Chapter 94 – Son, Let’s Visit the Brothel (Part 1)
Jiang Pengji returned to the Liu Residence, and as soon as her feet crossed the threshold, she heard the system ping, popping up a task notification.
【System: Dear host Jiang Pengji, the results of your first submission for full interactive live-streaming mode—the initial project audition—are in! The project with the most votes is (I Visit Brothels in Ancient Times). Please complete the live-stream within three days.】
This was an automatic notification from the system. Jiang Pengji glanced at it briefly before tossing it into the system’s trash bin to delete it.
“Of course, it’s about visiting brothels… Sure enough, this kind of lowbrow content always sparks curiosity among viewers.”
Jiang Pengji sighed internally, feeling despair for those viewers who clearly had no bottom line. She had zero interest in streaming right now. What if she randomly drew a level-up card and ended up with a thousand perverts following her?
The system quietly remarked, “Actually, I would really like to go…”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
What on earth would a system, an entity made solely of data with no physical form, want to do at a brothel?
Absolutely ridiculous.
She arrived back at the Liu Residence with plenty of time to spare and decided to freshen up in her courtyard. Although she hadn’t really worked up a sweat, running back and forth across the fields had left her slightly dirty, not to mention she’d been subjected to Ta Xue’s constant chatter.
“Young Master, you’re a precious being! Why do you have to do everything yourself? Just leave it to Xu Ke, that wooden-headed fool! Why get your hands dirty like this? Look at you—I’ve never seen you so dusty! Your handkerchief is filthy!”
Jiang Pengji knew better than to argue with a woman at this time; no matter how reasonable she was, it would only lead to a losing battle. Silence was the best form of appeasement.
Sure enough, sensing Jiang Pengji’s calm demeanor, Ta Xue finally ran out of things to say, satisfied to close her mouth.
At this moment, Jiang Pengji had no idea that Xu Ke, that little rascal, had taken some liberties with her.
Silently, she shared dinner with Liu Zhi and Lady Die, her spirits lifted as she helped herself to an extra two bowls of rice, eating faster than a hawk yet maintaining an elegantly measured pace that surpassed both Liu Zhi and Lady Die combined, all three setting down their silver chopsticks simultaneously.
“Lan Ting is in a growing phase, let’s have the kitchen add two more meat dishes.”
Liu Zhi had never had a great appetite, but looking at his daughter’s face made him able to eat a whole bowl of rice without stopping. Lady Die, fully aware of her husband’s actions, rolled her eyes in silent exasperation, no longer willing to maintain her usual noble elegance.
With the head of the household speaking up, Lady Die certainly didn’t want to earn herself the bad reputation of being harsh toward her late husband’s “legitimate son,” nor did she wish to remind Liu Zhi that his daughter was sitting opposite him, not his son. At this rate of reckless feeding, by the end of the year, Lan Ting would probably be plump enough to roast!
Jiang Pengji had never had a concept of gaining weight; to her, the food she consumed would only become toned muscle, not fat.
“Shyly” thanking Liu Zhi, Jiang Pengji resumed her composed demeanor, her mind wandering as she wondered when Liu Zhi would speak up.
She wasn’t unaware that Liu Zhi often asked Xu Ke about her life, and his intentions were genuinely concerned rather than anything else—he meant no harm.
In fact, she enjoyed that kind of concern.
However, Jiang Pengji stayed rational, knowing that such comfort couldn’t last long.
If she didn’t cut it off early, it would eventually accumulate into a problem, turning into a rift between “father” and “daughter.”
Even the closest relationships require a certain distance, let alone the bond of “father” and “daughter,” where the former has a natural nurturing responsibility toward the latter.
Her personality was very strong; she couldn’t stand others pointing fingers at her without reason, nor could she accept people trying to control her life, like they were imprisoning her in a steel cage—even if that person was Liu Zhi.
A once or twice indulgence was fine, but over time, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t snap.
Therefore, to prevent the worst-case scenario, it was better to talk things out early.
If Liu Zhi wanted to know something, he could just ask her directly instead of going through a third party.
However, she never expected Liu Zhi to throw all common sense out the window.
He openly acknowledged that he was asking about her through Xu Ke, showing no hint of embarrassment.
His first words made Jiang Pengji feel an overwhelming urge to bow in submission.
“Xu Ke relayed a message from me via carrier pigeon, saying you’re very curious about Langlang Lane?”
After dinner, dessert time became an opportunity for conversation and bonding, the atmosphere much lighter than during their meal.
Jiang Pengji: “Huh?”
Lady Die shot a fierce glare at Liu Zhi, as if ready to strangle him should he say another word.
“Well, I am a bit ‘curious’…” Jiang Pengji admitted honestly, stating her plan to go sightseeing there tomorrow, “Cough, cough—why is Father suddenly bringing this up?”
Her gaze flicked to Lady Die across the table, signaling Liu Zhi to tone it down.
Discussing brothels in front of a concubine? Didn’t he fear being killed?
However, Liu Zhi was being particularly cunning, straight-up throwing Xu Ke under the bus!
“You’re not a child anymore; some things you should know.”
With that, Liu Zhi cast her an ambiguous, flirty glance.
Jiang Pengji nearly choked on the tea in her mouth, and before she could even cough, Lady Die raised her hand and literally flipped the dining table in front of her, crashing it down with a loud bang, her teeth clenched as she glared at Liu Zhi, shouting, “Liu Zhongqing!”
Liu Zhi appeared completely unfazed by the domestic chaos, instead smiling gently, “Does my cousin want to go too?”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
Discussing brothels in front of his concubine was one thing, but asking if she wanted to go along was just inexcusable!
Such brazen behavior simply made her want to kneel in admiration!
“Be careful tonight; Sister Gu Min might just come over to strangle you! You’re leading Lan Ting astray, you really are…”
Lady Die’s face flushed with rage, her fury evident as Liu Zhi remained unaffected, laughing unaffectedly.
“Humph!”
Fuming, Lady Die stormed out of the main courtyard, her footsteps stirring up a breeze.
“She just has that sort of temper; don’t let it scare you.” Liu Zhi returned to his gentle, serious demeanor, saying, “At your age, it’s perfectly normal to be curious about places like that. Instead of sneaking away by yourself and running into some uncontrollable situation, you’d be better off going with your father to broaden your knowledge. Once you’ve seen it with your own eyes, that curiosity will fade.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
That reasoning was solid, but… why did it feel off?
“Father doesn’t seem surprised by this at all?”
Jiang Pengji swore Liu Zhi definitely wasn’t a first-timer at such places!
Claiming he harbored deep feelings for Gu Min was probably a total lie, right?
“I’m also someone who’s come through your age; how could I not know?” Liu Zhi said candidly, his eyes clear and gentle, filled with warmth, “By the way, the first time I went to such a place was actually because your mother goaded me into it.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
Talk about a revelation!
