Chapter 72: The Self-Cultivation of a Canary (End)

Shen Hanlan barely took a few bites before setting down his bowl and chopsticks. "I'm done."
He must truly be in a foul mood, unwilling to speak to anyone, not even Ling Qiong.
Ling Qiong tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't respond. In the end, he simply found her annoying and told her to leave.
Ling Qiong: "..."
Fine, I'll leave.
Who wants to wait on you anyway!
Back in the day, others waited on me!
He has blessings and doesn't appreciate them!
Hmph!
...
Night fell.
Ling Qiong was deep in a beautiful dream when she was jolted awake. She didn't even have time to cry out; every sound was smothered.
"You... what are you doing?"
Ling Qiong struggled free a little and quickly spoke up.
In the darkness, Shen Hanlan's voice was low. "I'm hungry."
"...
Why didn't you eat more earlier!
Now you know what hunger is!
Serves you right!
Ling Qiong, fuming, said, "Move."
Shen Hanlan didn't budge. "I'm hungry."
Ling Qiong groused, "I heard you! If you don't move, how am I supposed to make you a midnight snack? I can't conjure food with magic!"
Shen Hanlan lowered his head and kissed her. "No need."
"???"
Weren't you hungry?
Suddenly, Ling Qiong realized—perhaps she had become his midnight snack.
...
In the haze, Ling Qiong heard the sound of rain outside the window.
The rain fell softly, lingering on the tangled vines outside, rustling gently.
The rain grew heavier, drumming against the window, drowning out every sound in the room.
...
The next morning.
Ling Qiong pushed open the window and saw flowers blooming on the vines, their petals shyly peeking out from beneath the leaves.
Shen Hanlan was disturbed by the light outside and couldn't sleep. He sat up in bed.
Looking up, he saw the girl by the window, reaching out to pluck a flower branch.
Shen Hanlan squinted. "You're in good spirits?"
"Of course." Ling Qiong spun around, holding a flower branch, her face radiant with a dazzling smile, as bright as the blossom in her hand.
"Come over here."
"...
The flower branch dropped to the floor, bathed in sunlight, filling the room with its fragrance.
...
Ling Qiong took advantage of Shen Hanlan's trip to the bathroom to open her illustrated guide.
'After the rain, moonlight blooms' now showed only Shen Hanlan.
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He leaned against the windowsill, a flower branch heavy with morning dew poking inside, like a mischievous child gently tapping his shoulder.
The collar of his thin loungewear had slipped down, exposing a large swath of skin to the air.
He was clutching a flower branch, perhaps too tightly, for beads of blood dripped from its tip, blossoming on the snow-white carpet at his feet.
Ling Qiong, in exceptionally good spirits, rolled twice on the bed.
Who could resist such a cutie!
Before she could finish her second roll, Shen Hanlan caught her and pulled her into his arms.
He had just showered, and his skin still carried a damp freshness.
Ling Qiong pulled him close and sniffed, utterly certain: "You smell wonderful."
Shen Hanlan: "..."
Where exactly did he smell?
He was sure he carried no scent at all.
Why did she insist he smelled wonderful?
Shen Hanlan brooded over this, and as they went downstairs, he asked Kelly.
Kelly thought for a moment and replied, "Sir, it might be the incense in your wardrobe."
"Why can't I smell it?"
"Because it's very faint. You're used to it, so you don't notice anymore."
Habit becomes second nature.
Whether fragrant or foul, if you breathe it long enough, you stop noticing.
Shen Hanlan frowned slightly. "Remove it."
Kelly, seeing Shen Hanlan's less-than-friendly expression, didn't dare ask questions and quickly agreed.
He removed the incense that very day.
The wardrobe still carried a trace of scent, but it would soon dissipate.
Not long after, Shen Hanlan asked him to put it back.
Kelly: "???"
Are you toying with me?
When Shen Hanlan said this, his face was sour, as if putting it back was an insult, yet he insisted.
Kelly couldn't quite understand...
Who was he tormenting?
Clearly, it was not Shen Hanlan tormenting anyone, but Ling Qiong tormenting him.
She said she liked the scent...
What could Shen Hanlan do?
...
Ling Qiong had seen Zhao Yunye a few times at school. She guessed he no longer suspected her involvement in the heroine's death and hadn't sought her out.
So, avoiding the original fate was actually quite simple.
Avoid the male lead, and you'll have a bright new beginning.
Ling Qiong drew cards for over a year before finally pulling the last one.
From her scant experience, the final card was probably a proposal.
After all, every perfect HE ending needs a proposal.
How else could it be perfect?
Shen Hanlan must have been planning his proposal for some time, making it grand and arranging everything just as Ling Qiong liked.
She had nothing to do but show up, beautifully dressed, and accept his proposal.
No guests were invited—only the protagonists and the staff responsible.
Shen Hanlan stood tall beneath the lights, watching the person approaching him.
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The pure white dress made her look as flawless as a fairy, so delicate one would want to cradle her and protect her from any harm.
For the first time, Shen Hanlan's perpetually cold face softened into a smile.
He knelt on one knee, looking up at her. "Do you want to change our relationship?"
Ling Qiong blinked. "I think..."
Shen Hanlan seemed to know what she was about to say. "Think carefully before you answer."
Ling Qiong swallowed her words and nodded. "I do."
Satisfied, Shen Hanlan curled his lips and slipped the ring onto Ling Qiong's finger.
He stood, holding her in an embrace as confetti rained down.
At the end, Shen Hanlan suddenly said, "From now on, what's mine is yours. But you'd better spend it sparingly."
Ling Qiong: "Huh?"
Isn't it supposed to be spent freely?
Why should I be frugal?
How can a CEO be so stingy? Are you a fake CEO?!
Other people's CEOs aren't like this!
Shen Hanlan thought, generosity wasn't his forte. With her rate of spending, no amount of money would ever be enough.
No family would dare say, "Spend as you please," to a girl like her.
Ling Qiong withdrew her hand, puffed her cheeks, and snorted coldly. "Fine, I won't spend it. I can earn my own!"
By now, Shen Hanlan knew Ling Qiong didn't make her money solely by hustling—she was also great at boasting.
Shen Hanlan warned her, "Don't you dare scheme for my competitors!" He was exasperated.
"Earning from anyone is earning, isn't it? I don't even know who your competitors are."
Shen Hanlan: "What am I to you now?"
"My..." Ling Qiong swallowed the word 'patron.' "Fiancé."
Shen Hanlan: "..."
Sometimes he suspected she'd always regarded him as a cash dispenser.
Now, it was confirmed—she really did think that way.
"Do you like me?"
Ling Qiong's brows curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling with bright flecks. "Of course I do."
"Do you like me more, or my money more?"
"...
Ling Qiong felt this was a trick question.
She immediately patted her chest and answered with absolute certainty, "Of course I like Mr. Shen."
"Then shouldn't you be on my side?"
"...
So that's what you were waiting for!
——— Little Theater ——
Little Angel: Do you like me more, or my tickets more?
Little Fairy: You!
Little Angel: Huh?
Little Fairy: I need to like you first to trick you out of your tickets, hehe.
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