“Cheat Prince, come this way,” An Xiulan said as she sprinted ahead. However, he grabbed her hand.
“Call me by my name,” Han Zixin said as he pulled her back to look at him.
“Ah?” An Xiulan looked at him confused.
“You used to call me Cheat Prince when we were enemies. Didn’t you say I’m your best friend?” Han Zixin asked her with sparkling whiskey eyes. “Shouldn’t you call me Zixin?”
An Xiulan blushed as she felt his heated gaze on her face. Why was she feeling like a noble lady of ancient times who was too shy to call her husband by his name? She patted her cheeks as she felt how bad her thoughts had turned. She was Han Zixin’s Jie (big sister) who had lived more than him and so she should be a good example.
“What should I call you?” An Xiulan asked herself. Then, she suddenly said, “Why don’t you call me Jia (big sister)?”
Han Zixin gave her a dirty look. “Why should I call you Jie when we are the same age? Also, my mother didn’t give birth to an older sister so I won’t call you big sister. Don’t you dare call me brother or think of me like one! I don’t want to be like your stupid brother.”
An Xiulan stomped on her feet as he refused to call her big sister. “One day, I will make you call me Jie. Until then, I will keep on calling you Cheat Prince.”
“Fine, little blockhead,” Han Zixin nonchalantly replied. Calling her Big sister? Dream on!
“Where are you going now?” He shouted when he saw her sprinting ahead while huffing and puffing.
She turned back only to glare at him as she pointed her finger at herself and said, “Can’t you see that I’m sulking?!”
“But why are you sulking?” Han Zixin asked, clearly clueless.
“Hmph!” An Xiulan sulked even higher now.
“Students, we are about to reach the check post. They will check our bags and your pockets. You may be asked to change your clothes, “The teacher ordered. ” You have nothing to worry about. All you have to do is agree with their rules. Those people are very kind, just a little wary of city people like us who look at them as if they are some weird creature.”
“Be kind and respectful to everyone. Make Jingyuan High proud, ” Another teacher said.
“Yes, sir!” The students said at once.
As they reached the checkpoint, two lines were made; one for males and another for females. The female teachers followed female students while male teachers followed male students. At this time, Lu Xuan and Song Xueyun also had caught up with other students.
As the teachers had warned the students, their belongings were checked to find if someone was carrying anything dangerous or something like a camera or other forbidden objects.
A kind woman, who was checking the girls, was wearing a very unique and beautiful dress. She also asked the girl if they would like to get changed into their type of clothes. Which girl didn’t like beautiful clothes? Since the students and teachers were there as tourists and would like to experience the new lifestyle genuinely, they agreed to change into another set of clothes that the villagers were providing them.
The girls were dejected when the clothes that they received were not Hanfu dresses that they wear in Chinese period drama but were more like a shirt and skirt. The shirt looked like it was cheongsam from the neck area but it was the size of a normal top and it had a bright ankle-length skirt.
An Xiulan was wearing a white shirt and a maroon skirt. The combination night was bright for others but she looked no less than a doll. She made her hair in two half-buns.
“Xiulan, you look so gorgeous,” Song Xueyun gushed when she looked at An Xiulan who got read before anyone else. “And your hairstyle is so pretty. Can you do something like this with my hair too?”
“Why don’t you wear your clothes first? It’s so simple to wear. Just treat them as a normal top and skirt,” An Xiulan told Song Xueyun. “These clothes are so simple yet so beautiful. Why don’t you try until then I will think which hairstyle goes well with your dress, alright?”
Song Xueyun nodded her head and entered the room that An Xiulan just left after getting ready. Her shirt was lavender in colour while her skirt was white. When she left the room after wearing the clothes, An Xiulan gasped.
“Xueyun, if it was ancient time, I swear some nobleman would have asked for your hand in marriage. You are so gorgeous,” An Xiulan genuinely praised. “With such long hair, porcelain-like skin and sharp eyes, you could easily be a Wangfei.”
Song Xueyun laughed. Wasn’t Lu Xuan like a prince? Could she be his Wangfei?
Wang Fei meant the wife of an imperial first-rank prince.
She groaned when she realised how pathetic her thoughts might sound.
“What would you be if I could be a Wangfei?” Song Xueyun teaser An Xiulan, oblivious to the fact that she had pressed the sore point of the girl.
An Xiulan looked at her and thought about her life. What would she be if she hadn’t gotten this miraculous chance at life? She would still be locked somewhere in the isolated corner of the Duke An’s grand estate. Or perhaps, she would have died of misery or hunger.
“I would still be An Xiulan,” An Xiulan replied and Song Xueyun laughed as she failed to understand the meaning behind the words that she considered cheeky.
“You are such an adorable girl, ” Song Xueyun gently pulled her cheeks while An Xiulan only sighed.
Why would people start taking her seriously?
“You have long hair. Let me make a beautiful hairstyle on your hair, ” An Xiulan said with a smile.
“How do you know so many hairstyles?” Song Xueyun couldn’t help but ask.
“Remember I will be Miss China, of course, I have to learn all the tricks of makeup and hairstyle. After all, looking pretty is my favourite hobby and job, ” An Xiulan replied in a duh tone.