Chapter 133: Fanning in the Cold Winter

 Chapter 133: Fanning in the Cold Winter 

"Why are you here?" Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang in surprise.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at her and calmly sat down next to her. Only then did he leisurely speak, "What? You can come, but I can't?"

Daohua shot him a sideways glance and realized that the lively atmosphere of the stage had quieted down. The previously loud conversations had turned into hushed whispers.

"Brother Dong, Brother Zhou, and all of you, good afternoon!"

Not only was Xiao Yeyang here, but also Dong Yuanxuan, her three brothers, and a few young gentlemen she had seen during the Chongyang Festival hike.

After greeting everyone, Daohua was about to leave.

She had chosen a seat directly facing the stage earlier because there weren’t many people, and she wanted to enjoy the performance. Now, however, with so many people, it was obvious she would have to vacate her spot.

"You’re leaving?" Xiao Yeyang asked immediately when he saw her getting up.

Daohua gestured toward Dong Yuanxuan and the others. "There are too many of you, the seats won’t be enough. I’ll go sit with my grandmother."

Xiao Yeyang’s expression immediately darkened as he frowned.

At that moment, Zhou Chengye quickly smiled and said, "Miss Yan, please stay here. If there aren’t enough seats, we’ll just bring in more tables and chairs. It’s no big deal." He waved his hand, signaling for a servant to bring more furniture.

Daohua hesitated, glancing at the women from various families who were eyeing her. She felt uncomfortable sitting with Xiao Yeyang and his group, thinking it would draw too much attention.

"I’d better not. As a young lady, it wouldn’t be proper for me to sit among all of you," she said.

Zhou Chengye was at a loss for words. He couldn’t argue with her, as she had a point. Although Miss Yan was only ten, matters of propriety were important, especially when it came to a young lady’s reputation.

But Xiao Yeyang obviously wanted to talk to her—what should he do?

Just then, Zhou Jingwan and a group of young girls walked over.

Since the best seats to watch the play were directly facing the stage, Zhou Jingwan led her group straight to Daohua.

"Miss Yan, I was wondering where you had gone. Turns out, you were hiding here watching the play! I love watching plays too, and you didn’t even invite me," Zhou Jingwan said, smiling.

Daohua laughed. "I saw you having such a lively conversation with the other ladies, so I didn’t dare interrupt."

Qian Bilian was momentarily speechless but smiled and didn’t continue the conversation.

Zhou Jingwan quickly took over, "Alright, everyone, let’s sit down and enjoy the play!"

At that moment, the servants brought in the tables and chairs and set them up.

The arrival of so many young ladies meant that Daohua no longer had to worry about any propriety issues. She took a seat in the same spot she had previously occupied.

After all, this was the best position for watching the performance of the beautiful ladies, one she had moved around to find after several tries. Since it wasn’t the most central seat, she felt no qualms about sitting there.

Seeing Daohua settle down next to him, Xiao Yeyang’s expression softened noticeably.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chengye, seeing that Xiao Yeyang was sitting at the side and unsure whether to ask him to move to the central seat, noticed Xiao Yeyang smiling after Daohua sat down. He quickly chose to remain silent.

"Jingwan, hurry up and serve the tea and snacks!" Zhou Chengye called out.

Zhou Jingwan, who had intended to sit beside Daohua and rest for a bit, sighed. She had been busy all morning and was feeling tired. However, since today was her beloved grandfather’s birthday, she had the responsibility to ensure the guests were entertained and the Zhou family’s reputation upheld. She reluctantly stood up to prepare the tea and snacks.

Daohua sympathetically glanced at Zhou Jingwan: "Jingwan definitely didn’t sleep well last night!"

Xiao Yeyang immediately responded, "How do you know? Did you stay at the Zhou family’s house?"

Daohua replied irritably, "It’s obvious from the slightly dark circles under her eyes!"

Xiao Yeyang thought about it and awkwardly shook the fan in his hand.

Seeing this, Daohua couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Xiao Yeyang, puzzled, asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Daohua didn’t hold back and directly said, "In the middle of winter, what are you fanning for? Are you pretending to be charming?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xiao Yeyang’s hand, which was waving the fan, froze as if someone had suddenly pressed the pause button, leaving it suspended in mid-air.

Not only him, but the others around him, including Dong Yuanxuan and Yan Wenxiu, who were also holding fans, froze too and awkwardly put them away.

"Younger sister, you don’t understand," Yan Wenkai’s loud voice rang out. "Brother Dong and the others fan in the winter to show they’re cultured and refined. It’s just their thing." 

Daohua tilted her head and looked at Xiao Yeyang and the others, who were all a little uncomfortable. She smiled faintly but didn’t continue teasing. "Then why doesn’t Second Brother have a fan?"

Yan Wenkai replied, "Younger sister, didn’t you just say it? It’s the middle of winter, so why would I be fanning myself in such cold weather? Only someone with a sick mind would do that!"

Daohua was stunned. Could she say she was actually hoping her Fourth Brother would change the subject?

But unexpectedly, Fourth Brother’s words were even harsher than hers!

Only someone with a sick mind would fan in winter...

That was so logical, she couldn’t even refute it.

"Yan Wenkai!"

Everyone holding a fan, including Xiao Yeyang, turned to stare at Yan Wenkai. If looks could kill, Yan Wenkai would have been dismembered multiple times by now.

Feeling the danger, Yan Wenkai shrank his neck and muttered, "What I said isn’t wrong!"

"Pfft~"

Their movements were a bit loud, and several girls nearby overheard. Some couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Daohua looked around and saw that many girls' shoulders were trembling with laughter. She couldn't help but join in the fun.

"Hmph!" Xiao Yeyang snorted, pinching the fan he liked most. He suddenly felt it wasn’t as pleasant as before and threw it to Defu, who was standing nearby. 

Defu immediately caught it with both hands, carefully placing it in his arms, and then looked at the Yan family’s young lady with a face full of awe.

This young lady really dares to say anything!

Look at that, even the young master at his house was too scared to fan himself now.

Seeing Xiao Yeyang like this, Daohua laughed even more, in a much better mood. Her gaze shifted to the stage, and she thought the performers up there looked even more beautiful now.

Seeing Daohua swing her legs happily, Xiao Yeyang felt a bit depressed and asked, "What are you looking at? What’s so good?"

"Beautiful women!" Daohua replied with a smile, pointing at the actress she thought was the prettiest, "Don’t you think they’re beautiful? Look at their faces, their figures..."

"Cough, cough~"

Sudden loud coughing interrupted Daohua before she could continue.

Daohua turned around and saw Xiao Yeyang’s strange expression, along with her older brother glaring at her. She asked in confusion, "What’s going on?"

Yan Wenxiu took a deep breath and tried to soften his tone, "Younger sister, I’ll talk to Mother and ask her to keep an eye on you. Don’t read too many idle books."

Look at what the younger sister is saying?

Beautiful women, faces, figures... Is that something a young lady should be talking about?

Daohua opened her mouth, a little confused. Wasn’t she just watching a play? What does that have to do with idle books? But she still wisely chose to remain silent.

(End of Chapter)