Chapter 353: Chapter 331: No Need for _1
“Previously, didn’t you ask me to help you find foreign flowers and plants? Earlier, I got a pot of red fruit. When I return, I’ll have someone deliver it to the Li Family.”
After finishing their meal and leaving the restaurant, Xiao Yeyang remembered this and said with a smile to Daohua.
Daohua looked puzzled: “Red fruit?”
Xiao Yeyang: “It’s about the size of a fist, red, and quite pretty to look at.”
Daohua’s expression shifted: “Could it be tomatoes?”
Xiao Yeyang: “Red persimmons? Now that you mention it, they do look alike.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua’s face lit up with joy: “Then you must remember to send it to me, have someone deliver it as soon as you get back, lest you forget again.”
Xiao Yeyang felt a bit displeased: “I’ve always taken your matters to heart. You said you forgave me for forgetting to pick you up last time. Why bring it up again?”
Daohua knew she misspoke: “I just misspoke. I was just reminding you.” Saying this, and seeing her cousins already seated in the carriage, she waved to Xiao Yeyang, “Well, I’m off then.”
Xiao Yeyang didn’t want to part with Daohua so soon and quickly said, “Aren’t you worried? Why don’t you come with me to the villa to get it?”
Daohua smiled: “I trust you, you should head back as well.”
After speaking, she boarded the carriage with Wang Manman.
Watching the carriage depart, Xiao Yeyang felt reluctant to let go.
Dexi watched silently, not daring to remind or urge him.
After a while, Xiao Yeyang finally looked away: “Let’s go, back to the villa.”
…
Jinyang Pavilion Villa.
When Xiao Yeyang returned with Dexi, he found Jiang Wanying was unexpectedly there.
“What are you doing here?”
Jiang Wanying glanced at Xiao Yeyang and said with a smile, “Look at the way you talk, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you are not welcoming me here.”
Xiao Yeyang: “…If your health isn’t good, you should avoid running around. There are quite a few flowers in my courtyard, it would be better if you come less often.”
Though his words sounded concerned, his tone carried a hint of distance. Jiang Wanying pursed her lips, but thinking about the several years since they last met and the inevitable estrangement, she brought back a smile to her face.
“I won’t go into the yard, it won’t be a problem. By the way, why did you leave early today? You didn’t even watch the dragon boat race. And where did you go just now? I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while.”
Xiao Yeyang frowned slightly, he didn’t like others meddling too much in his affairs.
Back in the Imperial Palace, his relationship with his cousin Wanying was indeed not bad, but that didn’t mean he had to tell her everything.
“You’ve just recovered, you should’ve returned early to rest. Is there a reason you came to my place?”
Jiang Wanying saw he did not answer her question but didn’t mind too much.
Brother Yang had always been like this, choosing to avoid answering things he didn’t want to discuss.
“Can’t I come if there’s no matter?”
Jiang Wanying playfully batted her eyes at Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang gave her a glance and silently shifted his gaze, picking up his tea to drink.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Wanying pouted and said rather bored, “Yeyang Brother, why are you still so dull just like when you were a child, not responding when someone makes a joke with you?”
Dexi quickly glanced at Jiang Wanying, thinking to himself.
The master is not dull at all; in front of Miss Yan, he is very lively in conversation.
Xiao Yeyang didn’t respond, just lowered his eyes to drink tea, thinking that later when he sends the red fruits, he would need to pick some other things to give to Daohua.
What should he pick?
Seeing that Xiao Yeyang didn’t speak, Jiang Wanying sat down beside him, softly asking, “Yeyang Brother, being alone in Zhongzhou all these years, you must have felt very lonely, right?”
Xiao Yeyang was preoccupied with other thoughts and was taken aback by her words before responding. Seeing the concern on Jiang Wanying’s face and recalling the times they played together in the Taihou Palace when they were children, his expression softened a bit, “I’ve been doing quite well here.”
Jiang Wanying did not believe this, understanding that as the legitimate son of a prince who was kidnapped to Zhongzhou, far from relatives and friends, how could he possibly be doing well?
Yeyang Brother has always been too proud. He says this because he doesn’t want her to worry, unwilling to show his vulnerable side in front of her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Wanying’s face showed a trace of pity, “Yeyang Brother, before you were alone, but now that I’ve come to Zhongzhou, you won’t be so lonely in the future. I will be with you.”
Upon hearing this, both Xiao Yeyang and Dexi turned to look at Jiang Wanying with puzzled expressions.
Xiao Yeyang: What is she even talking about?
Dexi: How could the master be lonely? In Zhongzhou all these years, the master has been much happier than in Beijing.
Seeing Xiao Yeyang staring blankly at her, Jiang Wanying chuckled shyly and lowered her gaze, “Yeyang Brother, why are you looking at Wanying like that?”
Xiao Yeyang and Dexi both looked away at the same time.
After a moment of frowning silence, Xiao Yeyang said, “Cousin, you’ve misunderstood. I am not lonely in Zhongzhou. Here, I have good friends and classmates for companionship, my uncle’s guidance, and also…”
And also Daohua, and the person at Meilin Villa.
Xiao Yeyang was somewhat lost in thought; he suddenly realized that staying in Zhongzhou was probably the best decision he had ever made.
Here, he had made a few good friends like Dong Yuanxuan and others, who, despite each having their own little schemes, treated him genuinely, especially Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai, who were absolutely sincere towards him.
Here, he also re-experienced the motherly love buried deep in his memory.
Here, he met Daohua, someone like the sunshine in winter, warming his heart.
Thinking of these, a smile slowly appeared on Xiao Yeyang’s face.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Wanying couldn’t help but call out, “Yeyang Brother, what are you thinking about? Why are you so distracted?”
Xiao Yeyang came back to his senses, instantly concealing the smile on his face, and looked towards Jiang Wanying, “Cousin Wanying, I appreciate your kindness, but indeed, I don’t need your company. You have such a frail body, you should just take good care of yourself.”
Jiang Wanying’s expression stalled, she fell silent for a moment, and didn’t continue the topic, shifting to talk about today’s dragon boat viewing, “Zhongzhou might not compare to Beijing, but it’s also quite lively. If it wasn’t for my mother worrying about me catching a cold from the breeze and getting sick again, I would have liked to continue boating and having fun with other ladies…”
Xiao Yeyang was genuinely uninterested in these matters, but seeing Jiang Wanying speaking enthusiastically, and considering she had made a special trip to see him, it wouldn’t be right to just send her away, so he had to patiently, albeit absentmindedly, listen.
Just then, Dexi, who had been instructed to fetch the red fruits, came with the potted red fruits.
Seeing the red fruits brightened Xiao Yeyang’s mood, he stood up and went over to receive them personally, placing them on the table.
Jiang Wanying saw this and laughed, “Yeyang Brother, when did you start liking these things? I remember as a child, the flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden suffered greatly at your hands.”
Thinking about Daohua’s shining eyes when she would receive the red fruits made the corners of Xiao Yeyang’s mouth rise, “Preferences can change. Now, I really like these flowers and grasses.”