Chapter 168: The Enchanting Grace of the Celestial Mother (New Chapter, Please Subscribe, Please Give Monthly Tickets!)

At that moment, Liu Xiaoli and the other girls also noticed the placard in Xu Yuexin's hand and walked toward him.

Years of dance training gave them a demeanor different from others.

Especially Liu Xiaoli, who, besides being tall, had exceptionally graceful lines from her shoulders to her twin peaks, then to her abdomen and a pair of beautiful legs, and every movement was full of charm.

A simple black fitted shirt, together with a classic hair bun, already made her delicate face look stunningly beautiful.

The snow‑white skin beneath her collarbone made one unable to help but glance again.

"Comrades, you're from the Wuhan Song and Dance Theatre, right?"

Xu Yuexin asked as Liu Xiaoli and the others approached him.

"That's right, I'm Liu Xiaoli, the lead of this accompaniment dance."

"May I ask if you are here to pick us up?"

Liu Xiaoli stopped in front of Xu Yuexin and asked gracefully.

"Hmm, I'm Xu Yuexin, I'm in charge of this concert."

"I'll take you to your lodging right away."

Xu Yuexin folded away the placard and said.

While talking with Liu Xiaoli, Xu Yuexin noticed the other girls were all wearing jackets, but she alone wore only a single garment.

This highlighted Liu Xiaoli's graceful figure, especially her firm, full curves, and consequently made her shiver in the autumn wind.

"Is the lodging far?"

As they left the station exit, Liu Xiaoli and Xu Yuexin walked side by side, and she asked him.

"Not far, but this stretch will definitely freeze you to the bone."

Xu Yuexin said, "Why didn't you wear more clothes?"

"My bag was stolen when we set off."

Liu Xiaoli said with an embarrassed smile, "All my clothes and daily necessities are inside."

Hearing Liu Xiaoli's reply, Xu Yuexin immediately took off his coat and said, "You wear it, don't let the cold ruin your performance on stage."

Liu Xiaoli hesitated whether to accept it, as it was a stranger man's coat.

A dancer standing nearby took the coat, intending to drape it over her.

"You'd be cold like this, right?"

Liu Xiaoli blocked the coat and asked Xu Yuexin.

"Not cold, I have a Wool Sweater."

Xu Yuexin patted his chest and said, "Besides, I'm in great health."

At that moment the dancer threw the coat over Liu Xiaoli and said, "Just put it on."

"Don't catch a cold; otherwise you'll dance poorly the day after tomorrow as people say."

"Ah... alright then."

Liu Xiaoli, feeling a bit uneasy, thought and then tightened the coat around herself.

The coat still retained Xu Yuexin's body heat, and Liu Xiaoli felt very warm wearing it, as if someone were holding her tightly.

"Thank you."

Feeling the warmth, Liu Xiaoli thanked Xu Yuexin.

"Comrade, may I ask where we will stay?"

At that moment, the girl who had just handed her the coat looked at Xu Yuexin and said.

"Stay at my place."

Xu Yuexin said.

"Your place?"

Not only Liu Xiaoli, the other girls nearby were also shocked.

There were eight of them in total; could they all fit?

Let alone they'd be sharing with a grown man.

If this caused any trouble, what would they do?

"That's right, stay at my place; my home is spacious enough."

With Liu Xiaoli and the others staring in astonishment, Xu Yuexin replied calmly.

How big is "big enough"? Can it accommodate all eight of them?

The girls exchanged doubtful glances and, without saying a word, decided to go see first.

If there were a Three-Room-One-Hall Layout, they'd all squeeze into his house.

Liu Xiaoli thought.

Jingcheng's train station was within the East Second Ring, and Xu Yuexin led the girls there in no time.

"Here, this is my home."

When they reached the vermilion-painted gate, Xu Yuexin opened it and introduced to Liu Xiaoli and the others, "It's a courtyard with Four Halls Layout."

"Just tell us whether it's enough to stay in or not."

"Four Halls?"

Liu Xiaoli's watery eyes widened slightly.

Although she wasn't from Jingcheng, she had heard of the Four-Courtyard House layout.

According to tradition, a Four Halls courtyard is the largest and most prestigious type of courtyard house, once only the nobility could reside in such a grand yard.

Xu Yuexin really is wealthy.

"Creak—" as the gate opened, the girls all widened their eyes in amazement.

Just the courtyard that lay before them spanned several hundred square meters, and the houses inside were more than enough for each of them to have a room.

It's enough to live in, absolutely enough.

At that moment, one of the girls in the group replied to Xu Yuexin, "Your place is not only big, but also beautiful."

Liu Xiaoli nodded in agreement nearby, "Comrade, this scenery of little bridges and flowing water must have taken a lot of effort, right?"

"It's okay, I hired a gardener to do it; I didn't spend much time myself."

Xu Yuexin said, "Your lodging is in Zhongyuan; hurry over."

As he spoke, he led the girls forward.

Liu Xiaoli and the others followed Xu Yuexin through the courtyard, feeling that his home was not merely big but could be described as vast.

Upon entering Zhongyuan, Xu Yuexin started with Liu Xiaoli and assigned each girl a room.

In each room, besides the simple daily items he bought, there was a Military Bed for them to sleep on.

"Didn't you lose your luggage?"

"Let's go buy things on the street."

After arranging the girls' rooms, Xu Yuexin returned to his own room, added a jacket, then walked back to Liu Xiaoli's room and said to her.

Liu Xiaoli initially thought she could go by herself, but considering that she was unfamiliar with life in Jingcheng, she finally accepted Xu Yuexin's invitation.

The two left the courtyard, stepped out of the alley, and together set foot on the autumn street.

"I have toiletries and blankets, the main thing is to buy the clothes you'll wear."

On the street, Xu Yuexin said to Liu Xiaoli, "By the way, you didn't lose your money as well, did you?"

"Money… actually I have some," Liu Xiaoli said hesitantly.

Xu Yuexin saw the issue at a glance and said, "It's just not enough, right?"

"It's a bit short."

Liu Xiaoli said embarrassedly.

"I'll front it for you, and when the performance fee comes, we'll deduct it from that."

Xu Yuexin offered his help.

"Then how could I be so polite?"

Liu Xiaoli blushed and said, "The dance hasn't even started yet."

"No need to be courteous; my task is to ensure your lives are taken care of, guaranteeing you take the stage in optimal condition."

Xu Yuexin smiled faintly.

He truly has a kind heart.

The first time we met, he was already so kind to me.

Liu Xiaoli thought to herself that she must perform at her best this time to repay Xu Yuexin's goodwill.

"Then… I really won't be polite."

Liu Xiaoli's face flushed as she tucked her chin and said.

Xu Yuexin smiled without replying.

After some conversation, Xu Yuexin felt Liu Xiaoli was an elegant, naive sweet, a girl inexperienced in the world yet extremely beautiful.

Mature women have their own charm, and a young girl like Liu Xiaoli…

Hmm, naturally she has her own beauty! In the autumn wind, the two arrived at the entrance of a State‑owned Ready‑to‑wear Shop.

Upon entering, Xu Yuexin immediately picked out a white, waist‑tight, fine‑wool coat for Liu Xiaoli.

"Comrade, may I ask what material this garment is?"

"It's wool."

"How much per piece?"

Liu Xiaoli asked anxiously.

The coat was indeed beautiful, but she felt it might exceed her spending level.

"80 per piece."

The sales clerk said without looking up.

Liu Xiaoli's heart skipped a beat: she knew it was pricey, but hadn't expected it to be this expensive.

"80, right? Bring me one."

Xu Yuexin, upon hearing that, said without hesitation.

"Huh? Change to another one."

Liu Xiaoli blurted out.

Her remuneration for this performance was just over 100, and she couldn't spend it all on clothing.

"No need to change, this one."

Xu Yuexin shouted to the clerk, then lowered his voice toward Liu Xiaoli, "You came all this way and even lost your luggage; I feel uneasy about it."

"Consider this coat a gift from me; the other clothes will be deducted from your performance fee later."

Facing Xu Yuexin's generosity, Liu Xiaoli was a bit at a loss.

This is a valuable coat costing 80 each…

How could she feel entitled to take it?

While Liu Xiaoli hesitated, the clerk had already placed the coat on the counter.

These days, State‑owned shops are arranged differently from later times; the clothes are displayed on the counter, and only when the clerk hands them to a customer can they try them on.

"Quick, try it on."

Xu Yuexin nudged Liu Xiaoli and said.

Liu Xiaoli had no choice but to take the coat, slip it on, and walk over to the side to look in the mirror.

Xu Yuexin gave Liu Xiaoli a quick once‑over in the mirror.

Indeed she looked very beautiful, even more than imagined.

The finely crafted Wool Coat draped over her, making her appear both noble and ethereal.

After confirming it fit, Xu Yuexin pulled out eighty bucks and paid for Liu Xiaoli.

On the other side, Liu Xiaoli also thought the delicate coat looked beautiful on her.

It's just that the price is too high, and accepting such a generous gift from Xu Yuexin upon first meeting is also not ideal.

"Let's go."

Xu Yuexin stepped forward, tapped Liu Xiaoli's arm and said, "I've already paid."

Liu Xiaoli instantly felt ashamed: she had let him spend so much money…

"Just deduct it from my performance fee later."

After exiting the shop, Liu Xiaoli gritted her teeth and said.

The flesh may ache, but she can't just accept such a huge favor all at once.

"Besides, let's see if there's anything else to buy."

Xu Yuexin said lightly.

After buying the outfit, Xu Yuexin also took Liu Xiaoli to purchase two sets of everyday change‑of‑clothes, then set off for home.

On the way back, Liu Xiaoli calculated the recent expenses.

80 bucks, 5 bucks, 10 bucks, 6 bucks…

As she kept calculating, Liu Xiaoli became disheveled.

Xu Yuexin had bought only high‑end goods for her, and even adding one more of her performance fee wouldn't cover it.

Looks like she'll have to pay extra…

Liu Xiaoli thought with a pang of heartache.

Standing beside Liu Xiaoli, Xu Yuexin saw that her complexion was off and guessed what she was thinking.

Only, he didn't point it out immediately.

"You don't look very well?"

When they reached the alley entrance, Xu Yuexin finally asked Liu Xiaoli.

"It's okay…"

Liu Xiaoli forced a smile, "Maybe I'm just not used to the climate here."

"I think it's not the climate, it's the price of the things in your hands."

Xu Yuexin chuckled, "Don't worry, these are all on me."

All for him to pay? That's even worse.

"No, no, it's over a hundred in total."

Liu Xiaoli hurriedly refused, "Thank you for offering to help, but I really can't let you spend the money."

(End of chapter)