Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 402 - 288: Nuwa is still in charge of this?_2

Chapter 402: Chapter 288: Nuwa is still in charge of this?_2

If possible, buy some vacuum-packed ones to take back to Yang City for the housekeeper and others to try. Not sure if they’d like it.

Every cook has his own secret, and people have different tastes. Anyway, Feng Yi thought it was decent.

After transferring the payment to Jia, Feng Yi was getting ready to walk around another place when he received a message from Lu Yue.

Lu Yue was in the clothing exhibition area, asking Feng Yi if he wanted to come over for some fun.

Having just had some snacks, Feng Yi thought it would be good to walk over and take a look, and help with digestion too.

The apparel section was bustling, probably because some merchants had invited internet celebrities and minor stars, attracting crowds of visitors.

Lu Yue showed Feng Yi a shortcut, a staff-only passage.

When Feng Yi arrived, Lu Yue was waiting backstage at their company’s exhibition area.

Their company had the largest exhibition space in that area.

The exhibition area displayed many clothing and accessories with traditional Dragon Boat Festival elements, offering rental for photoshoots, and for sale, while also hosting internet celebrities and live streamers for warm-up activities and product promotion.

Various online and offline marketing strategies had already been devised; Lu Yue didn’t need to monitor everything as each segment had its own dedicated person and team.

If everything required Lu Yue’s direct involvement, then the company wouldn’t be far from going under.

Seeing Feng Yi wearing a mask, Lu Yue chuckled, "What’s with the..."

Before he could finish the phrase "afraid of being recognized," a breeze blew by, and Feng Yi sneezed twice in succession.

Lu Yue leaned back, "...Got a cold?"

"No, just a bit allergic," Feng Yi said.

"Allergic to what, are you alright?"

Lu Yue looked around, uncertain of what the allergen could be.

"I’m fine," Feng Yi replied.

Lu Yue’s attention then turned back to the clothes Feng Yi was wearing that day.

Although it was just a seemingly simple solid-colored T-shirt, Lu Yue could still discern the care put into it from many small details. The fabric was the same kind he had seen the other day.

"Is this also custom-made for you by that elder?" Lu Yue asked.

"Yes. It’s from the same batch of custom orders," Feng Yi said.

Lu Yue’s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn’t help but ask, "The one who gave you the house at Cui Lake, the same elder?"

Feng Yi said, "No, that elder has already passed away."

Lu Yue quickly said, "Oh right, you mentioned that before. Sorry, sorry! My mind’s been a mess with all the busyness."

After a pause, Lu Yue tentatively asked, "Then... the one who gave you the transforming car?"

Feng Yi said, "No, that was another person."

Feng Yi didn’t feel it was appropriate to discuss matters related to the housekeeper, so he looked troubled.

Seeing this, Lu Yue didn’t press further.

But he was extremely curious and envious.

"From the same batch of custom orders," that meant several were ordered at once!

Just what kind of person was this "elder" related to Feng Yi? He had never heard of it!

And how many more unknown "elders" did Feng Yi have?

The more elusive the answers, the more mysterious they seemed, the more Lu Yue’s curiosity was piqued. He thought to ask the older generation in his family when he got back, to see if they could provide any useful information.

The noise from the audience at the event brought Lu Yue back from his thoughts.

He glanced outside, then back at Feng Yi.

What a pity! If Feng Yi agreed to wear their brand’s clothing and show his face at the live event, the popularity would definitely skyrocket!

Without Feng Yi’s participation, the online marketing buzz would still have to rely on them.

Though the internet celebrity models and live streamers they had invited were quite famous in their own circles, there was still a gap compared to Feng Yi.

"There are too many people outside, shall we go to the inner area?" Lu Yue suggested.

Feng Yi had planned on doing just that, "Sure."

He had already walked around the outer area, and it was getting more crowded. Even some secluded corners were gathering several people, making it inconvenient for him to eat without being noticed. It was not easy to find food privately, and there was the risk of being recognized.

After Lu Yue exchanged a few words with the person in charge of the exhibition area, he took off his business jacket and changed into a short-sleeved T-shirt.

He wore a watch on his wrist.

Because of the Dragon Boat Festival, Lu Yue had specifically changed his watch strap to one with holiday-themed weaving. The watch face itself didn’t show any particular features, and the design was simple.

Seeing this, Feng Yi couldn’t help but think: Is this returning to simplicity after being ripped off?

Seeing Feng Yi’s gaze fixed on the watch on his wrist, Lu Yue was reminded of the time when he was duped.

When he first met Feng Yi, he had been called out for the quality of his watch’s leather. Now, in such a strictly regulated environment, wearing a genuine python skin watch would only damage one’s reputation even faster, wouldn’t it?

Although that incident was in the past, its impact on Lu Yue lingered.

"There’s an old saying: once bitten by a snake, one fears the well rope for ten years."

He still needed to wear a watch, but choosing which one to wear had caused Lu Yue much headache.

It wasn’t a matter of money; he was really just scared. So much so that he didn’t even trust the branded physical stores anymore.

Hadn’t the news reported it? Some physical stores also had fakes, and even though the odds were extremely low, what if?

He couldn’t afford to take that risk.

The watch Lu Yue was currently wearing was also expensive, but its design style had no natural elements whatsoever, particularly avoiding any of those biomimicry series related to animal skin, fur, bones, and so on.

Clearing his throat to ease the awkwardness, Lu Yue said, "Let’s go."

They showed their invitations and easily entered the inner area.

The inner area was indeed quieter, and food was available, though with far fewer choices.

Based on the scent, the food seemed similar to what was outside. Plus, with Lu Yue right beside him, Feng Yi didn’t dwell on the food any longer.

The consumption in the inner area was much higher than outside. For example, at the painting stall not far from the entrance, a seemingly inconspicuous painting could cost four figures or more, no bargaining allowed.

Lu Yue’s eye was caught by a Zhong Kui painting.

Feng Yi didn’t understand these things, but according to Lu Yue, the painter was quite well-known in certain circles, particularly skilled at painting images with supernatural elements.

The Zhong Kui painting Lu Yue had taken an interest in was among the more expensive in this stall, but he didn’t hesitate at all. He promptly paid, took the painting, and left, looking like he had just made a lucky bargain.

"I didn’t expect you to like this style of painting," Feng Yi observed as he looked at the Zhong Kui paintings displayed in the stall.

In ancient times, there was a custom of hanging portraits of Zhong Kui for a month during the Dragon Boat Festival to ward off evil spirits.

Feng Yi had seen others hang or paste Zhong Kui pictures before.

Nonchalantly, Lu Yue said, "Well, it’s not that I like it, but since I’m here for the Dragon Boat Festival..."

But from how swiftly he’d bought the painting, it might not be the case.

Feng Yi asked, "Are you going to hang this picture in your living room? Bedroom? Or maybe set up an incense burner and worship it?"

Lu Yue: "It depends on personal preference and home decor. Although there are certain practices for hanging these kinds of pictures, it’s most important that one finds comfort in one’s own home. If it scares oneself or the children and elders at home, then it’s counterproductive."

Then he asked Feng Yi, "Do you want to buy one too? They’re not mass-produced; each painting is unique, once it’s gone, it’s gone."

Feng Yi shook his head: "I’m not interested in this kind."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he turned around and saw another painting stall.

The paintings displayed in that stall were also related to the Dragon Boat Festival, several of them depicting the goddess Nüwa.

They were quite well done.

One particular painting had an exceptional ambiance, with the proportions of the figure just right—not like some paintings where the tail was either too long or too short. However, the pattern of the scales was not quite right.

Oh well, one couldn’t be too picky.

Feng Yi pointed to that painting, "Shopkeeper, wrap up that one for me."

With a laugh, Lu Yue quipped from the side, "You change your mind pretty fast!"

Feng Yi, unembarrassed, replied, "Isn’t that what you said? Since I’m already here."

He didn’t plan to hang this painting at home, it was just a memento of this event.

Feng Yi even had a hunch that if he hung this painting in his Yang City home, the butler would definitely not be pleased.

After all, the tail wasn’t painted perfectly.

Lu Yue didn’t know Feng Yi’s real thoughts; he just assumed Feng Yi bought the painting for the same reason he did—as a protective talisman for the home.

He glanced at the other Nüwa paintings in the shop. The upper half of the figures looked quite nice, but the snake-like tails on the lower half...

Forget it, better to stick with Zhong Kui!

After purchasing the paintings, Lu Yue led Feng Yi straight to another spot, "Let me show you something really interesting!"

A moment later.

Feng Yi and Lu Yue were sitting in a line.

The air around them was heavy with the smell of realgar wine.

In front, a middle-aged Taoist in a robe was using realgar wine to draw talismans on people.

Lu Yue: "This Taoist is really good at drawing talismans!"

Feng Yi: "...Achoo!"