Chapter 402: Chapter 378, Affections Begin to Grow_1
“Why do you get so worked up? It’s for your own good that the Little Prince doesn’t allow you to drink. You were fine, so why lose your temper?”
After boarding the wooden boat, Dong Yuanyao couldn’t help but chide Daohua.
Feeling disgruntled, Daohua muttered resentfully, “I didn’t intend to get angry. It’s just… I couldn’t control my tone and came off a bit harsh.” After speaking, she turned away to look at the surrounding lotus flowers.
Seeing her like this, Dong Yuanyao wanted to say more but was stopped by a shake of the head from Su Shiyu.
Su Shiyu said with a smile, “I never expected the lotus flowers here to still be in full bloom. Later, we should pick a few to take back and put in a vase. And if we come across any lotus seeds, we should gather some too. I particularly love lotus seed soup.”
Dong Yuanyao nodded and also turned to look at the other side.
With the two no longer wanting to talk, Su Shiyu stood beside Wang Manman and Hong Yu, who were paddling, and took the opportunity to closely admire the rare scenery of Lotus Lake.
Gliding quietly over the lake, the wooden boat carried them amidst the fresh scent of lotus flowers and the gentle lake breeze, which slowly soothed Daohua’s irritable mood. She started to play with the water, amusingly snatching a couple of lotus flowers that she saw amongst the leaves.
“Here!”
Daohua first handed one to Su Shiyu and then placed the other directly into Dong Yuanyao’s hand.
Looking at the lotus flower in her hand, Dong Yuanyao glanced at Daohua and saw a faint smile on her face, which prompted her to smirk and say, “What, you’re not mad at me anymore?”
Daohua shot Dong Yuanyao a feigned angry look, “When have I ever been mad at you? Don’t wrongly accuse people.”
Hearing this, Dong Yuanyao laughed and didn’t continue. She too reached out among the lotus leaves and picked a flower for Daohua.
Daohua accepted it and brought the lotus close to her nose, taking a small whiff, “It’s really fragrant. Let’s pick some more to take back, and put them in my grandmother’s and mother’s rooms as well.”
Dong Yuanyao laughed and nodded, “Sure, let’s consider them our Mid-Autumn gifts for the old lady and your mother.”
Seeing the two of them chatting and laughing again, Su Shiyu heaved a sigh of relief. However, noticing them leaning over the edge of the boat to reach for the lotus flowers, she couldn’t help but remind them, “Be careful, both of you. Don’t fall into the water.”
Daohua turned back with a smile, “Don’t worry. I can swim, and as for Yuanyao, if she falls in, I’ll jump in to save her.”
Dong Yuanyao huffed, “Don’t underestimate me; I won’t fall in.”
As Su Shiyu saw that both of them were measured in their actions and the wooden boat was sailing smoothly, she decided not to comment further,
The lotus leaves were lush and abundant in the lake; as the boat maneuvered through them, it was almost submerged. Seeing this, Su Shiyu couldn’t resist the temptation and picked a few lotus flowers herself.
“Oh, there’s a pavilion on the lake. Shall we go over and sit for a while?”
Seeing a pavilion amidst the lotus leaves, Dong Yuanyao immediately asked.
Su Shiyu responded with a smile, “Sure, we’ve been boating for a while and must be tired by now. Let’s go up and rest for a bit.”
Daohua was indifferent; perhaps she had drunk too much earlier. Now, the effects of the alcohol were kicking in, making her head feel somewhat dizzy.
In no time, the wooden boat arrived at the Huxin Pavilion.
“Oh, De Fu, what are you doing here?”
Looking at De Fu in the pavilion, the trio of Daohua were all surprised.
De Fu smiled, “The master thought that the three young ladies might be tired from boating and might come here to rest. He ordered me to bring some food over.”
Dong Yuanyao laughed, “You know, I’m really hungry.” Then turning to look at Daohua and Su Shiyu, she said, “You two, one of you had roast mutton, the other had mooncakes, and I didn’t get anything.”
Daohua and Su Shiyu looked at each other and smiled.
“The food is there, who told you not to eat?”
Afterward, the three of them sat in the pavilion, chatting and laughing while eating.
When Daohua saw Dong Yuanyao pouring her a drink, she hurriedly stopped her, “I won’t drink anymore, I just had quite a bit, and now I’m feeling a bit dizzy. You guys go ahead.”
Dong Yuanyao said, “But osmanthus wine doesn’t get you drunk!”
Su Shiyu laughed and said, “You haven’t noticed how much she has had just now, almost two bottles. Just look at her cheeks, they’re all rosy.”
Dong Yuanyao took a closer look at Daohua and saw her eyes were blurred, and her cheeks were like peaches, indeed showing a slightly tipsy demeanor, and immediately took the wine glass away from her, “Indeed, no more drinking, or we’re definitely going to get scolded when we get back.”
Daohua smiled, walked over to the railing of the pavilion, and sat down, resting her chin in her hands, lazily and comfortably looking at the beautiful scene on the lake, “You guys keep eating, let me catch some wind and sober up.”
Seeing her like this, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu didn’t insist further and just helped themselves to the food. In the meantime, Su Shiyu, struck by inspiration, even composed a few fitting poems.
Neither Daohua nor Dong Yuanyao were good at composing poetry, but they were capable of appreciating it. After hearing Su Shiyu’s poems, they both clapped and cheered.
After they had their fill of food and drink, Dong Yuanyao glanced at the sky, “It’s only midday now, it’s too early to go back and that would be such a shame. Previously, Shiyu mentioned about picking lotus seeds, let’s go do that now.”
Daohua, feeling a bit sleepy and squinting her eyes, said, “You go ahead, I’ll wait for you here.”
Seeing that her spirits were indeed low, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu didn’t insist and said, “We’ll come back soon, and then we’ll head home.”
Daohua nodded, and once the two left, she went straight to rest her head on the pavilion railing. When Wang Manman saw this, she immediately suggested, “Miss, why not lie down in the wooden boat? It’s covered by lotus leaves, so you won’t be under the sun.”
The pavilion railing was too narrow, and considering it was midday, when the sun is at its strongest.
Though it was already mid-August and the sun wasn’t scorching hot, directly under it, it was still uncomfortable.
Daohua glanced at the wooden boat and then at the sun, nodding her head, “Then make sure the wooden boat is tied up securely, it can’t drift away.”
Wang Manman laughed, “Don’t worry, I’ll sit on the boat and watch over you.”
Daohua was indeed very dizzy and without saying much, with Wang Manman’s assistance, got on the wooden boat.
The wooden boat had cushions and a backrest, and Daohua, resting on the backrest, quickly closed her eyes.
…
Deep in Lotus Lake, the wooden boat gently rocked. The girl in green was deeply asleep and sweet-scented, while dragonflies occasionally flew by but were quickly chased away by the young man in brocade sitting beside her.
Xiao Yeyang picked up a fallen silk handkerchief and carefully shooed away any approaching mosquitoes, making sure they didn’t come close to the girl at all.
Watching Daohua’s innocent sleeping face, Xiao Yeyang’s features softened with an indissoluble tenderness, “This girl, only when she’s asleep, does she behave.”
Suddenly, Daohua shifted her body.
Xiao Yeyang, seeing her head about to bump against the edge of the boat, quickly leaned in and protected her head with his hand, and concerned about any similar occurrence, maintained this position.
Time passed, and a breeze blew. Daohua felt a bit chilly, her drowsiness slowly fading. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Yeyang looking down at her.
Daohua was a bit stupefied, staring at Xiao Yeyang in confusion, wondering why he was there.
Daohua, whose eyes were glossy from just waking up, along with the puzzled look on her face, appeared exceptionally naive and cute, causing Xiao Yeyang’s heart to tighten, and he swallowed reflexively.
At that moment, Daohua was lying on her side in the wooden boat, and Xiao Yeyang was sitting half-upright, leaning in and protecting Daohua’s head with his hand. The two of them were quietly gazing at each other.
In the gentle breeze, an unmistakeable affection slowly swirled around the wooden boat.