Chapter 5

To grow up quickly, I spent every day with Teacher.

In the evenings, Husband came to take me home for supper and bed.

Nanny told me that as the boss here, he had endless things to do every day. He was even busier than Father.

I didn’t know what kept a boss busy, just as I’d never known what kept Father busy.

Actually, I was very busy too.

Busy filling an entire page with the characters for “husband.” When I showed him, he would be so happy.

One day, Teacher had something to do and couldn’t come, giving me a chance to practice. When Lin Yunxi arrived, I’d just finished the last “husband” in the corner of the page.

She said she’d brought a physician for me.

In the past, only when I was terribly ill would Nanny beg Father to fetch a physician. I was perfectly well now. Why did I need one?

Yunxi glanced at the paper in my arms and smiled as she reached for me. “The boss says it’s to build up your health. Come on.”

She said this physician was the best for a hundred li around the foot of the mountain. Many people respectfully called him the miracle doctor.

I expected him to be an old man like the other physicians I’d seen, with white hair and a white beard. Instead, he was a clean-cut young man.

He laid a thin silk cloth over my wrist before placing his fingers on it to take my pulse.

He was rather particular.

Afterward, he looked at me, sighed, and shook his head.

“Well?” Husband came in from outside.

Neither Yunxi nor I had expected him at this hour.

She turned to him in surprise. “Boss, weren’t you going down the mountain today?”

He nodded without answering. Coming straight to my side, he sat and looked at the doctor. “How is my wife?”

The doctor removed the silk from my wrist. “Her pulse is weak. There are longstanding ailments that have accumulated over the years, as well as the impairment she’s had since birth…”

I didn’t understand a word.

But with every sentence, Husband’s frown deepened.

He took my hand and gently squeezed my palm. “Can you cure her?”

That part I understood.

I looked up at him and blinked. “I’m not ill, Husband.”

Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I got up and jumped a few times in front of him. “See? I’m fine!” I said, smiling.

His furrowed brow smoothed at once. He caught my hand and pulled me into his arms.

“So Yinyin isn’t ill after all.” He rubbed the top of my head and glanced up at Yunxi.

She nodded and turned to the doctor. “I’ll see you out.”

Only after everyone had gone did I look up from Husband’s arms.

He wasn’t quite like the other men here. He was big and tall too, but his chin was always clean, without a thick black beard.

At the thought, I poked his chin with a finger.

It prickled a little.

And tickled a little too.

I pulled back my finger and laughed in his arms.

He caught my finger and looked down at me. My laughter seemed to catch him as well; his eyes softened with a smile. “What’s so funny?”

He was loveliest when he smiled.

“Husband!” My gaze had fallen to his forefinger. There was a long, thin cut on it, and it hurt as if it were on my own hand.

I quickly cradled his hand, brought it to my mouth, and blew on it carefully. “Does it hurt?”

Then I blew on it again.

Husband lowered his eyes. “A little,” he said softly.

That made my heart ache even more. Puffing out my cheeks, I blew for a long time before looking up. “What about now?”

“It really doesn’t hurt anymore.” His eyes crinkled as he stroked my head.

“Yinyin is wonderful. Better than the miracle doctor.”