Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Soon, the waiter brought a pot of tea to Ye Qing’s group. Ye Qing picked up the pot and poured tea for the four of them, then drank a cup herself.

Jiang Jinhuang took a sip from her teacup, looked at Ye Qing, and said, “Ye Qing, we’ve been traveling hard these days. Why don’t we stay tomorrow and rest for a day? We can also see what the Flower Festival is about.”

Ye Qing hadn’t expected Jiang Jinhuang to be interested in the Flower Festival, but after thinking briefly, she understood. Jiang Jinhuang, a noble lady, rarely left the Minister of Rites’ mansion, and even when she did, she attended boring banquets with other noble ladies. Wanting to see something lively was understandable.

However, staying would delay them a whole day, and Ye Qing felt reluctant about it.

She looked up and met Jiang Jinhuang’s hopeful eyes. Ye Qing couldn’t refuse and said, “Alright, we’ve been rushing too much lately, and everyone’s tired. Resting a day is good, and we can sleep in tomorrow.”

Jiang Jinhuang, relieved that Ye Qing agreed, pinched the little one’s cheek and said, “Yangyang, shall I take you out to play tomorrow?”

“Yay! I love playing,” the little one said excitedly, swinging her short legs nonstop.

Soon, the inn served the food, and Ye Qing’s group ate heartily.

Clearly, the northern inns still felt the disaster’s impact, as many meats were unavailable.

Ye Qing’s group mostly ate pork dishes, with little chicken or fish, but having these foods was already good, so they didn’t complain.

After dinner, Jiang Jinhuang reminded the waiter to send hot water to their rooms. Since tomorrow was the Flower Festival, they shouldn’t look too disheveled. Back in Raozhou, they had bought new dresses, and Jiang Jinhuang planned to wear hers to enjoy the festival properly.

Ye Qing also wanted to bathe and relax. Sitting in the carriage daily left her body aching.

She returned to her room early. Soon, the staff brought hot water, and Ye Qing tipped them before sending them away.

Then, she undressed and soaked comfortably in the tub. The warm water soaked her skin, and Ye Qing nearly fell asleep in it.

Compared to Ye Qing’s leisurely bath, Jiang Jinhuang bathed quickly. She washed the little one clean, then bathed herself swiftly.

Knowing they didn’t need to wake early tomorrow, Jiang Jinhuang pursed her lips, looked at Jiang Jinyang playing with a wooden duck and cow on the bed, and said, “Yangyang, do you want your Sister Ye to play with you?”

The little one’s eyes lit up. She wasn’t sleepy yet, as they usually slept after bathing. “Yes, I want to play!” she said.

“Good, I’ll take you to her,” Jiang Jinhuang said, her lips curving slightly as she rubbed the little one’s soft cheek.

The little one, tickled, rolled twice on the bed, giggling nonstop.

Ye Qing’s room was next door. Jiang Jinhuang dressed herself properly but wrapped the little one in a cloak without dressing her fully, then carried her out.

Jiang Jinhuang, holding the little one, reached Ye Qing’s door and said, “Yangyang, knock on the door.”

Children always found things fun. The little one tapped Ye Qing’s door a few times and said, “Sister Ye, I’m here to play with you.”

Ye Qing had just stepped out of the tub, her hair still dripping. Surprised that the little one came to play, she quickly replied, “One moment, wait for me.”

She hurriedly put on some clothes, her inner robe crooked, but had no time to fix it.

She walked quickly to the door and opened it, seeing the little one in Jiang Jinhuang’s arms, smiling at her.

Ye Qing smiled at them, stepped aside, and said, “Come in quick. Why did you come so suddenly?”

Jiang Jinhuang’s gaze fell on Ye Qing’s inner robe collar. Ye Qing had clearly just bathed, thrown on clothes hastily to open the door, and her hair was still dripping.

Jiang Jinhuang, walking toward Ye Qing’s bed, said, “Yangyang missed you and wanted to play, so I brought her over. We don’t need to wake early tomorrow anyway.”

She placed the little one on Ye Qing’s bed to play, putting the wooden cow and duck in front of Jiang Jinyang.

The little one loved excitement. She clapped her hands, looked at Ye Qing and Jiang Jinhuang happily, and said, “Sister, Sister Ye, play with me!”

“You play by yourself for a bit. When your Sister Ye is ready, we’ll both play with you,” Jiang Jinhuang said.

While speaking, Jiang Jinhuang walked to Ye Qing.

Seeing Ye Qing wiping her hair messily, with water dripping and wetting her inner robe’s collar, Jiang Jinhuang noticed the robe was poorly worn, exposing a large patch of white skin at Ye Qing’s neck.

Jiang Jinhuang glared at Ye Qing. Fortunately, only she and Yangyang knocked. If others saw Ye Qing like this, wouldn’t she be at a disadvantage?

Thinking this, she reached to fix Ye Qing’s collar and said, “How did you wear your clothes like this? What if others saw you?”

Ye Qing, wiping her hair, smiled at Jiang Jinhuang and said, “If it was someone else, I wouldn’t open the door. I heard you and Yangyang’s voices.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinhuang’s lips curved slightly, and she adjusted Ye Qing’s clothes more gently. “That’s better. Remember, don’t open the door like this for others,” she said.

“Alright, I know,” Ye Qing said, her ears slightly warm. As an adult, how could she trouble Jiang Jinhuang to help with her clothes? It felt embarrassing.

She reached to grab Jiang Jinhuang’s wrist and said, “Maybe I’ll do it myself.”

Jiang Jinhuang’s smile faded. She stared at Ye Qing intently, still holding Ye Qing’s collar.

Ye Qing felt a chill down her spine. If she didn’t let Jiang Jinhuang help, it seemed Jiang Jinhuang might get angry.

Thinking this, Ye Qing quickly let go, gave Jiang Jinhuang an awkward smile, and said, “Fine, you help me then. I need to wipe my hair and can’t free my hands.”

“Hmph,” Jiang Jinhuang said, glancing at her with a smile returning. Ye Qing was good at making excuses.

Jiang Jinhuang fixed Ye Qing’s messy collar, noticed the crooked waistband, and untied it, then retied it neatly.

After fixing Ye Qing’s clothes, Jiang Jinhuang reached for the towel in Ye Qing’s hand and said, “I’ll do it.”

This time, Ye Qing learned her lesson and didn’t argue. She obediently handed over the towel, and Jiang Jinhuang seemed pleased.

Ye Qing stood still obediently. Jiang Jinhuang gently wiped her hair with the towel, making it quite comfortable.

Jiang Jinhuang looked at the docile Ye Qing, her eyes softening, and said, “Sit over there. It’s hard to wipe your hair while you’re standing.”

Ye Qing nodded obediently and said, “Okay.”

Ye Qing moved to a stool and sat down. Jiang Jinhuang stood beside her, wiping her hair.

The little one, holding her wooden duck, stared in confusion. Something felt off. Weren’t they supposed to play with her? Why was Sister with Sister Ye?

Unable to understand, the little one pouted, rolled twice on the bed, and played with her duck and cow alone.

Jiang Jinhuang didn’t notice the little one watching. She focused on wiping Ye Qing’s hair gently while looking at Ye Qing’s face.

Fresh from the bath, Ye Qing’s face looked soft and delicate, not like a Qianyuan at all.

With such looks, even penniless, Ye Qing would still be sought after in the capital.

Thinking this, Jiang Jinhuang pursed her lips nervously.

She wiped Ye Qing’s hair until it stopped dripping, then removed the towel and said, “Sit still. I’ll comb your hair.”

Ye Qing rubbed her hands, slightly embarrassed to trouble Jiang Jinhuang, but fearing she’d upset her, said nothing.

Jiang Jinhuang took a comb and gently combed Ye Qing’s hair, her fingers occasionally brushing Ye Qing’s ear. Each time, Ye Qing’s ear twitched, turning red.

Jiang Jinhuang noticed, her eyes deepening, but her face remained calm, as if she were seriously combing Ye Qing’s hair, standing upright with a focused expression.

Ye Qing, sensitive at her ears, felt odd when touched. She looked up at Jiang Jinhuang with confusion.

Jiang Jinhuang, with a calm face, asked, “What’s wrong? Did I comb too hard and hurt you? I’ll be gentler.”

Ye Qing thought she must be overthinking. Jiang Jinhuang probably touched her ear by accident. A noble lady like her wouldn’t take advantage of her.

Feeling bad for doubting her, Ye Qing quickly smiled at Jiang Jinhuang and said, “It’s fine. It’s quite comfortable. Jinhuang, thanks for helping me so much. I feel bad.”

Jiang Jinhuang’s smile grew wider. “No trouble. I’ve nothing else to do, so helping you is fine,” she said.

She looked down at Ye Qing, who sat like a wet, obedient big dog waiting for its owner to groom it, extremely docile.

Such an obedient, simple big dog should be kept close to prevent others from taking it.

Ye Qing enjoyed the five-star treatment. She hated combing her hair after bathing, but now Jiang Jinhuang did it for her, making her mood fantastic.

While Ye Qing happily enjoyed the service, the system, silent for days, suddenly spoke, startling her.

“Congratulations, dear. Female lead Jiang Jinhuang’s favorability +5. Current favorability 45, current exchange points 122. Keep it up, dear~” the system said.

After a brief shock, Ye Qing’s eyes lit up, but she soon grew more confused. She hadn’t done anything all day.

Wasn’t Jiang Jinhuang the one busy helping her? How did that increase favorability?

Ye Qing, puzzled, looked up at Jiang Jinhuang, unable to guess why her favorability suddenly rose.

Seeing Ye Qing’s confused stare, Jiang Jinhuang’s eyes softened. She lightly tapped Ye Qing’s nose and said, “What’s wrong? Staring at me so blankly? Am I pretty?”

“Pretty,” Ye Qing replied instinctively. Realizing what she said, she added, “I mean, thanks for combing my hair.”

“Do we need thanks between us? If you thank me again, I’ll really get mad,” Jiang Jinhuang said, looking at Ye Qing.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say it again,” Ye Qing said quickly.

Her mood was great tonight. Though she didn’t know why Jiang Jinhuang’s favorability rose, the long-stagnant favorability finally moved, and Ye Qing couldn’t hide her joy, often looking up to smile at Jiang Jinhuang.

Jiang Jinhuang, seeing Ye Qing’s silly dog-like smile, felt her mood lift, her smile never fading.

Only the little one on the bed lost her smile. Weren’t they supposed to play with her? Why were her sisters taking so long to comb hair?

Finally, unable to hold back, the little one looked at her sisters and asked, “Sisters, didn’t you say you’d play with me?”