Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ji Yan’an looked at Jiang Yunsui, his eyes filled with a trace of contemplation.

If he hadn’t seen it wrong, it was only when this child spoke up of her own accord that the people in the courtyard seemed to notice her existence.

“Come in.”

A sharp glint flashed through his eyes. Perhaps he could test a theory.

Though Jiang Yunsui was confused, she took small steps and walked back inside.

Uncle Li was anxious. “Young Master, her identity is unknown. You shouldn’t take risks.”

Ji Yan’an chuckled softly. “I haven’t become so useless that I’m afraid of a child this small.”

Uncle Li looked helpless. “Then shall I come in to attend to you?”

Knowing that the old man was worried, Ji Yan’an didn’t stop him. Only then did Uncle Li quickly follow them in.

Ji Yan’an returned to his previous seat. Jiang Yunsui looked left and right, carefully observing how he sat on the stool. She then ran to the opposite side of Ji Yan’an and scrambled up onto the stool with a huff.

Feeling a bit unaccustomed to it, she wiggled her bottom and looked down, curiously inspecting the stool.

“Ahem, cough, cough…”

Uncle Li’s throat was practically raw from coughing, but Jiang Yunsui didn’t pick up on his hints at all.

Ji Yan’an’s eyelid twitched slightly. “Uncle Li.”

Uncle Li stopped coughing, but his eyes remained fixed on Jiang Yunsui, as if he were ready to throw his old bones forward to protect his master the moment she made a move.

Jiang Yunsui touched the chair and then the table, her eyes lighting up as she stared at the dishes.

Anyone could see how much she was craving the food, yet she didn’t move. She obediently kept her hands on her knees, watching with wide, longing eyes.

She was actually quite polite.

She looked like a beautiful little kitten waiting patiently to be fed.

Ji Yan’an suddenly felt the urge to tease her.

“Want to eat?”

Jiang Yunsui’s eyes widened a fraction, her sparkling gaze full of anticipation as she nodded.

Ji Yan’an asked, “Then tell me, why did none of them notice you?”

That included him. When he first came out, he hadn’t noticed her either. It was only after Jiang Yunsui moved that he realized someone had entered the room.

Jiang Yunsui spoke in a milky voice, “Didn’t want them to see. Hid.”

Ji Yan’an took a few seconds to process this before asking, “You mean, if you don’t want them to see you, they won’t be able to find you?”

Jiang Yunsui shook her head and didn’t speak, her eyes fixed on the dishes on the table.

The expression on her small face was easy to read: she would talk after she ate.

Ji Yan’an leaned back lazily in his chair and gave a calm command, “Uncle Li, serve her a bowl of egg custard.”

Hearing this, Uncle Li gave Jiang Yunsui a wary look before moving to serve her.

“Here, eat.”

Jiang Yunsui held the small bowl and stared at the spoon for a long time. She clumsily tried to mimic the way Cook Chen had fed her earlier, using her left hand to scoop the egg custard.

Her movements were so awkward and unfamiliar it looked as though she hadn’t quite tamed her own hands yet.

Ji Yan’an’s eyelid twitched at the sight. “Are you left-handed?”

Jiang Yunsui finally managed to get a spoonful of egg custard into her mouth. It was so delicious that her whole body felt warm with happiness.

Ji Yan’an couldn’t help but wonder: Is it really that good?

“What is left-handed?”

She asked back in a small, muffled voice while eating.

She didn’t want the delicious food to fall out of her mouth, so she waited until she finished chewing before slowly asking again.

Ji Yan’an took a deep breath. Was this child’s brain damaged from a fright?

At this moment, he was on the same wavelength as Cook Chen.

“Since you aren’t left-handed, use your right hand to eat.”

Watching her was making him uncomfortable.

“Oh.”

So he meant she should switch hands.

Jiang Yunsui obediently moved the spoon to her right hand and carefully scooped some egg custard, though she was still just as clumsy. The spoon wobbled slightly, and one could see the egg custard jiggling.

*Nom…*

She stuffed it into her mouth, feeling incredibly satisfied.

Human food really is delicious; the little fat bird didn’t lie to her!

Ji Yan’an had intended to wait patiently, but seeing her eat with such bliss-as if the egg custard were some rare delicacy-he couldn’t resist serving a bowl for himself as well.
Taking a bite, he frowned slightly; it tasted no different than before.

Just as he was about to set down his spoon, he saw the child opposite him treasure another small spoonful, eating with such gusto that even the strands of her hair seemed to sway with joy.

Driven by a strange impulse, Ji Yan’an took another bite.

It seemed… not bad?

And so, he would take a look at Jiang Yunsui eating, then take a bite himself.

Standing to the side, Uncle Li was so moved he almost burst into tears.

The Young Master was finally eating. It wasn’t easy; it truly wasn’t easy.

Who could understand his pain? He had watched the Young Master grow up. Seeing him go from a chubby boy to this emaciated state-so thin a gust of wind could knock him over-made Uncle Li’s heart bleed.

The main issue was that the Young Master couldn’t keep anything down. He had been surviving solely on medicine and a bit of broth every day.

Now, the Young Master was finally eating!

Uncle Li knew full well that this result was all thanks to that little girl who was oblivious to the situation.

Although he remained wary of the child, Uncle Li’s expression softened visibly.

Having finished her portion, Jiang Yunsui wanted more and fixed her eyes on the other dishes.

Ji Yan’an also set down his utensils.

Uncle Li was eager to help, looking ready to serve Jiang Yunsui more food at any moment.

He wanted to see if the Young Master would keep eating as long as this child ate more.

Thus, before Ji Yan’an could even speak, Uncle Li used his chopsticks to grab a piece of chicken he’d been eyeing and placed it into Jiang Yunsui’s small bowl.

A smile instantly spread across Jiang Yunsui’s eyes. She looked up slightly to say thank you to Uncle Li before burying her head back into her work.

With just one bite, the tender, succulent chicken filled her with happiness.

This is also super delicious!

Ji Yan’an, who had been about to continue his questioning: “…”

“Uncle Li, your hands are as quick as they were in your prime!”

He spoke through gritted teeth.

“Heheh… Thank you for the praise, Young Master. Back when I was young, I was also…”

His voice trailed off as Uncle Li belatedly realized that the Young Master’s words and gaze didn’t exactly seem like a compliment.

He pulled his neck back and stood to the side, his smile vanishing.

Fine, it really wasn’t a compliment.

Ji Yan’an turned his head away, refusing to look at this frustrating scene.

Since the food had already been given, she might as well finish it.

Then… unable to help himself, he followed suit and ate some chicken too.

Uncle Li’s eyes practically glowed as he looked at Jiang Yunsui.

Jiang Yunsui felt a sudden chill down her spine.

Clutching her small bowl, she gave Uncle Li a wary glance. Then, she shifted her little body, turning her back slightly toward him as she continued to scarf down her food.

This time, she just used her hands.

Using a spoon was simply too inconvenient; in her haste, she found it much more comfortable to just grab and gnaw!

However, after she finished, her mouth and hands were slick with oil.

Jiang Yunsui stared at her fragrant hands, wanting to lick them.

As if sensing her thoughts, Ji Yan’an spoke up quickly.

He really couldn’t tolerate this!

“Uncle Li!”

“Young Master, your orders?”

“Wipe her hands clean.”

If she actually licked her hands right in front of him, it would be far too filthy.

Uncle Li moved fast. Before Jiang Yunsui could act on her impulse, her hands were clean.

Jiang Yunsui: (︶︿︶)

She wasn’t happy.

“If you want to keep eating, continue with the previous question.”

This time, Ji Yan’an didn’t bother acting composed. He seized the moment to ask before Uncle Li could interfere again.

Jiang Yunsui’s large eyes fixed on a fragrant Lion’s Head Meatball.

“Ignore.”

Ji Yan’an: “If you don’t want them to see you, they will ignore you?”

Jiang Yunsui nodded and pointed at the large meatball. “I want that one.”

Uncle Li: “Coming right up!”