The Birth of a Tabloid (1)

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Eldest Miss Xiao kept a low profile, and Second Miss Xiao was too young for the spotlight, so naturally, public appearances like this fell to Madame Xiao. A lone woman managing it all—honestly, not an easy gig.

After Madame Xiao's words, the crowd shaped up into decent lines. Even the Shameless Four had reverted to their "refined" act.

Realizing today's show was a bust, Lin Wanrong gave Madame Xiao one last glance—committing her face to memory—then slipped away quietly.

Back at the Dong household, he found Dong Rende and his daughter painstakingly transcribing something. A quick peek revealed elegant, flowing handwriting on the original—beautiful stuff. This had to be the gossip Dong Rende had dug up on Eldest Miss Xiao, dictated by him and penned by Dong Qiqiao.

Dong Qiqiao's calligraphy was genuinely impressive. Lin Wanrong studied it, nodding repeatedly.

Only then did the pair notice him standing there. Seeing Lin Wanrong's approving nods, Dong Qiqiao's cheeks flushed red—part embarrassment, part excitement. Clearly, his praise lit her up.

"Lin… Young Master Lin, you're back," she said, a faint sheen of sweat glistening on her dainty nose, making her look stunning. She reminded Lin Wanrong of his little sister back in college.

He grinned. "Yep, took a stroll and did some market research."

"Market research" was gibberish to them, but he couldn't be bothered to explain. Taking the booklet they were copying, he said, "Let me take a look."

One glance, and he was floored. Not only had they split it into functional sections, but they'd also jazzed it up with varied layouts. It was already shaping into a fancy handwritten manuscript. Talent like this, not working for The Sun? A crying shame.

Seeing his stunned expression, Dong Qiqiao panicked. "Young Master Lin, did I mess up? Oh no, what do I do? I've ruined your big plan!"

She looked ready to cry—no surprise there. In this era, "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" was the rule. This rare chance to shine, and she thought she'd botched it—how could she not freak out?

Lin Wanrong felt a pang of guilt for teasing her. His stern face broke into a smile. "Miss Qiqiao, you didn't mess up—you did too well."

Her face flashed from shock to joy. "Really, Young Master Lin?"

He nodded with a smile. Beaming, she said, "I followed your ideas. Before you left, I had some questions I didn't get, but I was too shy to ask. So I just added my own spin."

This girl wasn't just clever and skilled—she had guts and vision. A real gem. The father-daughter duo were both keepers.

Dong Rende, who'd been listening quietly, finally chimed in. "Oh, Young Master Lin, as long as you're pleased! Qiqiao and I were worried you'd think our clumsy hands weren't up to snuff."

Their pure, earnest vibe made Lin Wanrong sigh. Turning serious, he said, "Uncle Dong, Miss Qiqiao, listen up. You can lack power or money, but never confidence. If you don't respect yourself, no one in this world will. Face is given by others, but dignity? That's earned."

A spark of awe lit Dong Qiqiao's eyes. She nodded softly. "Young Master Lin, I understand."

He glanced at Dong Rende. "She gets it—do you?"

Dong Rende chuckled. "If our Qiqiao gets it, I get it. I follow her lead."

Watching their heartfelt bond, Lin Wanrong suddenly thought of his parents—gone forever. A sharp ache hit him, and he turned away, focusing on the booklet. "You finished transcribing?"

Dong Qiqiao nodded. "All done. Take a look, Young Master."

Picking it up, he teased with a grin, "Qiqiao, you're not just a whiz with needlework—you're a lady scholar too. Who'd you learn all this from?"

She smiled. "Miss Luo gave me the chance, letting me study with her. Otherwise, where would I get the opportunity?"

"Miss Luo?" The name rang a bell.

Seeing him frown in thought, Dong Qiqiao gasped. "You don't even know Miss Luo? She's Jinling's number one talent!"

Jinling's top talent? Then it clicked—that afternoon on Xuanwu Lake, when Hou Yuebai pulled his "phoenix seeks mate" stunt. The target? That very Miss Luo.

Her shock amused him. "I've never cared much for all this 'talent' nonsense," he said, laughing.

"That's because you're a big talent yourself," she shot back with a grin. "But if you're not into gifted ladies, surely you're into beauties? Miss Luo's Jinling's number one stunner too."

She'd warmed up to him, dropping the "Lin" and calling him just "Young Master," her tone growing chummier.

"Beauties? Mildly interested—especially ones like you," he quipped. Familiarity loosened his tongue, and he couldn't resist flirting.

Dong Qiqiao's face turned scarlet, and she clammed up.

Dong Rende coughed pointedly. Lin Wanrong's thick skin flushed briefly. "My bad, my bad," he muttered, caught red-handed by the old man.

Unfazed for long—his shamelessness was legendary—he switched gears casually. "Miss Qiqiao, why'd Miss Luo ask you to study with her?"

After his earlier teasing, she'd gone shy again. Voice low, she said, "The first time I made clothes for her, she saw we were about the same age and chatted with me. She's really kind, but she doesn't have many friends. So she asked me to visit often. Over time, she had me join her lessons with the tutor."

Lin Wanrong nodded. "Sounds like a good soul, this Miss Luo. May the heavens bless her with the world's best husband—say, I might just barely qualify."

Her laugh bubbled up at his antics. "Who talks like that? If Miss Luo heard you, even with her good temper, she'd never let it slide."

But inwardly, she felt different. His wild, unrestrained chatter somehow cheered her up in a way she couldn't pin down.

Dong Rende, meanwhile, played deaf. A quiet worry gnawed at him—had he let a wolf into the fold? This slick-talking kid and his innocent Qiqiao… she might get swept off her feet one day.

Lin Wanrong dropped the banter, diving into the booklet with focus.

Beyond the two sections he'd suggested, they'd added "Eldest Miss Xiao on Life," "Eldest Miss Xiao's Quotes," and "Eldest Miss Xiao's Mate Preferences"—a few extra flair touches. Throw in some illustrations, and you'd have a top-notch tabloid.

That last bit, "Eldest Miss Xiao's Mate Preferences," hit Lin Wanrong's sweet spot. No way Dong Rende cooked that up—it had to be Dong Qiqiao's stroke of genius.