Early the next morning, Qin Yi was startled awake by a nightmare. He dreamt that he had returned to the Qin family.
“Huff…” Qin Yi sat up in a panic and looked around. When he saw the cup from last night still unwashed on the nightstand, and the cartoon stickers on the wardrobe door, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness… everything that happened last night wasn’t a dream.
He wiped the light sweat from his forehead and looked around the room again. For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of peace. It was a feeling he had never experienced in the Qin family. Could this be what it feels like to have a home?
“Don’t overthink it. Maybe Sister Rumeng will change her mind today,” he muttered to himself.
Qin Yi didn’t dare to hope too much. After more than ten years of suffering in his past life, he had developed the habit of preparing for the worst in every situation.
“No matter what, Sister Rumeng helped me last night. Even if she changes her mind today, I must repay her kindness someday.”
Qin Yi made this vow silently in his heart. Then he got up, neatly folded the blanket, smoothed out the bed, picked up the cup from last night, and walked out of the room.
The living room was empty and quiet. The door to the other room was open, but there was no sign of Gu Rumeng or Puffy the cat.
He called out twice for Sister Rumeng but got no response. For a moment, it felt as if everything from last night had been a beautiful illusion and that he was still a wandering, forgotten soul with no place to go. A wave of sadness surged through him.
Qin Yi lowered his eyes, but then suddenly noticed a piece of paper pinned under a cup on the coffee table.
[I went out to buy breakfast. The toothbrush and cup are in the bathroom. Remember to brush your teeth and wash your face when you wake up.]
[Note: The toothbrush and cup are brand new.]
[One more thing: Puffy went out for a walk. If it comes back, help me lock it in the bathroom. It stole snacks again last night. I’m so mad!!]
After reading the note, the sorrow in Qin Yi’s heart completely vanished, replaced by a warm feeling.
He washed the cup from last night, then went to the bathroom and saw the new blue toothbrush and cup—clearly prepared for him by Gu Rumeng.
Just as he finished brushing his teeth and stepped out of the bathroom, he saw Gu Rumeng standing at the entrance of the living room, changing her shoes.
“I just got back from buying breakfast. I was about to wake you up to eat.”
After changing into her slippers, she walked into the kitchen and started placing the breakfast onto plates, neatly arranging them on the dining table.
“I didn’t know what you like, so I bought both steamed buns and fried dough sticks. If you don’t like either, there’s a noodle shop downstairs—I’ll take you there instead.”
Her thoughtfulness made Qin Yi feel a little overwhelmed. In the Qin family, no one had ever asked him what he liked to eat. More accurately, no one had ever even invited him to eat.
He had always waited until everyone else had finished before sneaking a few bites of leftovers like a mouse—hoping the maids hadn’t cleared the table yet—and even then, he’d get scolded by his sisters or his father.
“Why are you standing there in a daze? You don’t like it? Or didn’t sleep well last night?”
Seeing Qin Yi standing still, Gu Rumeng walked over with concern and placed her hand on his forehead. “Did you catch a cold from last night’s rain? Are you running a fever?”
“I’m not sick, and I slept very well. I like all this food,” Qin Yi replied, snapping back to his senses. He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Sister Rumeng.”
“I’m glad you’re not sick,” she said with relief, then gently pinched his soft cheek. “Alright, hurry up and eat. You’re still growing, you can’t skip meals. You have to finish all this breakfast—no wasting, you hear me?”
“Okay!”
Qin Yi sat down and picked up a bun. At first, he ate cautiously, taking small bites, trying to maintain his image in front of Gu Rumeng. But maybe he was just too hungry, or maybe it had simply been too long since he’d had a proper breakfast. After scarfing down the first bun, he couldn’t hold back anymore and began to eat ravenously.
“Slow down, slow down. Don’t choke. Drink some milk too,” Gu Rumeng reminded gently. There was no blame in her eyes—only care and a hint of heartache.
It was just an ordinary breakfast, yet Qin Yi was eating like he hadn’t eaten in days. She didn’t even want to imagine what kind of life he had lived before this.
Soon, all the food on the table was gone.
“Are you full? If not, I can take you downstairs to get more,” she offered, worried that he hadn’t had enough. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“No need, Sister Rumeng, I’m already full!” Qin Yi said with a satisfied but slightly shy smile.
It had been a very long time since he’d last felt this full.
“Good, as long as you’re full.”
Gu Rumeng stood up to clean the table. Qin Yi quickly said, “Sister Rumeng, I’ll do it! You should go rest for a bit!”
Before she could respond, he had already gathered the dishes and darted into the kitchen to clean them.
Gu Rumeng didn’t stop him. She understood that if she insisted, this sensible boy would only feel more burdened. Sometimes, letting someone do what they want is a better way to show care.
When Qin Yi finished cleaning and returned to the living room, Gu Rumeng had just come out of the room with something in her hands.
“Qin Yi, go try on these clothes and see if they fit. If they don’t, just wear them for today, and I’ll take you to buy some new ones later.”
Qin Yi paused for a moment, instinctively wanting to refuse. But when he saw the look of anticipation in Gu Rumeng’s eyes, he swallowed the words and said, “Alright!”
He took the clothes and went back to the room. Soon, he came out dressed.
He wore a simple white long-sleeved shirt and loose black straight pants. The outfit was plain, but on Qin Yi, it looked clean and fresh, giving him a warm, sunny aura.
“So handsome!”
Gu Rumeng’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him. She didn’t hide her praise. In her eyes, Qin Yi had the perfect frame for clothes, with delicate features. If he grew a bit taller, he could definitely be a top pick in the modeling industry.
Hmm… he was only seventeen now. There was still room for growth. She’d have to cook more nutritious meals for him to make up for what he had missed all these years.
Just as she was lost in thought, Qin Yi’s voice snapped her out of it.
“Sister Rumeng, thank you. I really like these clothes. I’ll find a way to earn money and pay you back soon. You don’t have to buy me any more.”