Xiao Yeyang shook the wine bottle in his hand, only to discover there was just a little left, his brows subconsciously furrowed, and then his gaze fell upon the burnt skewers on the grill, a hint of confusion passing through his eyes.
What on earth happened to that guy?
Inside Jiao Pavilion, Yan Wenkai and Su Hongxin had started a fire, engrossed in roasting a whole sheep.
Seeing Daohua approaching, Yan Wenkai hastily cut off a piece of greasy lamb leg meat and handed it over: âBig Sister, quickly taste Fourth Brotherâs cooking skills.â
Daohua hesitated, âIs this roasted well?â
Yan Wenkai: âItâs roasted well, definitely roasted well, I learned this craft from the old masters who cook in the military camp. To learn this, I spent several casks of grape wine, the flavor is absolutely authentic.â
Daohua took it and took a light bite, then nodded: âItâs not bad, ye.â Saying this, she went to sit down to one side.
Seeing his little sister nibbling away, Yan Wenkai grinned and, noticing Su Shiyu watching him, immediately cut another piece of lamb leg meat and walked towards her with a smile: âMiss Su, you taste some too.â
Su Shiyu smiled as she took it, noticing that Yan Wenkai was staring straight at her with a look that urged her to eat. She couldnât help but take a bite.
Yan Wenkai immediately asked, âHow is it?â
Su Shiyu smiled and nodded: âDelicious.â
Yan Wenkai: âIf you like it, Iâll cook it for you again next time!â
Heart jolted, Su Shiyu pursed her lips, just about to say there was no need when she looked up to find Yan Wenkai had already walked away: ââ¦â
After sitting down, Daohua continued eating the lamb leg meat, while reopening a bottle of osmanthus wine to drink, finding it hard to be interested in the jovial conversations around her, but for the sake of not dampening everyoneâs spirits, she still forced a smile on her face.
After entering Jiao Pavilion, Dong Yuanyao had planned to sit next to Daohua, but midway Su Shiyu called her over.
âWhat did you say to Yiyi?â
Dong Yuanyao shrugged: âI didnât say anything.â
Su Shiyu gave her a sideways glance, then looked towards Daohua: âYou didnât say anything, and Yiyi is upset?â
Dong Yuanyao turned to look at Daohua, noticed her faint smile, and immediately said: âSheâs not upset!â
Su Shiyu somewhat speechlessly said: âTo think you claim to understand Yiyi so well, yet you canât even tell sheâs forcing a smile.â
Dong Yuanyao was taken aback, again turned to look at Daohua, and saw her steadily drinking, her brows immediately twisted in concern: âI knew it, this person is saying one thing and thinking another.â
If she truly had no feelings for the Little Prince, after hearing what I said, she definitely wouldnât look like she does now.
Hearing this, Su Shiyu somewhat guessed what Dong Yuanyao had said and hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, âYuanyao, my grandfather always says that the affairs of others can never be fully understood by outsiders, so one should never impose their own one-sided views on the lives of others, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.â
Dong Yuanyao: âI didnât interfere, I merely reminded Yiyi of the serious implications of the Little Princeâs matrimonial matters, told her about them.â
Su Shiyu nodded: âI know, you have Yiyiâs best interests at heart, but still, I think you should let things take their natural course.â
Dong Yuanyao frowned: âBut if we let things take their natural course, it will definitely end up harming Yiyi.â
Su Shiyu glanced at Xiao Yeyang, who was walking toward Daohua with a skewer of well-cooked meat, and smiled faintly: âAre you so certain?â
Dong Yuanyao was choked up, her lips moved several times but in the end, she said nothing.
Su Shiyu chuckled: âYuanyao, we are born into families of splendor and high station, indeed there are many things we canât help, but this doesnât mean these cannot be resolved.â
âYou have to believe, the power of human emotions can erupt in an immensely strong force, one that is sufficient to overcome all kinds of hardships.â
âLet me ask you, if a sincere affection was placed before you, would you give it up for the so-called family interests?â
Dong Yuanyao looked at Su Shiyu with surprise, she hadnât expected the usually proper and rule-following elder Miss of the Su Family to voice such an opinion.
âShiyu, I thought youâ¦â
Su Shiyu smiled: âThought I was a bookworm?â Saying this, she pursed her lips and smiled, âRules and etiquette, those are for others to see. If I were truly a blockhead, I wouldnât have caught the eye of you, Miss Dong, right?â
Dong Yuanyao with a face of amazement: âShiyu, my rebellion is on the outside, while yours is here,â she said, pointing to her head.
Su Shiyu laughed out loud: âWhere does that come from, calling it rebellion? We, well, just have our own ideas. Whether you or Yiyi, our behavior might not be quite the same as the young ladies from other families, but thatâs all because we are pursuing what we love.â
Speaking of which, he shifted his gaze and looked towards Daohua.
Dong Yuanyao also turned her head to look over.
Over here, Xiao Yeyang holding a plate of skewers he had grilled himself, placed them in front of Daohua and reached out to hand her a skewer of vegetables: âAfter eating such a large piece of meat, you must be feeling greasy by now, hurry up and have some vegetables.â
Watching Xiao Yeyang tenderly offering the vegetables, Daohua hesitated for a moment, took the skewer, and started to eat slowly. After a few bites, seeing that Xiao Yeyang was still watching her, she couldnât help but speak.@@novelbin@@
âDonât just watch me eat, go and have some roasted lamb at my fourth brotherâs place,â she said.
Xiao Yeyang shook his head and smiled, âI like watching you eat. As for the roasted lamb, if you want more, Iâll go get it for you.â
Daohua was already feeling irritable, and hearing this made her even more annoyed, speaking with a bit of a harsh tone: âXiao Yeyang, can you please stop hovering around me?â
As soon as the words left her mouth, Daohua regretted it. Seeing Xiao Yeyang frown, she simply bowed her head and stopped talking.
Xiao Yeyang was silent for a while, then said softly, âWhatâs actually wrong? Werenât you fine before? Why are you so irritable now? Have I upset you?â
Seeing Daohua not speaking again, he continued, âIf I did something wrong that upset you, donât keep it inside, just tell me, Iâll change.â
Upon hearing this, Daohua was somewhat taken aback, looked at Xiao Yeyang, felt even more depressed, and didnât know what to say. She put down the skewers and picked up the bottle of wine to drink again.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang snatched the wine bottle from Daohuaâs hand: âYou just drank nearly a whole bottle, if you keep drinking, youâll be drunk later.â
Daohua frowned: âGive me back the wine.â
Xiao Yeyang shook his head: âI wonât.â
Seeing the two at a stalemate, Su Shiyu and Dong Yuanyao, worried that they would start arguing, immediately stood up and came over to smooth things over.
âYiyi, look how beautifully the lotuses are blooming over there, letâs go admire them!â
After saying this, the two helped Daohua up and walked toward the wooden boat by the lotus pond.
Xiao Yeyang saw this and felt uneasy, signaling to Defu to follow them.
After the three girls left, Dong Yuanxuan and the others came over.
Yan Wenkai said, âLittle Prince, are you having a conflict with my big sister again?â
Xiao Yeyang gave him a glare: âWhoâs arguing with her? Iâm telling you, your big sisterâs temper has been getting worse and worse. You should step in.â
Yan Wenkai stared: âItâs enough that she doesnât manage me, how dare I manage her?â Saying this, he paused for a moment and earnestly added, âLittle Prince, my big sister is a young lady after all, with some temperaments peculiar to her sex. Donât be too serious with her; you should indulge and pamper her more.â
Xiao Yeyang felt agitated and stood up, walking back and forth in the pavilion: âAm I not indulging her enough? Seeing her unhappy, I immediately grilled the vegetables she likes, all to make her happy.â
As soon as he spoke, Dong Yuanxuan, Su Hongxin, and Yan Wentaoâs expressions all changed.
Xiao Yeyang was also getting desperate, not realizing that he had just revealed his feelings in front of others.
Only Yan Wenkai seemed unaffected, believing that cheering up his sister was the right thing to do.
Yan Wenkai analyzed the problem for Xiao Yeyang: âI think, you definitely got the wrong approach to cheering her up. Did you just stop my big sister from drinking?â
Xiao Yeyang nodded: âSo what? I was just worried sheâd get drunk and scolded when she got home.â
Yan Wenkai said, ââ¦But my big sister is quite stubborn, you know? If you tell her not to do something, sheâll do it just to spite you. If you take her on, how can she not get mad?â
Xiao Yeyang pondered for a moment and felt that Yan Wenkai made sense: âThen tell me, what should I do now? I canât just take her the wine and let her drink it, can I?â
Yan Wenkai shook his head: âThereâs no need for that. My big sister has a generous nature; sheâll be angry with you for just a little while. After they finish boating and admiring the lotuses, sheâll naturally cool off.â
âReally?â Xiao Yeyang looked skeptical.
Yan Wenkai patted his chest: âReally, really, would I not understand my own sister?â
Watching Yan Wenkai, who seemed confused himself, giving advice to an even more flustered Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanxuan felt a tremor in his heart.
The Little Prince was so invested in Miss Yan, wasnât he?
Just a slight display of discontent from Miss Yan was enough to throw him into disarray and upset his composure!