Chapter 129: Chapter 115, Reunion_1
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“I wondered why I couldn’t see you, and here you are sneaking away for some quiet time,” Zhou Jingwan said, breaking away from the group of young ladies to look for Daohua.
Daohua laughed, “I’m not the host, so I don’t have to entertain guests; naturally, I have some free time.”
Zhou Jingwan walked over to Daohua, “You really know how to enjoy yourself. It’s too noisy inside the cabin, and my ears are still buzzing.”
Daohua smiled but didn’t continue the conversation.
Yan Yihuan finally found an opportunity to chime in, laughing as she spoke, “Miss Zhou, it seems like your skin has gotten better.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingwan’s eyes squinted with joy, and she grabbed Daohua’s hand, “The skin cream you gave me is really effective. Touch my face, doesn’t it feel both smooth and tender?”
Daohua happily complied with a tease, “Hmm, it’s so smooth, feels like a freshly peeled boiled egg.”
Zhou Jingwan joyfully cupped her cheeks; although her skin wasn’t as porcelain and rosy as Daohua’s, which was like coagulated cream, it had improved a lot. With continued care, it was sure to get even better.
Yan Yihuan looked at the two of them and asked, “What skin cream is that?”
Daohua replied indifferently, “The one I made myself, the one I gave you, that you didn’t want.”
Once, she was making skin cream in the old lady’s yard, and Yan Yihuan and two others came to pay their respects. Daohua casually gave each of them a box.
Unfortunately, they didn’t appreciate it.
Yan Yihuan’s face stiffened; she remembered the incident. At the time, she also felt that one shouldn’t carelessly apply things on their face, so she didn’t take it.
“Come on, let’s go up to the upper deck; the view is much higher up there.”
Zhou Jingwan felt that the view from the second floor’s deck was not very good, so she pulled Daohua up to the third floor.
“Slow down!”
Daohua quickly gestured to Yan Yihuan to follow quickly.
Soon, the three of them reached the upper deck on the third floor.
On the cruise ship, the first floor was where the ladies of various families chatted and laughed, the second floor was for the young ladies, and the third floor had the fewest people; on the entire deck, there were only the three of them.
“How about that, isn’t the view much better here?” Zhou Jingwan twirled around on the deck, looking very happy.
Daohua was also very happy. With no one around and thus fewer restrictions, she went to the very front of the deck, spread her arms wide, closed her eyes, and let the moist breeze blow on her face and body.
Seeing her do this, Zhou Jingwan immediately became interested and imitated Daohua.
Yan Yihuan was also tempted, but being outside, she felt a little too constrained to open her arms. She just clung to the railing, but even so, she felt very happy.
Looking out from a high vantage point indeed made one feel relaxed and content.
Meanwhile, a thousand meters away, an even more magnificent and luxurious cruise ship sailed on the Dayuan River.
On the upper deck of the third floor, Xiao Yeyang was using binoculars to look at the beautiful scenery around him.
“Huh?”
Xiao Yeyang suddenly let out a sound of amazement, put down the binoculars, and looked in the distance with the naked eye. Then he picked up the binoculars again, and when he saw that familiar shade of green through the lens, the corner of his mouth curled up in a smile.
“Yan Wenkai, is your sister out enjoying herself today too?” he asked.
Yan Wenkai, who was arm wrestling with Su Hongxin, was taken aback by the question. Su Hongxin took advantage of the moment to press his arm down.
“I win!”
Normally, the competitive Yan Wenkai would have insisted on a few more rounds, but this time, he walked away quickly.
“Really? Where? Let me have a look!”
Xiao Yeyang handed the binoculars to Yan Wenkai and pointed him in the right direction.
Today was the Double Ninth Festival, and there was more than one or two cruise ships on the Dayuan River.
“Really! It’s Daohua! Big brother, third brother, come and see, Daohua is on the cruise ship behind us.”
Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wentao heard the commotion and joined them.
Yan Wenkai then turned to Zhou Chengye, “It seems your family’s young lady is there too. Come and see if it’s her?” He had seen the girl from the Zhou family once before and now couldn’t quite remember.
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Zhou Chengye hurriedly moved closer, and Yan Wenkai handed the telescope to him, signaling for him to take a quick look.
“Yes, it’s our Jingwan,” he said.
After using the telescope, Zhou Chengye returned it efficiently back to Xiao Yeyang. He did not have the same thick skin as Yan Wenkai to casually use the Little Prince’s belongings.
“That’s our family’s pleasure boat; it must be mother inviting the other families out for a trip,” Zhou Chengye explained to Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang nodded and continued to gaze through the telescope.
He couldn’t help but smile as he watched Daohua with her arms spread wide open, enjoying herself with such contentment.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before a maid appeared in the telescope’s view, calling her away.
After a moment of thought, Xiao Yeyang turned to Zhou Chengye, “Go and find out what plans your mother has arranged, will you?”
Zhou Chengye immediately withdrew, and soon returned to report, “Mother has organized the ladies from each family to go up Xiangxia Mountain for a scenic outlook.”
At these words, Xiao Yeyang’s expression stirred slightly. “I’ve heard the autumn maple leaves on Xiangxia Mountain are exceptionally beautiful. Since that’s the case, let’s go have a look as well.”
Dong Yuanxuan, in charge of the arrangements, promptly went off to take care of it.
…
Xiangxia Mountain.
When the Zhou Family’s pleasure boat arrived, many other boats were already moored at the foot of the mountain.
“Wow, that boat is even more impressive than the Zhou’s—could it be that some noble person has arrived?”
The ladies from the various families whispered among themselves.
As they disembarked, the Zhou Family’s Madam looked back and, seeing her daughter and the Yan Family’s eldest daughter talking intimately while holding hands, a smile immediately appeared on her face. She passed by everyone and walked toward Madam Li.
“My silly girl hasn’t caused you any trouble, has she?”
Madam Li was inwardly surprised by Madam Zhou’s warmth, but her face did not show it, and she smiled, “Miss Zhou is bright and clever and very likable. How could she be any trouble?”
Madam Zhou took Madam Li’s hand as they walked towards the shore, “That’s good to hear. You have no idea how much this girl gives me headaches…”
Behind them, Daohua watched with surprise as the two ladies walked away side by side; Zhou Jingwan also seemed a bit astonished.
Soon, they knew the reason.
After disembarking, they saw Zhou Chengye and Yan Wenxiu waiting at the foot of the mountain.
“Brother!”
Daohua and Zhou Jingwan were delighted, taking each other’s hands and running towards them.
“How come you’re here?”
Yan Wenxiu smiled, “The Little Prince is on an excursion, and we accompanied him here.”
Daohua’s eyes lit up, “Xiao… The Little Prince is here too? Where is he?”
Zhou Chengye took over, “Just now, your fourth brother suggested a mountain climbing competition. By now, he should be close to halfway up the mountain.”
Daohua’s eyes twinkled, and she covered her mouth, chuckling.
“What are you laughing about?” Zhou Chengye asked curiously.
With confidence, Daohua said, “I can guess who will be first!”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingwan’s eyes widened, “How could you guess? We don’t even know who all are participating in the competition!”
Zhou Chengye couldn’t bear to look at his somewhat foolish little sister.
Who would be first?
Of course, it would be the Little Prince!
Who else would dare to compete with him for the top spot?