354: Basic Test of Ancient Poetry

“Brother, Mom will be back at eight tonight,” Shen Jiaxuan said softly, as if telling herself, and also as if reminding someone.

“Hmm, it’s 5:30 PM now, there’s still time.” Li Qinghe didn’t know why, but a long-lost impulse suddenly surged in his heart.

Logically speaking, he had just been with Chen Daisy and Emily.

He shouldn't be feeling this way.

On second thought, this might be related to whether human nature is inherently good or evil.

Facing a pure girl like Shen Jiaxuan.

Li Qinghe unconsciously felt a bit of a destructive urge.

Just like children who love to scribble on clean paper.

He knew this wasn't good, as if his whole being had become a slave to desire.

But today, he just didn't really want to be a good person; he didn't know what was going on, perhaps his ‘aunt flow’ was coming? Anyway, he was feeling a bit hot-headed right now.

Shen Jiaxuan wasn't entirely ignorant about such matters; her interactions with Li Qinghe were somewhat of a semi-consensual nature.

Education in Singapore actually starts teaching this knowledge quite early, around primary six or seven.

By secondary eight or nine, it delves into in-depth explanations and guidance.

From high school onwards, elements of marriage, relationships, and family responsibilities are included.

Although Shen Jiaxuan came to Singapore to study quite early, she was still a bit different from the local children born and raised there.

Taipei actually starts explaining this knowledge from kindergarten, deepening it in primary school; this aspect is actually at the forefront in all of Asia.

After arriving in Singapore, she continued with the relevant educational methods there; even though it was a girls' school, they would specifically explain this aspect.

Plus, her classmates had actually had practical experience quite early on.

They would boastfully recount their experiences at school.

That feeling of acting like adults in front of their peers made them tirelessly recount every detail.

So, for Shen Jiaxuan, she actually had a good understanding of this area.

At this moment, facing Li Qinghe's very direct invitation.

She was both shy and a little expectant.

They say curiosity is one of the sources of human progress.

Well, curiosity also leads many girls to give themselves away early.

Now, this choice was in Shen Jiaxuan's hands.

Looking at the handsome brother in front of her, who suddenly carried a hint of mischief.

Shen Jiaxuan suddenly didn't want to refuse anything; she just wanted to let herself be guided by her feelings.

“My classmates told me there’s a very clean hotel about a 10-minute walk from here.” Shen Jiaxuan, her cheeks flushed, told Li Qinghe this news.

She wasn't worried at all now.

Because in Singapore, the age of consent for such matters is 16 and above.

She ensured her consent would not subject Li Qinghe to caning.

“Then let’s go.” Li Qinghe got up, ready to take Shen Jiaxuan to their destination.

“Brother, wait a moment, I’ll go buy two cups of barley water.” Li Qinghe had been drinking the barley water Shen Jiaxuan wanted to buy quite a bit during this time.

It could be called Singapore's national drink.

Singaporeans mainly value barley water for its effects of “strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing the lungs, and clearing heat.”

It is basically found at stalls, food courts, and hawker centers throughout Singapore.

Each place will have its own unique barley water recipe.

Many famous shops will definitely pair their unique barley water with their meal sets when selling them.

So Shen Jiaxuan bought two cups of barley water for 1.2 singapore dollars, claiming it was the shop owner's family recipe passed down for decades.

Anyway, Li Qinghe took a sip and could taste that honey had been added.

It was essentially a type that was neither too sweet nor too bland.

If one preferred sweet tastes, it would be best to buy sugarcane juice.

In this weather, especially with Li Qinghe's current state of mind.

A sip of barley water seemed to lessen the heat in his chest significantly.

Coming out of the hawker center, Shen Jiaxuan continued to slip her hand into Li Qinghe's.

The two of them already had an unspoken understanding.

Facing such an understanding sister, Li Qinghe's mood brightened considerably.

He didn't know if it was due to body temperature or something else.

Holding Lilia's hand always felt a bit hot and dry, but holding Shen Jiaxuan's hand, there was no such hot and dry feeling at all.

Their palms didn't sweat either; they were cool and refreshing, very comfortable.

A 10-minute walk is about 1 kilometer.

This was a hotel called Johor Star.

Overall, it did look very clean, but its star rating wasn't high, probably around three stars.

Li Qinghe booked the best suite inside, 680 singapore dollars for one night.

According to Singapore's regulations, for the number of people staying, the identity information of that many people must be registered.

Shen Jiaxuan entered as a visitor, so the front desk did not need to register her information; she just greeted the front desk.

This suite was about 70 square meters, with a one-bedroom, one-living room layout.

The bathroom was very spacious, with a large bathtub inside.

“Brother, do you want to take another shower?” Shen Jiaxuan pushed Li Qinghe into the bathroom.

This action stunned Li Qinghe a bit.

How come, once in the room, there was suddenly a feeling of the host and guest changing places?

But he didn't say anything, directly taking off his clothes and throwing them on the sofa.

Shen Jiaxuan covered her eyes with both hands, but her round eyes peeked through the gaps between her fingers.

At this moment, Li Qinghe was no longer polite and directly carried Shen Jiaxuan.

“Let’s go, we’re going to recite ancient poetry.”

“Brother, I don’t remember much.”

“It’s okay, I’ll help you recite.”

Soon, the sound of clear recitation came from the room.

“The spring river tide connects with the flat sea, and the bright moon on the sea rises with the tide…”

“Brother, I know this one, the autumn wind rolls up a thousand layers of waves, the evening sun welcomes ten thousand feet of red…”

“Very good, let’s speed up our recitation and recite a few more before you get tired.”

“Jiaxuan, you must have heard this poem, ‘The rivers flow to the sea with countless waves, holding up the sun can dispel a few clouds…’”

...After nearly 2 hours, Li Qinghe conducted an in-depth assessment of Shen Jiaxuan’s foundation in ancient Chinese poetry.

He finally discovered that this girl's attainment in ancient poetry was much better than many Singaporeans.

The foundation laid in Taipei, for an English-speaking country like Singapore.

Shen Jiaxuan was simply a poetess reborn.

Long periods of reciting poetry made Shen Jiaxuan's originally sweet voice a little hoarse.

“Jiaxuan, come, have a sip of barley water to neutralize the protein.”

“Brother, you’re so naughty, reading ancient poetry and still feeding people!” Shen Jiaxuan pouted naturally.

Then she checked her phone and was so scared she jumped up.

She wrapped herself in a bath towel and frantically searched for her dress: “Brother, quickly help me find it, Mom and Sis are coming back!”

Shen Jiaxuan

“No need to rush, it’s only seven-thirty now.”

“But it still takes ten minutes to walk back.”