"She's here, she's here! The Fifth Miss of the Nan family is here!"
The audience suddenly got up excitedly.
The Spring Flower Festival was very grand, those girls who dared participate in the competition were all talented and beautiful, all longing after the first place position.
When Nan Baoyi announced that she wanted to participate, many people were waiting to see her as a laughing matter.
After all, who in Jinguan City did not know that the Nan family girls were incompetent and only smelt of money?
A few of the girls who had a good relationship with Nan Yan smiled and said:
"Nan Baoyi really dares to come, she must be mad!"
"I heard that besides Yan'er, no girls in the Nan residence even touched a book before, what more being fluent in the four arts. I really don't understand why Nan Baoyi wants to come and embarrass herself."
Nan Yan was delighted.
She squeezed her handkerchief and smiled, "Perhaps it was to please Madam Cheng."
"Oh right, she is the Governor's future daughter-in-law" Xia Qingqing, who was also the daughter of a wealthy businessman, was envious. "I heard that Young Master Cheng had the best talents, looks, and personality and he is right now studying in Shengjing City. Nan Baoyi is really lucky, even though she knows nothing but still could have a marriage contract with him… Yan'er, clearly your looks and talents are far more superior than hers but still could not marry into such a good family, I feel sorry for you!"
Nan Yan felt sorry for herself, "Whatever will be, will be. My background is clear, even if I'm more talented than her, more beautiful than her ―"
It was suddenly silent in all directions.
Almost immediately, earth-shattering exclaims in admiration suddenly sounded:
"Is that Nan Baoyi? Everyone said she was stupid and stubborn, but why does she look so well-educated now that I see her?"
"Such a young age and already so beautiful, once she reached marriageable age I don't know how magnificent will she look!"
"Cheng family is really fortunate! If the Second Young Master Cheng is here, he should be very proud!"
"..."
Nan Yan frowned and looked over. Nan Baoyi was walking slowly into the platform.
A twelve-year-old girl, after shedding her bossy and spoiled attitude she was like a precious pearl that was just got rid of dust.
She had a neat and elegant ingot bun hairstyle, wearing an expensive and beautiful blue-green flower dress. The ornament that was placed on the waist to slow a person's walking pace was not even moving when she walked. She looked extremely dignified and composed.
A manner like this, even if a palace maid from Shengjing City was hired to teach, she may not have the same results.
Xia Qingqing ridiculed unhappily, "The Spring Flower Festival competition is competing talents and not looks, so what if she is dressed so beautifully? We grew up together, how would I not know what kind of behavior she had? Hmph, the more high-profile her entrance is, the worse it is when she falls!"
Nan Baozhu came out and put her hands on her waist looking unsatisfied, "Do not talk about Jiaojiao like that! Just you wait, our Jiaojiao will definitely get number one!"
These girls were from wealthy and reputable families, all comparing themselves with each other since young and they knew each other's background so no one was willing to give in to anyone.
But Nan Yan could smell an inexplicable sense of danger.
She gripped her handkerchief tightly and managed to suppress those feelings.
So what if Nan Baoyi was dressed beautifully today, this was not a beauty contest!
Madam Song was also born beautiful, but what was the use? In the end, didn't her father still love her mother the most?
Madam Liu was also thinking of the same thing.
She looked at the Nan family's seats.
Old Madam was talking and laughing with an old woman sitting beside her.
She smirked and said to Nan Yan earnestly, "With Nan Baoyi participating in this competition with such a high profile, she's actually paving the way for you. Yan'er, you must let that damn old woman see for herself how lousy Nan Baoyi is compared to you!"
"I understand, mother."
Besides the discussion here, the discussion on the other side was also very exciting.
One of the dames that could not bear to see Madam Cheng and Madam Chang's hypocritical greed, smiled and said, "I see that the girl from the Nan family is charming and beautiful, so much better than what the rumors are saying. They say businesspeople only smelt of money but the girl from the Nan family really is not that bad compared to the girls in our residence. Madam Cheng, you should feel happy having a daughter-in-law like that."
Madam Cheng was embarrassed.
She just gossiped about Nan Baoyi and now someone was saying such words, isn't this indirectly slapping her face?
She stared at Nan Baoyi in disgust and instructed something to her maid in a low voice.
Nan Baoyi walked to the platform and received her participation card.
She felt the gaze of disgust from the woman on the mat and raised her eyebrows.
In this world, perhaps some people were meant to be enemies.
Look at this, she had not done anything and yet Madam Cheng already hated her.
Too bad, in this life, it was not the Cheng family who looked down at her, but rather, it was her who looked down at the Cheng family.
She would never ever let that woman become her mother-in-law and use all kinds of methods to torture and humiliate her!
She held the participation card and retreated to her seat when suddenly a maid came over, "Fifth Miss, our Madam invites you over."
Nan Baoyi looked over. Madam Cheng was nodding her head slightly at her.
She paused for a while and walked over.
Unfortunately, Nan Yan was also invited over.
In front of many dames of the Shu County, Madam Cheng smiled gently, "You sisters both looked so beautiful. Nan Third Master is so fortunate to have two daughters like you."
In saying this, she actually acknowledged Nan Yan's position.
Nan Yan said respectfully, "Yan'er thank Madam's praise."
Madam Cheng smiled widely, "Come here."
Nan Yan walked over.
Madam Cheng graciously took off the jade bangle on her wrist, "This bangle is worth thousands and it was given to me by Deyu's grandmother when I was married into the residence. You are young, you will look better wearing this than me."
These words had a hidden meaning, enough to let other people imagine things.
Nan Yan was delighted, "Thank you, Madam Cheng!"
"Do perform well in the competition later and get first place." Madam Cheng looked more kindly and even adjusted her hairpin, "Wait till Deyu comes back from his studies, you must come to the residence more often."
Nan Yan did not know why was she favored by her too.
She happily agreed and retreated together with Nan Baoyi.
She looked like she was on cloud nine but pretended to ask worriedly, "Jiaojiao, Madam Cheng asked me to go over the Cheng residence more often, I'm afraid I will bump into Second Young Master. As his future wife, you wouldn't mind, right?
Nan Baoyi curved her eyebrows, "We are all family, it should be like this."
In this life, she wanted to see, without her as "the other woman" interfering in the middle, would Nan Yan and Cheng Deyu, this unfortunate couple really be as loving as they can be.
The gong sounded. All was silent.
The official said loudly in a prolonged tone:
"En―ter!"
The girls would compete in the first half of the competition.
Nan Yan had nothing else to say, Nan Baoyi already entered the platform.
The first blossoming of hibiscus was indeed magnificent and incomparable.