Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

Today is Deng Zechen's 15th birthday, and Xiangling has been busy since early morning.

Ultimately, Deng Zechen made the decision, and the two of them went to Liuquanju to buy two tables of food, since it was really difficult for a young girl to prepare two large tables of dishes.

The newly bought maid was dull and couldn't be of much help in this situation.

Fortunately, she had no problem accompanying Xiangling to buy some drinks, tea, snacks, and treats.

The two little girls were busy shopping outside, leaving Deng Zechen alone at home.

Over the past two days, Lin Daiyu's favorability rating has finally stabilized at 49, without any further fluctuations.

After much deliberation, Deng Zechen went to see Sun Sanzhu yesterday with his badge, hoping to get some help.

It's a pity I didn't get to meet her, but I did see one of the twin maids who were with Sun Sanzhu.

She promised to convey Deng Zechen's message that he wanted to meet, but did not guarantee that Sun Sanzhu would actually come to meet Deng Zechen.

In the current situation, we have no choice but to try anything, even if it seems hopeless!

Hopefully, Sun Sanzhu has a strong backer, or perhaps she is an even stronger backer than the Rongguo Mansion.

Deng Zechen also invited his senior brother Du Feng to a banquet for his birthday. Du Feng felt that Deng Zechen was studying too hard, so he generously gave him a whole day off to rest.

But Deng Zechen showed no intention of stopping to rest. He continued to get up early as always, and after finishing his morning exercises, he began writing "The Tale of the Demon Slayer".

After a busy day, Deng Zechen almost subconsciously and very slowly twisted his neck, producing a series of subtle but clear "click...click..." sounds between his cervical vertebrae.

Looking at the time again, it was already almost evening. After tidying up the manuscripts on the table, I stretched my body and pushed open the door to go outside.

Xiangling, who was busy arranging things in the courtyard, saw this and her eyes lit up. She ran towards Deng Zechen, who was stretching his joints.

"Brother Deng! Are you done with your work?"

Deng Zechen looked at Xiangling, whose forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat from all the walking, and felt a little ashamed. He had been busy with his own things all day, but he had made a little girl run errands for him.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work. Xiangling is getting more and more diligent."

In the gradually softening sunlight, Xiangling looked at the increasingly tall and handsome Deng Zechen, her gaze filled with tenderness:

"It's not really hard work or not, it's just a few small things."

Brother Deng was the one who worked the hardest, getting up to read before dawn every day and not returning until sunset.

"I still have to earn money to support my family; I'm the one who's benefiting."

"We are all working to make our homes better, and our contributions are equally important. Don't underestimate yourselves."

Before Xiangling could speak, a woman's teasing voice came from the doorway:

"Oh dear, we've come at the worst possible time."

Did I spoil your fun?

Xiangling and Deng Zechen heard the voice of the person who had spoken and turned around to look at the speaker.

Unexpectedly, Sun Sanzhu was the first to arrive!

This was the first time Xiangling had met Sun Sanzhu, and seeing the joy on Deng Zechen's face when he saw Sun Sanzhu, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"What a beautiful woman, and her clothes are also very elegant."

It seems that Brother Deng and she have known each other for a long time. Are they on good terms?

Why have I never heard Brother Deng mention her before...?

Sun Sanzhu only brought Song He and a maidservant with him to the meeting today; the rest of the people were not with him, perhaps they were hidden in the shadows.

Deng Zechen was naturally very happy. As long as Sun Sanzhu came, it meant that there was still some hope for what he wanted.

He immediately put on a smiling face and welcomed Sun Sanzhu and his servants into the room.

Xiangling also prepared hot tea and a plate of snacks before leaving the room for them.

Happy birthday, this is just a small token of my appreciation.

Sun Sanzhu congratulated Deng Zechen and gestured to the maid beside him to take out a small sandalwood box.

Deng Zechen accepted it with both hands, "Thank you for your hospitality, Manager Sun. I appreciate your trouble."

"Shall we open it and take a look?"

Deng Zechen opened the wooden box, inside which was a warm, milky-white jade ring, carved with a qilin and several plants.

"This safety amulet is quite old. It was a gift from a friend when I turned sixteen. Since we feel a connection, I'm giving it to you today."

"Thank you so much! I will definitely cherish it."

Deng Zechen closed the wooden box and carefully put it away before beginning to speak about what he had long planned to do:

"I have a good friend, a woman."

My elders had some connection with her father, and I had previously received help from him.

Her mother died early, and her father was worried that her young age and loss of her mother would affect her marriage prospects, so he sent her to the capital to be raised by her maternal grandmother.

Her maternal grandmother recently wanted to arrange a marriage for her, but she was unwilling.

I came to Beijing with her, and now she's facing this predicament. I only regret that I'm a man and can't help her.

Please do me a favor, Manager Sun. If there's anything you'd like me to do, I'll do my best!

Sun Sanzhu's expression changed upon hearing this, and he thought to himself:

"What's wrong with this kid? Both times he haggled with me, it was for someone else's sake?"

Seeing that Sun Sanzhu remained silent, Deng Zechen gritted his teeth and began to raise the stakes:

"If Manager Sun has a way to help my friend overcome his current difficulties, then Manager Sun will be in charge of all of Deng's storytelling from now on!"

This is the first draft of Volume 5 of "The Tale of Suppressing Demons." I can speed up the submission process.

Sun Sanzhu slowly took the fifth volume of the manuscript, glanced through it briefly, and then closed it again.

The handwriting is a bit messy; I don't know if it's because I rushed to write it these past few days, or if I was preoccupied with something and it affected me.

"I can help you, but you need to answer a few questions for me first."

I'm glad I can help!

"Thank you. I will tell you everything I know."

"Your friend is a woman, but I don't believe that there can only be friendship between men and women."

Do you have a crush on her? Or is it that she has a crush on you?

Deng Zechen was very frank about this:

"I naturally have some romantic feelings for her, but I don't know what she's thinking."

I will not force her to have the same feelings as me. Before that, I will consider myself her friend and her support.

If she develops romantic feelings for me in the future, then mutual affection would naturally be a good thing.

If not, my bringing this up now would not only be an attempt to take advantage of a favor, but would also put both sides in an awkward position.

The feeling of familiarity grew stronger and stronger. If Sun Sanzhu hadn't been absolutely certain that her dearest friend in her memory had never had children, she probably would have mistaken Deng Zechen for her child.

They are so similar, yet completely different.

After a long silence, Sun Sanzhu finally asked the second question:

"I am more than ten years older than you, and my life experience has given me a more mature perspective on issues, which may help you avoid some detours."

Your future achievements will certainly far surpass those of the average scholar, and at that time, many more outstanding women will appear around you.

Perhaps you will possess great wealth and power.

If your friend says she's in love with you in the future, how can you be sure she's in love with you as a person?

"Not the wealth and luxury you bring?"

Why do we have to make such a clear distinction?

Money and power are both mine; they are part of who I am. Liking them is also liking a part of who I am, isn't it?

At this point, Deng Zechen smiled genuinely:

"Moreover, I'm certain that she's not someone who values ​​money and power."

Looking at the young man before him who rarely showed a genuine smile, Sun Sanzhu felt his heart sink, and a sense of emptiness welled up inside him.

"She's definitely not that similar; she wouldn't say something like that."