cold clothes

Leng Yi was speechless, and immediately retorted, "Why don't you think this is Xia Hua's fault?"

"Xia Hua has always been like this. She wouldn't be angry if you didn't show up."

"..." Breeze looked so self-righteous that Leng Yi really didn't know what to say. She knew this girl spoke without thinking, and when she really started arguing, she could really make people angry.

Finally, Nongyue couldn't stand it anymore. She glanced at Weifeng and scolded, "Alright, that's enough. Ningbi will be training with us from now on. It's best if we all get along." As she spoke, she looked at Lengyi with sincere eyes.

"Xia Hua doesn't look like she's a friendly person at all," Wei Feng said with a pout. After all, no one would have a good time when Xia Hua got angry, but she didn't say that out loud.

“Now that things have come to this, we should all listen to Mother Hu’s arrangements,” Nongyue said.

The moment Hu Mama was mentioned, Wei Feng straightened up and obediently shut her mouth, saying no more. Even Wu Xue, who hadn't spoken until now, paused, glancing around to make sure she didn't see the old woman before she felt relieved.

Leng Yi wasn't a difficult person to get along with, but she couldn't tolerate Xia Hua clearly targeting her. Moreover, Xia Hua's status among the girls was significantly higher—wasn't that because she had powerful connections? Good grief, she was even more annoyed.

The first meal together ended rather unpleasantly. Nongyue, as gentle as a spring breeze, led Lengyi back to the bedroom and said softly, "Your bed has been prepared for a long time. See if you need anything. You can sleep next to me."

The four of them returned to the bedroom together, with Weifeng and Wuxue each going back to their own beds. Lengyi noticed that Nongyue's bed was next to hers, Wuxue was on the other side of Nongyue, and Weifeng was opposite Nongyue. The bed furthest to the side opposite Nongyue was Xiahua's.

"Xia Hua didn't go back to her bedroom, she must be angry by herself." Wei Feng lay down on the bed and said casually, then glanced at Leng Yi, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Leng Yi ignored the breeze and chatted happily with Nong Yue. Nong Yue took out the primers from under the desk and gave them to Leng Yi, teaching her what she would learn next.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Breeze felt bored and had no choice but to call her maid in: "Xiao Shui, help me change my clothes, I want to go to sleep." As soon as she finished speaking, Breeze's maid hurriedly came from the next room.

Seeing this, Lengyi asked Nongyue, "Is it nap time now?"

Nongyue nodded and said, "After sleeping for half an hour, you have to go to the dance studio on the third floor. You must arrive before the nanny, otherwise you will be considered late."

Lengyi didn't understand the concept of arriving early or late, and Nongyue turned around to take off her clothes and rest, so Lengyi had to swallow her questions. Except for Weifeng, Nongyue and Wuxue didn't need the maids to help them take off their clothes, but Lengyi didn't know how to put her clothes back on, so she had to call Lingcao for help.

"Are you sleeping next door?" Leng Yi asked her.

Bellflower nodded. "Please feel free to ask me anything, Miss."

Leng Yi wouldn't trouble Ling Cao with everything. After Ling Cao helped her take off her clothes, she smiled and said, "Okay, go and rest."

Lingcao smiled and nodded, but she didn't leave until Lengyi had covered herself with the blanket.

Leng Yi felt empty and felt that the late autumn weather was really cold.

In the quiet afternoon, Xia Hua danced alone in the dance studio on the third floor. She practiced the basics tirelessly, over and over again. Her fair face was flushed, and sweat soaked her shoulders and back. However, she seemed to be in a bit of agitation today, and her dance steps appeared hurried and sharp.

She only stopped when she was completely exhausted, and sat down on the ground. Her body was very hot, but the autumn wind felt especially cold once she stopped. Her maid, Xiaoyu, quickly wiped the sweat off Xia Hua's body with a towel and advised her worriedly, "Miss, you should rest for a while. You'll ruin your health if you keep practicing like this."

"I can't stop, I'm still so far from my goal..." Xia Hua clenched her fists: "I can't dance as well as Wu Xue, I can't write as well as Nong Yue, I can't sing as well as Wei Feng, and I don't even have the unique beauty of my eyes... How can I become the queen of flowers?"

"No, Miss, you are proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. There is almost no skill you are not good at. You are undoubtedly the best!"

Xiaoyu's words offered Xia Hua no comfort whatsoever. She stood up agitatedly and exclaimed, "What's this! Mom just said she'd find someone to replace me, and I did!" Her childish voice became shrill, her face flushed with anger, and her watery eyes were filled with resentment. "I'm going to prove to Mom that Ningbi can never compare to me!"

-

When Nongyue got up, Lengyi jumped up as well. She hadn't slept at all and was caught up in the tension before the first class.

Leng Yi felt a bit like she was back in her student days, but she wouldn't feel that way for long.

When they arrived at the dance studio, they found Xia Hua already kneeling gracefully on the floor, her hair loose and dressed in a pink and white dance dress.

Nongyue asked her, "Didn't you take a break at noon today?"

Xia Hua glanced at Leng Yi before looking away, and said coldly, "It's none of your business."

“It would be troublesome if you got sick from overwork.” Nongyue wasn’t annoyed. She sat down next to Xia Hua and then pulled Leng Yi down to sit as well. Wei Feng naturally sat next to Xia Hua, while Wu Xue sat next to Leng Yi.

Soon after, the maids appeared. Leng Yi looked up and saw that Yun Qiu and Nuan Dong, two of the four most beautiful courtesans, had also arrived. Their beauty illuminated the room like the sun.

I had only seen them from afar before, but seeing them up close now, their beauty was simply breathtaking. If there was one thing that distinguished the courtesan from other beauties, it was certainly not her appearance. Although the courtesan's beauty was unparalleled, what made her a courtesan was the captivating charm in every gesture. The smiles and frowns on her exquisite face carried a mesmerizing allure, like wine or some other intoxicating substance.

Noticing Leng Yi's gaze, Yun Qiu's alluring peach blossom eyes swept over, instantly snapping Leng Yi back to reality and making her realize her absent-mindedness.

Yun Qiu chuckled twice, once again bewitching Leng Yi's rationality. She looked into Leng Yi's eyes, leaned closer, reached out and pinched Leng Yi's little face, and laughed, "So cute, your face is as red as braised pork."

Red, braised pork?

"And these eyes are as clear as the blue sky, so beautiful. The old lady said your eyes look like a wolf cub's, but you don't look like one."

"Who spoke ill of me?" Leng Yi was instantly displeased, and subconsciously thought of those two old women, Granny Qin and Granny Liu.

"Oh dear, it really does look a bit like her now." Yun Qiu laughed with amusement, looking quite pleased. Leng Yi felt that it was all worth it to make her smile.

"Alright, Yunqiu, stop teasing her." Warm Winter's sweet, clear voice rang out. "It's class time now."

"Let's talk again after class, Ningbi," Yunqiu said with a smile.

Leng Yi readily agreed.

Ah, this seems like I'm being a pervert, but Yunqiu is really beautiful!