NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 86
Jiang Yan wanted to go back and listen to operas and watch plays. She also missed the movies in the city. The arrival of the black-and-white television could only provide a slight relief from boredom.
Although there were many good things in the countryside, such as the tender and flavorful stewed chicken made by Old lady Wang, or the dry and sweet but slightly choking sweet potatoes...
But Tian Zhennian was seeing a television for the first time, and he was extremely excited.
He didn't even read Jiang Yan's small storybooks anymore. His already reddish face turned even redder, and he stood in front of the television without blinking.
Jiang Yan rested her chin on her hand, revealing a pale, smooth wrist. She spoke in a light, airy tone, telling Tian Zhennian to move back a little, as it wasn't good for his eyes.
She curled up on the lounge chair by the door, lazily squinting her eyes. She looked just like the kitten lying on its back exposing its belly on the floor.
Originally, she didn't plan to get out of bed as usual. But for some reason, Zhang Xuyun kept calling her from outside her room, over and over again, which was incredibly annoying. At first, she didn't let others disturb her sleep, but now she was the one calling out endlessly.
When Jiang Yan was dozing off in bed, she was suddenly woken up by the calling voice. After being disturbed back and forth several times, she could only groggily crawl out of bed and throw a feather duster at the door.
One was the Boss who handled business matters with an absolute authority, and the other was the spoiled and sickly Miss. They were both masters of the household. Old lady Wang and Li were caught in the middle, fearing any conflicts between the two.
Of course, as it turned out, their worries were excessive.
The Miss had always been willful and capricious, but the cunning Boss acted surprisingly accommodating, contrary to his usual behavior. The relationship between the two was inexplicably harmonious.
It was as if sounds of something being smashed came from inside the room, and the Boss would still curl his lips into a smile, with a hint of indulgence.
Just as Jiang Yan was about to fall asleep, a blanket suddenly fell over her, covering her entire body.
She pushed the blanket away, revealing a handsome yet mischievous face above her. Even under the soft light, it still looked a little punchable.
But Zhang Xuyun held the hope of her returning to the city.
She still wanted to go back and watch operas and movies.
The original host's parents doted on their daughter and cared greatly about her health, leading them to strictly follow the doctor's advice. When the doctor suggested she recuperate in the countryside, they immediately sent Jiang Yan there.
If it weren't for their business being too busy for them to leave, the Chen Family might have relocated there altogether.
Jiang Yan intentionally or unintentionally accommodated Zhang Xuyun. She would give him the first bowl of soup served by Old lady Wang, drink the herbal medicine she didn't want to in front of him, and let him place the kitten on her...
However, Zhang Xuyun's plan was not merely to come early and engage in petty banter with his cousin.
These insignificant little tricks could not satisfy him. Zhang Xuyun stood elegantly under the tree, twisting the glossy jade beads between his long fingers, while his mind pondered indecent deeds.
So, when Tian Zhennian returned home in the afternoon, he was blocked at the door by the Chen Family Miss's cousin. The man, standing tall in his purple robe, told him impassively: "She won't be home tomorrow, come back in a couple of days."
Tian Zhennian, hurrying home for dinner, simply acknowledged him and ran off.
But on those few steps home, he couldn't help but recall Zhang Xuyun again. Despite not understanding many things, he felt that this person had an aura of authority and presence, like some important figure.
...
Jiang Yan had already prepared herself to be woken up. Unexpectedly, she slept through until waking up naturally.
The warm sunlight from the window shone on her face. Jiang Yan woke up and felt that today was truly unusual. Zhang Xuyun didn't come to bother her, and Old lady Wang didn't urgently rush her either.
Like a beached little fish, she rolled over vigorously to avoid the sunlight, planning to sleep some more. But as she was about to close her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Zhang Xuyun's mischievous face.
Before she could react, she groggily opened her eyes wide.
Zhang Xuyun was leaning on the chair by her bedside, twisting the glossy beads in his hand, with the usual hint of an ill-intentioned smile on his lips.
His demeanor was so natural, so blatant, that Jiang Yan couldn't find anything amiss.
Wrapped in the blanket, she buried her face in it and rubbed it, her voice as sticky and milky as a kitten asking him, "Cousin, where is Old lady Wang?"
Zhang Xuyun genuinely felt she was too adorable.
He still leaned back in the chair, but his eyes were filled with laughter, and his voice was deliberately lowered to a hoarse, feathery whisper, as if teasingly: "Old lady Wang isn't here, so Cousin can do some naughty things."
It was only then that Jiang Yan realized the relationship between them wasn't that close yet, and this distance wasn't quite appropriate.