His eyes were deep, his nose high and straight, and when he smiled, his sharp features softened, giving him a scholarly elegance.
“Who’s your wife?” Yutao squinted, stubbornly saying, “We broke off the engagement.”
Lu Yunyang raised an eyebrow, his gaze deliberately drifting toward her chest. He recalled what she had insisted the other day when she woke up, demanding that he take responsibility. His tone was calm and measured: “When you said I had to take responsibility for pressing against your chest, you didn’t think like that, did you?”
Yutao: …
Had she really said that?
Definitely not!!!
Her chest was prominent, impossible to forget at a single glance. Lu Yunyang’s heart jumped violently in his chest. “Besides, you often feel dizzy, your chest feels tight, and your legs get weak. I’m a doctor. If you won’t find me as your man, who else would you go to?”
This usually serious man, speaking so earnestly yet so flippantly, made Yutao feel that if he continued, he might even bring up the “Yin and Yang union” incident from before.
“Alright, alright!” She raised an eyebrow, pressing her soft lips over his to shut him up, mumbling, “You talk too much.”
After a brief moment of kissing, they agreed to go to Jia Hua Chemical Factory on the next market day.
Yutao had originally planned to take one of the three bottles she had made for Lin Lifang as a sample, but the amount was too much for a sample, and she felt it was a waste. She decided to remake a smaller sample.
By market day, since they had to go to the county in the afternoon, Yutao got up early, prepared herself, and took the sample with her.
At the commune, she went to the hospital to find Lu Yunyang. Before she could, Lin Lifang stopped her.
“Do you still have that rouge?” Lin Lifang asked directly. “I still want some pink. When can you make it?”
She had gone to the county Cultural Troupe last weekend. All the girls were amazed and wanted some, but there were only three boxes—not nearly enough.
Jia Hua Chemical Factory’s situation was unknown. If there was money to be made, Yutao wouldn’t refuse. She smiled: “It’ll take about half a month.”
Half a month was nothing; Lin Lifang agreed readily, “Fine, half a month. I’ll wait for you.”
Yutao nodded. “I’ll finish as soon as I can.”
After settling this, she went to find Lu Yunyang. They left the hospital, ate noodles at a restaurant, and caught the 11 a.m. bus to the county.
The bus was a little crowded, but since they got on early, they found seats. The ride was bumpy, but Yutao didn’t feel as suffocated as on the village bus last time.
Arriving in the county, the difference from the commune was striking.
The county was much larger, with neat streets, rows of small buildings, buses running, and department stores crowded at the entrances.
Yutao hadn’t even taken in the scenery when Lu Yunyang led her straight to the factory.
After some coordination, they entered the factory’s break room. A man soon came in.
Wu Liangyu was shocked to see his old friend accompanied by such a delicate girl!
He had initially thought Lu Yunyang’s friend would be someone in a similar line of work. But it was a young girl?
Not only was she beautiful, but her skin was flawless. With makeup today, she looked even more radiant. In nearly thirty years, he had never seen such a girl.
“This is the friend you said is good at making rouge?” he asked Lu Yunyang, astonished. “She’s a beautiful little girl?”
Lu Yunyang caught the surprise in his voice and felt a hint of joy. “Yes, we both brought samples today.”
“We both?”
Wu Liangyu felt something was off. They stood close, looked very intimate, and seemed perfectly matched. He realized immediately—they had a story!
He knew Lu Yunyang usually cared only about medicine, indifferent to personal matters. Even though Lu Family had previously arranged a match, it had been called off. And now, a month later, there was already a good development?
He laughed and invited them to sit. “Let me see the samples.”
“I brought two rouge samples and one whitening pill,” Yutao said, handing them over. “You can try the rouge. For the pills, you need to mix them with water first.”
Wu Liangyu, sensing the pair’s closeness, took the items seriously, examined them, and tried the rouge. It was slightly different from what they had developed, but experiments would be needed for comparison.
“I might need about three days to reply,” he told Lu Yunyang.
Three days was fine for Yutao, but Lu Yunyang considered more. He paused, looking at Wu Liangyu. “If your factory thinks it’s good, would it be possible to exchange it for a position here later?”
Yutao was surprised. A factory position, even now, would cost over a hundred yuan, and she hadn’t intended to request it.
Wu Liangyu was also surprised. He couldn’t refuse or decide, but said, “I can’t decide, but I can ask.”
He then asked Yutao, “Do you have many formulas?”
Yutao raised an eyebrow. “Do you mean internal or external?”
Maintaining beauty wasn’t just about topical products. She knew a lot about consumables too, having used them herself.
“For external, I have two here,” she said. “Hand rouge, face rouge, jade powder, motherwort facial formulas… internal is more complex.”
Though she hadn’t finished, Wu Liangyu could tell she was confident and seemed to have many formulas.
“Alright, once the results come out, I’ll ask,” he agreed, then asked Lu Yunyang, “Do you want the girl to try our cafeteria food?”
Lu Yunyang had been here twice; the food was good, but he didn’t want Yutao among a group of men staring at his “wife.” He politely declined.
The private moment remained. Wu Liangyu had guessed she would refuse, smiling as he walked closer, whispering, “When will you hold the wedding, brother?”
His words made Lu Yunyang’s chest skip a beat. He glanced at Yutao.
She stood there, elegant, slender legs, graceful, and alluring.
For some reason, his mind conjured an image of her in a red bridal outfit, sitting on the bed, tempting him.
His breath caught for a moment. He withdrew his gaze, slowly saying, “I’ll do it as soon as possible.”
Wu Liangyu patted his shoulder. “Then hurry. Among our friends, you’re the last one left.”
Lu Yunyang’s throat felt dry. He nodded and left the break room.
Once that image took root in his mind, it couldn’t be forgotten.
Downstairs, he looked at Yutao, as if making an important decision. “The other day, Lin Lifang said the department store got some nice ready-made clothes. Do you want to go see?”
Women had a natural interest in cosmetics and clothes. Yutao couldn’t refuse. “I still haven’t used the fabric coupons you gave me. Of course I want to go.”
Seeing her dark eyes sparkle with joy, Lu Yunyang smiled, reaching to gently take her hand.
Her soft fingers slipped into his palm, smooth, and he grasped her hand firmly.
The factory was remote, so they held hands for a while. Once they reached the streets, more people appeared, and he let go.
Yutao immersed herself in the new clothes, unaware of his gesture. They soon arrived at the department store.
The building had three floors: first for daily necessities, second for appliances and fertilizers, third for clothes and cosmetic products.
They went directly to the third floor. Yutao browsed a while; skincare was scarce. Other products like floral water and detergents were abundant, but she wasn’t interested. She headed straight to ready-made clothing.
As Lu Yunyang said, there was indeed a lot of clothing!
After her figure changed, the Original Owner’s clothes fit poorly, and even the few fabrics she had bought before left her wardrobe lacking. Seeing these ready-made clothes, her eyes lit up as she pointed out items for the sales clerk.
Although trying on wasn’t possible, holding clothes to her body worked well.
She held a pastel blue short-sleeve dress in front of her. Smiling, she asked, “How about this one?”
Lu Yunyang examined her calmly.
The dress was pastel blue, below the knee, very short sleeves exposing her shoulders, and a low neckline. Not suitable for her.
“Average,” he said plainly, giving it a low rating.
Yutao liked the color; it wasn’t too bright or dull. But why did this man’s opinion differ so much?
After a moment of frustration, she changed to another.
A pink dress, sleeves longer, but just below the knee—anyone wearing it would expose their legs.
“Average,” he said again.
Yutao thought the color was pretty, but the style was indeed ordinary. She picked another.
“This one?” she asked.
Lu Yunyang looked. White cotton, very see-through. Without a slip underneath, it would be transparent. Again, he rated it average.
There were many ready-made dresses, but Yutao was repeatedly rejected. Frustrated, she pointed at a row of clothes. “Then tell me which one looks good, and I’ll try it!”
Lu Yunyang glanced at a red dress. Clearing his throat, he said to the sales clerk, “That one. Bring it down.”
Red dresses were standard for weddings, either homemade or bought. This style was always sold here.
The sales clerk smiled and got it.
Yutao frowned. This color was too plain! Who wore all red casually? She wasn’t getting married!
Seeing her frown, Lu Yunyang raised an eyebrow. “This one will look best on you.”
“What… this…” Yutao paused, then looked at him, narrowing her eyes.
As if thinking of something playful, she smiled, holding the dress and walking toward him.
After a moment, she beckoned him to bend down.
Lu Yunyang obliged, slightly bowing.
Yutao pressed her lips to his cheek, voice soft and teasing: “Silly, I look best when I’m not wearing clothes.”