Chapter 192: Love of Beauty

When Chang Sheng heard that the family workshop had officially opened, he finally returned home from the academy.

Ye Xin Ran hadn’t seen him in a while.

This time, she noticed he had lost weight but had grown taller.

“Auntie, I heard from Lu Chang Qing that the workshop has started. Is there anything I can help with?” Chang Sheng asked.

“Chang Sheng, Chang Sheng, don’t you have any manners, kid? I’m your uncle!”

Chang Sheng, who followed behind Lu Chang Qing, looked displeased with the way Lu Chang Qing addressed him.

But Chang Sheng ignored him completely, not even glancing in his direction.

“No need for your help! Just focus on your studies,” Ye Xin Ran said with a smile.

“Is the food at the academy not good? Why has our Chang Sheng lost so much weight?”

She was distressed to see the boy she had painstakingly helped gain weight looking so thin again.

“The food at the academy is fine,” Chang Sheng replied.

Lu Chang Qing interjected, “I know why he’s thin. His classmates say he’s a book worm, always burying himself in his studies. Sometimes, he even forgets to eat lunch!”

Hearing this, Ye Xin Ran felt even more heartache.

“Chang Sheng, that’s not okay! Do you have enough pocket money?”

“I can’t even spend it all!”

“How about this: from now on, let Chang Qing keep an eye on you and remind you to eat lunch every day!”

Chang Sheng glanced at Lu Chang Qing and immediately declined. “That’s not necessary. I’ll remember to eat, Auntie.”

Lu Chang Qing, however, agreed enthusiastically.

“Deal! I’ll take the job. Remember, kid, I’ll be joining you for lunch every day, so don’t ignore me.”

Ye Xin Ran found their interaction odd.

Why was Chang Sheng so cold toward Lu Chang Qing?

There had to be a reason!

After Chang Sheng went back to his room, Ye Xin Ran directly questioned Lu Chang Qing.

At first, Lu Chang Qing hesitated, not wanting to answer.

But under Ye Xin Ran’s persistent questioning, he finally admitted, “Maybe it’s because he’s holding a grudge about how I used to secretly follow him around and tried to learn about you through him.

This kid has quite a temper. It’s been so long, and you’ve already accepted me as your younger brother, but he’s still mad!”

Lu Chang Qing continued speaking to himself, completely oblivious to Ye Xin Ran’s sharp gaze.

“You actually did that?” she asked incredulously.

Ye Xin Ran was a bit surprised.

Lu Chang Qing explained, “Back then, I felt from the first meeting that you were different from others, but I didn’t want Auntie and the others to know, so I did some weird things!”

Ye Xin Ran replied, “As long as you realize it was weird! Our Chang Sheng has such a good temper!

If he doesn’t like you, it must be because of something you did. You should reflect on it and apologize to him properly.”

Hearing this, Lu Chang Qing looked displeased. “Sis, why is it always your Chang Sheng? Am I not part of your family? We’re actual siblings!”

“Alright, alright!”

Ye Xin Ran found his pouty expression amusing. “Just talk to Chang Sheng nicely. He’ll understand.”

“I’ll try!” Lu Chang Qing replied.

That evening, Lu Chang Qing went to apologize to Chang Sheng. Ye Xin Ran didn’t know what the two talked about, but soon after, Lu Chang Qing was kicked out.

“What happened? Did Chang Sheng refuse to forgive you?”

Ye Xin Ran was a little worried. Chang Sheng wasn’t the type to hold a grudge.

Instead of answering, Lu Chang Qing burst into laughter. “Sis, I’ve got it! I’ve got it!”

“What did you figure out?”

Ye Xin Ran didn’t understand and looked at her brother like he’d lost his mind.

Lu Chang Qing quickly explained, “Remember last time you asked me to take the facial soap to classmates with acne to try it out?”

He reminded her before continuing, “I’ve been searching for someone like that these past few days, and guess what?

I just noticed those kinds of pimples on Chang Sheng’s face!

Sis, when the facial soap is ready, give Chang Sheng a bar and let him use it to show everyone the results.”

“That won’t work. Chang Sheng cares a lot about saving face,” Ye Xin Ran rejected the idea.

“Sis, he cares about his image, but don’t I care about mine too?”

The two siblings were still debating when Chang Sheng stepped out of his room.

“Auntie, I agree!”

“What are you agreeing to?” Ye Xin Ran looked up at him.

With a serious expression, Chang Sheng said, “I agree to use the facial soap so everyone can see how effective it is.”

“But…”

Ye Xin Ran hesitated as she looked at his face, noticing a few pimples on his forehead.

“You don’t really need to…”

Ye Xin Ran knew Chang Sheng wasn’t the type to be outgoing or eloquent.

If this task had been assigned to Chang An, there would’ve been no problem.

But with Chang Sheng, she felt a little uneasy.

“I’ve been studying at the academy for so long and haven’t been able to help with anything at home,” Chang Sheng said.

“Now that I finally have a chance to contribute, I’ll do my best.”

Lu Chang Qing looked at Chang Sheng with newfound admiration.

He had thought the same as Ye Xin Ran, that Chang Sheng would certainly refuse.

Even if he agreed, it would be reluctantly.

But unexpectedly, Chang Sheng willingly took on this responsibility.

“Alright, give it a try, but don’t push yourself too hard,” Ye Xin Ran said.

Five days later, the first batch of facial soap was successfully produced.

The soap molds were engraved with a cloud pattern.

The packaging boxes also featured two matching clouds.

“This facial soap smells amazing!”

“Yeah, just standing here all day makes me feel like I’m carrying the scent on me!”

Er Dan’s mother and the others couldn’t get enough of the facial soap.

Although Tao Hua and Xiao Hua were curious about the soap, they restrained themselves from opening any. Instead, they focused on counting the packaged products carefully, ensuring every single bar was accounted for and stored in the inventory.

Ye Xin Ran trusted them, and they took their responsibility of guarding the warehouse seriously.

Every bottle and jar in the storage room was meticulously monitored.

That evening, Ye Xin Ran brought two bars of each scented facial soap back home and took one set to Leng Qing Yu.

“Mother, this is the facial soap we just made. You should try it!”

Receiving a gift from her daughter, Leng Qing Yu was overjoyed.

She smelled the soap and said, “This facial soap is wonderful, so much better than the soap beans I’ve been using! Who are the other bars for?”

Other than her and her daughter, there were no other women in the house.

Leng Qing Yu couldn’t figure out who Ye Xin Ran had prepared the rest for.

“They’re for Chang Sheng. Tomorrow, I’ll have Chang Qing take them to the academy for him!”

“Boys use facial soap too?” Leng Qing Yu was a bit surprised.

“Men care about their appearance just as much as women,” Ye Xin Ran laughed. “Especially scholars!”