Chapter 483: Chapter 452, Caught in the Act_1
“How does it look, is the painting lifelike?”
Xiao Yeyang, accompanied by Daohua, entered the study and spread the portrait he had prepared earlier on the desk.
Approaching, Daohua nodded at the portrait, “Lifelike, extremely so.” She then looked up at Xiao Yeyang and complimented, “Xiao Yeyang, your painting skills have improved tremendously.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, “If you think it’s alright, I’ll paint one for you next time.”
Remembering the portrait of herself still tucked away in the study’s cabinet, Daohua shook her head, “No need.” Quickly changing the subject, she added, “If you give this gift to my grandmother, she will be absolutely delighted.”
Xiao Yeyang didn’t dwell on Daohua’s refusal. There would be opportunities in the future, he thought, and with a smile said, “Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease, however…”
Daohua: “However, what?”
Xiao Yeyang pointed at the portrait, “Don’t you think this painting is too simplistic?”
Daohua scrutinized the portrait, “…It’s just my grandmother in the painting; it does seem a bit plain. What should we do, perhaps add some scenery?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “If I add scenery, it might detract from the main subject. Hmm… isn’t your calligraphy quite good? Why not inscribe something on this portrait?”
Daohua pondered for a moment, finding the suggestion appealing, “What should I inscribe then?”
Xiao Yeyang said with a smile, “Whatever you like.”
Daohua furrowed her brows, “This painting is your work; why not inscribe the words yourself”
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Xiao Yeyang, “Why are you so lazy? You don’t even want to think of something to inscribe for your grandmother.”
Daohua, “Aren’t you aware that I have always been inept at poetry? After this painting is presented to my grandmother, it is bound to be hung in her room. If guests see the inscribed words and they turn out to be laughable, it would be embarrassing.”
After a moment of silence, Xiao Yeyang offered, “How about this, you think about it first, and after you have an idea, I will refine the script for you? In this way, it can also be seen as your heartfelt effort toward the old lady.”
Daohua considered it for a while and reluctantly agreed, “Alright then.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, “I’ll prepare the ink for you,” he said, grinding the ink himself.
When Yan Wenxiu returned, he found the courtyard eerily quiet and called over a maid, “Have the Little Prince and the Third Master left?”
The maid shook her head, “No, they are still in the study.”
Upon hearing that, Yan Wenxiu immediately headed toward the study. As he approached, he heard a young girl’s excited and joyful voice coming from inside.
“I won, Third Brother! A bet is a bet; come on, bring out your wager!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t go back on my word.”
Hearing the voices of Zhou Jingwan and Yan Wentao, Yan Wenxiu looked surprised, instinctively lightening his footsteps, walking under the eaves, and peering through the colorful window into the study.
In front of the chessboard, Yan Wentao and Zhou Jingwan sat opposite each other. At that moment, Zhou Jingwan reached out her right arm, and his younger brother was in the midst of putting a bracelet on the girl’s fair wrist.
“Do you like it?” Yan Wentao looked at Zhou Jingwan with some nervousness. It was his first time buying something for a girl, and he was unsure whether it would be to her liking.
Zhou Jingwan nodded with a beaming smile, gently shaking the blood-red bracelet on her wrist, “I like it.”
Yan Wentao’s expression relaxed, “I’m glad you like it. This is a Chicken Blood Stone Bracelet. Master Wu says that the Chicken Blood Stone can bring good luck and prevent disasters, wearing it can protect you.”
Zhou Jingwan replied with a smile, “I will always wear it.”
Watching his younger brother’s lovesick expression and Zhou Jingwan’s coy yet delighted smile, Yan Wenxiu felt a throbbing in his temples and murmured, “How did she end up in my courtyard?”
Remembering that the Little Prince was also in his courtyard, Yan Wenxiu’s brows furrowed, and he quickened his pace towards the study’s main door, only to see Daohua and Xiao Yeyang standing in front of the desk as he arrived.
Daohua was writing something with her brush while Xiao Yeyang stood by her side grinding ink: the warmth and tranquility that filled the space between them once again left Yan Wenxiu astonished.
Having finished the last character, Daohua put away her brush, her expression relaxed and cheerful as she turned to Xiao Yeyang with a radiant smile, “I finally didn’t make any mistakes. You have no idea how worried I was that I’d mess up and ruin this painting.”
Xiao Yeyang chuckled, his tone indulgent, “Why worry about such a thing? It wasn’t a big deal worthy of your nerves.”
Daohua disagreed, “This is a gift you’re giving to grandmother; of course, I have to take it seriously.”
Before Xiao Yeyang could say anything else, his eyes caught sight of Yan Wenxiu standing at the doorway, and he immediately said with a smile, “Wenxiu, why aren’t you coming in?”
Yan Wenxiu snapped back to reality, forcing a smile onto his face, and stepped into the study, “What are you two doing?”
Seeing Yan Wenxiu, Daohua quickly waved him over, “Big brother, come and see! This is the painting Xiao Yeyang is giving to grandmother, does it look like her?”
Yan Wenxiu walked over and his face instantly showed astonishment, “I never expected the Little Prince to have such superb painting skills.”
Hearing this, Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang in surprise.
This guy didn’t tell big brother that he could paint?
Ignoring Daohua, Xiao Yeyang said with a faint smile, “I merely dabbled during my spare time.”
Daohua looked over, speechless, “Xiao Yeyang, are you being modest or just boasting?”
Xiao Yeyang replied with a look that said, ‘interpret it as you wish’.
Daohua responded with a direct ‘tch’, “Your skin is even thicker than the melon-selling Wang Po.”
Watching the interaction between the two, Yan Wenxiu felt a bit dizzy and his head began to throb.
When did his big sister and the Little Prince become so close?
And when did his third brother fall for Miss Zhou?
“Brother, don’t just focus on the painting; look at the calligraphy I added too.”
Daohua’s voice brought Yan Wenxiu back from his thoughts, and looking at the calligraphy on the painting, he nodded, “Not bad. It seems you have practiced your writing over the years; it’s much better than before.”
Then, he paused.
“This is a gift from the Little Prince to grandmother; what did you inscribe on it?”
Daohua, “Because the painting seemed too plain, I decided to add the calligraphy.”
Seeing that his sister had completely missed his point, Yan Wenxiu couldn’t help but want to hold his head.
A gift from the Little Prince to grandmother had his sister’s calligraphy on it; was this the Little Prince’s solo gift, or was it from both of them together?
If it was from the both of them, under what title were they giving it?
Noticing Yan Wenxiu’s discontented expression, Xiao Yeyang touched his nose and smiled, “Weren’t you all roasting venison? Why did you come back?”
Looking at Xiao Yeyang, Yan Wenxiu not too pleased, “I came to ask the Little Prince to join us.”
Xiao Yeyang was about to refuse, but Yan Wenxiu added, “I think the Little Prince and our third brother must be bored here. Why don’t you come with me? It’ll be more lively with everyone together.”
After speaking, he turned towards Daohua, his expression firm.
“Your cousin and both Yunxi and Yunyan from the clan are at our residence. Why haven’t you been taking good care of them? Go back to the inner courtyard with Miss Zhou.”
Daohua wanted to say that Yi Huan and the others were hosting, but seeing her big brother’s sour expression, she wisely kept quiet, called Zhou Jingwan out, and quickly left.