PFC Chapter 391 Recognizing People, Discerning Minds, and Guarding Boundaries
Chapter 391 Recognizing People, Discerning Minds, and Guarding Boundaries
As dusk deepened, the iron bells on the eaves jingled in the wind. Looking at the girl before him, who was always so overtly cheerful, Qiu Rongmu felt a pang of tenderness. Xiao Sizi clutched the hem of her dress, her eyes as red as early autumn persimmons.
“Nine out of ten people are unreliable, business partners, close friends, even blood relatives… Am I, this little rhinoceros, destined to become a lone wolf?” Her voice was damp, like soil moist before a rain.
Qiu Rongmu pushed a cup of warm tea in front of her, the steam rising gently. "Love is love," he said in a deep voice, "but you have to protect your weaknesses with a layer of iron."
“It’s all my fault,” Si Zi said with a bitter smile. “I personally handed the resources to him, willingly sacrificing myself to illuminate his value—”
"Then you can't blame him," Qiu Rongmu interrupted her, her tone devoid of blame, only chillingly clear. "He spent sixteen years figuring out the location of your heart, and it crumbles with a single squeeze. If he said it was a slip of the hand, would you believe him?"
Si Zi sighed deeply, his breath carrying all the passion and coldness of the past years: "I had misplaced my expectations and overestimated him."
"The one who hurts you the most is always the one closest to you who hands you the knife." Qiu Rongmu's gaze was like tempered iron. "Sizi, remember, never expose your most vulnerable throat to anyone without reservation. Isn't the lesson he taught you enough to fill a blood oath?"
“But I…” Si Zi choked up, “When I’m moved, I pour out my heart and say everything that’s on my mind. Isn’t that even more terrifying than being drunk?”
“Your honest words,” Qiu Rongmu stared at her, “will be heard by those who know how to use them as the arsenal to cripple your future.” He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. “Truly intelligent people treat relationships like Tai Chi. They leave room for interpretation in their words and actions. Knowing which words should take root and which should drift away is the fundamental skill for your survival.”
As Qiu Rongmu gazed at the setting sun outside the window, its afterglow bathing his profile in a warm golden light, his words carried a chilling clarity, like a breeze rising in the twilight.
“Sizi,” he said in a low voice, “the relationships in this world are never black and white. The best way to protect yourself is not to become a lone wolf, but to learn to treat people and things like a painter.”
Sizi raised her teary eyes: "Painting?"
“Yes,” Qiu Rongmu nodded, “A good painting pays attention to the use of blank space and varying shades. The same applies to people.” He picked up the teapot and slowly poured water, “Casual acquaintances are like light ink on rice paper, three parts conversation and seven parts blank space, neither impolite nor overstepping boundaries. This is the outer layer.”
Si Zi pondered for a moment: "Then... what about the middle management?"
“The middle layer is like a light-colored landscape painting,” he put down the teapot. “You can share joy and chat, but the core emotions must be like the bones of a mountain, firmly guarded within. You may seem close, but you always maintain a three-quarters distance.”
“And that innermost layer,” Qiu Rongmu looked directly into Si Zi’s eyes, “is like ink painting, with immense force, and cannot be touched by anyone but those who have repeatedly polished it over time. That is the soul of the entire painting, and it must not be shown to others lightly.”
His tone turned somber: "This is not indifference, but the highest respect for sincerity—saving it only for those who deserve it most."
Qiu Rongmu suddenly asked, "Do you know how to spot those approaches that are carrying bait?"
Sizi shook his head.
“When someone always says ‘only you understand me,’ be wary; when someone is eager to use superficial secrets to win your heart, step back; when you draw a clear line but he says he’s hurt, stay alert; when every time he gives seems to be paving the way for taking—” Qiu Rongmu’s eyes were piercing, “you should sound the alarm in your heart.”
Si Zi murmured, "Then how should I deal with this?"
“Words are like Tai Chi,” Qiu Rongmu smiled slightly. “In the push and pull, leave room for maneuver. If you are questioned too much, say: ‘This is a long story, I will tell you in detail later.’ If someone is eager to open up, you can say: ‘When I am ready, I will talk to you over wine.’ If you touch on a sensitive point, you may say: ‘I am still seeing things through the fog and cannot see the whole picture.’”
He leaned forward: "The most important thing is to learn to pause when your emotions are running high. Excuse yourself to leave for a moment, give yourself time to pour yourself a cup of tea and calm down; or say, 'I need to savor these words,' so that promises don't slip out. Ask yourself constantly: Is this feeling of being moved a genuine resonance or just a prelude to being taken advantage of?" Let kindness grow sharp.
As dusk deepened, Qiu Rongmu's voice blended into the rising night: "The highest form of sincerity is not about being completely open, but about having a clear mind, knowing who to speak to, when to speak, and how much to reveal. Your true feelings are not something you can't say, but something you should save for those who deserve them."
"The lessons learned over sixteen years are enough to leave a deep impression. It's not about hardening your heart like iron, but about equipping your tender heart with an intelligent armor—one that can recognize a genuine smile and also withstand the sharp edge hidden behind it."
“You don’t have to be a lone wolf living apart from the pack,” he said, gazing at the completely sunken sunset outside the window. “You just need to be a real rhinoceros: thick-skinned enough to protect yourself, with keen ears to distinguish sounds, and that unique horn—always ready to defend your truest self.”
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared below the horizon, the candlelight inside the house automatically lit up, flickering in the rhinoceros's eyes.
"Knowing people and discerning their hearts is a skill that can be cultivated," Qiu Rongmu concluded. "From this moment on, practice slowing down the pace of trust, and let time be the fairest sieve. Sincere friendship is never afraid of the test of time; while superficial eagerness will always reveal its hasty nature after a period of time."
His gaze was gentle yet profound: "Your kindness is the radiance of your soul, there is no need to be ashamed of it—just learn to add an adjustable lampshade to this light, so that it does not illuminate those who only want to borrow the light but never cherish the source."