Chapter 32: Guests (2)

  Four young girls with different thoughts in their minds, but all showing a warm and friendly face.

  Ye Qingfu didn't even glance at Ye Qinglan, instead chatting non-stop with Ye Qingning all the way. Ye Qingning wasn't very fond of her and only managed a few perfunctory responses before falling silent.

  Ye Qingrou couldn't stand her condescending attitude and was about to mock her, but she changed her mind and suppressed the thought.

  The path was originally not very wide, at most it could only accommodate three people walking side by side. Ye Qingfu held onto Ye Qingning tightly and wouldn't let go, Ye Qingrou didn't want to retreat either, so Ye Qinglan automatically took a few steps back, leisurely following behind the three of them.

  From a distance, they saw a group of people coming. The leaders were none other than Ye Chengren and his wife. The middle-aged couple walking alongside them was naturally the son and daughter-in-law of Zheng Guogong.

  Ye Qinglan glanced over with interest and was quickly drawn in by one of the young men.

  That young man was about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a plain colored brocade robe, with a faint smile on his lips. His face was like a crown jade, extremely handsome and elegant. There were also two or three boys of similar age traveling with him, but under the radiant light of this beautiful boy, they suddenly looked dull and unremarkable.

  Ye Qinglan almost immediately guessed who this young man was.

  No wonder Ye Qingrou couldn't forget him and had been thinking of him all along, he was indeed a rare beauty! Ye Yuanshou was immediately overshadowed.

  Ye Qinglan couldn't help but secretly admire him in her heart, and she couldn't resist taking a few more glances. Humans are visual animals, who doesn't love looking at someone who is handsome and good-looking?

  In fact, it was not only her who was staring at Zheng Junyan, but also Ye Qingning and Ye Qingfu's gazes were drawn over.

  Ye Qingrou was so enchanted that she forgot her demeanor, having long abandoned the reserve of a young girl, with an unusual sparkle in her eyes.

  Ye Qingning's eyes flickered to Ye Qingrou's radiant face, and she couldn't help but hum a low, cold snort. But on her face, a bright smile bloomed like a flower as she stepped forward to pay respects: "Ning'er greets Uncle and Aunt! Greets older cousin!"

  The crown prince Zheng Yunlang smiled and said, "Dispense with the formalities."

  The young master's wife looked up and down at Ye Qingning a few times, smiling and praising: "It's been several months since we last met, and Ning'er has become even more lovely."

  Zheng's heart was full of pride, but she smiled and said: "Don't praise her, elder sister, it's true that I'm worried about her every day."

  With a smile, Zheng Junyan took a step forward, his warm and gentle eyes fixed on Ye Qingning's pretty face: "Cousin, it's been a long time." His voice was clear and pleasant.

  Ye Qing's face turned slightly red, but she calmly and elegantly returned a courtesy.

  What a stunning pair of young boys and girls! Equally outstanding and dazzling, standing together is even more impressive.

  Ye Qinglan couldn't help but admire in her heart and subconsciously glanced at Ye Qingrou.

  Ye Qing's gentle gaze still lingered on Zheng Junyan's face, but the smile in her eyes gradually faded away. Zheng Junyan never looked at her more than once from start to finish, apparently having no impression of her...

  Zheng Junyan finally smiled and looked at the three girls behind Ye Qingning: "These few, are they all Ye's cousins?"

  Ye Qingrou subconsciously took a step forward, hastily smiling and saying: "Does Big Brother not remember me? I'm Qing Rou." Her big, shining eyes stared straight at Zheng Junyan, her admiration almost openly written on her face.

  Zheng Junyan's smile didn't diminish, and with a polite tone he called out "Qingrou younger sister", then quickly shifted his gaze away. Ye Qingrou's face was indeed thin-skinned, her smile suddenly somewhat unsustainable.

  Ye Qingning's eyes flashed with a hint of cold smile as she introduced Ye Qinglan and Ye Qingfu to Zheng Junyan.

  Zheng Junyan smiled and greeted the two. His eyes paused for a second or two when sweeping over Ye Qinglan's pretty face, but it didn't make people feel rude.

  Ye Qingfu was secretly resentful that Ye Qinglan had stolen the spotlight, and intentionally or unintentionally took a step forward. Ye Qinglan could only retreat half a step back. However, her face showed no displeasure, and her smile remained as warm and gentle as ever.

  A few brief sentences were enough for Zheng and others to capture the subtle reactions of several girls.

  Zheng's face remained calm and expressionless, but in her heart, she secretly furrowed her brow.

  She was indeed annoyed at Ye Qingrou's reckless and rude behavior, and had a bad impression of the arrogant and discourteous Ye Qingfu. Although Ye Qinglan was the youngest, her temperament and demeanor were much stronger. No wonder she could enter Ning'er's eyes, and it seemed that there was some truth to her exceptional qualities...

  After exchanging pleasantries, everyone walked together towards Changhe Hall.

  Ye Qingning walked alongside Zheng Junyan, but there was a distance of about one person between them, making it inconvenient to talk.

  Zheng Junyan occasionally glanced at Ye Qingning, seemingly wanting to say something, but was deterred by the crowd and ultimately said nothing.

  Ye Qinglan noticed his movements and her heart slightly stirred, as if she had quickly caught something, but didn't have time to think about it.

  More and more guests came to celebrate the birthday. Ye Chengren and his two brothers were busy entertaining the male guests, while Zheng's three sisters-in-law took care of the female guests. Cui Wan, as the eldest grandson's wife, was also extremely busy.

  Among the women who came to celebrate his birthday, there were naturally many who brought young girls with them. Many of them knew Ye Qingning and she went up one by one to greet them.

  Although born with a bad temper, Ye Qingning's performance in this setting was quite impressive. Although her smile seemed a bit stiff, that radiant and stunning face of hers still outshone all the noble girls around her.

  Ye Qingrou seemed to be intentionally trying to outdo Ye Qingning, smiling and warmly greeting familiar girls of the same age. Ye Qingfu followed closely behind her.

  Ye Qinglan smiled and followed behind Ye Qingning. Ye Qingning was busy exchanging pleasantries, and for the time being, couldn't attend to her, so she leisurely looked around to pass the time.

  Looking around, there are many young girls, especially 13 or 14-year-old girls. After exchanging greetings, the women can't help but show off their daughters to each other, saying "look at my daughter" and "look at your daughter".

  The four young ladies of the Changyuan Bo Fu naturally attracted a lot of attention.

  Ye Qing's reputation for being talented and beautiful was well-known, so she naturally attracted the most attention. Ye Qing's delicate beauty also drew in many admiring glances. In comparison, Ye Qingfu was slightly less stunning, but still a lovely young woman.

  Ye Qinglan, however, had unknowingly caught the attention of many noblewomen.

  A middle-aged noblewoman, dressed in luxurious attire and adorned with pearls and jade, gazed at the smiling young girl with a hint of a smile on her lips, and asked in a low voice, "Wan Niang, is that young lady also a miss from our manor?"

  Cui Wanshu followed her gaze, smiled and nodded: "She is the tenth in the third house, with a gentle name Qinglan. Although she was born out of wedlock, her temperament is gentle and pleasing." She paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Mother, why did you suddenly ask about this?"

  This person was precisely He Shi, Cui Wan's mother.

  He smiled meaningfully: "Yu'er is no longer young."

  Cui Wan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled with pursed lips.