{Chapter: 150 Love at first sight!}
Although Ye Feng originally had a face value of 160, it still wasn't enough to capture the attention of Cui Susu. His looks, while above average, simply didn't stand out to her.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, had a face value of 200 points. That level of attractiveness naturally drew admiration. The moment Cui Susu laid eyes on him, she immediately felt a strong impression—something close to admiration, if not outright attraction.
Wanting an excuse to start a conversation, Cui Susu seized the opportunity to ask Lin Yuan to teach her Tai Chi. Whether he agreed or not wouldn't particularly affect hidls plans, so the decision ultimately depended on the rewards.
The cooking skill, while potentially useful in other situations, didn't serve his immediate needs. Chess, however, might prove valuable in his upcoming plans.
After considering his options, Lin Yuan made his choice.
[Ding! Selection completed! Agree to teach Cui Susu Tai Chi!]
Lin Yuan's expression softened as he smiled. "Alright, I'll teach you Tai Chi," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
Hearing this, Cui Susu immediately straightened her back, eyes sparkling with excitement as she prepared herself to be taught by him.
However, before Lin Yuan could begin, an unexpected interruption arrived in the form of Cui Yunrong.
Cui Yunrong, Cui Susu's grandfather, had always wanted to teach his granddaughter Tai Chi himself. Yet, whenever he offered, she would dismiss it as dull and outdated. But now, seeing her so eager to learn from Lin Yuan, he instantly understood what was going on.
His face darkened slightly as he reached out and grabbed Cui Susu's arm. With a stern tone, he scolded, "Why are you acting so rude and ignorant, Susu? You suddenly disturb a person and impose on him the burden of teaching you Tai Chi. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to master it? It's not something you can just casually ask someone to teach you."
Despite her grandfather's reprimand, Cui Susu stubbornly muttered under her breath, "What's so wrong with wanting to learn Tai Chi?" Her voice was barely audible, but her tone carried a hint of grievance. The truth was, she had taken a genuine liking to Lin Yuan at first sight.
Seeing this exchange, Cui Yunrong sighed and turned to Lin Yuan. His expression softened as he said apologetically, "My granddaughter is young and ignorant. She doesn't understand boundaries. I hope she hasn't caused you too much trouble."
Lin Yuan responded with an easy-going smile. "It's no trouble at all. Since she's interested, I'm happy to teach her. After all, promoting and preserving traditional culture is a meaningful thing."
Cui Yunrong's eyes lit up at those words, and he immediately exclaimed, "Well said! That's the right attitude!"
Lin Yuan had spoken from the heart. He often lamented how the younger generation neglected traditional culture in favor of modern distractions. Seeing someone eager to learn Tai Chi gave him a rare sense of satisfaction. It was refreshing.
Lin Yuan then shifted his gaze back to Cui Yunrong. "Speaking of which, old gentleman, was there something else you wanted to discuss?"
A smile spread across Cui Yunrong's face. "I couldn't help but come over when I saw your Tai Chi. I've been practicing for many years myself, and I have to say, your movements are impressive. Your punches are well-executed—relaxed yet powerful. The way you flow from one motion to the next is vivid and controlled."
He paused, then added, "However…"
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"There are some flaws in your Tai Chi," Cui Yunrong continued. "A significant problem with one of your movements, in particular. You're a rare young man with real talent, so I thought it would be a shame if I didn't point it out."
Lin Yuan's expression is momentarily surprising. As if he had spent years practicing Tai Chi and was confident in his abilities. How could he have made a major mistake?
Seeing his reaction, Cui Yunrong's eyes glimmered with satisfaction as he explained, "Specifically, when you performed 'Part the Wild Horse's Mane'…"
As he spoke, he eagerly began to elaborate on the technical details of the movement, his tone animated. Lin Yuan, however, only half-listened, nodding at appropriate moments while maintaining a thoughtful expression.
In reality, he wasn't lacking at all.
Lin Yuan had intentionally left a minor flaw in his technique. He had done so to lure Cui Yunrong into approaching him.
He understood the old man's personality well. A perfectionist when it came to Tai Chi, Cui Yunrong wouldn't be able to resist pointing out an obvious mistake.
It was akin to a top student intentionally making an elementary mistake in a math exam just to draw the attention of a prestigious teacher. For someone like Cui Yunrong, seeing a flaw in a Tai Chi performance was like an itch he couldn't ignore—he had to correct it.
And just as Lin Yuan had predicted, Cui Yunrong had taken the bait.
Now, the old man was completely focused on correcting him.
As Cui Yunrong began demonstrating the proper form, Lin Yuan clapped his hands together a few times and exclaimed, "Incredible! Your movements are far more refined than mine. I had no idea I'd been doing it wrong this whole time."
Hearing Lin Yuan's words of admiration, Cui Yunrong couldn't help but beam with pride.
If an ordinary person praised his Tai Chi, Cui Yunrong wouldn't think much of it. Compliments from amateurs, though well-meaning, didn't hold much weight. He had spent decades honing his craft and had been recognized at the highest levels—what did casual praise mean to him?
However, when a young man like Lin Yuan, who was equally skilled in Tai Chi, sincerely complimented him, it felt different. It wasn't just flattery; it was recognition from someone who understood the discipline, someone who could truly appreciate the intricacies of his technique.
For many retired seniors who had once reached the peak of their fields, the need for validation never disappeared. Achievements from youth could fade, but the desire for recognition remained. Acknowledgment from the younger generation, especially from someone talented, was deeply satisfying.
But just as Cui Yunrong was basking in that satisfaction, Lin Yuan suddenly spoke.
"Old man, your movements meet the standard, but there's a flaw in your form. I believe you've made a mistake."
The moment he heard this, Cui Yunrong's expression shifted. His eyes grew serious as he immediately straightened his posture. "Brother, your Tai Chi is at a high level, so if you say I've made a mistake, then tell me where. I will absolutely be willing to correct it. But let me be clear—I've been practicing Tai Chi for decades, and no one has ever pointed out a flaw in my movements before."
Although he was open to correction, deep down, Cui Yunrong found it hard to believe that there was truly a problem with his form. After all, he had trained for years, performed at official events, and had even been regarded as a Tai Chi representative. Could it be that all this time, he had been doing something incorrectly?
In his mind, he assumed that Lin Yuan was simply responding in kind—if Lin Yuan had been critiqued, he might have wanted to find something to critique in return. Still, curiosity got the better of him.
He wanted to know exactly what mistake Lin Yuan had noticed.
Lin Yuan, unfazed by the old man's skepticism, didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and demonstrated the movement in question. "Old man, when you perform the 'Left Grasp Sparrow's Tail' movement, your arms are not raised high enough, and your transitions between movements aren't as smooth as they should be."
As Lin Yuan executed the movement with precision, his form appeared effortless, yet every motion carried a sense of control and grace.
Cui Yunrong, determined to see for himself, immediately mimicked the movement. He performed it just as he always had, his posture steady and refined. However, he didn't see any difference.
Frowning slightly, he turned to his granddaughter. "Susu, record a video of me doing it."
Cui Susu nodded and quickly took out her phone. She recorded both her grandfather and Lin Yuan performing the movement, making sure to capture every detail.
Once the recording was done, they played it back for comparison.
The moment Cui Yunrong saw the footage side by side, his expression changed. His brows furrowed deeply.
He could see it.
The flaw was subtle but undeniable.
"This… this can't be," he murmured, his voice laced with disbelief. "I have been performing Tai Chi for decades. I was even a Tai Chi representative in my prime. How could I have made such an error?"
He had trained tirelessly, refining his movements to near perfection. And yet, seeing the video evidence before him, he couldn't deny the discrepancy.
Lin Yuan smiled knowingly. "Old man, I know why this happened."
Cui Yunrong's gaze snapped to him. "Brother, please tell me," he said urgently.
Lin Yuan's smile remained as he spoke calmly. "The technique itself hasn't changed. Your movements are still the same as they were before. However, you have changed. You are no longer the 30 or 40-year-old version of yourself."
"The technique hasn't changed… but I have…" Cui Yunrong repeated Lin Yuan's words under his breath.
As the realization sank in, he found himself lost in thought.
Over the years, his strength, flexibility, and control had subtly shifted, even if he hadn't noticed. His movements, though still graceful, no longer carried the same sharpness and fluidity of his youth. It wasn't about a flaw in his technique—it was about the passage of time.
For the first time in a long while, Cui Yunrong felt a strange mixture of humility and nostalgia.