Chapter 74: Jiang Xue Likes Directness
Jiang Mei picked up the sword with a wry smile. Just as she was about to put it back, she considered that Xiao Linghan might not want to hold the sword, so she placed it beside the action figure’s fingertips. “If you want to hold it, move your hand.”
Even with the magic cast by the Xie family elder, it was still somewhat difficult for a fragmented soul to move the object it was attached to.
However, Jiang Mei soon saw the action figure’s fingertips touch the hilt of the sword.
She placed the sword back in its hand and even adjusted the action figure into a more comfortable sitting position.
“The Xie family elder said that as long as you’re willing, you can stay in this form,” she said to Xiao Linghan. “I’ve already discussed the phone idea with my uncle, and he’s working on developing the program, but it might take a long time. You’ll have to make do with this body for now.”
The action figure trembled and pointed towards the plum blossoms.
Even though Xiao Linghan couldn’t speak, perhaps due to the connection between their souls, Jiang Mei instantly understood what she meant.
“…If nothing unexpected happens, you still plan to reside in the plum blossoms?” she asked tentatively. “After all, you promised them that the plum blossoms would bloom and never wither.”
The action figure nodded slightly, then remained motionless.
But the next moment, Jiang Mei saw the plum blossoms sway without any wind. Soon, the branch Shizhu had picked bloomed, emitting a faint fragrance.
Perhaps because of the Xie family elder’s magic, Xiao Linghan could actually make the buds bloom.
“This is my old friend. You can call her Teacher Sui,” Dr. Qi said, introducing the owner of the hair salon to Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan, accompanied by the peaceful background music of a guqin melody.
In the middle of winter, the owner was wearing a form-fitting, black qipao. Even though it was clearly lined, Jiang Xue still shivered at the sight.
Teacher Sui snorted at her, but when she turned to the two girls, a warm smile appeared on her face. “I’ve heard your story. Is it this little friend Xiao Luo who needs a haircut today?”
Her tone and wording were a bit old-fashioned.
“Yes, please,” Xiao Luohan bowed to her.
“Just tell me what you want next time, there’s no need to be so formal,” Teacher Sui said, preparing the hair-washing tools. “Come over and wash your hair first. Take off your down jacket and scarf, and untie your hair.”
Jiang Xue took the down jacket and wrapped the hair tie around her wrist.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt Teacher Sui glance at her. When she looked up, the owner was already adjusting the water temperature.
The young woman’s long, black hair cascaded down. Although it was slightly yellowed due to her illness, it was smooth as silk and tangle-free, clearly well-cared for.
“It’s such a pity, such beautiful hair,” Teacher Sui said, though her movements were swift and efficient.
It was Xiao Luohan’s first time having her hair washed like this. The place where she was leaning was a little cold, so she moved slightly inwards, and then her head was gently held. “It’s just washing your hair, it will be over soon, be good.”
Perhaps afraid of startling her, the pressure on her scalp also lessened with these words.
“Xiao Luo, what kind of hairstyle do you like? Do you have any references?” Her hair was too long, so Teacher Sui asked while washing it. “I also have a hairstyle catalog for high school students. We can look at it later.”
Jiang Xue had heard about Teacher Sui’s “quirks” from Dr. Qi. After having customers change their minds about their chosen hairstyles, she only let them choose after washing their hair.
After all, having wet hair was uncomfortable, so customers, wanting the hairdresser to start working quickly, usually wouldn’t hesitate for too long.
“She only dares to be so willful because she’s good at what she does!” she remembered Dr. Qi muttering.
Xiao Luohan actually had a reference in mind, but she was also curious about the hairstyle catalog, so she asked to see it after her hair was washed.
Her long hair wrapped in a soft towel, she sat in the adjustable chair in front of the large mirror, quickly flipping through the pages.
In the end, she still chose the same hair length as Jiang Xue, only discussing the style of her bangs with Teacher Sui. She would tie it into a ponytail at school, and on weekends, she could style it into a half-updo.
Teacher Sui already had a clear idea while she was browsing. After putting away the catalog, she excitedly spread out the cape.
The cape felt a little tight around her neck, but Xiao Luohan quickly realized that everyone wore it like this during a haircut, so she didn’t say anything.
It was Jiang Xue, who was watching, who spoke up. “Xiao Luo, if the cape feels too tight, ask Teacher Sui to loosen it. Otherwise, it will be uncomfortable after a while.”
Xiao Luohan paused, then turned and said softly, “It is a little tight.”
Teacher Sui immediately loosened it and exclaimed, “Such a shy and well-behaved girl! Don’t be afraid, we’re all friends here. Just tell me if anything is wrong, don’t be embarrassed! It’s not good to keep things bottled up!”
She wasn’t bottling things up, but Xiao Luohan felt that she should indeed learn more about these everyday things.
Accompanied by the snipping sound of the sharp scissors, strands of hair quickly piled up on the floor.
“I’ve often heard that ancient people believe ‘hair and skin are gifts from parents,’ but you don’t seem to care much about that?” Teacher Sui asked while cutting her hair.
Xiao Luohan thought for a moment. “Perhaps I’m an ‘exception’ among ancient people?”
The reason was that her mother didn’t care about this and naturally never emphasized it, only telling her that being different would make her life more difficult and attract unwanted attention.
But she wasn’t comfortable sharing her past with someone she had just met, so she simply chose a reason that emphasized individuality—people in this world valued “individuality” more than she had imagined.
After answering, she heard Teacher Sui chuckle softly.
“You’re truly an interesting little girl,” Teacher Sui said, lifting a strand of hair by her ear and carefully trimming it. “Come and visit me when you’re free. I want to ask you all sorts of things about ancient times, like the hairstyles, clothes, and food of the people in the palace… Tell me whatever you know, and if you don’t want to talk about something, don’t force yourself.”
“Besides the hairstyle catalog, I also have photo albums of artistic portraits from the photo studio. Feel free to look at them.”
Xiao Luohan actually wanted to see them, but she had just met Teacher Sui and hadn’t heard much about her before, so she couldn’t relax completely in such a short time. She replied with a solemn “Okay.” “If I’m free, I’ll definitely come and freeload on your tea and snacks.”
Before washing her hair, she had seen the tea set and snack plate placed on a small table by the window.
Teacher Sui then asked Jiang Xue, “Do high school seniors only have time off during legal holidays and weekends?”
“Yes, we leave early and come home late on weekdays. Only during lunch break can we go out, and we have to ask the homeroom teacher for permission,” Jiang Xue said.
“It’s alright, I was just asking casually. Just half a year of hardship, it will be over soon,” Teacher Sui smiled. “Actually, I was teaching at a university a few years ago, teaching ancient literature, then I discovered my ‘true calling’ and resigned to open this hair salon.”
Xiao Luohan suddenly understood. “So that’s where the title ‘Teacher’ comes from.”
“Not entirely because of my previous profession, but I just like being called ‘Teacher’,” Teacher Sui said. “Although university is also busy with exams every semester, like the college entrance exam, there’s still a lot of free time. The school doesn’t forbid dyeing or perming hair, so if you two want to change your hairstyles, remember to come find me.”
As they chatted, Xiao Luohan’s haircut was finished.
Teacher Sui blow-dried her hair and then styled it into a half-updo, tying it with an antique-looking ribbon. “Do you like it?”
“I do,” Xiao Luohan replied sincerely, truly satisfied, even playing with her hair in front of the mirror for a while.
Jiang Xue, holding her down jacket, had been anxiously waiting, wanting to remind her several times, but afraid of spoiling her mood. It wasn’t until Xiao Luohan stood up that she hurriedly handed over the jacket. “Be careful, don’t catch a cold!”
Even though the hair salon had heating, Xiao Luo’s constitution was weak!
Seeing this, Dr. Qi, who had barely spoken and had been looking at her phone, finally said, “By the way, the check-up results will be out in three to five days. Remember to remind Xiao Luo to check. Send me the electronic copy as soon as it’s out, so I can prepare the medicine early and see if any additional tests are needed.”
Dr. Qi drove them home again, but as Jiang Xue was getting out of the car, she saw Teacher Sui reach out and pinch… uh… Dr. Qi’s behind.
She quickly pulled Xiao Luohan away, puzzled: They were so close, why were they still living separately, not living together or married?
But she didn’t dare ask Dr. Qi, afraid of offending her and having her add extra bitter herbs to her medicine next time, or deliberately choosing acupuncture.
It was lunchtime when they arrived home. Dr. Qi dropped them off at the gate and drove away in her golden car.
As Jiang Xue was about to walk towards the house, she heard Xiao Luohan ask softly, “Are Dr. Qi and Teacher Sui a couple?”
She almost tripped, instinctively asking, “Why do you think that?”
“A… hunch?” Xiao Luohan said uncertainly. “Teacher Sui seemed like a different person in front of Dr. Qi… or is that just how long-time friends interact?”
She had never had friends before, let alone long-time friends. After coming here, she had first witnessed Jiang Xue and A-Xi “teasing each other,” then Dr. Qi and Teacher Sui’s subtle glances and natural physical contact, which she found novel.
Jiang Xue thought for a moment. “Why don’t you just treat them as a couple for now? I don’t quite understand their way of interacting either… maybe it’s because my two mothers are more direct? They got married soon after they started dating.”
Xiao Luohan nodded and made a mental note, adding a line to the locked note in her notes app while changing clothes in her bedroom: 【Jiang Xue likes directness.】
After changing, they went downstairs and saw Jiang Mei returning to her room after lunch.
“Come to my study after you’ve eaten. I have something to show you.”
Jiang Mei suddenly said as they passed each other on the stairs.
Jiang Xue was puzzled. She hadn’t heard her older sister mention buying anything new recently.
Could it be an early birthday present? But then it wouldn’t be “show you,” but rather something only for Xiao Luo. Her older sister preferred giving gifts one-on-one.
She couldn’t figure it out and continued thinking about it during lunch, but didn’t mention it to Xiao Luohan—what if it really was a birthday present? It was better to keep it a surprise.
Xiao Luohan, on the other hand, didn’t speculate at all, just focused on finishing the delicious pan-fried vegetarian wontons Sister Cheng had made.
After lunch, as soon as they entered Jiang Mei’s study, they saw her fiddling with… an action figure?
Jiang Xue’s attention was completely captured by the action figure that looked almost exactly like her older sister, but Xiao Luohan noticed the change in the plum blossoms first.
—The plum blossom branch that held her elder sister’s soul had finally bloomed!
“I went to the Xie family’s home today and asked their metaphysics expert for help,” she heard Jiang Mei say slowly. “Princess Zhemei’s soul can now reside in this action figure.”
