Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Jiang Yunsui stared for a long while without saying a word. She stole a peek at Ji Yan’an, and seeing that he wasn’t rushing her, her gaze began to drift.
Her hands and feet were in constant motion. Bored, she picked at her fingernails, and her little toes rubbed against the ground as if she were trying to dig a small pit to bury herself in.
Regardless, she wasn’t going to make things hard for herself.
Then, she felt a flick on her forehead.
“Ow.”
Snapped out of her daze, Jiang Yunsui clutched her forehead, her little mouth pouting and the corners of her eyes drooping like a pitiful, bullied puppy.
“Stupid.”
The boy’s cool voice drifted over, carrying a hint of amusement.
Jiang Yunsui muttered, “They… they all look the same.”
Ji Yan’an shot her a sidelong glance. The little dummy; if she didn’t know them, she didn’t know them, yet she still insisted they looked the same.
Just then, Nanny Zhou entered with the servants bringing in the meal.
Jiang Yunsui was instantly drawn in by the savory aromas.
She patted her stomach; she was hungry. She had woken up early today and hadn’t even had time for breakfast.
Seeing Ji Yan’an rise and walk slowly toward the table, she quickly trotted after him.
Ji Yan’an had just come to a stop at the table when the child, who was so focused on staring at the dishes that she wasn’t looking where she was going, crashed right into him.
Ji Yan’an’s thin frame stumbled forward a couple of steps from the impact.
Turning around, he saw the culprit sitting on the ground clutching her forehead, her clean eyes filled with utter confusion.
Ji Yan’an let out a frustrated laugh. “Are your eyes fixed on the table? Look where you’re walking.”
Jiang Yunsui didn’t cry. Instead, she rubbed her little forehead, looking rather embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
She was surprisingly polite.
Nanny Zhou hesitated, looking like she wanted to say something.
“Young Master, this little girl is too young and doesn’t know how to serve people yet. How about I take her back and train her slowly?”
The little thing had short arms, short legs, and was soft all over. What could she possibly do?
Ji Yan’an looked at the dishes on the table with listless eyes. He had no appetite; he didn’t want to eat any of it.
“No need. I’ll teach her myself.”
He had never expected this tiny tot, who didn’t even reach his waist, to actually serve him. What he valued was the little thing’s ability to make people overlook his presence.
Ji Yan’an picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, frowned, and ate a tiny bit, his eyes full of distaste.
Uncle Li walked in at that moment. Seeing the Young Master’s expression, his heart skipped a beat.
Surely this young ancestor wasn’t going to demand the food be cleared away again, was he?
He hadn’t even started eating yet.
Before Ji Yan’an could speak, Uncle Li saw Jiang Yunsui standing beside him, staring longingly at the food, and his eyes instantly lit up.
“Young Master.”
Ji Yan’an looked up, his phoenix eyes already tinged with a bit of irritability.
“Little Yunsui hasn’t had breakfast yet, has she?”
Ji Yan’an turned his head slightly toward the little glutton, who looked like she was about to drool.
He gave a wicked grin. “You’re drooling.”
Jiang Yunsui instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth.
Liar.
Uncle Li was surprised to find that after his Young Master teased the little girl, much of the irritability in his eyes had vanished. His gaze toward Jiang Yunsui changed immediately.
Once the investigation was complete and if there were no issues with the girl’s background, then keeping her by the Young Master’s side would be fine. Even if she couldn’t serve him, making the Young Master happy was enough.
“Young Master, why not let Yunsui eat with you?” Uncle Li suggested cautiously.
Nanny Zhou frowned. How could a servant eat with their master?
But Uncle Li was not a reckless or thoughtless man, so she opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Ji Yan’an also remembered how his appetite had been quite good the last time this little girl was eating.
Jiang Yunsui was currently looking at him with bright, expectant eyes.
“Want to eat?”
Jiang Yunsui nodded and asked in a milky voice, “Can I eat?”
Ji Yan’an couldn’t resist pinching her chubby little cheek; it felt quite nice to the touch.
Jiang Yunsui thought to herself: *For the sake of food, I’ll endure it!*
“You can, but once you’ve eaten, you’ll have to follow me to learn your characters.”
At the thought of those characters she couldn’t distinguish at all, Jiang Yunsui’s little face instantly fell.
Seeing her hesitation, Ji Yan’an gave a light snort. “It seems you don’t want to eat that badly after all.”
“I’ll eat!”
Jiang Yunsui’s response was loud, her expression filled with the tragic resolve of a warrior heading to the gallows.
Ji Yan’an was so amused that the corners of his mouth quirked up a few pixels.
She didn’t stand on ceremony with him, climbing onto the chair opposite Ji Yan’an and settling herself in.
Uncle Li busily served her food, while Nanny Zhou watched, completely bewildered.
*What is going on?*
It didn’t take long for Nanny Zhou’s eyes to widen in shock.
Because the Young Master, watching Jiang Yunsui eat with her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, actually began to eat as well.
Nanny Zhou’s hands trembled slightly with excitement.
There was no nausea or disgust. Although he ate slowly, he was actually swallowing the food.
Her gaze fell upon Jiang Yunsui. How on earth did this little girl manage it?
She watched as the little girl sat obediently in her chair, hugging her small bowl. With a spoon in her right hand, she scooped up a large mouthful of rice mixed with fish and stuffed it into her mouth.
She ate every last bit, her mouth bulging like a little pufferfish. Just watching her was heart-warming and enough to stimulate anyone’s appetite.
Nanny Zhou thought: *Even I feel like eating now.*
She was dazed; how could such a miraculous thing happen?!
Jiang Yunsui asked Uncle Li to help her scoop a large dollop of steamed egg custard, which she mixed into her rice before taking a big bite.
It was so delicious that her eyes sparkled.
Ji Yan’an hesitated. Eating like that seemed a bit unrefined.
But… it looked so tasty.
Uncle Li noticed his internal struggle. His Young Master had been raised in the Ji Family back in the Capital to be a bit fastidious and fussy.
Eating like that would be considered a breach of etiquette for him.
“Young Master, why don’t you give it a try?” Uncle Li urged. “Anyway, we’re in Mobei now. No one is watching you eat, so there’s no need to stick so strictly to the rules.”
Jiang Yunsui looked up at him curiously while chewing.
*What’s wrong?*
She didn’t dwell on it, taking one look before returning to the battle with the food in her bowl.
Ji Yan’an, finally having a bit of an appetite, couldn’t hold back and followed Jiang Yunsui’s lead.
One bite in, and it was indeed very satisfying.
Though it lacked refinement, the flavor was truly excellent.
Once they were full, they finished with a bowl of soup, both feeling content.
Jiang Yunsui patted her little belly, her tiny feet kicking back and forth happily.
She looked like a beautiful little White Cat that had eaten its fill and collapsed into a fluffy pancake.
Ji Yan’an also rubbed his stomach, which hadn’t felt this full in a long time.
He stood up and picked up the little thing sprawled in the chair.
The little girl dangled by her collar, her head and hands drooping pitifully. She only turned her head to look at him with questioning eyes.
She looked incredibly well-behaved.
Ji Yan’an’s hands were itching again, so he pinched her cheek before pulling back with a look of feigned disgust.
“You didn’t even wipe the grease off your mouth. How messy.”
After saying that, he set her down. “Follow me.”
Jiang Yunsui followed behind him, looking aggrieved.
Nanny Zhou handed her a clean handkerchief, and the little girl looked up at her with a soft, sweet smile.
“Thank you, Nanny Zhou.”
Nanny Zhou nodded. Just for the fact that this little girl could get the Young Master to eat more, she was willing to treat the child like an honored ancestor!