chapter 3

Chapter 3

After moving into my house, Cheng Yubai’s main tasks every day were cooking and taking care of me.

With someone at home to watch over me, Dad started focusing solely on earning money. He’d head into the mountains before dawn and only come back after dark, so busy that sometimes he didn’t even get a bite of hot food.

I didn’t know what Dad was up to, only that our already decent meals were getting even better. And although Cheng Yubai didn’t talk much, he was an excellent cook. Under his careful care, I was getting rounder by the day.

But eating a lot didn’t stop me from feeling troubled-

I was so bored.

No one wanted to play with me.

Our family had moved here from elsewhere, and we weren’t related to anyone in the village. Grandpa and Grandma’s background wasn’t great either. Although times had changed and people didn’t care about such things anymore, the village kids still didn’t like playing with me.

Cheng Yubai was still washing the dishes.

I put on my gloves and hat, deciding to go out for a walk by myself.

Originally, I planned to walk around the fields near our house and then come back, but in reality, I returned home before Cheng Yubai finished washing the dishes, covered in mud and water.

My wet pants clung to my legs, which was really uncomfortable, but I felt embarrassed to go find Cheng Yubai like that.

Just as I was feeling awkward, Cheng Yubai came out of the kitchen.

He was stunned when he saw me all messy. I tugged at my soaked cotton pants, feeling guilty and wronged, and glanced at him before lowering my head.

Cheng Yubai didn’t say anything, just walked over to me.

He heated up water, and like a little chick, I was scooped up and put into a wooden tub full of hot water. After my bath and changing into clean clothes, he carried me to the main room.

The kang bed was warm. Cheng Yubai took a cotton towel and started drying my hair.

From earlier until now, he hadn’t said a word. I pouted, finally unable to hold it in: “…You haven’t even asked what happened to me.”

Cheng Yubai paused his movements: “How did this happen?”

“It was Liu Huzi!”

Seeing him look over, I immediately started complaining, “Liu Huzi, Xiao Shitou, and Feng Dazhu-they bullied me.”

I hadn’t gone far after leaving home before I ran into them.

Liu Huzi’s parents were notorious for being unreasonable, and he was a little tyrant who liked bullying others. I wanted to avoid him, but he spotted me and blocked my way with his friends.

One against three, and all three were older than me-there was almost no chance of winning.

A wise girl doesn’t suffer unnecessary losses, so I sensibly didn’t resist and let Liu Huzi push me into the muddy ditch. After they left, I shamefully came home.

“How can they be so mean?”

I felt a bit wronged. “I didn’t provoke them, but they bullied me for no reason…”

“Why did you go out?”

Cheng Yubai’s expression and tone were both calm. “Isn’t it fine to stay at home and just play with me?”

After saying that, he switched to a new towel and continued drying my hair.

I fiddled with the hem of my thermal pants, feeling even more aggrieved: “But there’s nothing fun at home.”

Cheng Yubai didn’t reply, but his hands slowed down.

When my hair was almost dry, he pulled back the quilt and gestured for me to get in.

It was time for a nap.

Sleepiness washed over me, and I crawled into the covers, yawning softly. Soon, I fell asleep.

I slept until three in the afternoon.

Cheng Yubai was nowhere to be seen in the room. I got out of bed and went outside to look for him. As soon as I opened the door, I saw the clothes I’d changed out of at noon, now washed clean and neatly hung on the bamboo pole. Cheng Yubai was standing at the edge of the yard, rinsing mud off his rubber boots.

“Cheng Yubai.”

I rubbed my eyes and called out to him.

Cheng Yubai looked up at me, then put down what he was doing and carried me back inside. I flopped onto him bonelessly, and he pressed his lips together, handing me a biscuit.

I sat up straight, happily accepted it, and forgot all about Huzi and Dazhu.

Seeing me sitting quietly and not running around, Cheng Yubai finally picked up a comb and started fixing my messy hair from sleep.

He was skillful and smart, quick to learn new things, and always careful and meticulous. Combing hair was no exception-soon, he had braided two neat and smooth pigtails for me.

I shook my head, and the braids swung back and forth.

In a great mood, I clung to Cheng Yubai’s back, showering him with praise: “Cheng Yubai, you’re so nice,” “Cheng Yubai, you’re my favorite,” saying whatever came to mind, picking only the sweetest words.

Cheng Yubai ignored me, but the tips of his ears turned a little red.

After finishing his tasks, he finally responded with a reserved “Mm,” saying, “I know.”