Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

That really is a great idea. Although we’re currently isolated from the outside world, nations still interact with each other.

”That’ll work. We’ll have personnel traveling back and forth, so I can ask a colleague to help.” Hua Yufen grew even more excited. ”Thank you, Nuanyue! When I find my Mr. Right, I’ll give you all the credit!”

Zhao Nuanyue paused at her words, a guess forming in her mind. ’There must be someone she fancies in that foreign trade delegation.’

However, since Hua Yufen didn’t bring it up, Zhao Nuanyue decided not to pry.

She figured Hua Yufen would tell her on her own once they became closer.

”That’s good,” Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. ”Come on. You’re going to an allied country, and their sense of style is different from ours. I’ve looked into a few hairstyles in my spare time. A professor who once studied abroad in an allied country said they look very nice. Want me to teach you?”

Already deeply impressed by Zhao Nuanyue’s ability to make such an effective face mask, Hua Yufen smiled eagerly. ”Nuanyue, please teach me! You have to teach me how to style myself!”

Seeing Hua Yufen’s enthusiasm, Zhao Nuanyue was more than happy to oblige. ”Of course,” she said with a smile. ”Put some vanishing cream on your face, and I’ll let your hair down so I can see what style would suit you.”

Hua Yufen quickly applied the vanishing cream and sat down properly. As she undid her braids, she said, ”Nuanyue, please take a look. I know we’ve been isolated here and don’t know much about the outside world or its fashion trends. You know how to make yourself look so lovely, so you must have studied it. You have to teach me everything!”

”Of course! You’re going to be my sister-in-law, so I’ll tell you everything I know,” Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile as she picked up a comb and began to brush Hua Yufen’s hair.

Hua Yufen’s hair was dark, glossy, and silky smooth. The texture was excellent.

Zhao Nuanyue gathered her hair and styled it into a high ponytail. Since it had been in braids, Hua Yufen’s hair was now wavy and voluminous. The long, full ponytail gave her a very chic air.

Hua Yufen’s forehead was a little high, so Zhao Nuanyue picked up a pair of scissors and cut some wispy bangs for her, which made her facial proportions look much more balanced.

”Take a look. What do you think?” Zhao Nuanyue asked with a smile. ’It looks wonderful.’

Hua Yufen held up a mirror, while Zhao Nuanyue held a smaller one behind her so she could see the ponytail. Hua Yufen said happily, ”Nuanyue, it’s beautiful! I never thought just tying my hair up high could look this good. My hair looks like it’s been permed. It’s so pretty.”

”After you wash your hair, it’ll be straight, and a high ponytail will still look great,” Zhao Nuanyue said. ”When you’re abroad, you can decide which style to use depending on the occasion. Got it? I’ll teach you a couple more.”

”I’ve got it, Nuanyue.” Hua Yufen was very bright. In the past, everyone just wore two braids, but for this trip abroad, they had been told that while they couldn’t completely adopt local customs, they were expected to make appropriate adjustments. Their leader had mentioned this, and it had already received approval from their superiors.

So, Zhao Nuanyue taught Hua Yufen a few more simple, easy-to-learn hairstyles. Hua Yufen was so delighted with how beautiful she looked that her face flushed with excitement.

”Nuanyue, you’re amazing,” Hua Yufen said gratefully. ”Looking at myself now... I’m actually quite pretty.”

”You’ve always been beautiful,” Zhao Nuanyue praised. ”A confident woman is a beautiful woman. Especially for you, as a professional woman involved in diplomatic work, you need that confidence even more. Let those foreigners see the confidence and pride of the women of our Yan Country.”

”Yes, I’ll be confident,” Hua Yufen promised, nodding repeatedly and beaming with joy.

Downstairs, Feng Wanru had been listening to her husband and son discuss work. Finding it dull, she went upstairs to check on the girls. She heard her daughter and future daughter-in-law giggling and chatting happily. When she pushed the door open, she saw her daughter with a brand-new look.

She looked elegant, beautiful, and carried herself with such class.

”Heh, my goodness, no wonder our Fenfen is so happy! It’s because you look so lovely. Oh, and why does your skin look fairer?” Feng Wanru said in surprise. Then she noticed the large glass jar by the bed. ”Is that the face mask?”

”Yes, it is,” Hua Yufen said with a smile. ”It works really well. And when Nuanyue heard I was going to an allied country, she taught me a few hairstyles. They look great, don’t they?”

’My daughter has such a quiet personality,’ Feng Wanru thought. ’For her to get along so well with Zhao Nuanyue... I have to admit, my future daughter-in-law has a real gift for connecting with people.’

”My, my, very nice, very nice,” Feng Wanru said with a hint of envy. Even though she was over fifty, she still wanted to look beautiful. But as the elder, she was too embarrassed to ask for some herself.

Zhao Nuanyue saw the look in her eyes and made a mental note. ’I’ll make some for my future mother-in-law, too, and have Hua Yusen bring it to her. That way, it won’t be awkward like giving it to her face-to-face.’

With Feng Wanru there, Zhao Nuanyue spoke less. Watching the mother and daughter engaged in a lively discussion, she felt a pang of envy. She and her own mother, Xia Yingyu, had never shared a moment like this.

’Ah, well. Forget it,’ she thought.

She decided not to dwell on it. ’Everyone is different, after all. At least in this life, things are different for me. I can’t force family affection where it doesn’t exist.’

It was almost four o’clock. Zhao Nuanyue remembered that her younger brother would be getting off work soon, plus she still needed to prepare the face mask for Hua Yufen. She decided it was time to leave. ”Auntie, Yu Fen, I’m heading home now to prepare your mask. I’ll bring it over tomorrow.”

”Nuanyue, don’t go to the trouble of bringing it over. I’ll just have my brother pick it up,” Hua Yufen said with a smile, personally walking Zhao Nuanyue downstairs.

Little Red Carp was throwing a frisbee, with a big dog chasing after it.

When Zhao Nuanyue reached Little Red Carp, she saw the child’s little face was flushed red from playing.

”Little Red Carp, we’re heading home,” Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. ”Your sister Fenfen really likes the mask, so we need to go make some more.”

”Okay! Little Red Carp will help Big Sister.” Little Red Carp put the wooden frisbee away and handed it to Hua Yulin, who was standing nearby. ”Lin, you can put this away. I’ll play with you again next time!”

The child’s comically grown-up tone made both Hua Yusen and Hua Yulin burst out laughing.

After saying goodbye to the elders, Hua Yusen escorted Zhao Nuanyue home. On the way, they stopped by Immortal Grass Hall for a bit to buy some more medicinal herbs, which they brought back to Qingya Lake to prepare more of the face mask.

Her master’s wife had invited Zhao Nuanyue to stay for dinner, but she declined, explaining she had things to do.

Back home, Hua Yusen took on the task of grinding the herbs into powder while Zhao Nuanyue extracted the juice from the Dragon Wisdom Grass. Little Red Carp was in charge of watching the fire under the pot, where they were using steam to sterilize the glass jars that would hold the mask.

”These are all for Yu Fen,” Zhao Nuanyue told Hua Yusen. ”As for your mother, please tell her this formula isn’t right for her. Once I gather the right herbs, I’ll prepare an even better one just for her.” ’I can’t just give a gift to my sister-in-law and not my mother-in-law,’ she thought.