Ji Yan’an looked at Jiang Yun Sui, a hint of thoughtfulness glinting in her eyes.
If he was not mistaken, it was only when this child spoke up on her own that the people in the courtyard seemed to notice her presence.
“Come in.”
A sharp glint flashed across his eyes. Perhaps… he could put this to the test.
Though confused, Jiang Yun Sui still took small steps and walked back inside.
Uncle Li grew anxious at once: “Young Master, her identity is unknown we cannot take such a risk!”
Ji Yan’an chuckled softly. “I am not so feeble that I would fear a child this small.”
Uncle Li sighed helplessly. “Then shall I stay and attend to you?”
Knowing the old man was merely worried, Ji Yan’an did not stop him this time. Only then did Uncle Li hurry inside to follow.
Ji Yan’an returned to the seat he had been sitting in. Jiang Yun Sui glanced left and right, watching carefully how he sat on the stool, then trotted over to the seat across from him. With much huffing and puffing, she climbed up and settled herself down.
Still not quite used to it, she shifted her bottom a few times, then lowered her head and stared curiously at the stool beneath her.
“Cough… cough, cough…”
Uncle Li cleared his throat until it was nearly hoarse, yet Jiang Yun Sui paid no attention to his hints at all.
Ji Yan’an’s eyelids twitched faintly. “Uncle Li.”
Uncle Li stopped coughing, but his gaze remained fixed intently on Jiang Yun Sui as if the moment she made any sudden move, he would throw his old bones into the fray to protect his master.
Jiang Yun Sui patted the chair, then the table, before her eyes finally landed on the dishes and lit up.
Her longing was obvious to anyone who looked, yet she did not reach out. Instead, she obediently rested her hands on her knees and simply stared, her eyes full of longing.
She did have good manners.
Like a pretty little kitten waiting patiently to be fed.
Suddenly, Ji Yan’an felt an urge to tease her.
“Want to eat?”
Jiang Yun Sui’s eyes widened slightly, and she nodded vigorously, her bright gaze brimming with expectation.
Ji Yan’an said, “Then tell me why did none of them notice you?”
Including himself: when he first stepped out, he had not sensed her at all. It was only after she moved that he realized someone had entered the room.
Jiang Yun Sui answered in a soft, childish voice: “Didn’t want them to see… so I hid.”
It took Ji Yan’an several seconds to make sense of it. “Do you mean that if you don’t want them to see you, they simply cannot find you?”
Jiang Yun Sui shook her head but said nothing more, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the food on the table.
The look on her small face was easy to read: first let me eat, then we can talk.
Leaning back lazily in his chair, Ji Yan’an gave a quiet order: “Uncle Li, serve her a bowl of egg custard.”
Uncle Li shot a wary glance at Jiang Yun Sui before moving to do as told.
“Here you go. Eat.”
Jiang Yun Sui held the small bowl in both hands and stared at the spoon for a long moment. Then, with her left hand, she clumsily tried to scoop up the custard, imitating the way Cook Chen had fed her earlier.
Her movements were so awkward and unskilled, it looked as though her hand had not yet learned how to obey her.
Ji Yan’an’s brow twitched again. “Are you left-handed?”
Jiang Yun Sui finally managed to lift a spoonful of custard to her mouth. The moment she tasted it, a warm, happy glow spread through her whole body.
Ji Yan’an could not help but wonder was it really that delicious?
“What’s a left-handed person?” she mumbled, her voice muffled by food.
She nearly let the bite slip from her mouth, and only after swallowing did she repeat the question slowly and clearly.
Ji Yan’an drew a deep breath. Had this child been so frightened that her mind turned slow?
For the first time, he found himself agreeing entirely with Cook Chen’s earlier impression.
“If you are not left-handed, use your right hand to eat,” he said. Watching her struggle made him feel uneasy.
“Mm… okay.”
She understood he meant switch hands.
Obediently, Jiang Yun Sui shifted the spoon to her right hand. She scooped up another spoonful of custard carefully, yet her movements remained just as clumsy.
The spoon wobbled slightly, and the soft, jiggly custard trembled visibly.
Ahh…
She popped it into her mouth and felt utterly satisfied.
Human food really did taste this good! The little fat bird had not lied to her!
Ji Yan’an had meant to wait patiently, but seeing how much joy she drew from every bite as if the simple egg custard were some rare delicacy he could not resist serving himself a bowl as well.
He took a sip and frowned slightly; it tasted no different from usual.
He was just about to set down his spoon when he caught sight of the child across the table carefully scooping up another small spoonful and popping it into her mouth. She ate with such delight that even the fine strands of her hair seemed to sway happily.
Almost against his own will, Ji Yan’an took another bite.
It seemed… not half bad?
And so it went: he would glance at Jiang Yun Sui eating, then take a bite himself.
Standing nearby, Uncle Li was so moved he could barely hold back tears.
At long last, the Young Master was eating! It was no small feat truly no small feat.
No one knew better than him: he had watched the plump, sturdy boy he’d raised grow into this gaunt, frail figure, so thin that a gust of wind seemed enough to knock him over. It felt as though his own heart was bleeding.
The worst part was that the Young Master could never keep food down; day after day, he survived only on bitter medicine and a few sips of thin broth.
But now… now he was actually eating!
Uncle Li knew full well who had brought about this change that mysterious little girl.
Though still wary of her, his expression softened noticeably.
When she finished her bowl, Jiang Yun Sui wanted more, and her gaze immediately drifted toward the other dishes on the table.
Ji Yan’an set down his utensils as well.
Uncle Li was already leaning forward eagerly, ready to serve her more food. He hoped that if the child ate heartily, perhaps his master would continue eating too.
Before Ji Yan’an could speak, Uncle Li had already picked up a piece of tender chicken with his chopsticks and dropped it into her small bowl.
A bright smile lit up Jiang Yun Sui’s face. She lifted her head slightly, said “Thank you” to Uncle Li, then lowered her head and dug in again.
With just one bite, the juicy, succulent chicken filled her with pure bliss.
This was also incredibly delicious!
Ji Yan’an, who had been about to resume his questions, fell silent: ……………
“Uncle Li, you still have quite the quick hand, don’t you?”
He spoke through gritted teeth.
“Ahaha… thank you for the praise, Young Master! Back in my younger days, I used to be ”
His voice trailed off, however, as it slowly dawned on him: the Young Master’s tone and expression were anything but complimentary.
He shrank back, his smile vanishing.
Right that was definitely not praise.
Ji Yan’an turned his head away, unable to bear the sight that made his chest ache.
Well, it was already given; she might as well finish it.
And then… almost without thinking, he helped himself to a piece of chicken as well.
Uncle Li’s eyes went wide: !!!
From that moment on, he looked at Jiang Yun Sui as if she were some kind of miracle.
Jiang Yun Sui, meanwhile, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
She clutched her bowl, glanced warily at Uncle Li, then twisted her small body sideways, turning her back mostly toward him so she could focus entirely on her meal.
This time, she simply picked up the food with her hands.
Using a spoon was far too cumbersome; when she grew impatient, grabbing and biting into it felt so much easier and more satisfying!
Of course, by the time she finished, both her mouth and her fingers were glistening with oil.
Jiang Yun Sui stared at her fragrant, oily hands, and her tongue twitched she wanted to lick them clean.
As if reading her thoughts, Ji Yan’an spoke up immediately. He could not possibly let her do that right in front of him!
“Uncle Li!”
“At your command, Young Master.”
“Wipe her hands clean.”
The thought of her licking greasy fingers at the table was simply too unrefined.
Uncle Li moved swiftly; before Jiang Yun Sui could act on her impulse, her hands were already spotless.
Jiang Yun Sui’s expression fell: (︶︿︶)
She was not pleased at all.
“If you want more food, answer my question first.”
This time, Ji Yan’an gave Uncle Li no chance to intervene. He dropped his aloof manner and pressed on quickly.
Jiang Yun Sui’s big eyes fixed hungrily on the large, plump meatball.
“Ignore.”
Ji Yan’an followed: “You mean if you don’t want them to see you, they will just ignore your presence?”
Jiang Yun Sui nodded, then pointed straight at the meatball. “I want that one.”
Uncle Li beamed and replied at once: “Coming right up!”