Chapter 369: Chapter 347, Thoughts_1
As soon as Daohua saw the falcon, she guessed it belonged to Xiao Yeyang, and sure enough, the next day, he came looking for it with Defu.
It was 11:00 AM when the two men arrived, both with sweat soaking through the clothes on their backs.
“Why have you come at this time? Aren’t you afraid of getting sunstroke under this blazing sun?”
Old Lady Gu looked at Xiao Yeyang with a face full of reproach.
Gu Jian also gave him a displeased glance.
Xiao Yeyang smiled, “Don’t worry, Granny, I’m in good health, it’s not a big deal.”
Old Lady Gu said unhappily, “Even if you are in good health, that doesn’t mean you should abuse it like this.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled sheepishly, unable to talk back to the elderly couple’s concerns and could only listen.
Daohua sat on the side watching, and seeing him sweating profusely, she stood up to pour him a cup of cool tea, “Have a sip of tea to cool down first!”
Xiao Yeyang’s gaze stuck to Daohua, staring at her straight on; he smiled as he took the tea but didn’t drink it.
Seeing he wasn’t drinking, Daohua was puzzled, “Aren’t you thirsty?”
“Oh!”
Xiao Yeyang snapped back to reality and then gulped down the tea in his hands.
Seeing him drink so hastily, Daohua quickly said, “Slow down, do you want another cup?”
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua and nodded, “Yes, please.”
Daohua filled his cup again, and seeing beads of sweat still dripping down his cheeks, she shook her head, set down the teapot, and turned to go to the kitchen.
Xiao Yeyang hurriedly straightened up, “Where are you going?”
Daohua didn’t turn her head back, “I’m going to fetch you some hot water to wash your face.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang sat back down, silently sipping the tea in his hands.
On the side, Defu saw his master like this and somehow felt he was acting a bit foolish.
Daohua quickly came back with hot water and handed a wet towel to Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang took a look at Daohua before he began to wipe himself with the towel.
After Xiao Yeyang had finished wiping his face and hands, Daohua said, “I’ve asked Manman to heat some water; you and Defu go take a bath first, then come to eat.”
Xiao Yeyang put the towel back in the basin and nodded, “Alright.”
After that, Xiao Yeyang excused himself from Old Lady Gu and Gu Jian, then turned to go to his room to wash and change.
Indeed, Xiao Yeyang had his own room at Taohua Temple; ever since he had stayed over for a period while the road was being repaired, Old Lady Gu insisted that room was always there for him whenever he wanted to stay.
Within the time it took to drink two cups of tea, Xiao Yeyang returned to the dining room, freshly dressed. By that time, Daohua had already set the meal on the table.
Old Lady Gu quickly waved Xiao Yeyang over, “Come and sit down for the meal. You’ve timed it well today; Yiyi has made lots of delicious food.”
Xiao Yeyang took his seat, looking at the dishes on the table, noting many were his favorites; he couldn’t help smiling at Daohua, who was serving soup to Old Lady Gu and Gu Jian.
Feeling Xiao Yeyang’s gaze, Daohua glanced sideways at him, signaling him to eat properly.
Xiao Yeyang silently smiled and began to dig into his meal.
“Granny, try this.”
“Master Gu, here’s your favorite boiled pork slices.”
Xiao Yeyang ate his meal, and occasionally, he would use the serving chopsticks to place food onto the plates of the two elders.
When it came to serving Daohua, he was a bit more casual, not bothering to switch chopsticks, using his own instead to serve her.
This went unnoticed by Daohua, but the old couple saw it all.
Seeing the two getting along so well, Old Lady Gu was pleased in her heart. Gu Jian glanced at Xiao Yeyang but didn’t expose his little scheme.
After lunch, Daohua assisted Old Grandma Gu in taking a short stroll in the courtyard. Once Grandma Gu retired to her room for a midday nap, Daohua also felt drowsy and made her way toward her room.
However, as soon as she stepped out of the main house, she spotted Xiao Yeyang standing under the porch.
“With the weather being so hot, why aren’t you staying indoors instead of standing outside?”
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua and, after a moment of silence, stepped forward, “Are you avoiding me?”
Daohua was startled at first, then laughed without words, “Why would I avoid you?”
Xiao Yeyang: “Then why didn’t you talk to me the last time I visited your house?”
Daohua spread her hands, “It was my mother’s order. She said that now I’m getting older by the day and can’t play and romp around with you like when we were kids.”
Xiao Yeyang frowned, “Why would Madam Li say such a thing?”
Daohua’s face showed displeasure, “Don’t speak ill of my mother. She’s doing it for my good.”
Xiao Yeyang quickly said, “I didn’t speak ill of Madam Li. Don’t misunderstand me.”
Daohua pouted and did not continue, “Aren’t you undergoing military training in the camp? What are you doing here?”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, thinking to himself that it was all because of her.
Having been unable to talk to her alone during the last visit to the Yan Family and feeling listless afterward in the army camp, there were several close calls during sparring where he almost got kicked off the stage and made a fool of himself.
“I’m here to check on Grandma Gu and Master Gu.”
Daohua glanced sidelong at him and pointed to the hawk perched on the peach tree in the yard, “Why did you leave your goshawk here?”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression stalled, and he stiffly replied, “To entertain Grandma Gu and Master Gu.”
Daohua was speechless, “Really, using a scouting falcon meant for delivering messages to provide amusement.”
Seeing his cover blown, Xiao Yeyang was a bit embarrassed, but he quickly regained his composure, “I can’t help it. I’m just that unique.”
Daohua clicked her tongue while looking at Xiao Yeyang, “Xiao Yeyang, when did your skin get so thick?”
Xiao Yeyang shamelessly lifted his chin, “Thick? I think it still isn’t thick enough, I need to keep working on it.”
Now Daohua had nothing to say, and with a push of her hand, she nudged him aside, “Move, I’m going to take a nap.” With that said, she walked past him to her own room.
Xiao Yeyang wanted to follow, but he immediately dismissed the idea and could only watch helplessly as Daohua entered her room and closed the door. After a while, he silently turned and went back to his own room.
“Master, this is the watermelon juice that Manman brought over just now. She said Miss Yan specially ordered it to be prepared, chilled with well water.”
Seeing Xiao Yeyang return to his room, De Fu immediately brought the watermelon juice up to him.
Xiao Yeyang immediately smiled broadly, taking several big gulps, but as he had eaten quite a bit at noon, he couldn’t finish it.
Looking at the remaining watermelon juice, thinking that Daohua had made it with her own hands, Xiao Yeyang didn’t have the heart to throw it away and told De Fu, “Put it back on ice, I’ll drink it when I wake up.”
This time he had come over on horseback.
Riding from Ningmen Pass to Taohua Mountain took about two hours, and even though he was in good physical condition, he was quite tired and drowsy after being roasted under the scorching sun for so long.
Barely hitting the bed, Xiao Yeyang fell asleep.
By the time he woke up, an hour had already passed.
Not seeing Daohua in the courtyard, Xiao Yeyang immediately asked De Fu, “Where is Daohua?”
De Fu: “Miss Yan has gone down the mountain.”
Xiao Yeyang strode towards the yard’s exit, “Why didn’t you call me?”
De Fu laughed, “Miss Yan asked me not to. She said the master had been riding half the day and needed to rest well so as not to harm his health.”
On hearing this, Xiao Yeyang felt pleased, but he retorted, “She really likes to interfere.”
De Fu continued with a smile, “I just had a chat with Manman, and she said that Miss Yan knew you were coming today, so she specially made a table of dishes you like.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang instantly felt that the sweltering heat was somehow more bearable.