“Waaahhh! I want Sister-in-law! I want Sister-in-law! Big Brother is a liar! Waaah! It’s almost evening already. Why hasn’t Sister-in-law come back yet?”
The little girl was crying so pitifully.
When Luo Qingqing pushed open the door, her heart softened once again.
The little girl lying on the ground and throwing a tantrum was simply too adorable. She looked like a little kitten exposing its belly, begging to be petted.
“Whose little stray kitten is this? Why are you crying so hard? Poor little thing.”
Luo Qingqing couldn’t resist teasing her.
Her voice was as crisp and melodious as silver bells.
Gu Jing’an froze for a moment.
His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression shifted several times. His entire face took on an indescribably complicated look.
Gradually, however, everything seemed to settle down, leaving behind only a heavy, mist-like contemplation that almost completely enveloped him.
When Gu Xuanning heard Luo Qingqing’s voice, she immediately ran over and nearly knocked her down.
“Sister-in-law, why did you take so long to come back? Was Xuanning being bad? I’ll be good from now on. Sister-in-law, please don’t abandon me! Waaah!”
The girl’s crying was enough to break anyone’s heart.
Luo Qingqing hurriedly comforted her.
Gu Qiran tugged on Gu Jing’an’s sleeve.
“Brother, she’s back.”
“Mm, she’s back.”
Gu Jing’an hadn’t expected Luo Qingqing to return.
She should have run away by now after being gone for an entire day.
Even more unexpected was how dependent Xuanning had become on her. The little girl had cried and thrown tantrums nonstop, and nothing they did could comfort her.
Gu Jing’an’s feelings were extremely complicated.
The two brothers stepped forward and took the things from Luo Qingqing.
The little girl, however, continued clinging to her.
Luo Qingqing gently patted her and coaxed, “Xuanning, be a good girl. Come, let’s see what nice things I bought.”
Luo Qingqing took out the clothes she had bought and had the three siblings try them on.
Gu Xuanning happily took hers and ran into the room to change.
Gu Qiran looked a little embarrassed. He scratched his head, accepted the clothes, and thanked her before running to the doorway.
He waited outside for his sister to finish changing so that he could go in afterward.
Gu Jing’an looked at the clothes Luo Qingqing handed him.
His dark eyes, deep as an autumn lake, suddenly became more profound.
“I have clothes to wear. There’s no need to waste money on me. Take these back and return them. Buy yourself a couple of outfits instead.”
She had bought clothes for everyone except herself.
Did she run out of money?
She really didn’t need to do all this.
Gu Jing’an reached into his pocket and took out an exquisite green-bamboo-patterned pouch.
“Take this money.”
The original owner’s stepmother had always been excellent at keeping up appearances, so the original owner had quite a few clothes, and their fabric was even better than what was sold at the cloth shop.
That was why Luo Qingqing hadn’t bought anything new for herself.
She lowered her eyes toward the pouch.
It was very delicate, and the fabric was even finer than the material of her own clothes.
Who had given this to him?
“No need. I have plenty of clothes. Hurry up and try these on to see if they fit. The dark green one is for Shen Huaiyu. I’m going to make dinner!”
Luo Qingqing stuffed the clothes into Gu Jing’an’s arms, grabbed the vegetables from the basket, and ran off.
Gu Jing’an returned to the room and handed the clothes to Shen Huaiyu.
He put his own clothes away before turning toward the kitchen.
She didn’t know how to work the bellows.
He needed to keep an eye on her, just in case she accidentally burned down the kitchen.
As far as he was concerned, clothes were merely pieces of fabric for covering one’s body.
There was no difference between something attractive or unattractive.
Gu Jing’an walked toward the kitchen, his steps carrying a faint lightness that he himself didn’t notice.
Inside the kitchen, laughter and cheerful voices filled the air.
The two children had already changed their clothes.
Luo Qingqing had a good eye for clothing, and the outfits made the two children look even more adorable and endearing.
Gu Qiran had gotten soot on his nose while working the bellows.
Luo Qingqing was carefully wiping it away.
Seeing the boy’s face becoming increasingly red, she suddenly felt playful and teased him.
“Xuanning, you have to keep a close eye on your brother at school. A handsome little gentleman like him is especially likely to catch the attention of the older girls.”
Gu Qiran’s face immediately turned red all the way to his ears.
He muttered softly, “Sister-in-law, you’re being naughty.”
Gu Xuanning patted her chest and solemnly promised Luo Qingqing that she would definitely keep an eye on her brother.
Luo Qingqing immediately laughed so hard she could barely straighten up.
When Gu Jing’an entered, he naturally moved over to the bellows.
Gu Qiran, embarrassed and indignant, ran out.
Luo Qingqing patted Xuanning’s head.
“There are some snacks in the cabinet in the main room. Go eat them with your brother, but don’t eat too much. Dinner will be ready soon.”
“Got it! Sister-in-law, you’re the best! I’m going after Brother!”
Children were simply full of energy.
Now only the two of them remained in the kitchen.
Gu Jing’an preferred peace and quiet and wasn’t fond of talking.
Luo Qingqing didn’t know what to talk about with him either, so she simply focused on cooking.
As Gu Jing’an worked the bellows, his thoughts drifted far away.
Luo Qingqing cooked a pot of shredded chicken porridge, spicy diced chicken, braised pork ribs, stir-fried pork with onions, and seaweed and mushroom soup.
“Dinner’s ready!”
Luo Qingqing called toward the outside.
Gu Jing’an’s thoughts returned to the present.
He stood up and went back to the room to help Shen Huaiyu.
His wounds were healing quite quickly. He had already been able to walk around inside the house that afternoon.
The two children obediently came over to carry the dishes and set out the bowls and chopsticks.
Shen Huaiyu had already smelled the delicious food from inside the room.
The craving in his stomach was practically irresistible, and his stomach helpfully growled several times.
Seeing Shen Huaiyu staring at Luo Qingqing again, Gu Jing’an grabbed his arm and pressed him down onto a chair.
Shen Huaiyu gave an awkward laugh.
Everyone began eating.
The meal was fairly… harmonious.
At least, it would have been if one ignored Shen Huaiyu’s endless stream of compliments and Gu Jing’an’s increasingly icy gaze.
The two children ate until they were a little too full.
Luo Qingqing gave them some hawthorn slices and then took them for a couple of laps around the courtyard to help them digest.
It was already completely dark.
Luo Qingqing told the two children to go back to their room and sleep first.
She needed to prepare the medicine.
Just now, she had seen Gu Jing’an coughing again through the window paper.
Tomorrow, she would go to the medicine shop and get a new prescription.
His current medicine didn’t seem to be helping much.
She had already been here for half a month, yet he was still coughing.
After the medicine was ready, Luo Qingqing went to the main room and took two pieces of malt candy.
Gu Jing’an efficiently finished his medicine.
In front of him lay two pieces of malt candy in Luo Qingqing’s pale, delicate palm.
She held them out.
“Here. It’ll get rid of the bitter taste in your mouth. Even the smell of this medicine is bitter.”
Gu Jing’an lowered his long eyelashes slightly, concealing the flicker in his eyes.
“I don’t like sweet things.”
“Does anyone actually like eating bitter things? Just keep the candy in your mouth until the bitterness is gone, then spit it out if you want!”
Luo Qingqing stuffed the candy into his hand.
“Go to bed early. Good night!”
Before he could say anything, she turned around and left.
Gu Jing’an stared at the candies resting in his palm.
They still carried the warmth of Luo Qingqing’s hand.
He tore open the candy wrapper and placed the candy into his mouth.
A clean, sweet fragrance filled his mouth.
When he was young, he would pester his mother for candy whenever he had to take medicine.
That man wouldn’t allow it.
He would say that boys should learn to endure hardship and that only little girls could afford to be spoiled enough to ask for candy.
But his mother would secretly give him candy anyway.
After his mother left, he had never eaten candy again.