Without even thinking, Yang Chuxia said, "What’s the point of looking at the paintings, just look at me!" She then imperiously took all the rice paper and held them tightly in her arms. With a smug look on her face, she stared at Ye Zi’an, "These are all mine now. I’m going to ask Uncle Dayong to help me frame them."
Ye Zi’an laughed at her antics, "You don’t need to frame them now. After we get married, I’ll dedicate a whole room to display these framed paintings."
Upon hearing him mention marriage, Yang Chuxia’s face flushed for a rare moment.
But thinking that it wasn’t her style to be bashful, she haughtily replied, "You little rascal, I see you know how to be romantic." Then she confidently carried the paintings back home.
Ye Zi’an just chuckled and followed her to her house, locking the door behind him.
Once back home, Yang Chuxia rushed into her room and carefully unfolded the paintings one by one, scrutinizing each of them with loving attention, and giggling at every sight.
Only then did she realize what a closet romantic her brother An was, with all these hidden paintings of her. Each one was clearly drawn with great care and concentration, perfectly capturing her charisma.
She then took out the gift she prepared for Brother An, a dagger that she had secretly obtained in town while hiding it from her family.
Originally, she was quite content with her gift, but after seeing An’s paintings, she became dissatisfied. Who in their right mind would gift a dagger as a token of commitment? Yang Chuxia smacked herself on the head in annoyance.
But then she thought again. What’s wrong with a dagger? It can be used for self-defense! She decided to stick with her decision. After all, why should she conform to others’ idea of a perfect gift?
So after dinner, Yang Chuxia quickly handed the dagger to Ye Zi’an, fiercely warning him, "You better act like you , got it?"
Ye Zi’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Even Ms.Wang, who eventually figured out the two youngsters’ affair, looked troubled. She wondered how her daughter could be so unconventional, worrying that she might have spoiled her. Ms.Wang took Yang Chuxia aside and lectured her on embroidery, sewing clothes, or making pouches and shoes, and so forth.
Yang Chuxia listened with thunderous thoughts in her mind. Sew clothes? Sew shoes? She examined her hands. These were hands that held guns, not embroidery needles!
She agonized over all of this for the entire night, even trying her hand at sewing, but she couldn’t create clothes, pouches, or anything of the like.
So after breakfast the next morning, she pulled Ye Zi’an aside and huffed, "Listen, I don’t know how to make clothes or pouches, and you can’t hold that against me, okay? Or else, you’ll get a beating."
As luck would have it, Yang Qingrui was hiding nearby and overheard the conversation, causing him to spray his drink out in laughter.
He laughed even harder.
"What are you doing sneaking around here, you little stinker?"
Yang Qingrui, still clutching a cup in his hand, continued to laugh while bending over. Then he said to Ye Zi’an, "Brother Zi’an, I genuinely feel sorry for you."
Yang Chuxia retorted, "You little brat, don’t you forget that I’m your older sister, alright?"
Ye Zi’an looked at Yang Chuxia chasing and hitting Yang Qingrui, amused by her outburst and her comments from the night before.
"Alright, alright, stop horsing around. We’ve got to head to the town, remember?" Ye Zi’an diplomatically intervened with a smile.