Zhi Hua, Let's Dual Cultivate

After Shen Fu entered, he found no scrap paper, meaning Bai Zhi Hua had only written once. However, before writing this sheet, she had stood before the desk for several hours.

In her mind, the contents of "Tiangu Yixian" that she had read flashed by, and she even performed a dance to find inspiration.

Finally, these four large characters were swept out in one go, expressing her perception of "Immortal." Regarding "Immortal," she still had quite a say; after all, Shen Fu had said she was very ethereal.

When Shen Fu saw these four large characters, his head buzzed. This piece of writing was surely born for his novel. He seemed to see behind these four characters a story spanning a thousand years. An "Immortal" was not just carefree and unrestrained; it also carried the vicissitudes of time.

From this piece of calligraphy, Shen Fu felt an inner resonance between himself and Bai Zhi Hua. Like "High Mountains and Flowing Water," he had found a soulmate; the more he looked, the more he liked it.

These four characters were too miraculous. It wasn't a matter of whether they looked good or not; they were just very special, giving off a wonderful feeling, as if one could ascend to the heavens after seeing them—or at least achieve Great Success in Foundation Establishment.

So he covered it up, not letting Tian Tian see, fearing she would be as mesmerized as he was.

However, Wan Zi Tian wasn't that obedient. She directly flipped it over and then, like her uncle, became immersed in it, as if she were about to form a Golden Core.

It wasn't until Bai Zhi Hua came in and asked, "Is the writing okay?" that the two of them woke up as if from a dream.

"It's beyond okay!" Shen Fu excitedly took the opportunity to hug Bai Zhi Hua. "You're a genius! Who would have thought this was your first work of calligraphy!"

Wan Zi Tian remarked, "I feel that this piece of writing is particularly evocative for someone like me who has read the original work. It's truly a style 'tailor-made' for 'Tiangu Yixian.' The readers will definitely love it!"

Bai Zhi Hua touched the hairpin on her head. "As long as I haven't disappointed you both."

Wan Zi Tian added, "However, I'm a bit disappointed in my uncle. Zhi Hua wrote such a great piece for you, yet you only gave her a hairpin."

"You're right," Shen Fu thought for a moment, then pushed Wan Zi Tian out and locked the door. "I must thank Zhi Hua properly."

Wan Zi Tian, at the door, hadn't had time to react. "A late-stage Foundation Establishment dare to push me, a Golden Core cultivator!"

Then she pressed her ear to the door, wanting to help Xiao Die eavesdrop on what was happening between her uncle and Bai Zhi Hua.

Bai Zhi Hua was a bit panicked because Shen Fu was already holding her waist, looking into her eyes with deep affection.

Finally, he said, "Seeing this piece of writing, I feel like I have a fresh perception of Cultivation."

"What perception?" Bai Zhi Hua held Shen Fu's hand, but she couldn't push it away; his hand was very strong.

"Cultivation... one person practicing isn't as good as two," Shen Fu said with a mischievous smile. "Do you know what it's called when two people cultivate together?"

Bai Zhi Hua understood based on the literal meaning. "Dual Cultivation?"

As soon as she said it, Bai Zhi Hua's expression changed. She seemed to have jumped into a hole herself.

"Aha, you said it!" Shen Fu grinned. "Miss Bai, it's too early to talk about dual cultivation, but I remember you secretly kissed me last time. It wouldn't be too much for me to kiss you back now, would it?"

Shen Fu felt that only in this way could he express his gratitude to Miss Zhi Hua—by giving this little treasure a good kiss.

This was the normal way he and Xiao Die lived together. Xiao Die cooked for him, he wanted a kiss; Xiao Die cleaned, he wanted a kiss; Xiao Die worked hard, and after she got off work, he wanted a kiss.

His own wife—he never tired of kissing her a hundred times; the more he kissed, the sweeter it became.

But just as his mouth was about to touch hers, this weak girl who had given up resistance stared at Shen Fu, her eyes suddenly filling with tears.

Shen Fu was startled. "Ah, Miss Bai, what's wrong? I... I'm not considered to be bullying you, am I?"

"Of course not," Bai Zhi Hua clenched her fists and lowered her voice. "The characters are finished. You can call Xiao Die back now."

After saying that, she closed her eyes and tilted her head up, waiting for Shen Fu's kiss, but tears overflowed and slid down her cheeks in two trails.

Shen Fu was so scared he was at a loss. He helped wipe away her tears, but because his hands were stained with ink, he accidentally smeared two "mustaches" on her nose.

Shen Fu stifled a laugh and said to her seriously, "I never thought of discarding you after you've served your purpose. I just wanted to express my gratitude to you, and also... my affection~"

Affection? Bai Zhi Hua opened her eyes, looking at Shen Fu in disbelief. Had she heard correctly?

She wanted to hear more—what kind of affection, why the affection.

But Shen Fu didn't continue the topic. He also felt embarrassed; he was a married man, yet here he was telling another girl about affection. His old face turned a bit red.

He thought for a while and said, "Don't overthink things. I have absolutely no intention of driving you away. I'm very happy you're staying. Continue practicing your calligraphy. My study is still missing some aphorisms. I... I'll go downstairs first. I'm taking this piece with me."

Shen Fu hurriedly opened the door with the four large characters "Tiangu Yixian," ran into Wan Zi Tian who was still eavesdropping, pinched her ear, and went downstairs.

He took a photo and sent it to Zhang San, asking him, "The title font is decided. What do you think?"

Zhang San called immediately. "Which master's work is this?"

After all, having been involved in art since childhood, San Ge still had some aesthetic sense.

"A reader of mine wrote it," Shen Fu laughed. "Although they have no fame, I feel this style perfectly fits the core of my novel. Let's use it."

"It's great!" Zhang San marveled. "Even though I can't see the original, just from the photo, I can feel a thick Immortal Qi and the vicissitudes of antiquity. It couldn't be written without decades of skill. This reader of yours might be a titan in the literary world!"

Zhi Hua could even fool Zhang San; it seemed she really had great skill. "You know this reader too."

"Who is it?"

"Your sister-in-law."

"What?!"

Next, Shen Fu sent the photo to Chou Ju, deciding the book cover would use this.

After a long while, Chou Ju called back. "I think it's very good, so I sent the photo to my father. He immediately rewarded you with a Silver Alliance. He said the four characters are eternally elegant. He also asked if this teacher could write a piece for his company using this style. The commission fee is whatever they want."

"Forget the commission. Whatever he wants written, I'll have Xiao Die write one for Uncle and Aunt later."

"What? This was written by President Bai?!" Chou Ju couldn't imagine it.

"That's right. My Little Bai is multi-talented. Did you forget she wrote a Guzheng piece before~" Shen Fu said proudly. Having a talented wife was truly comfortable; every gesture could be a flex.

Although Chou Ju felt it was too bizarre, Xiao Die always managed to surprise people, so it was barely acceptable. "If she's not an outsider, could President Bai use this style to write an introductory poem? I think the readers will definitely love it."

The so-called introduction was something Shen Fu did at the start of every book—quoting a classical poem from a master of that era that fit the content, equivalent to a foreword.

For example, in his first book, which was also his first physical book, he quoted "To Hermit Cheng" by the early Tang poet Wang Ji.

"A hundred years of chaos, all things drift along.
Sunlight falls at will, river water flows with heart.
Rites and music imprison Ji Dan, poems and books bind Kong Qiu.
Better to have a pillow of no-thought, and occasionally take to wine to drown the sorrow."

Shen Fu thought this was a great idea. He was about to go upstairs to discuss it with Bai Zhi Hua when Long Wu arrived with Long Xi Xi. The first thing she did was shout urgently, "Shen Fu, your daughter has been bullied!"