âMaster, here is the handkerchief you asked for!â
Inside the cabin, Defu entered with several clean cotton handkerchiefs, glanced at Miss Yan who stood obediently, and then at their silent master sitting down. With swift movements, he placed the handkerchiefs on the table, then quickly withdrew.
Upon seeing the handkerchiefs, Daohua glanced at her wet hair and immediately smiled, reaching for a handkerchief, âThese are for drying my hair, right?â
While speaking, she brought her black hair to the front of her body, then began to rub it with the handkerchief.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, stood up with a stern face, and snatched the handkerchief away.
Frowning with confusion, Daohua asked, âWhat are you doing?â
âSit down!â
Xiao Yeyang gestured with his chin towards the stool.
Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyangâs expression, thought for a moment, and obediently sat down.
As soon as she sat, she felt her hair being swept back, and turning her head, she saw Xiao Yeyang holding the handkerchief, ready to wipe her hair.
Daohua: âThat, I can do it myself!â With that said, she reached out to take the handkerchief.
This time, because she followed Xiao Yeyang out on short notice, and the porridge stand needed people, she and Yuanyao had not brought any attendants and had to wipe their hair by themselves.
Xiao Yeyang raised his hand, avoiding Daohuaâs hand, and said expressionlessly, âSit still!â
Daohua: ââ¦â
Glancing at Xiao Yeyang, she thought to herself that this guy was still angry, and it would be better for her to go along with him.
So, she put her hand down and sat still.
Only then did Xiao Yeyang start to wipe Daohuaâs hair.
Daohua sat obediently, and after a while, seeing that he was only silently wiping her hair and not speaking, she knew that he was holding in his anger and thus took the initiative to start a conversation.
âThat, you should know that I value my life and wouldnât joke about it.â
Xiao Yeyang didnât respond but fetched a new dry handkerchief and continued wiping her hair.
Seeing this, Daohua couldnât help but turn her head to look at Xiao Yeyangâs expression.
Immediately, Xiao Yeyang said, âDonât move around!â
His tone was somewhat sharp, still angry.
With a sigh in her heart, Daohua continued, âI thought it through before I jumped into the water to save someone. First, I can swim; second, I had a rope tied to me.â
âI know, youâre going to say thereâs always a âwhat if,â but even if the rope broke, you were still there, right!â
âYou were on the boat, and there were so many other boatmen who could swim, could they really not save me?â
âIf that were the case, then I would have deserved whatever happenedâ¦â
Before she could finish, Daohua felt her hair tighten, and turning her head, she saw Xiao Yeyang looking at her with a displeased expression.
âWho curses themselves like that?â
Daohua murmured, âI was just speaking without thinking.â
Xiao Yeyang: ââ¦You better keep quiet!â With that, he accidentally wiped her hair a bit too hard and caused her pain.
âOw!â
Daohua quickly reached up to grab her hair, looking at Xiao Yeyang with dissatisfaction, âDid you do that on purpose?â
Xiao Yeyang intended to explain, but didnât want to back down, so he just kept a straight face and remained silent.
Seeing him like this, Daohua huffed, letting her hair down, âForget it, Iâll be the bigger person and not hold this against you.â
Seeing Daohua sit back down, Xiao Yeyang picked up the handkerchief and started wiping again.
Afterward, neither of them spoke again.
Daohua let Xiao Yeyang dry her hair, swinging her legs, occasionally turning her head to glance at him.
Seeing this, the stiffness in Xiao Yeyangâs cheeks slowly melted away as he earnestly helped wipe her hair.
Daohuaâs hair was very healthy: black, long, soft and smooth.
Every time a strand slipped through his fingers, he felt a ticklish sensation in his heart.
Thinking that this was the first time he was drying a womanâs hair, Xiao Yeyang felt slightly uneasy. In order to dispel this unease, he took the initiative to speak, âYouâre not allowed to do something this dangerous again!â
When Daohua heard him speak, she immediately turned around and asked with a smile, âAre you not angry anymore?â
Xiao Yeyang let out a grunt, âWhen have I ever been angry?â
Daohua said, âJust now, right now, and who knows, maybe in the future too. Youâve been angry all along, otherwise why would you be frowning?â
Xiao Yeyang fell silent, âI canât be bothered with you. Once we get back, Iâll let your three brothers take care of you!â
Upon hearing this, Daohua couldnât help but stand up, then she tugged on her hair, âOuch, that hurts!â
Xiao Yeyang quickly let go of her hair, âI told you not to move around!â
Ignoring the pain, Daohua rubbed her head and said, âXiao Yeyang, you mustnât tell my three brothers about what happened today, especially my eldest brother. If he finds out, heâll definitely go on and on about it for half a day.â
Xiao Yeyang was unmoved, âI think your eldest brother should really take care of you.â
âNo, donât!â
Daohua reached out and tugged at Xiao Yeyangâs sleeve, shaking it a few times, then pleaded pitifully, âIf my three brothers find out, my grandmother and mother will certainly find out too. If they both learn about me going into the river to save someone, Iâll never be allowed out of the house again in the future.â
âXiao Yeyang, can you really bear to see me kept in the back courtyard, never able to step out?â
Xiao Yeyang glanced at her, pulled back his sleeve, âYes, I can bear it!â
Daohuaâs breath hitched, then she put her hands on her hips, âAre you still my friend or not? Iâm just asking you for a little help, and youâre making all these excuses.â
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua, then averted his eyes, not saying a word.
If toughness wouldnât work, she would have to try a softer approach.
Daohua quickly stood in front of him, clapping her hands together in a pleading gesture, âXiao Yeyang, please donât tell my brothers about what happened today. I donât want to be trapped in the back courtyard, unable to come out, I beg of you!!â
Xiao Yeyang: âWhy didnât you think about that before you jumped into the river?â
Daohuaâs eyes darted around, âIsnât it because I trust you? I believe you wonât betray me, and youâll definitely help me, right?â
Seeing her like this, Xiao Yeyang covered his head, then saw his sleeve being pulled again. He took a deep breath and yanked back his sleeve, snorting coldly, âJust this once, and there better not be a next time!â
Daohua immediately smiled, happily patting Xiao Yeyang on the shoulder, âThatâs what friends are for. Not to mention facing dangers together or blade-inserted ribs, you should at least be able to do that much. Thanks.â
Xiao Yeyangâs mouth curved slightly, âDonât celebrate too early. Just because I wonât tell doesnât mean others wonât.â
Daohua smiled, âDonât worry, Yuanyao wonât tell either. The people on the boat are all your people; without your orders, they wouldnât dare to gossip.â
Xiao Yeyang: âYouâve thought this through pretty well.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Daohua showed a triumphant expression.
Xiao Yeyang speechless, âAre you going to dry your hair or not? If you go back looking like that, without us saying anything, your brothers will guess what happened.â
âDry, dry, of course Iâll dry it.â
Daohua quickly sat properly and urged, âCome on, put some effort into it, dry my hair faster!â
âYou, donât push your luck!â
âHiss, be gentle, it hurts!â
ââ¦â
Half an hour later, Daohua reappeared on the deck with her hair bun tidied, looked around, and asked De Fu, âWhereâs Yuanyao?â
âMiss Dong is in the cabin at the back, taking care of those people who were saved.â