She helped me a lot... We take care of each other."
Xi Ji smiled rarely, "Xiao Ruan, I'll be frank with you. Xi Mo has never brought a friend home before; you're the first. I used to worry, concerned that she lacked genuine friends. However, it's partly my fault. I demanded too much from her, and she kept many things to herself, reluctant to talk to others. She rarely socialized with friends and was quite lonely."
Xi Mo didn't expect Xi Ji to express such sentiments and was a bit stunned.
"But seeing you today, I feel relieved. I can sense that your relationship is good. In the future, Xi Mo will also rely on your care. She can be a bit reserved at times, so please be understanding."
The conversation was brief, but to Xi Mo, it carried an infinitely profound meaning.
Today, she stepped out of the familiar confines of her past perceptions and, in a new role, rediscovered her father.
This is a novel and delightful experience, filled with warmth.
"Xi Mo has found a good friend, and I'm happy for her."
Xi Ji retired to his room, and Xi Mo went upstairs. His words echoed in her ears. She felt joy overflowing in her heart, reminiscent of the rewards her father used to give her after each piano exam in her youth. However, this time, the joy surpassed those moments.
Ruan Yesheng came out from the bathroom in a robe, spotting Xi Mo sitting on the edge of the bed, head lowered, a smile playing on her lips.
Rarely did Ruan Yesheng see Xi Mo smiling like this, and she found herself momentarily stunned.
Like a well-behaved child rewarded with candy—why would she be so delighted?
As if happiness were contagious, Ruan Yesheng walked over in a cheerful mood, sat beside Xi Mo, and caught a whiff of the refreshing scent from her bath.
Xi Mo sensed the bed sinking a bit beside her, concealing her smile as she turned to look at Ruan Yesheng. "Is there something delightful you'd like to share with me?" Ruan Yesheng smiled and asked.
"Thank you," Xi Mo replied, gazing into her eyes.
Ruan Yesheng was taken aback.
"Although swapping bodies with you has brought me a lot of trouble, I appreciate you today for making me no longer afraid of my Dad," Xi Mo expressed. She then shared with Ruan Yesheng the conversation between her and her father in the living room.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Yesheng was genuinely happy for her. "I think Mr. Xi is actually quite amiable. Maybe he just doesn't know how to interact with you, and there are words left unsaid, leading to some misunderstandings."
Xi Mo nodded and said, "I have another thing I'd like to ask for your help with."
"What is it?"
"I want to know more about that Mr. Yu you mentioned. When you have time, could you share more details? I'm thinking of paying a visit. However, I'm not very familiar with his family, and I don't know much about Yu Sheng. I'm afraid I might unintentionally reveal something."
Ruan Yesheng smiled with her eyes squinting, "Are you planning to bring some new flower varieties for your dad?"
“Mm," Xi Mo admitted somewhat ambiguously.
Ruan Yesheng took out her phone, opened her WeChat Moments, and showed it to Xi Mo, saying, "This is Uncle Yu, and this is Xiao Sheng. You can check their Moments to get some understanding. Let me share a bit more. Xiao Sheng is a screen-swiping maniac, always laughing and posting 'hahaha' for every little thing."
Xi Mo glanced at the Moments and saw that Yu Sheng had been posting every one to two hours, especially after encountering them in the parking lot today. The frequency of posts skyrocketed, with a picture of a tissue paper pack from various angles every half hour, accompanied by a screen full of “hahahaha”.
Below, a few friends teased him in the comments: "Sheng, look at your character. You've been participating in Weibo giveaways for ages and never won, and today you finally won a pack of tissue paper?"
Yu Sheng responded with a disdainful expression and replied, "You guys don't understand anything! I won't say, so you won't envy and resent me!"
Then, a friend took a photo of an entire box of tissue paper for him: "Rest assured, definitely won't be jealous."
Ruan Yesheng scrolled through her phone, and as they went through, around eight in the evening, Yu Sheng posted several consecutive messages, this time filled with cries and wails, and the tissue paper images were nowhere to be seen.
His dad, Yu Zhengren, scolded him below: "You rascal, I just had a cold and used one of your tissue paper to wipe my nose. Now, you're crying like Dou E*, your father can't compare to even a pack of tissue paper?"
"Dou E" is the protagonist in the drama " The Injustice of Dou E " written by the playwright Guan Hanqing of the Yuan Dynasty. She is often portrayed as a virtuous and wronged woman who suffers unjustly, reflecting themes of injustice and social critique in traditional Chinese storytelling.
Yu Sheng couldn't express his bitterness, so he replied with a series of crying emojis.
Xi Mo: "..."
Ruan Yesheng smiled and said, "Look at him, so pitiful. Next time, let's give him a genuine signature when we have the chance." The two looked at their phones and chatted for a while, and soon it was late at night.
Xi Mo stood up, preparing to go back to her guest room to rest. Ruan Yesheng escorted her to the door, saying, "Get some rest, we'll be back to the film crew tomorrow."
Xi Mo looked at her for a while, hesitated, and suddenly said, "Actually, I meant what you said before."
"What do you mean?" The words were unclear, and Ruan Yesheng couldn't figure out what she was talking about for a moment.
Xi Mo said, "I hope that when you eat at my home, you can have dishes you like to leave a good impression on you. That's why I asked you, not the reasons I mentioned later."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Xi Mo stood at the doorway, the corridor's light casting a soft glow on her face.
She said, "Sometimes what I think in my heart is not the same as what I say. I just can't say it out loud."
Ruan Yesheng's heart melted, feeling like she was immersed in honey.
Isn't this block of wood quite good at coaxing people?
There is no need to teach at all, the skills are natural.
Xi Mo said: "Good night."
"Good night, see you tomorrow," Ruan Yesheng softly said.
Hoping to see her tomorrow.
See her the day after tomorrow.
Every day, being able to see her.
Just like light, every morning when she opens her eyes, darkness disperses, and her light arrives, illuminating her world.
Author's Note:
My articles are all very slow... Although I have said it before, I would like to explain it again this time, lest anyone be unclear about the situation. Muah, everyone can choose to read the article according to their own preferences, thank you for the support. =W=
