Return to the Day When My Pregnant Wife Jumped Off the Building-Chapter 365 - Local Customs and Practices_1

When Xiao Ming came out after his bath, Furukawa Shizuka was applying cream to her calves.

As the saying goes, when God closes a door, he opens a window.

The short and stout legs were an innate flaw of the people from the rising sun’s land, unavoidable for Furukawa Shizuka, but her skin was so pale and delicate that it could make Fujiwara Rika, who labored over her skincare all day, die of jealousy.

If other women were compared to mutton fat jade or white porcelain, then she was tofu, tofu in soup.

Furukawa Shizuka had one leg bent, her foot on a soft stool, meticulously spreading the cream back and forth, utterly unconcerned about whether her spread-open bathrobe was revealing too much, and acting as if Xiao Ming didn’t exist.

Xiao Ming was not shy either, sitting on the edge of the bed, drinking water and appreciating the sight.

Of course, it was pure appreciation; this little temptation was not enough to compromise his integrity.

After she finished, Furukawa Shizuka lowered her leg and looked at the cup in his hand with a hint of a smile.

Xiao Ming’s heart skipped a beat, "What’s wrong with you again?"

"The medicine I gave you in Lingnan, I still have some left," Furukawa Shizuka said. freewebnøvel.com

Xiao Ming lifted the cup to take a careful look at the clear liquid inside, smacked his lips, and slid into the covers.

"Childish."

"You don’t believe me?"

"Right."

"Why not?"

"Because there’s no need."

Furukawa Shizuka’s eyebrows rose slightly as she wiggled over to the other side of the bed like a big caterpillar from his body.

"Why is there no need? Do you mean that if I wanted to, you would agree?"

Xiao Ming had already closed his eyes, "No, it’s because you simply have no need to sleep with me. The bond between us doesn’t need to be established through bodily fluids.

Besides, although you’ve dared to touch a snake now, that doesn’t mean you can forget the cause of Xingzi’s death.

Love has left the deepest impression on you — that it can be invaded by a snake in your body, and the real-life situation is quite similar.

So even if you truly fell in love with me, you certainly wouldn’t dare to have relations with me anytime soon.

At the very least, we would have to wait until your psychological shadow has completely faded.

From this standpoint, the most suitable emotional role for you would indeed be a lesbian, so I suggest you consider it."

Furukawa Shizuka didn’t say anything more.

After a bout of rustling, the covers were pulled back, and then Xiao Ming felt her slip into his embrace.

Without her bathrobe on.

"Hey! You’re not just trying to make me look like a fool by being stubborn, are you?"

Furukawa Shizuka let his arm go around her neck, then placed it on her shoulder, closed her eyes and said, "You were the one who told me that sleeping in clothes would hinder growth.

I’m sleepy. Please turn off the light, thank you!

By the way, goodnight, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Ming paused for a moment, gave up on trying to figure out what she was thinking, and reached out to turn off the wall light.

If people were compared to books, some men were mystery novels, some were comedy; some tragic, some dull, but no matter which type, there was always a day when you’d reach the end.

Women were entirely different.

They were like books of the heavens, devoid of logic and causality, filled entirely with the illogical language of emotions, incomprehensible to anyone but themselves.

Trying to ponder their thoughts is purely masochistic.

The next morning at nine o’clock, the antique appraisal competition officially began.

Such events were held by the Jiuzhou Ancient Appraisal Association every two years with the motto of promoting traditional culture and discovering antique appraisal talent.

As one can tell, those who came to participate were mainly folks looking to eke out a living in the antiques appraisal field.

In the past, because the relevant skills were relayed from master to apprentice, and these masters were mostly from the Ancient Appraisal Association, the competition initially was just an internal test for newcomers.

Later, as the monopoly on knowledge broke down, antique appraisers were no longer limited to the association and were increasing in numbers.

Nowadays, amateur participants made up the majority, and it was the Association itself that appeared to be lacking in new blood.

Nevertheless, the Jiuzhou Ancient Appraisal Association remained an authoritative organization in the field of antique appraisal. Earning a decent rank in the competition was like getting an endorsement for one’s skills, creating a highly valuable reputation and causing their worth to skyrocket.

The venue for the competition was a gymnasium in Qingyang City, and since it was the first event, it was more like a mass audition, with two or three hundred contestants of various ages gathered together, waiting for the leadership to speak.

As a guest, Xiao Ming was seated aside from the leaders and "judges", with collectors and businessmen hoping to spot talent or just to be entertained filling the spectator seats next to him.

Furukawa Shizuka was still dressed in formal kimono attire, her dignified demeanor capturing incessant photos from the local TV station’s photographers.

"Although you’re already mine, it’s still frustrating to see my compatriots so disgraceful!" Xiao Ming muttered.

Furukawa Shizuka smiled slightly, "Mr. Xiao could consider it from another perspective. The more I understand the customs and culture of your country, the more efficiently I can work for you in the future."

Xiao Ming gave a wry smile.

The so-called "customs and culture", put simply, was an infatuation with things foreign.

What foreigners deemed good shone a light on one’s face.

This was a deeply ingrained notion among many of the elite.

With Furukawa Shizuka’s kimono-clad photos broadcast on television, Qingyang could claim to have successfully held an international-scale event, receiving high praise from international friends.

This was the reality. Even if he was mocked by a woman from the land of the rising sun, Xiao Ming could say nothing in response.

"Mr. Xiao... Mr. Xiao..."

A weak voice suddenly came from behind him. He turned around to see An Kefang with a haggard little face saying, "I’m sorry, there was a bit of a traffic jam, I’m late."

Xiao Ming’s eyebrows rose, "You’re lying!"