Chapter 39: Hanfu, Flirtation, and the Separate Rooms

Bai Hao, watching Aunt Xia pout and demur with a charming awkwardness, found himself swallowing hard.

‘This alluring mature woman is truly deadly…’

With that thought firmly in mind, he naturally embarked on a relentless campaign of persistence.

The ancient adage, ‘A good woman fears a persistent suitor,’ proved itself undeniably true, assuming, of course, that she was indeed a good woman.

Xia Zhiquiu, exasperated beyond measure by the young man’s incessant pestering, was just about to raise her delicate fist to strike him when she saw him gaze up at her with a feigned pitiful expression, clutching her arm.

Upon witnessing the young man’s comical antics, Xia Zhiquiu couldn’t help but let out a sudden burst of laughter.

However, she swiftly suppressed her mirth, adopting a facade of cool aloofness as she spoke.

“Very well, then, just this once. There won’t be a next time.”

Bai Hao, hearing her words, finally felt a surge of satisfaction, yet he entirely disregarded Aunt Xia’s pronouncement of ‘just this once,’ understanding implicitly that one instance invariably led to a second, and a second to a third…

Without further ado, Bai Hao pulled Xia Zhiquiu towards a Hanfu boutique, where the garments, displayed in dazzling array, immediately overwhelmed the senses.

Xia Zhiquiu felt a pang of embarrassment at that moment.

Having once been a man, she, despite her current female form, harbored a genuine reluctance to don women’s attire.

Having worn such clothes before in front of that little rascal Bai Hao was tolerable, given it was just the two of them, allowing Xia Zhiquiu to delude herself into believing it didn’t truly constitute wearing women’s attire.

By now, Bai Hao had already selected two sets of Hanfu: a delicate, pale blue gown embellished with intricate glazed ornaments, and a vibrant, fiery red gown.

“Aunt Xia, hurry and try them on.”

Xia Zhiquiu eyed the garments with reluctance, on the verge of protesting, but Bai Hao, denying her the opportunity, promptly ushered her into the fitting room.

What truly astonished her was that he then followed her inside!

At this sight, a flush spread across Xia Zhiquiu’s pretty face, and she quickly exclaimed.

“You—what are you doing in here? Get out!”

Bai Hao, however, merely responded with an utterly brazen grin.

“Aunt Xia, you probably aren’t very familiar with Hanfu, are you? I happen to know a thing or two, so I’m simply here to assist you.”

Even as he spoke, his hand, like a predatory claw, was already reaching for the beautiful mature woman’s buttons, his intentions laid bare for all to see.

Xia Zhiquiu shot him a sharp glare, swatting his hand away with a decisive motion.

“I don’t need your help. Get out. If you don’t leave, I won’t change.”

Bai Hao’s eyes flickered mischievously, and he then let out a theatrical sigh.

“Fine, then.”

With those words, the young man turned and departed, appearing to have genuinely abandoned his mischievous designs.

Xia Zhiquiu let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Though the young man had already taken liberties with her body on numerous occasions, revealing herself like this in front of him was, naturally, out of the question!

With that thought, she redirected her attention to the Hanfu hanging nearby, preparing to change.

What Xia Zhiquiu could never have anticipated, however, was Bai Hao’s sudden, unexpected return, a swift tactical move that caught her completely off guard!

Xia Zhiquiu’s beautiful eyes widened in an indignant glare, and she instinctively prepared to scold the young man for his shamelessness.

But in the very next moment, her blossoming protest was silenced as his lips met hers.

“Mmm… mmm…”

For a time, Xia Zhiquiu could only manage small, animalistic whimpers, utterly helpless as she was forced to accept the young man’s ‘assistance’ in changing her clothes.

After a considerable while, under the knowing gaze of the female shop owner, Bai Hao finally emerged, gently pulling Xia Zhiquiu along.

Xia Zhiquiu now stood adorned in a vibrant red Hanfu, its flowing sleeves fluttering softly, a vision as captivating as the most intense streak of color in a twilight sky.

Gold-embroidered clouds on the skirt hem shimmered with her every step, seeming poised to ascend at any moment, while the rich crimson fabric only served to accentuate the snow-like pallor of her skin.

Yet, upon that pristine, jade-like neck, a faint crimson mark lingered, the perpetrator’s identity implicitly understood.

Thus, Xia Zhiquiu’s head remained bowed, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, utterly unable to conceal the shyness brimming in her eyes.

The sight of such an alluring, mature woman blushing with bashful charm was, in its own right, even more resplendent than the vibrant red gown she wore.

Bai Hao, however, still seemed slightly dissatisfied, and promptly addressed the shop owner.

“Shop owner, do you happen to have any hairpins here?”

The female shop owner, herself captivated by Xia Zhiquiu’s unparalleled beauty, pondered for a moment after hearing his inquiry, then replied.

“Please wait a moment, you two.”

In short order, the female shop owner returned, a remarkably delicate ‘flowing cloud hairpin’ (TL Note: A type of traditional Chinese hairpin, often intricately carved to resemble clouds.) held gracefully in her hand.

“This hairpin is one I purchased for myself some time ago, but I’ve never had occasion to wear it. Consider it a gift for your girlfriend.”

Bai Hao promptly offered his thanks, then quickly corrected her.

“Shop owner, this isn’t my girlfriend, you see.”

The female shop owner paused, startled, then, as if a sudden realization dawned upon her, she uttered with a distinctly knowing tone.

“Ah, I see. Then I understand, I understand perfectly.”

Bai Hao nodded, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips, then paid for both sets of Hanfu.

Indeed, he had purchased the other one as well, ever prepared to playfully torment Aunt Xia.

Xia Zhiquiu, however, remained blissfully unaware of his underlying intentions, her face still burning with shame, her head feeling light and dizzy.

***

The autumn sun imbued the air with boundless warmth.

On an ancient stone bridge, a mature, curvaceous woman, clad in Hanfu, sat gracefully by the railing, a round fan held delicately in her hand.

Golden willow branches swayed gently with the breeze, playfully disheveling her raven hair.

The young man stood attentively beside her, meticulously styling her hair until he finally secured the ‘flowing cloud hairpin’ (TL Note: A type of traditional Chinese hairpin, often intricately carved to resemble clouds.) into place, only then nodding with a look of profound satisfaction.

“Aunt Xia, it’s all done.”

Hearing him, Xia Zhiquiu raised her phone to inspect her reflection, and a complex expression flickered in her eyes.

‘This little mischievous rascal, for all his naughtiness, is surprisingly nimble-fingered, isn’t he?’

‘At the very least, Xia Zhiquiu herself struggled to tie her hair neatly, usually leaving it to fall loosely around her shoulders.’

“Oh, by the way, when you said we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend just now, why did the shop owner look at me so strangely?”

Bai Hao merely shrugged at her question, responding nonchalantly.

“I had originally intended to say you were my wife, but she probably misunderstood me as your ‘boy toy’ (TL Note: ‘Xiaobailian,’ a derogatory term for a kept man or gigolo, often implying a younger man financially supported by an older woman.), didn’t she?

Hmm, it’s actually quite a delightful misunderstanding, so I saw no need to clarify.”

Xia Zhiquiu’s beautiful eyes widened in an indignant glare, and she retorted sharply.

“Nice, my foot! You are absolutely forbidden from spouting such nonsense again, do you understand? Otherwise, I’ll bite you to death!”

As she spoke, she parted her crimson lips, a gesture that, despite her words, only served to make her appear endearingly fierce.

Bai Hao nodded obediently, yet inwardly, he couldn’t help but find Aunt Xia utterly adorable, even in her attempts at intimidation.

With that thought, he gently took the jade-like hand of the beauty before him, murmuring softly.

“Aunt Xia, let’s go. We can continue our stroll, and then I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

Xia Zhiquiu paused at his words, a flicker of temptation instantly lighting up her beautiful eyes.

She then offered a soft huff, remaining silent.

Bai Hao, however, knew that this ‘tsundere’ Auntie had already acquiesced.

He promptly took her hand, leading her on a leisurely stroll through the ancient town, steeped in centuries of history.

Under the dappled sunlight, light and shadow seemed to transcend time, creating an atmosphere of serene tranquility…

***

As dusk began to settle, lanterns illuminated the ancient town, and Xia Zhiquiu and Bai Hao returned to the hotel she had booked earlier.

Xia Zhiquiu observed the young man, who stood utterly still, and with a slight furrow of her delicate brows, she spoke.

“What are you still gawking for? Go book your own room.”

Bai Hao, hearing her words, appeared utterly oblivious, asking with a hint of bewilderment.

“Aunt Xia, didn’t you already book a room? Has it perhaps expired?”

A flush crept across Xia Zhiquiu’s pretty face as she realized the young man was merely feigning ignorance, and she retorted with a mixture of shame and annoyance.

“That’s *my* room. You go book your own. We’re sleeping in separate rooms!”