"Qiao Anchen, you're hilarious, hahaha..."
She acted recklessly, completely disregarding Qiao Anchen's indescribable expression beside her. After a moment, he silently stood up.
"Take your time looking around, I'm going back to my room now."
"Hey, didn't you say the plot was pretty good?" Chu Yi looked innocent. "Aren't you going to watch it again?"
"No, thank you," Qiao Anchen said tactfully. "This drama might not be suitable for me."
"Okay." Chu Yi looked up at him, nodded, and seemed to have a hint of regret in her voice.
"Then I'll just have to watch it by myself."
"Okay, you can look at it by yourself." Qiao Anchen left impatiently, his back view looking like he was fleeing in panic. When he opened the door, he accidentally kicked the cabinet next to him. Chu Yi was about to ask him if he was okay, but Qiao Anchen quickly waved his hand without turning his head.
"It's alright, it's alright."
She was the only one left in the living room. Chu Yi reached into the fruit bowl, took a slice of watermelon, and ate it while watching TV, feeling quite happy.
After the start of autumn, the weather became increasingly hot and humid. Cheng Li dragged Chu Yi along to get her hair done.
While waiting, a hairstylist named Tony enthusiastically promoted a hairstyle to Chu Yi, first praising her good skin and small face, and then recommending a short hairstyle to her with great enthusiasm and professionalism, guaranteeing that it would suit her perfectly.
Looking at the pictures and then at her own face in the mirror, Chu Yi was a little tempted.
She's pretty, but the main thing is that she's never cut her hair short. The shortest she's ever cut it is barely shoulder-length. What girl doesn't dream of having short hair?
Cheng Li also enthusiastically echoed this sentiment.
“Sweetie, I think it’s a good idea. Look how hot it is now, a short haircut would be so comfortable.”
"Besides, I've never seen you with short hair before. Life is all about trying new things."
"Yes, beautiful, your face is small, and short hair is actually more attractive than long hair."
"Really?" Chu Yi, successfully turned to the side, looked at the two of them hesitantly and asked. They both nodded vigorously and sincerely in unison.
Chu Yi revealed a look of resignation, clenched his fist, gritted his teeth, and agreed.
"Okay! I'll cut it!"
Pushed to sit in front of the mirror, Chu Yi was suddenly a little scared when the hairdresser tied a cape around her neck and started gesturing with scissors. She asked Cheng Li next to her with concern.
"What if I get a terrible haircut and look awful?" Chu Yi became more and more worried and was starting to have second thoughts.
"It's nothing, don't be afraid," Cheng Li said, her eyes wide open, sincerely comforting her.
"Besides, it doesn't matter if the haircut is messed up. You're already married, so Qiao Anchen can't possibly divorce you."
Chuyi: "..."
"Okay." She thought about it and realized it made sense, so she made the decision resolutely.
"Cut!"
With a swift stroke, the shoulder-length hair was reduced to ear length, and with two more snips, it became even shorter.
Chu Yi didn't dare open her eyes the whole time. She felt an itchy sensation on her forehead, like strands of hair were moving on it. She heard the hairstylist ask her a question.
"This short haircut would be even cuter with bangs, would you like me to cut it for you?"
"Mmm-hmm." The die was cast, and there was no turning back; Chu Yi agreed without hesitation.
"You can decide what to do."
A few more snapping sounds came from beside her ears, and strands of hair fell down, landing on Chu Yi's eyes and nose, making her feel itchy and uncomfortable. She gently blew on them and let them do as they pleased.
I don't know how much time passed, but when I was almost stiff from sitting, I finally heard a sigh of relief.
"alright."
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she cautiously opened her eyes.
A familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared in the mirror in front of her, resembling her yet unlike her. The person in the mirror had a small, fair face with a pointed chin. Fluffy, black, tousled hair clung to her cheeks and jawline, making her face appear even smaller and more delicate. Fine, straight bangs covered her forehead, vaguely revealing her dark, exquisite eyebrows.
Below are her dark, round eyes, high nose bridge, and deep red, diamond-shaped lips.
Her bangs and short hair made her look even younger, not just her face, but her entire temperament and age were extremely youthful, yet it didn't seem out of place at all.
Chu Yi's eyes were wide open as she stared at the person inside, unable to come back to her senses for a long time. She couldn't say whether the person was good-looking or not; it was just like... just like... how Chu Yi looked in junior high school.
The biggest difference is that her overall facial features look more refined and mature than when she was in junior high school, and she is more beautiful.
"See, I told you short hair suits you. Look, you look at least ten years younger." The hairstylist continued in that exaggerated, praising tone. Chu Yi twitched the corners of her mouth, a forced smile.
"I feel like I'm ten years younger, not just ten years younger..."
"That's not how it works, beautiful lady. You're being a bit narcissistic. Although I'm very confident in my skills, looking ten years younger is the maximum I can achieve."
"..."
Cheng Li, standing to the side, looked at her with a complicated and unreadable expression. Chu Yi turned her head in despair and met her gaze. After a moment, she tried her best to suppress a laugh.
"Little one, I don't dare walk with you when we go out later."
"?"
"I'm afraid people will mistake me for your mother."
"...Speak properly to me."
"That's right. Look at my new hairstyle compared to yours, it's just awful."
Cheng Li came here today to get a perm with big, wavy curls, with added volume and dye, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
Chu Yi sat next to her, with short, obedient hair and bangs. She looked very small and was wearing a white shirt with a Peter Pan collar.
It does seem to have that feel to it.
Let's assume Cheng Li gave birth to her when she was eighteen.
Chuyi: "..."
"Actually, you look great. You're so young, I think you're super cute." Cheng Li pinched her cheek, praising her sincerely.
"So many people wish they could look like you, but they couldn't. If you went out, people would definitely think you were eighteen."
"This kind of natural girlishness is the most precious thing."
Chu Yi was completely comforted by her simple words. She looked at herself in the mirror again, fiddling with her newly cut short hair, and it seemed... the more she looked at it, the more pleasing it became.
It looks pretty good.
She thought to herself with a touch of smug self-satisfaction.
After paying the bill and leaving the hair salon, the heat was intense. Cheng Li kept taking pictures of Chu Yi with her phone, and even took advantage of Chu Yi's inattention to suddenly lean over and put her arm around Chu Yi's shoulder to take a picture of the two of them together.
"What did you take pictures of? Let me see!" Chu Yi immediately tugged at her arm, wanting to see the contents of the photos. Cheng Li curled her lips and her fingers flew across the screen.
"Okay, I posted it on my WeChat Moments, go see for yourself." She calmly put it away, slightly raising her chin as she spoke to Chu Yi, who was so angry that she immediately went to check her phone.
The three pictures are: one of Chu Yi's full body, one of her face, and a selfie of the two of them. Chu Yi looks at the camera with a bewildered expression, her face under her bangs looking innocent and adorable. Cheng Li stands beside her, her red lips slightly upturned, her smile exuding charm.
Many mutual friends have already left comments below.
Student #1: "??? The one next to me is in the first year of junior high, am I seeing things?"
Number Two: "Everyone else gets older as they get older, but how come she seems to get younger?"
Number Three: "I can't believe my eyes..."
Chu Yi glared angrily at Cheng Li, "How could you send out the photos without my permission? You're violating my portrait rights!"
“Fine, then tell your Qiao Anchen to sue me.” Cheng Li replied confidently while scrolling through her phone.
“He’s a prosecutor, not a lawyer,” Chu Yi retorted, feeling increasingly aggrieved.
"Oh," Cheng Li replied casually.
"Besides, he's in charge of criminal cases, he doesn't deal with these trivial matters!" Chu Yi paused for a moment, then couldn't help but defend Qiao Anchen. Cheng Li finally finished reading all the likes and comments, put away her phone, and slowly glanced at her, her tone light and airy.
"Alright, I only said one thing to him, is it really necessary to make such a fuss?"
"What about me?"
"It's like I've slandered your husband, and you wish I could kneel down and repent immediately."
"No way..." Chu Yi felt a little guilty after being told that, so he lowered his head and muttered softly.
"Alright, alright, now that we have a new hairstyle, we need to go shopping and buy some new clothes." Cheng Li put her arm around Chu Yi's neck and walked forward, while Chu Yi struggled to keep up with her pace.
"Didn't we just buy it two days ago?"
"Silly girl, those old clothes are no longer a good match for the new me."
"...Alright then."
The two spent the afternoon shopping, carrying their spoils, and only after enjoying sushi and desserts did they finally head home satisfied.
I got a new haircut and bought some clothes I liked. Today, when I was shopping, the style of the clothes I tried on was completely different from usual. I have to say, short hair paired with a slightly cute skirt and shirt looks amazing. No matter what I wear, I look very girly, soft and sweet, and it's impossible for anyone to resist me.
Cheng Li and the shop assistant kept praising it, saying it looked great. Chu Yi twirled in front of the mirror and also thought it was very nice.
It's like having a completely new mood.
It was already nine o'clock at night when she got home. Although she was a little tired, she was still in a state of high excitement. Chu Yi struggled to free one hand to press the fingerprint sensor, and with a beep, she reached out and turned the doorknob.
The living room was brightly lit, and there seemed to be noise coming from the kitchen. Chu Yi put down the bag in his hand and peeked inside.
Qiao Anchen happened to walk out with a glass of water, and his gaze froze the moment he saw Chu Yi.
A long silence followed for thirty seconds, the living room was deathly still. Chu Yi nervously accepted his scrutiny, and just as she was standing there uneasy, she finally heard Qiao Anchen speak.
"You... got a haircut?" he asked hesitantly, his eyes still showing disbelief. Chu Yi nodded.
"Hmm..." Her eyelashes trembled, and she looked up at him, asking nervously and cautiously.
Is it pretty?
"..." Qiao Anchen fell silent again, staring at Chu Yi with a complicated and unreadable gaze. His gaze swept over her bangs, short hair, and that small, uneasy face, and a strange sense of guilt suddenly welled up in his heart.
It gives me the feeling that they've abducted a minor.
I feel like an old man dating a young girl.
"..." He was startled by this idea.
"I'm asking you something." Chu Yi read something from his expression, and his originally happy and expectant face became increasingly ugly. She couldn't help but urge him.