348 Love and Joy

Even after Zhou Linghuai finished his tea, the little girl was still sitting in front of the desk, holding her cheeks in her hands and looking at the painting.

Zhou Linghuai put down his teacup and had just finished his tea. His voice was clear. “It’s that good-looking?”

After looking at it for a long time without even moving his eyes, he actually had a vague feeling that he was not as good-looking as a painting.

Yu Youyao did not even raise her head. “Yes, it’s beautiful. Cousin’s painting was a little rushed, but this hastiness complemented the urgency, nervousness, and excitement of the dragon boat in the moat. It was very artistic. The brushwork is secondary, but the artistic conception is the rarest. If this painting is preserved well, it will definitely be famous for thousands of years.”

Painting aesthetics was secondary. The reason why she kept staring at the painting was because she was proud and happy.

Yes, Cousin was too amazing!

The little girl was not good at painting, but every time he painted, she could always appreciate it and praise it. This was probably what it meant to “seek a friend from a high place.”

Zi Qi was originally a vulgar woodcutter, but he could understand music from Bo Ya’s zither.

The little girl was a woman, but she could still appreciate the artistic conception in his painting.

Knowing each other was rare, and they cherished each other. Zhou Linghuai’s hidden displeasure immediately dissipated. He chuckled. “I wonder how much this painting is worth?”

Yu Youyao finally looked up at him, and her lips curved. “In the outside world, it’s naturally worth a thousand gold coins. When you meet someone who knows what’s good for them, it’s not impossible even if it’s ten thousand gold coins. But with me…” She stopped talking and blinked at her cousin, smiling mischievously. “It’s priceless.”

It was drawn by her cousin. Good or bad, it was priceless.

For some reason, Zhou Linghuai’s ears suddenly felt a little hot. He clenched his fists and coughed lightly. “Cousin, you’re overestimating me.”

Mr. Hu Shan and Mr. Xian Yun’s paintings were probably worth this price.

The little girl’s words were indeed exaggerated.

Yu Youyao blinked slightly, her lips revealing a mischievous smile. “Cousin, your painting skills are superb. If I fall from grace in the future, you won’t have to worry about not being able to support me when you sell paintings!” She was just joking, but for some reason, she suddenly felt a little concerned. She added, “I don’t eat much and I’m easy to feed.”

Zhou Linghuai suddenly felt an itch in his throat. He couldn’t help but clench his fists and cough a few times.

She ate very little?

Did he have some misunderstanding about her “eating very little”?

Perhaps because they had been living a good life for a long time, the noble families in the capital were used to being extravagant. It was popular for noble ladies to eat half a bowl with rice, and still a portion at the bottom.

They wanted to show off their small appetites, and their extravagant families.

However, Yu Youyao would not be like this.

Every time she ate, there was a bowl of soup before the meal. The rice was filled with more than half a bowl. She used one bowl and added another. After the meal, there were also snacks and fruits. She never stopped eating.

Even Nanny Xu said, “It’s a blessing to be able to eat.”

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to eat so well in the past.

Therefore, the etiquette class that was supposed to stop in May had not stopped until now. Nanny Xu was mainly worried that she would gain weight from eating and that the class would train her.

Furthermore!

Zhou Linghuai patrolled the little girl’s room. All of the items inside were expensive treasures.

Which of the clothes she was wearing wasn’t worth a thousand gold?

If she fell into dire straits one day, he probably wouldn’t even be able to afford a handkerchief of hers. How could he afford her expenses?

How could he afford to raise such a pampered girl?

It was clearly just a joke, but Zhou Linghuai suddenly felt a strong sense of danger.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he should make time to ask about the profits of the businesses under his name over the years.

Did he have to manage them himself?

Seeing that her cousin was not saying anything and was only coughing hard, Yu Youyao pursed her lips. “Why? Are you still unwilling?”

If her cousin was down and out, she would definitely be willing to use the dowry that her mother had left for her to support him.

Zhou Linghuai almost choked on his saliva. Without even thinking, he quickly said, “No, no, I’m happy to. I’ll definitely be happy.”

After saying that, he realized what he had said and suddenly calmed down.

Since the little girl was on his territory, he naturally had to protect her for the rest of her life, regardless of whether she was poor or rich.

Yu Youyao pouted and refused to budge. “Then why didn’t Cousin say anything just now?”

Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but stroke his forehead. He was completely defeated by the little girl’s torture. “I’m thinking about how to not let Cousin suffer in the future.”

Thinking about it this way, it was indeed time for him to pay more attention to the businesses under his name.

Yu Youyao smiled brightly. Her face seemed to be glowing, bright and beautiful. The red flower on her head made her face look even more beautiful. “Cousin, you’re the best.”

Zhou Linghuai suddenly felt that he couldn’t continue this topic. He quickly changed the topic. “Cousin, have you forgotten that you still have a gift to open?”

At the mention of gifts, Yu Youyao tilted her head to look at the other flat square box on the desk. She quickly carefully rolled up the “Dragon Boat Race” and put it away before taking another gift.

Zhou Linghuai did not say anything and only chuckled at her.

Yu Youyao held the box and was in no hurry to open it. However, the smile on her face became brighter and brighter, and her eyes lit up.

“Cousin, you’ve already given me a lot of things during this period of time. There are paintings, calligraphy, brow powder, longevity peach blossom stone seals, golden steatite stone pendant… Just a few days ago, you gave me annotations to the ‘Zizhi Tongjian’, as well as the ‘Dragon Boat Festival Auspicious Scenery’ and the ‘Dragon Boat Race’… There are too many anyway. I can’t count them all.”

Zhou Linghuai’s expression paused for a moment. “There are too many gifts. Don’t you like them?”

He wondered who had said that one had to receive gifts often to have surprises in life.

“Of course!” Yu Youyao hugged the box tightly, afraid that if she was any later, her cousin would take back the gift. “Cousin’s gift to me is much more thoughtful than others. I can’t wait to receive Cousin’s gift every day. How can I not like it? I’m just worried about Cousin. It’s not good for your health to work hard every day.”

Zhou Linghuai shook his head and laughed. “I haven’t been to school recently, and I don’t have anything else to do. It’s not a big deal.”

After crippling his leg, if he did not want to rely too much on others, his hands would need to replace his legs, and he would need to do more. He had to carve out an hour every day to train his hands, eyes, heart, and Qi.

“Thank you, Cousin.” Yu Youyao couldn’t wait to open it.

There was a crescent-shaped wooden comb in the box.

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