So annoying…
Jiang Yun Sui pouted, her round, dewy eyes drooping as she stared at the floor, scuffing her toes against the ground.
All I did was accidentally fall asleep why does he make me write characters?
She didn’t even know how to read yet!
Beside her, the young man was leaning sideways in his chair, his chin resting in one hand while he held a ruler in the other. The moment her attention drifted, he tapped the back of her hand lightly.
Jiang Yun Sui jolted upright at once. She dared not talk back, and she certainly couldn’t win in a fight. Besides, her own future and survival depended entirely on this man.
So, in the end, all the little mushroom could do was endure being picked on.
He’s so mean bullying someone as small as me!
She grumbled silently to herself, but not a single word of complaint escaped her lips.
“Are you cursing me in your head?”
His voice came again, and Jiang Yun Sui immediately lifted her face, putting on her sweetest smile.
Only it looked forced and fake, more like a polite grimace than anything genuine.
“Ugly,” he remarked flatly.
Jiang Yun Sui thought: …Do you ever have to open your mouth? Why is it that even though we’re both human, your words always sound so unpleasant?
Ji Yan’an watched the rapid changes of expression flitting across her face and found it quite amusing. This little one wore every thought right on her sleeve.
“Keep writing. Stop daydreaming.”
“Fine!”
Jiang Yun Sui huffed, her cheeks puffing out like an angry frog.
Hurry, hurry, hurry that’s all he ever does!
She gripped the brush in her small hand and tried her best to form the characters.
Ji Yan’an glanced at the messy marks she had produced, and his fine eyebrows drew together.
“Truly terrible.”
“This is my first time!” Jiang Yun Sui protested, her voice soft but firm. “I think it’s already pretty good!”
“Is it?”
“When I first started learning, my teacher said I was doing very well already.”
The little mushroom felt a little indignant. “I don’t think it’s my fault. It must be the teacher’s fault!”
She nodded firmly, convinced she had found the real reason.
Bad luck, that’s what it is I got stuck with a teacher who speaks so harshly.
Ji Yan’an gave the top of her head a light tap.
“Getting bold, are we?”
Now she dared to argue back with him though in that soft, childish tone, it hardly sounded like a fight at all.
Jiang Yun Sui shrank back into her seat and fell silent.
How unfair! Can’t I even tell the truth?
“Keep going. Look for yourself does anything you wrote look even remotely like the characters I wrote?”
Jiang Yun Sui glanced from the neat lines beside her to her own scribbles, then scratched her cheek. Hmm… maybe… maybe they don’t look alike after all.
She tightened her grip on the brush and tried again.
“Wrong hand position again.”
Tap.
Another light rap on her knuckles.
The little mushroom seethed inwardly but said nothing. With a quiet huff, she turned and bit down gently on the end of her brush to vent her frustration.
Ji Yan’an raised an eyebrow. Feisty little thing.
But it was just a harmless, toothless sort of anger she couldn’t hurt anyone even if she tried.
He found himself looking at her like she was a tiny kitten hissing and swatting, all bluster and no bite.
After teasing her a little longer, Ji Yan’an felt much of the weariness from his earlier work fade away.
This is strangely relaxing.
Soon enough, he had to return to his own tasks. Most were small, tedious matters after all, very few in the Ji Army truly trusted him right now. Those who did were only loyal to the name of the Ji family, to his grandfather, father, and uncles, not to him personally. No one would hand him the most important decisions yet.
Seeing him turn back to his desk, Jiang Yun Sui breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
At last time to slack off again!
She dragged her feet, moving as slowly as possible, and only managed to finish one character every few minutes.
Then she felt a tickle on her cheek and scratched at it.
Nasty mosquito! It’s biting me and drinking my blood!
Waaah… why couldn’t I have stayed a poisonous mushroom instead?
Jiang Yun Sui really envied those poisonous mushrooms. She had once seen a kind that could release spores which took root in living creatures, making both animals and humans keep their distance in fear.
Back when she was still a little mushroom herself, she had even gone over to greet them, but sadly, they had all ignored her completely.
Later, she realized that while those toxic mushrooms were powerful, none of them had ever awakened true intelligence.
Lost in these thoughts, Jiang Yun Sui’s brush moved on its own, and before she knew it, she had drawn something that only vaguely resembled a mushroom a dark, lumpy little thing.
It looked ugly.
Her face crumpled in disappointment. My real form is much prettier a small, translucent peach-pink mushroom, glowing and clear.
“Young Master, it is time for the meal.”
The moment Granny Zhou spoke, Ji Yan’an remained expressionless, but Jiang Yun Sui’s eyes instantly lit up like lanterns.
In that split second, every fiber of her being radiated joy and anticipation. She seemed to glow from within, and her presence suddenly became so bright and vivid that no one could overlook her.
Everyone in the room turned to look at her.
Caught staring, Jiang Yun Sui shrank down behind the table, and her excitement vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her barely noticeable once more. Only the top of her head and her wide, curious eyes peeked out, observing everything in secret.
Ji Yan’an let out a soft chuckle.
“Come along then. Let us eat.”
He did not fully understand why, but this little creature somehow made him want to eat more so clearly, she was not entirely useless.
At his words, Jiang Yun Sui immediately trotted after him, her whole body brimming with delight.
When Uncle Li saw that the Young Master had eaten half a bowl more rice than usual, he felt more satisfied than words could say.
Granny Zhou watched in amazement, glancing back and forth between Ji Yan’an and Jiang Yun Sui. What is the secret here?
Then she realized: simply watching the little girl eat was a pleasure in itself.
Granny Zhou had come from the capital with Ji Yan’an, and had seen countless noble young ladies dine. To preserve their figures, they ate in tiny bites, slowly and delicately a beautiful sight, but one that never stirred any real appetite.
Jiang Yun Sui, by contrast, ate with gusto, in hearty mouthfuls, yet without being rude or messy. Just seeing her enjoy every bite made anyone watching feel their own hunger return.
Could it be that watching someone eat well is actually a form of medicine? Granny Zhou thought in surprise.
Once he was full, Ji Yan’an returned to being the refined young gentleman he was, observing every proper custom. Even the simple act of wiping his mouth was done with grace and poise.
He glanced at the little girl, now looking rounder and fuller.
“Pour me a cup of tea.”
Jiang Yun Sui took a few seconds to process the instruction, then bounded off happily. This is something I know how to do!
Now that she was well-fed, the little mushroom skipped and hopped about, bringing a rare sense of liveliness and cheer to the whole household. Uncle Li and Granny Zhou, being older, found her bright energy utterly endearing. It reminded them of how the Young Master himself had once been lively, restless, and full of life.
Jiang Yun Sui filled the cup, and the fragrance of the tea was so pleasant that she could not resist sneaking a tiny sip.
At first, it tasted slightly bitter, but soon a sweet aftertaste spread across her tongue. Delicious!
“Jiang Yun Sui!”
Ji Yan’an noticed at once, and his voice rose in sharp exasperation.
Jiang Yun Sui jumped, clutching the cup tightly with both hands. She turned back timidly, darting a nervous glance at him before hurrying over in small, quick steps.
“Here… your tea.”
Her voice was soft and meek, and she dared not meet his eyes, feeling guilty.
“Really? You help yourself first, and then offer it to me?”
Granny Zhou opened her mouth to speak, but Uncle Li stopped her with a gesture.
“Shh… shh… the Young Master hasn’t looked this lively in ages. Let us not make her too stiff and formal. Let her stay just as she is.”
“But…”
“Rest assured, he won’t truly be angry over something so small. It was when he was quiet and lifeless that I truly feared for him.”