Transmigrating Before The Crazy Beauty Scum A Loses Control - Chapter 92

Facing a “relative” she had never met before, Zuo Baixuan felt a strange sensation. They were related by bl00d, yet emotionally, they were strangers.

On the car ride, Luan Yenan had already briefed Zuo Baixuan on the basic situation.

This family’s surname was Yang.

The elder in the family was the cousin of Zuo Baixuan’s maternal grandmother.

As they got out of the car, they saw an aunt supporting an elderly lady standing at the entrance of a countryside villa. Both of them broke into wide smiles upon seeing Zuo Baixuan and Luan Yenan.

“You two girls are so pretty.” Aunt Yang said with a laugh.

The elderly Mrs. Yang, who couldn’t see clearly, squinted and hunched forward, taking a couple of steps until she grasped Luan Yenan’s arm, repeatedly saying, “You’re here? You’re here?”

“Yes, we’re here, Mrs. Yang. I’m Luan Yenan, the one who called you, and this is Zuo Baixuan.” Luan Yenan introduced.

But Mrs. Yang, as if she couldn’t hear, held Luan Yenan’s hand tightly, shaking it vigorously.

After complimenting her beauty, she began to ramble in a dialect that Luan Yenan couldn’t understand.

Aunt Yang chuckled and explained, “My mother is old, she can’t hear well and doesn’t recognize people anymore. But she’s really happy that you came. Come on in and sit down.”

“We brought some gifts, they’re still in the car.” Luan Yenan said.

“No need for gifts, no rush. Come in and sit first, you can have dinner later.” Aunt Yang, a straightforward person, cheerfully led the way, ushering the two girls into the courtyard.

The villa was four stories high, built in a typical style that combined European and rural elements. The small courtyard, though paved with cement, was adorned with many potted plants.

Mrs. Yang continued to chatter in her dialect, holding Luan Yenan’s hand, who couldn’t understand a word and turned to Zuo Baixuan for help.

Still in a daze, Zuo Baixuan relaxed and laughed when she saw Luan Yenan’s helpless expression.

It was the first time she had seen Luan Yenan show such a look of needing assistance.

Dealing with the stubborn Luan Lizheng, Luan Yenan had her ways, but facing an elderly lady who couldn’t hear or see well yet was full of enthusiasm and spoke in dialect, she was at a loss.

Zuo Baixuan whispered, “Grandma is probably talking about the past. I can only understand bits and pieces.”

Aunt Yang invited them to sit down and said with a smile, “Yes, she’s talking about the past, things from when my mother was very young. We’ve heard it all before, so just listen casually. You’ll stay upstairs tonight. The younger members of our family are all out working, so they’re not home. We occasionally rent out the house as a guesthouse during the tourist season, so everything upstairs is well-equipped and sanitized. You can stay comfortably. Dinner and breakfast will be prepared for you.”

“Thank you so much… Auntie.” Zuo Baixuan chose her words carefully.

Aunt Yang nodded.

She knew her relationship with Zuo Baixuan and was aware of what Zuo Baixuan had been through, but she treated her like any other distant relative, warmly responding, “No problem, no problem. I’m just happy. The old lady hasn’t been this lively in a long time. I was worried you might not be comfortable in our self-built house.”

“Not at all, it’s lovely.” Luan Yenan nodded.

“Then let’s have dinner first. After dinner, you can rest early. Tomorrow morning, someone will take you up the mountain to clean the graves. I’ll have him guide you.” Aunt Yang said, then turned to the kitchen to bring out the dishes.

Luan Yenan, concerned that Zuo Baixuan might feel sad, immediately looked at her.

But Zuo Baixuan smiled back at her.

In fact, Aunt Yang’s ordinary and straightforward manner of receiving her, along with her casual mention of grave cleaning, made Zuo Baixuan feel more at ease.

…

After dinner, they listened to Mrs. Yang’s ramblings for a while longer until the elderly lady, following her biological clock, couldn’t stay awake any longer and went to bed.

Aunt Yang apologized to the young couple with a smile, urging them to rest early, and then took her mother back to her room.

Luan Yenan had initially thought of taking Zuo Baixuan for a walk around the village, but the streetlights were dim, and there were few people around, so she abandoned the idea and went upstairs with Zuo Baixuan to the prepared room.

After showering, Zuo Baixuan stood on the balcony, looking at the sky obscured by clouds.

She let out a sigh, feeling a deep sadness welling up inside her.

She placed her hands on her chest. Despite feeling anxious about the unfamiliar environment over the past few days, her mood had been generally good.

But the emotions buried deep within her heart finally surfaced on this night before she was to visit her mother’s grave.

Swoosh—

The bathroom door in the room slid open.

Luan Yenan came out after her shower.

Worried that her pheromones might reveal her mood and cause Luan Yenan to worry, Zuo Baixuan quickly stepped out onto the balcony, “It won’t rain tomorrow, will it?”

“The weather forecast says it won’t.” Luan Yenan walked up behind Zuo Baixuan, draping a blanket over her, “You’ll catch a cold standing on the balcony dressed so lightly.”

Hearing Luan Yenan’s concern, Zuo Baixuan clutched the blanket and leaned back against her.

Luan Yenan’s body was slightly cool. Zuo Baixuan turned around and saw that Luan Yenan was wearing a nightgown without any cover, so she quickly pushed her back into the room and closed the balcony door tightly.

“You’re the one to talk, who’s dressed lightly here? You’re the one who might catch a cold.” Zuo Baixuan retorted, wrapping the blanket around Luan Yenan.

Luan Yenan hugged Zuo Baixuan, “Because I’m ready to sleep. Will you sleep with me?”

Zuo Baixuan was used to such intimacy. Just being held around her waist made her lose all strength. She looked up at Luan Yenan, whose eyes sparkled like flowing water.

She lowered her head, resting it on Luan Yenan’s chest, her lips brushing against Luan Yenan’s collarbone as she whispered, “We have to get up early tomorrow.”

Luan Yenan found Zuo Baixuan’s reaction amusing.

Was she saying that to herself or to me?

This little white flower was secretly being mischievous.

Luan Yenan pressed her face against Zuo Baixuan’s forehead, “Yes, we have to get up early, so let’s sleep now.”

Both of them relaxed simultaneously, lying down on the bed sideways.

But the bed let out a protesting creak.

It seemed that this self-built villa even had a handmade wooden bed.

The two of them froze, afraid that any movement might cause the bed to collapse. Even if nothing happened, it would be hard to explain.

Luan Yenan looked down at Zuo Baixuan.

Zuo Baixuan also cautiously looked up.

Then they both burst out laughing.

“Let’s sleep properly, otherwise if the bed collapses, I don’t know what Jiang Lingdan might imagine.” Zuo Baixuan whispered in Luan Yenan’s ear, as if afraid of disturbing the bed.

But Luan Yenan was intrigued. She rolled over, causing the wooden boards beneath them to creak again, her eyes filled with desire, “Why tell her? If we don’t, no one will know even if we break the bed.”

Zuo Baixuan’s ears turned red instantly, and she quickly grabbed Luan Yenan’s hand to stop her mischief, “If the bed collapses, Auntie will definitely know. Then how can I come back to visit the graves in the future?”

“But the wobbling is fun.” Luan Yenan licked Zuo Baixuan’s reddened ear.

Zuo Baixuan’s body tensed up, and she hurriedly said, “Will you still accompany me to visit the graves in the future? Hmph… mmm… stop messing around.”

Clearly, these words weren’t enough to sway Luan Yenan’s resolve.

Listening to the protesting creaks of the wooden boards beneath her, Zuo Baixuan felt like a rabbit trying to escape a hunter’s pursuit, flustered and panicked.

“Tomorrow, the day after, after we leave here… when we get home… let’s buy a waterbed… that wobbles too.”

Wobbles too…

Why did I say something like that…

Luan Yenan stared at Zuo Baixuan for a while before gradually breaking into a smile. She leaned down and gently kissed Zuo Baixuan’s forehead, “Alright, it’s a deal. Sleep well tonight.”

Zuo Baixuan was wrapped in the blanket, her body immediately covered in coolness, but soon it turned warm.

As she sighed in relief, Zuo Baixuan turned her head and gave Luan Yenan a look, “You… capitalist, never lose in a deal.”

Luan Yenan smiled and covered Zuo Baixuan’s mouth with her own.

Zuo Baixuan quickly buried herself in the blanket, lest Luan Yenan decide to renege on even this bit of kindness.

Luan Yenan watched as Zuo Baixuan gradually forgot her sadness and relaxed in her arms, then closed her eyes and fell asleep with her.

…

Early the next morning, Aunt Yang came to knock on their door.

Luan Yenan and Zuo Baixuan were already dressed and ready.

Since they had to attend a celebration banquet in the city that evening and needed to hurry, they packed their luggage and brought the gifts for Aunt Yang and Mrs. Yang, promising to visit every year.

Aunt Yang agreed, and Mrs. Yang reluctantly held Luan Yenan’s hand, still speaking in her dialect, probably praising Luan Yenan’s beauty and saying she resembled her cousin.

How much of that was true or just polite talk was up to the listener to decide.

Everyone laughed and said their goodbyes.

Luan Yenan and Zuo Baixuan got into the car and followed the village grave-sweeping guy’s electric bike for about ten minutes to a small hill.

“It’s a clear day today, so it’ll get really hot while you’re sweeping the graves. Find a shady spot to park.” the grave-sweeping guy said with a local dialect accent, but it was still understandable.

Luan Yenan followed his advice and parked under a tree.

Zuo Baixuan looked at the sky, worried, “It’s going to be really hot later. Let’s put up the sunshade from the rental car too.”

Luan Yenan glanced at Zuo Baixuan.

Although the little white flower didn’t say it, her wilted demeanor made it clear she wasn’t ready yet.

So Luan Yenan went to the trunk and took out the sunshade, covering every window before looking back at Zuo Baixuan.

Zuo Baixuan had already prepared herself and got out of the car first, apologizing to the guy, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No problem, no problem. I don’t have anything else to do anyway. This cemetery is our village’s ancestral burial ground. It’s not as fancy as the ones in the city, but everyone is buried together. Each month, a different family takes turns to clean and weed. The environment here is nice, but not many people come, so the paths are hard to find. That’s why I’m taking you up. Remember the way so you can come down on your own later.” the guy said straightforwardly.

“Alright.” Luan Yenan and Zuo Baixuan nodded.

Along the way, the guy shared many interesting stories about the village.

Zuo Baixuan absentmindedly watched the dandelion fluff floating in the mountain air, her mood as unsettled as the drifting seeds.

Luan Yenan, however, patiently observed Zuo Baixuan’s state while responding to the guy’s chatter.

When they reached the cemetery, it was indeed as the guy had described—not luxurious, especially after a month without maintenance. Weeds had grown so thick that some tombstones were barely visible.

For example, the small stone tablets in the middle, which were quite old.

The outer circle was slightly better, with a mix of modern cement and stone tablets.

The wealthier families in the village even covered the joints between the stone tablets and cement with glass to keep them clean.

“Your relatives should be over there. I’ll start weeding, so you can go ahead.” the guy said before walking away.

Luan Yenan held a bunch of wildflowers she had picked along the way and led Zuo Baixuan to find the graves.

Zuo Baixuan’s hand was cold, and she pursed her lips without speaking.

But when she saw the two tombstones side by side—her maternal grandparents and her mother—tears quickly filled her eyes.

Luan Yenan wrapped an arm around Zuo Baixuan’s shoulder, comforting her until her breathing steadied before letting go. She then placed the flowers evenly in front of the three elders’ graves.

“Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, hello. This is our first meeting. I’m Luan Yenan, Xuanxuan’s wife. We came in a bit of a rush and aren’t familiar with the area, so our preparations are a bit lacking. Sorry about that.” Luan Yenan, wearing pants for ease of movement, knelt on one knee in front of the graves and used wet wipes to clean the two tombstones.

Zuo Baixuan hadn’t expected Luan Yenan to be so thoughtful. She had been in a daze the whole time, not thinking of anything. She quickly tucked her skirt between her legs and squatted down.

She took the wet wipes from Luan Yenan and carefully wiped the dust off her mother’s tombstone.

“Mom.” Zuo Baixuan called out softly, her voice already tinged with a nasal tone. The words that followed were swallowed by silence.

Luan Yenan didn’t speak either. She knew Zuo Baixuan had a lot to say to her mother in her heart.

She also looked at the three elders’ tombstones, silently expressing her thoughts.

“I don’t belong to this world, and I might have even disrupted Xuanxuan’s life. But I’m lucky. I love her, and she loves me. So from now on, Xuanxuan and I will be one. I’ll treat her well, for the rest of her life. You can supervise me. If I fail, you can strike me with lightning.”

Luan Yenan made a childish yet sincere vow in her heart and looked up.

The clear sky today was surely the three elders’ best blessing for them.

Luan Yenan and Zuo Baixuan pulled out the weeds around the tombstones and mourned for a while.

By the time they came back to their senses, the guy who had led them there had already left.

Zuo Baixuan held Luan Yenan’s hand, “Ah Nan, let’s go back. Otherwise, we’ll miss the celebration banquet tonight.”

Luan Yenan gently wiped the tear stains from Zuo Baixuan’s face with her fingers, “It’s okay if we don’t go. If you want to stay here a few more days, we can.”

The last three words, “we can” carried a hint of reluctance.

Zuo Baixuan caught the nuance in her tone and laughed through her tears, “Really? If the bed can’t hold us, you’ll have to hold me while we sleep. Can you handle that?”

“What are you saying in front of Mom and Grandpa and Grandma? I’d be happy to hold you while we sleep.” Luan Yenan hugged Zuo Baixuan, then added in a low voice, “Besides, it doesn’t necessarily have to be on the bed.”

Zuo Baixuan, flustered, pushed Luan Yenan away, “What are you saying in front of Mom and Grandpa and Grandma? Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll come back to visit them another time.”

Luan Yenan laughed as Zuo Baixuan pulled her out of the cemetery.

Relying on their memory, they followed the shaded path back to the car.

Despite all the preparations, the temperature inside the car was still a bit high.

Luan Yenan didn’t rush to remove the sunshade. Instead, she turned on the air conditioning and sat quietly with Zuo Baixuan in the front seats.

Zuo Baixuan, sitting in the passenger seat, sniffled lightly, gradually calming down. She turned to Luan Yenan and said seriously, “Ah Nan, thank you.”

Such a solemn expression made Luan Yenan lovingly stroke her head, “Why are you thanking me?”

“Thank you for always indulging me. For helping me, openly and secretly. For not leaving me because of some of my actions.” Zuo Baixuan leaned against Luan Yenan, her peach-blossom eyes filled with deep emotion and tears.

Luan Yenan’s narrow eyes also shimmered with love and amusement.

If that’s the case, then she also wanted to thank Zuo Baixuan.

For allowing her to fall in love with this world after crossing over. And for teaching her how to love.

In the end, their relationship was never a one-sided salvation.

But she didn’t want to express these thoughts with words. Instead, she smiled and said, “Instead of thanking me, why don’t you say you love me?”

Zuo Baixuan’s eyes flickered, and she suddenly pushed herself up.

Under Luan Yenan’s bewildered gaze, she climbed from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat.

Luan Yenan looked up at Zuo Baixuan, who was now looking down at her.

Zuo Baixuan’s tear-streaked eyes now glimmered with a seductive charm. Her fingertips traced Luan Yenan’s face, brushing her hair behind her ears.

Zuo Baixuan leaned down and whispered in Luan Yenan’s ear, “You know, you don’t need a waterbed… the car… can also shake.”

Luan Yenan’s breathing quickened.

She had almost forgotten.

The little white flower had a wild side too!

Luan Yenan couldn’t resist such a provocation.

She tilted her head up and kissed Zuo Baixuan’s neck, simultaneously reclining the driver’s seat.

Zuo Baixuan held Luan Yenan’s head, exploring her collar, and slipped off her clothes. Her fingers wandered over Luan Yenan’s curves, just as Luan Yenan often did to her, letting Luan Yenan’s skin rub against the leather seat.

But after admiring Luan Yenan’s restrained expression for a moment, she was overpowered by a burst of energy, losing her dominant position.

Luan Yenan held Zuo Baixuan, flipping her over so she became the flower being drenched once more.

Luan Yenan knew how to care for flowers.

They needed air, they needed moisture.

Zuo Baixuan kissed Luan Yenan deeply, breathing in the vodka-scented air she loved, releasing all her own fragrance.

Outside the car, the white dandelion fluff floated gently in the wind, eventually landing on the car window, swaying with the vehicle’s movements before drifting away again.

It landed on a patch of soil in front of the car, where it would grow into a new sea of dandelions the following year.

…

By the time Luan Yenan drove Zuo Baixuan back to the city, it was already evening.

They changed into their formal attire at a dress shop.

Zuo Baixuan once again wore a conservative dress that covered her skin, not out of insecurity this time, but because she was covered in love bites.

But since Luan Yenan was in a similar state, she didn’t feel it was unfair.

When Zuo Baixuan came out after changing, she was surprised.

Luan Yenan hadn’t chosen a long gown this time but a women’s suit, more practical for movement.

“Did I hurt you in the car this morning?” Zuo Baixuan asked, examining Luan Yenan.

Luan Yenan just smiled, holding her hand and rubbing the gold ring on her finger.

It was the ring she had bought on her second day in this world, to deal with the two mothers and the gossip. Unknowingly, she had worn it for over half a year.

“Sometimes it’s good to change styles. Did I not pull it off?” Luan Yenan held Zuo Baixuan and looked into the mirror.

Of course, she pulled it off.

Tall, slender, and curvaceous.

Even in a simple white shirt and black suit, she exuded charm.

Once again, she looked like the refined scoundrel, and Zuo Baixuan wanted to tear off… her mask.

Zuo Baixuan even took advantage of the staff being out of the room to poke at the gaps in Luan Yenan’s shirt, laughing, “I should have worn this style too. It covers up quite well.”

Luan Yenan caught Zuo Baixuan’s fingers, holding her by the waist, admiring Zuo Baixuan’s enticing appearance. She used her tongue to brush aside Zuo Baixuan’s long hair, taking a deep breath at the nape of her neck.

Zuo Baixuan, seeing the deep possessiveness in Luan Yenan’s eyes reflected in the mirror, quickly hopped away, “Let’s go, or we’ll miss the celebration banquet.”

Luan Yenan, with a smile still on her lips, held Zuo Baixuan’s hand as they walked out of the shop together.

The car took Luan Yenan and Zuo Baixuan to their destination.

The destination was arranged by Si Ruxin, the same place as last time.

Even the square outside the hotel was bustling with a large crowd.

The car was stuck in traffic, unable to move.

“Shall we walk the rest of the way?” Luan Yenan suggested.

Zuo Baixuan glanced at the dimly lit square. Though their formal attire might stand out, it was only a short distance, so it shouldn’t attract too much attention, “Sure.”

The car stopped by the roadside, and Luan Yenan helped Zuo Baixuan out, steadying her before gently fixing the strands of hair on her forehead.

Zuo Baixuan didn’t notice anything unusual, just smiled sweetly at Luan Yenan.

Luan Yenan smiled back at her, then, hand in hand, they walked towards the square.

The dimly lit square had small groups of people scattered around.

Zuo Baixuan squinted, thinking she was seeing things in the dark.

Why were the people on the square also dressed formally?

Buzz buzz—

A strange sound of air friction came from above.

Zuo Baixuan looked up.

Luan Yenan, however, looked at Zuo Baixuan, her smile full, wanting to capture every expression.

Zuo Baixuan’s eyes lit up.

It was the light from the buzzing sound.

One, two, three… until it formed a grid of over a dozen rows and columns.

Why were the lights floating in the air?

Zuo Baixuan wondered.

Drones?

Drones!

Zuo Baixuan looked at Luan Yenan.

But Luan Yenan smiled at her, “Don’t look at me, look at the sky.”

Buzz buzz—

The sound of drones filled Zuo Baixuan’s ears, and her mind raced with thoughts, eventually turning into overwhelming happiness.

This woman, Luan Yenan, why was she so good at this!

The drone formation in the sky flickered, forming the characters “Zuo” “Bai” and “Xuan.”

“Zuo Baixuan” Luan Yenan whispered her name in her ear.

“Will” “you” “marry” “me?”

“Will you marry me?” Luan Yenan slowly asked.

Zuo Baixuan’s eyes welled up with tears again.

She understood now.

Why Luan Yenan had brought so many people, both expected and unexpected, to Jiangcheng.

And why they had first gone to visit her family.

Jiangcheng was like her mother’s home, and Luan Yenan wanted to propose here, making a promise.

“Say yes!”

“Say yes!”

The figures around them were indeed familiar faces.

Colleagues, Luo Yun, Si Ruxin, all stood under the giant love heart formed in the sky, cheering.

Among them, Jiang Lingdan stood at the front with Chen Huanyu, recording this happy moment with her phone.

Zuo Baixuan blinked hard, trying not to lose her composure.

She turned to Luan Yenan, “A proposal?”

“Yes.” Luan Yenan replied, her narrow eyes already filled with laughter.

Zuo Baixuan hummed and raised her hand, “Just like this? Isn’t it a bit too plain?”

Luan Yenan made a sound of acknowledgment, then slid the gold ring off Zuo Baixuan’s finger, “You’re right, the old gold ring isn’t suitable for a wedding.”

With that, Luan Yenan made a motion as if to throw it away.

“Hey!!!” Zuo Baixuan quickly reached for the ring, “That’s the first ring you gave me! How could you…”

But Luan Yenan held her hand, smiling as she pocketed the ring she hadn’t actually thrown, then pointed to the sky.

The drones in the air had transformed from a heart into a 3D box.

The “box” slowly opened, revealing a drone-formed ring.

Everyone knew about the proposal today, but no one had expected such a sci-fi movie-like scene, and they were all equally amazed.

A single drone slowly descended.

Luan Yenan took a real ring box from the drone’s lower part, opening it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring.

Luan Yenan knelt on one knee in front of Zuo Baixuan, “Will you marry me? Zuo Baixuan.”

Zuo Baixuan didn’t know when Luan Yenan had started planning this, but she was sure now what Luan Yenan and Luo Yun had been discussing at the drone factory, and why Luan Yenan had insisted on wearing pants today—kneeling in a skirt would have been inconvenient.

Luan Yenan watched as Zuo Baixuan, her eyes blurred with tears, nodded repeatedly.

She stood up and placed the custom-made ring engraved with their names on Zuo Baixuan’s finger.

“Wow—!!!”

The crowd cheered.

Even Jiang Lingdan was in tears, clinging to Chen Huanyu. Though it was a public place, Chen Huanyu firmly held her, not letting go.

The drones in the sky continued their display, reforming into a heart and playing music.

“The Blue Danube.”

“Wife, shall we dance?” Luan Yenan asked, holding Zuo Baixuan’s hand adorned with the sparkling diamond ring.

There was indeed a celebration banquet tonight, but she hadn’t booked just the hotel—she had reserved the hotel and its surrounding square.

Zuo Baixuan didn’t answer, her hand already resting on Luan Yenan’s body.

The melodious tune flowed as the Luan-Zuo couple danced gracefully under the heart-shaped lights.

Zuo Baixuan leaned against Luan Yenan, wiping her tears.

Luan Yenan, wanting to lighten the mood, smiled and asked, “So, should we void the contract we have at home, or draft a new one?”

But Zuo Baixuan didn’t answer that question. Instead, she reached into Luan Yenan’s suit pocket, pulled out the gold ring, and posed a new question, “Ah Nan, is this what you meant by a win-win back then?”

Winning two happinesses from fate.

Luan Yenan’s thoughts drifted back to when she had bought the ring.

Back then, she probably hadn’t imagined she could win so much.

Luan Yenan chuckled softly, “Xuanxuan, do you want to gamble again?”

Zuo Baixuan looked at Luan Yenan, not understanding. Now that she had everything, what was there to gamble for?

“Gamble that I will always love you, and you will always love me.”

Zuo Baixuan’s eyes sparkled, “Alright, let’s gamble, for a lifetime.”

Luan Yenan smiled.

Amidst the blessings of friends and family, in this dance that seemed endless and never tiresome, she kissed her beloved.

[End of Main Text]

Author’s Note:

The end!

The story of the Luan-Zuo couple temporarily stops at this picturesque moment of happiness.

Thank you all for your companionship and tolerance along the way!

There will be additional chapters later.

But due to being a bit busy in real life recently, leading to some exhaustion _(:з」∠)_ cough, allow me to rest for a couple of days before updating.

The additional chapters might include a brain teaser [Crazy Maid X Tsundere Princess].

Then there will be side couple chapters.

Finally, there will be chapters about the Luan-Zuo couple raising children and their daily life.

Alright, that’s it for now, dear readers. Looking forward to seeing you next time!

Thank you for your support, I will continue to work harder!