Chapter 239: Mommy, She Can Fly!
Colorful spotlights beamed from the roof of the old manor house’s third floor down toward the elevated ground by the parking lot, illuminating the stage made of bamboo poles and gauze in a magnificent, dazzling display.
Lin Sanniang stood near the bottom of the stage with Ruan Xiang, watching the shifting, vibrant colors with a mix of awe and excitement.
It was Ruan Xiang’s first time seeing such a spectacle, and her astonishment was beyond comparison.
Even Lin Sanniang, who had been at the manor for so long and had seen her fair share of modern gadgets, was still utterly captivated by this kaleidoscopic display of light.
Heavens, the young Manor Owner even knows how to do this! She truly is completely omnipotent!
Meanwhile, Ruan Xiang’s singing voice began to drift through the air, initially soft and gentle, before gradually growing clear.
Wearing her face veil and wrapped in delicate gossamer ribbons, Ruan Xiang gave a light leap and ascended the stage.
This single movement alone drew a round of cheers from the tourists present.
“Whoa! That platform is a meter high, and she just bounced right up there with a gentle tap of her foot?”
A little boy cheered, “That sister is amazing! It’s like she has light-foot kung fu!”
The young parents beside him quickly covered his mouth, smiling with pure helplessness—What era is this? How could anyone actually have light-foot kung fu!
It was simply a profound foundation in dance.
Even so, their eyes were filled with nothing but appreciation; one glance was enough to tell this was the work of a professional who had put in bitter, grueling practice.
Humming softly along with the melody, Ruan Xiang raised her silk ribbons on the stage and danced with fluid, weightless movements. Her entire body was supple yet bursting with power; one moment her hands fluttered like rippling waves, and the next she leaped with confident strides, launching herself straight into mid-air.
The tourists in the courtyard were completely mesmerized. Every single one of them stood with their mouths agape and eyes wide, staring unblinkingly at the figure on the stage.
“Mommy… am I dreaming? I think I see a fairy.”
“She’s so beautiful! She can fly! Did you see that? When she jumped into the air just now, she literally looked like she paused in mid-air!”
“Heavens! Is this a free performance that I get to watch for just a fifty-yuan admission ticket? I thought it was just a gimmick earlier—a slipshod show they threw together because they were afraid we’d be unhappy about the ticket price… Plenty of tourist spots do that!”
But now, what they were witnessing was a live performance right before their eyes, executed by someone whose caliber was not a bit inferior to a professional dancer.
This… this sensation of thinking you were being ripped off, only to find out you had snagged an absolute bargain, was truly extraordinary!
As the melody concluded, Ruan Xiang offered a graceful bow on the stage.
She had heard a torrent of praise and gasps of awe, but the moment the dance ended, her very first instinct was to search for Jian Xingxia’s gaze.
It was only when she spotted Jian Xingxia standing next to Lin Sanniang below the stage, clapping with a warm smile, that Ruan Xiang’s heart finally settled.
The Manor Owner was praising her again, and she was even clapping for her.
With a flushed face, Ruan Xiang descended from the stage. Unable to contain herself, she trotted over to Jian Xingxia and asked, fully aware of the answer, “Manor Owner, I didn’t disgrace you, did I?”
Looking at the fine beads of sweat covering Ruan Xiang’s forehead, Jian Xingxia felt a wave of protective ache.
Although they were only superficial injuries, they were still injuries.
Performing this piece had still required an immense amount of effort from Ruan Xiang.
Jian Xingxia used a handkerchief to wipe away her sweat, offering her earnest affirmation: “You danced absolutely beautifully! I am so incredibly proud. To have such a wonderful dancer like Xiangxiang at our manor is an absolute honor!”
Ruan Xiang’s face had already been slightly flushed from the dancing, but now it burned even hotter.
She could finally dance again, and she had finally fallen in love with dancing once more.
Moreover, she loved it even more than before because this time, no one was stripping away her choreography just to leer at her body.
Though the tourists below the stage had varied reactions, without exception, they offered nothing but appreciation and praise.
She so dearly loved this place. Perhaps that saying was right—when the granaries are full, the people know manners and etiquette. The people here were well-fed and well-clothed, and their temperaments were devoid of hostility.
Everyone came to the manor with a mindset of taking a holiday to relax, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, and they were not stingy with their praise.
Ruan Xiang practically wanted to stay here forever.
Even after Ruan Xiang’s dance ended, the tourists kept turning it over in their minds.
They truly felt this wasn’t the kind of free performance one usually saw at a tourist attraction.
The little boy who had insisted Ruan Xiang had light-foot kung fu dragged his parents over, determined to take a photo with her.
Ruan Xiang knit her brows slightly. She disliked being touched by others, even if it was just a young child.
As for taking photos, having stayed at the manor for a full day, she had gained a basic understanding of it, and she didn’t particularly like it either.
But… remembering that these people were the manor’s guests, Ruan Xiang gritted her teeth, preparing to nod in agreement.
Just at that moment, however, Jian Xingxia squatted down and offered an apologetic smile to the little boy: “I’m so sorry, little guy. Thank you for liking her, but our staff member’s working hours have already ended for the day. She’s a bit tired and doesn’t want to take photos. Can we give her some privacy and let her have a good rest so that she can perform an even more beautiful and wonderful dance next time?”
As if struck by an epiphany, the little boy gasped, “Is it the kind where she flies even higher?”
Jian Xingxia smiled. “Yes, but that requires a lot of time to practice, so Sister can’t accompany you for a photo right now.”
The little boy nodded vigorously. “Kung fu takes practice.”
With that, he shouted loudly toward Ruan Xiang, “Sister, practice your kung fu well! I’ll come back to watch you perform next time!”
Having said his piece, he didn’t linger and happily pulled his parents away. Though the dance performance was over, the stage remained.
Ruan Xiang’s dance had ignited everyone’s desire to perform. Coupled with the fact that the lighting and sound equipment were right there, several guests couldn’t resist crowding onto the stage to start singing and dancing, making the atmosphere incredibly lively.
Ruan Xiang stood in a daze until Lin Sanniang led her back into the house.
Lin Sanniang brought her a cup of warm honey water. “You must be exhausted from all that dancing. Rest for a bit.”
Ruan Xiang had performed two dances in total, lasting about ten minutes combined, but to prepare for the stage, she had been practicing for well over an hour beforehand.
Ruan Xiang accepted the cup but didn’t drink.
A single tear plunged into the water.
Lin Sanniang had just turned around when she caught the sight out of the corner of her eye. Startled for a brief second, she sat down at the table and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling a bit unaccustomed to things? It’s alright. If you don’t want to dance, just tell the Manor Owner. She can make other arrangements.”
Lin Sanniang possessed absolute trust in Jian Xingxia.
Ruan Xiang shook her head, trying to hold it back, but she failed as her tears flowed even faster.
“No, Madame Lin, it’s just… I never expected that for a mere dancing girl like me, the Manor Owner would actually go so far as to turn away a guest for my sake.”
Back at Feiyue Pavilion, dancing girls, songstresses, and courtesans… every single one of them was viewed as the lowest of the low.
To say nothing of a simple matter like “taking a photo”—even if it meant accompanying guests or sharing a bed, as long as the patron paid coin, Manager Yue would push them out without a moment’s hesitation.
To refuse a guest for their sake… Ruan Xiang had never been protected like this before.
Over such a simple matter where she hadn’t even uttered a word, the Manor Owner had proactively stepped forward to decline on her behalf.
This crossed the line from merely being protected; it was being cherished.
To be cherished with such meticulous care meant that even a subtle, fleeting frown would be noticed and taken to heart.
Ruan Xiang buried her face against the table, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down her arms.
Lin Sanniang lightly patted Ruan Xiang’s back with a look of pure tenderness and pity. Silly child…
This was precisely why she could look at every single newcomer and say, without a single shred of hesitation, “The Manor Owner is the best person in the entire world.”
