After the Stand-in Hugged the White Moonlight's Thigh Tightly - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: “Divine Might Unrivaled, Unbeatable Courage, Peerless Senior Brother Song Chenxi”…

Ruan Mingyu returned to the shop and gave the shopkeeper the jade pendant that had broken into two halves.

Shopkeeper: “I told you the price at other shops would be the same as mine.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Please repair it for me.”

The shopkeeper was very skilled in sales talk: “Would you like to look at the other jade pieces in my shop? We have jade hairpins, jade bracelets, and jade beads, all of the highest quality.”

“No need…” Ruan Mingyu then thought for a moment. Song Chenxi had given him a gift, and he had no reason not to reciprocate. He changed his mind, “I’ll take a look.”

The shopkeeper led him to a display of jade artifacts. There were so many things that it was dazzling.

Ruan Mingyu looked around and chose a jade-carved seal. He figured Song Chenxi probably wouldn’t wear necklaces or hairpins.

He pointed to the seal engraved with a Qilin and asked: “How much is this?”

Shopkeeper: “One hundred spiritual stones.”

“That expensive?” Including the cost of repairing the jade pendant, he wouldn’t have much left.

The shopkeeper was very shrewd and immediately showed him a smaller one: “This one is only seventy spiritual stones.”

Ruan Mingyu looked at the smaller one. Although it was much cheaper, it was too small. He didn’t understand aesthetics, but he just felt it wasn’t imposing or majestic enough.

So, he gritted his teeth and said to the shopkeeper: “I want the large one, but could you possibly make it a little cheaper? To tell you the truth, my Senior Brother’s greatest wish is to have a jade-carved seal. Alas, it’s a pity, a person as wonderful as my Senior Brother…”

After a round of relentless persuasion, the shopkeeper finally agreed to give him a slight discount.

“Fine, fine. Flattery won’t work either. This is the absolute lowest price: ninety spiritual stones. Take it now.”

Ruan Mingyu immediately nodded: “Okay!”

The shopkeeper asked: “What characters would you like engraved on it?”

Ruan Mingyu pondered for a moment: “Engrave: Divine Might Unrivaled, Unbeatable Courage, Peerless Senior Brother Song Chenxi.”

“You’re right, only this large one can accommodate that many characters. The small one can’t fit it. Wait for three days; you can pick up the jade pendant and the seal together then.”

After waiting for three days, Ruan Mingyu finally got his items.

He took the items and, upon leaving the shop, encountered Gu Xiaoxiao again.

Gu Xiaoxiao seemed very excited to see Ruan Mingyu.

“I’ve waited three days, and I finally see you.”

Ruan Mingyu thought he had been found out about the elixirs he sold and that Gu Xiaoxiao had come to settle the score, so he quickly tried to run away.

Unexpectedly, although this person was mentally impaired, his body was incredibly strong. He darted forward and grabbed Ruan Mingyu’s wrist.

Ruan Mingyu: “Once elixirs are sold, there are no refunds.”

“Refund what?” he said. “I’m not here for that.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Then why are you looking for me?”

Gu Xiaoxiao stared at Ruan Mingyu without moving, as if Ruan Mingyu’s face had grown flowers.

Ruan Mingyu felt chills down his spine from the intensity of the gaze.

After a long time, Gu Xiaoxiao finally let go.

“It looks similar, but I always feel like something is missing,” he rubbed his chin. “Ah, right. You don’t insult me.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…” What was wrong with the male leads in this book? Did they feel unhappy if they weren’t being cursed at?

Ruan Mingyu said: “If you have a problem with Song Chenxi, go find him. Why come to me? If he insulted you, insult him back. What good does it do to find me?”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “He’s mean, but you’re kind.”

Ruan Mingyu: “…” This person probably wasn’t quite right in the head. He must be crazy too, to be wasting time talking nonsense with him.

Ruan Mingyu lifted his foot to leave. Seeing him about to go, Gu Xiaoxiao quickly said: “Why are you leaving? Talk to me a little longer.”

Ruan Mingyu: “I’m very busy. I need to go back up the mountain to refine pills.”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “What if I buy two more boxes of your elixirs?”

Ruan Mingyu stopped, immediately putting on a service-oriented smile: “Fellow Daoist, feel free to ask anything you wish. I will tell you everything I know, without reserve.”

Gu Xiaoxiao pulled him towards the restaurant: “Let’s sit down and talk slowly.”

Once inside the restaurant, he handed the menu to Ruan Mingyu and asked him to order. Ruan Mingyu didn’t hold back, ordering a pile of his favorite dishes.

Eating and drinking for free and even getting paid—Ruan Mingyu’s smile became even brighter.

“Fellow Daoist, is there anything on your mind?”

Gu Xiaoxiao said: “Call me Xiao from now on.” Saying this, he poured Ruan Mingyu a few cups of wine.

Ruan Mingyu nodded and called out: “Xiao.” Although it sounded a little sickening, who could blame him when the payment was so generous?

Gu Xiaoxiao sat down and drank a few cups with him. His face flushed with drink, he poured out all his unhappiness.

“Besides money, I have nothing. I don’t understand anything, I can’t do anything, and I always get tricked by others!”

“Why are you talking nonsense in broad daylight? Isn’t having money good?” Ruan Mingyu was a little tipsy too.

Gu Xiaoxiao: “It’s so nice talking to you.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Remember to buy the medicine. I don’t chat for free.”

Gu Xiaoxiao was drunk and almost climbed onto the table. He reached out to touch Ruan Mingyu’s face.

“Just talk, no touching,” Ruan Mingyu slapped his hand away.

Gu Xiaoxiao retracted his hand and suddenly burst into tears: “I’ve never been insulted like that in my life. Your Senior Brother is truly a terrible person.”

It seemed he had been thoroughly insulted by Song Chenxi in the secret realm.

Ruan Mingyu: “It’s alright. Practice makes perfect. You’ll get used to it after being cursed a few more times.”

Gu Xiaoxiao, his face red and looking drunk, leaned in close to him: “Can you insult me in his manner?”

Ruan Mingyu exclaimed “Ah.” There was truly such a request in the world.

“Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “I can pay you money.”

Ruan Mingyu immediately said: “Of course, I can curse you. You can tell me how you want me to curse you.”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “Try calling me useless.”

Ruan Mingyu: “Useless.”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “No, your tone is too gentle. Be fiercer.”

Ruan Mingyu: “I can do that, but I have to charge extra.”

Gu Xiaoxiao stuffed a pouch of spiritual stones into his hand: “Okay, hurry up and insult me.”

Ruan Mingyu took a sip of tea to clear his throat: “A useless good-for-nothing! You can’t do anything! Why did your family raise trash like you! You’re less useful than a piece of char siu (barbecue pork)!”

Ruan Mingyu saw him staring blankly at himself, completely motionless. Ruan Mingyu waved his hand in front of him: “Was that too harsh? I can use the gentle version. Pay me a little more.”

Gu Xiaoxiao regained his senses: “No… curse me more.”

Ruan Mingyu thought, This is bizarre. He hadn’t encountered a single normal person since coming to this world. But for the sake of money, he used all his linguistic skills, cursing him relentlessly until Gu Xiaoxiao was satisfied before he left.

Having earned the money, Ruan Mingyu was generous. On his way back, he passed by the stalls and bought a blanket for Senior Sister’s cat, a new spool of thread for Senior Brother, and a bottle of wine for Master.

He had already bought a gift for Song Chenxi, so he didn’t spend any more on him. Finally, he thought about it and bought some things to send to Aunt Man, his cousin, cousin-in-law, and their child.