Chapter 150

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

However, as time passed, the sound of firecrackers gradually grew sparse, finally fading slowly into the night sky. By then, everyone had been worn out by the grand celebration, and drowsiness slowly crept over them. After bidding each other farewell, they each trudged back to their own courtyards with heavy steps.

Upon returning to their rooms, they quickly had hot water brought in and washed up thoroughly, scrubbing away the day's fatigue and dust. Then, lying comfortably on soft beds, they closed their eyes and drifted into sweet dreams, looking forward to the new year bringing more surprises and beauty.

When everyone slowly woke from their deep sleep, the sunlight outside the window was already hanging high in the middle of the sky; it turned out this moment was already noon on the second day.

Only because everyone had stayed up too late the night before, they all slept like dead pigs, not waking leisurely until the sun was high, thoroughly enjoying this rare lazy sleep.

After Yan Shuang'er fully woke, the first thing she did was summon servants to take the two paintings she had meticulously painted last night to be mounted into exquisite frames. The servants were quick and efficient; in just two days, two magnificent frames were completed.

Yan Shuang'er happily carried the frames to Yan Xiner. When Yan Xiner saw this gift, she froze instantly, her gaze fixed straight on the frames, as if struck by a Ding Body Curse, unable to recover for a long while.

After a long time, she finally came to her senses as if waking from a dream, a wildly delighted smile blooming on her face; she loved the painting to the utmost. She carefully accepted the frames, then solemnly instructed the servants at her side to place them at her bedside, so that every day upon opening her eyes she could admire such exquisite works.

Simultaneously, after a full seven days of rest and recuperation, Yan Wang finally recovered his vitality and energy. Thus, he resolutely set foot on the road to the military camp, throwing himself back into busy military affairs.

As winter's steps receded further, the breath of spring began to quietly spread. At this time, the Shangshufang also welcomed the new semester's opening day. Though Qianqian had a thousand reluctances in her heart, helpless, she could only obediently go to the Shangshufang on time every day to study.

On the other side, Yan Si remained busy with his own business affairs. Not only that, he often had to personally go to Dongying Guo to handle related matters. In the frequent back-and-forth exchanges, his relationship with his Dongying Guo partners grew increasingly close, becoming better and better.

Time flew like a white colt through a crevice. In just such day-after-day plain living, two and a half years slipped by in a flash, as if merely a finger snap.

In this seemingly peaceful stretch of time, no earth-shattering major events occurred. However, for Qianqian, tomorrow was a day of extraordinary significance — she was about to graduate from the Shangshufang!

Whenever she thought she only needed to go there one more day, and afterward would no longer be constrained, the joy in Qianqian's heart was simply impossible to suppress, to the point that the entire night she tossed and turned in excitement, unable to sleep.

After class today, Teacher Ai Chun announced to everyone: "Students, tomorrow we don't have class, but you still need to arrive at the Shangshufang at the usual time." This meant Qianqian still had to get up early tomorrow morning. Even so, this news did not diminish Qianqian's inner excitement and anticipation in the slightest.

At this moment, Yan Shuang'er looked at Qianqian beside her, excited beyond measure and with not a trace of sleepiness, and said softly: "Qianqian, it's not early, hurry and sleep, otherwise you won't be able to get up tomorrow." Hearing this, Qianqian lifted her head and looked at Yan Shuang'er before her. She saw that she had already grown into an adult, her features lovely, her temperament gentle and bright, her whole person exuding a rich scholarly air.

Qianqian replied obediently: "Got it, San Jie." Finished speaking, the two lay down on the bed together to prepare for sleep. But who could have guessed that even lying in bed, Qianqian still tossed and turned like a mischievous Xiao Houzi, unable to quiet down at all. And Yan Shuang'er was originally a light sleeper; tossed about like this by Qianqian, she naturally also found it hard to fall asleep.

After a while, Qianqian suddenly rolled over, staring at Yan Shuang'er whose eyes were tightly shut but clearly not yet asleep, and coaxingly pleaded: "San Jie, how about you tell Qianqian a story? Maybe then I'll be able to fall asleep."

Yan Shuang'er slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling on Qianqian beside her, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly as she said softly: "Once upon a time, there was a naughty child who always refused to sleep obediently; as a result, deep in the night, a ferocious big gray wolf quietly sneaked into his house and carried him off!" Finished speaking, she even deliberately made a sinister expression.

Qianqian pouted her little mouth and retorted dissatisfied: "San Jie, I've long since not been a child! I'm already nine years old this year, yet you still tell this kind of story to scare kids, it's really too childish!"

Yan Shuang'er couldn't help laughing out loud, reached out and lightly pinched Qianqian's pink cheeks, teasing: "Yo, our Qianqian has grown up, but even grown up, how come you still don't dare sleep alone?"

Qianqian turned her head away and said stubbornly: "Not true! I just like sleeping with San Jie, it's not because I'm scared!"

Seeing this, Yan Shuang'er shook her head helplessly, thinking this little girl was still quite sharp-tongued. But since Qianqian put it that way, she didn't tease her further, instead clearing her throat and preparing to tell a new story.

"Alright, Elder Sister will tell you a new story today. It is said that in the Jianghu there was a chivalrous great hero..."

Yan Shuang'er narrated vividly and colorfully; this story was precisely a plot from a Picture Book she was currently writing. Since it was still in the creation stage, some details she needed to think up as she spoke, but this in no way affected her depicting the whole story splendidly.

Yan Shuang'er's voice was soft and melodious, like a babbling brook, pleasant to hear, as if possessing a magical power that could soothe people's inner restlessness and unease. Not long after, the originally spirited Qianqian gradually quieted down, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier, until finally she could not resist the onslaught of sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.

Listening to Qianqian's even breathing, Yan Shuang'er smiled faintly, gently closed her mouth, and stopped telling the story. She carefully tucked the quilt in for Qianqian, then slowly closed her own eyes as well, and accompanied by the night's tranquility, together entered sweet dreams.

"Oh—" Accompanied by a resounding rooster's crow that tore through the morning's tranquility, the sun not yet fully risen, the whole world seemed still immersed in sweet dreams. However, in this room, there was a little girl being unwillingly yanked out of her warm bed.