After Shan Shan explained things clearly, Yin Kairui finally stopped resisting and was willing to let her treat his injuries.
To put it simply, Shan Shan used spiritual energy to heal people. While the best results came when she could touch the injured area directly, she was also able to treat wounds without making physical contact.
“But I only have a little bit of spiritual energy right now,” Shan Shan said, sounding genuinely disappointed. “I can’t heal your tailbone all at once.”
However, Yin Kairui was far more concerned about something else. “Does anyone else know that you have this special power and can heal people?”
“No, you’re the very first person I’ve ever told,” Shan Shan answered firmly.
“Then you must never tell anyone else,” Yin Kairui instructed her, his expression serious and complicated. “And you must never use this power to treat anyone else, either.”
“But what if I meet other brothers and sisters later on?” Shan Shan asked. She felt it wouldn’t be right or fair to keep such a wonderful gift only for him.
“…Alright then,” Yin Kairui revised his words. “If you ever want to tell someone or help someone, you have to come and ask me first, and we’ll decide together. Is that okay?”
That sounded like a very good idea to Shan Shan. She nodded her head in agreement.
Yin Kairui held his hand over his lower back and stood up. “Come on then. Let’s wash up and go get something to eat.”
But Shan Shan stretched out her small hand toward him, her bright almond eyes sparkling with earnestness. “Let me heal you first, so Brother won’t feel any more pain, okay?”
Yin Kairui hesitated for just a moment, but then Shan Shan reached out and took hold of his hand. Warm, gentle energy flowed from her palm into his body, traveling through his arm and spreading throughout him. Almost immediately, the sharp ache in his tailbone faded away, leaving him feeling much more comfortable.
By the time Shan Shan and Yin Kairui woke up, it was long past the usual mealtimes. While they could order takeout or have food delivered from the hotel restaurant, neither option would arrive instantly, so Wen Yiting had already laid out some snacks and fresh fruit on the coffee table to keep them going while they waited.
“What’s this?” Shan Shan picked up a small square-shaped piece of food and asked Yin Kairui curiously.
“It’s chocolate,” Yin Kairui told her. Seeing that Wen Yiting was busy working, he peeled open the wrapper and handed it to her.
The white, smooth surface of the chocolate intrigued Shan Shan. She took a small, tentative bite, and her eyes instantly lit up with delight. “It’s delicious!”
It was sweet and rich, and had a completely different texture from the noodles, dumplings, and buns she was used to eating.
Shan Shan raised her small hand and held the chocolate up to Yin Kairui’s mouth. “Here Brother, you try it too it’s really good!”
Yin Kairui stared at the piece of chocolate held out to him, his expression shifting through a whole range of emotions. He turned his head away gently. “You eat it yourself. I’m not hungry right now.”
“Really?” Shan Shan asked in amazement. “Brother is so amazing! You never seem to get hungry at all!”
Yin Kairui fell silent.
Of course I get hungry, he thought to himself. But as a celebrity, I can’t just eat things like chocolate whenever I want foods this high in calories are strictly off-limits unless I’m prepared to work extra hard to burn them off later!
In fact, these snacks had been brought by Liu specifically for Yin Kairui himself, to keep him going when he was busy and didn’t have time for proper meals.
After finishing her chocolate, Shan Shan figured out how to open the packaging of a small soft bun all by herself. It was warm, fluffy, and smelled wonderful she took one bite and instantly fell in love with it.
There were also fruit jellies, small cookies, and all kinds of other treats. To Shan Shan, every single one of them tasted absolutely amazing. She pointed to a small glass bottle that had been placed deliberately further away from the rest of the food. “Brother… can I eat that one too?”
“You can, but…” Yin Kairui picked up the bottle and felt the coldness seeping through the glass. He turned to Wen Yiting and asked cautiously, “It’s cold. If a child eats something this cold, will it upset their stomach or make them feel sick?”
Wen Yiting, who was busy typing away on her laptop, glanced up briefly. “Yes, it most certainly will.”
“Then we’ll save it for later, when your tummy is a bit stronger,” Yin Kairui told Shan Shan.
“Okay,” Shan Shan replied obediently. She didn’t fully understand why he had said that, but she knew he was only looking out for her best interests, and that was all that mattered.
Once she had finished all the snacks, Shan Shan turned her attention to the fruit. The pieces on the table had all been cut into small, easy-to-eat portions there were bananas, apples, and dragon fruit.
Since eating too much banana or dragon fruit could cause stomach upset or diarrhea, Wen Yiting had only put out a small amount of each. Shan Shan didn’t complain or ask for more; she simply ate whatever was provided and was perfectly happy.
She was such a well-behaved, sensible child.
But Yin Kairui couldn’t help thinking that this kind of good behavior often came from having suffered hardship and mistreatment in the past. Remembering everything Wen Yiting had told him about Shan Shan’s tragic background and how she had been abused by her own relatives, he realized with a start that his heart was filling with a strange, aching feeling of pity and concern for her.
Just as Shan Shan finished eating all the fruit and snacks, the meals Wen Yiting had ordered arrived.
Knowing very well just how much Shan Shan could eat, Wen Yiting had ordered an enormous amount of food so much so that Yin Kairui’s eyes went wide with shock when he saw all the containers piled up. “Why did you order so much? There’s only four of us eating, isn’t there?”
“Three of us,” Wen Yiting corrected him calmly.
She was still busy with work, and Yin Kairui and Shan Shan had both been asleep earlier. The only one who had eaten dinner at the usual time was Liu, who immediately spoke up and offered to help. “I can feed Shan Shan while you two are busy.”
But Shan Shan had her own plans. “Thank you, but Shan Shan can eat by herself. I can take good care of myself.”
In her mind, if she wanted to be able to look after and protect her brother one day, she had to learn how to take care of herself first.
Seeing how determined she was, Wen Yiting decided to teach her how to use chopsticks and a spoon properly, so she could eat independently.
Wen Yiting was the mother of a seven-year-old boy, so she was very experienced and skilled when it came to teaching children basic life skills. She guided Shan Shan patiently and clearly.
Chopsticks were the standard utensil for eating, but Shan Shan quickly realized that her small hands were not yet strong or coordinated enough to handle them properly. She set them down, picked up her spoon instead, scooped up a huge mouthful of rice and vegetables, opened her mouth wide, and bit down carefully.
“Try scooping up a little less each time,” Wen Yiting suggested gently. “Smaller bites are easier to chew and swallow properly.”
“Okay, I’ll do that!” Shan Shan replied cheerfully. She gripped her spoon tightly and began eating carefully and steadily, one spoonful after another.
Unlike many young children, who tend to make a mess and spill food all over the table or themselves, Shan Shan moved with surprising control and accuracy, leaving everything neat and tidy.
Wen Yiting sat beside her, eating her own meal while occasionally using serving chopsticks to put more food onto Shan Shan’s plate. Whenever Shan Shan finished her rice, Wen Yiting would refill her bowl promptly.
Yin Kairui had started the meal feeling calm and unconcerned, but as he watched Shan Shan eat more and more, his expression gradually shifted from surprise to outright disbelief. Eventually, he couldn’t stop himself from staring intently at her stomach, wondering if there was some kind of black hole hidden inside it. How else could such a tiny little girl possibly eat this much food without feeling full?
Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, Yin Kairui reached out and gently placed his hand on her stomach. It still felt soft and normal to the touch.
Shan Shan looked up at him in surprise. “Brother? Is something wrong?”
“Nothing at all,” Yin Kairui said, quickly pulling his hand back and trying to maintain an air of calm. “You just keep eating, don’t mind me.”
And so Shan Shan went right back to eating happily.
Yin Kairui stood up in a daze and walked over to sit on the sofa, but his eyes kept drifting back to her again and again. By the time she had finished every last bit of food, he was starting to wonder if he was trapped in some kind of strange dream.
Shan Shan had no idea that she had completely blown Yin Kairui’s mind and left him questioning reality. Once she was full, she trotted over to the sofa, climbed up, and sat down obediently right beside him. When Yin Kairui looked down at her, she smiled brightly, showing off her small, neat white teeth. “Shan Shan just wants to sit close to Brother I won’t make you carry me or hold me, I promise!”
Looking down at her innocent, happy smile, Yin Kairui who had fully intended to tell her to sit somewhere else found himself saying something completely different. “…Fine. Do as you like.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Yin Kairui immediately regretted saying them. But it was too late now Shan Shan was already leaning happily against his side, swinging her small feet back and forth excitedly, her pink socks peeking out from the hem of her dress, and her beautiful almond eyes crinkling up into happy little crescents.
With nothing else to do and feeling slightly awkward sitting there, Yin Kairui turned on the television and randomly selected a drama to watch.
“Wow! It’s a TV!” Shan Shan had seen television before in her memories of the original body, and she turned to Yin Kairui with pleading eyes. “Brother… can we watch cartoons instead?”
Yin Kairui sighed inwardly. Fine. As long as she stays quiet and doesn’t cause trouble, cartoons are fine.
He found a popular cartoon featuring two bears and a bald man as the main characters and started playing it from the first episode.
“Bears!!” Shan Shan cried out in delight.
“Watch it properly and quietly,” Yin Kairui told her. “And don’t bother me.”
He then picked up his phone and began scrolling through social media, preparing to fire back at all the negative comments and rumors spreading about him.
Shan Shan nodded obediently, her eyes already glued to the screen. “I’ll do exactly what Brother says!”
Having never watched cartoons before, Shan Shan quickly became completely absorbed in the story. By the time Wen Yiting finished all her work, she realized Shan Shan had been sitting there watching non-stop for at least two hours.
“Kairui, you can’t let children watch television for that long,” Wen Yiting said, rubbing her forehead and reminding him gently. “Their eyes need rest.”
Yin Kairui, who had absolutely no idea about this rule, fell silent for a moment. “…Right.” He glanced at the time and quickly changed the subject. “It’s getting late anyway. It’s time to go to sleep.”
Wen Yiting checked the clock and saw that it was already nearly midnight. She rubbed her temples and began tidying up the room. “Shan Shan needs to wash up and have her medicine applied tonight. Don’t forget that.”
Yin Kairui froze slightly at her words. He immediately picked Shan Shan up in his arms. “Sister Wen… please don’t leave just yet. Let me try doing it myself first.”
The real reason he was hesitating was that he had suddenly remembered that Shan Shan could heal injuries with her special power. This made him think of all the wounds and scars that had been found on her body during her medical examination. He had taken her back to her room, rolled up her sleeves and trouser legs, and looked closely there were still marks of old and new injuries all over her skin.
Hearing about what she had gone through was one thing, but seeing the evidence with his own eyes was something else entirely. It filled Yin Kairui’s heart with a deep, complicated mix of emotions. “Why haven’t you used your power to heal your own wounds and scars?”
“I can’t,” Shan Shan said simply, looking confused. “These are old injuries from a long time ago… my power doesn’t work on them anymore.”
In fact, most of her spiritual energy was constantly being used just to sustain and nourish her physical body. After all, this body had belonged to someone who had already died. Although Shan Shan’s presence had brought it back to life and given it new vitality, it still required constant care and support to function properly and this was also the main reason she couldn’t use too much of her power at any one time.
Shan Shan understood these things only vaguely, and if asked to explain them properly, she wouldn’t have been able to put them into words.
But in a way, it was good that she couldn’t heal her own injuries. It meant that her special abilities would remain hidden and safe, and there was no risk of anyone finding out the truth about her. Besides, if they needed to present evidence of the abuse she had suffered later on, having the scars still visible would actually be very helpful.
Having thought everything through carefully, Yin Kairui walked back out of the room. “Sister Wen… would you mind helping her tonight? I’ll do it myself starting tomorrow, I promise.”
He was happy to delay this responsibility for as long as possible. Besides, there were simply too many wounds and scars on Shan Shan’s body, and he was worried that as a man, he might be too rough or clumsy and accidentally hurt her while applying the medicine.
“Sure, no problem,” Wen Yiting agreed readily.
While Wen Yiting helped Shan Shan wash up and apply her medication, Yin Kairui sat on the sofa in the living room, scrolling through his phone and checking social media. Every now and then, he would log into his private account and leave a sharp, witty comment in response to people who were spreading lies and rumors about him.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Yin Kairui muttered to himself as he stood up to open it. “Who could it be at this time of night? Did someone order more food? We’ve all already washed up and gotten ready for bed…”
He pulled the door open and froze. “Zhuang Qinqin?! What are you doing here?!”
Standing in the doorway was a young woman with delicate, beautiful features. She was wearing a simple white dress, with her long black hair cascading loosely over her shoulders, giving her a fresh, natural, and elegant appearance. Her smile was gentle and warm the kind of smile that instantly made people feel friendly and trusting toward her.
But to Yin Kairui, she looked as terrifying as a ghost. He took two steps back immediately and reached for the door to close it again.
“Senior Yin! Wait, please don’t close the door!” Zhuang Qinqin quickly reached out and blocked the door with her hand. If Yin Kairui had acted any faster, her fingers would have been caught and crushed in the gap.
“Are you out of your mind?!” Yin Kairui snapped angrily.
Tears instantly welled up in Zhuang Qinqin’s eyes, making her look fragile and heartbroken. “Director Luo sent me. He asked me to tell you that since you’re injured, you don’t need to come to the set for the next few days. He’s rearranged the filming schedule and moved all your scenes to a later date so you can rest and recover properly.”
“Is that all you had to say? Then you can leave now,” Yin Kairui said coldly, making it clear she was no longer welcome.
Zhuang Qinqin looked even more hurt and wronged. “Senior Yin… are you still misunderstanding me? I only came here because I heard you were injured and I was worried about you. I just wanted to see how you were doing and make sure you were alright. And I also wanted to tell you… I believe in you completely. I know you would never do the terrible things people are saying about you. Please don’t let these rumors and lies break you down. Stay strong, okay?”
“I don’t misunderstand you at all,” Yin Kairui said, his voice sharp and cold. “I know exactly what kind of person you are. Now get away from my door, and if you don’t move your hand right now, I’m going to close it anyway.”
And true to his word, Yin Kairui pushed the door shut hard. Zhuang Qinqin pulled her hand back just in time, and the door slammed firmly in her face.
The gentle, sad expression on Zhuang Qinqin’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of pure bitterness and resentment.
She had deliberately volunteered to deliver this message after all, it could have easily been sent by phone call or text message. There was absolutely no need for her to come all the way here in person.
She had felt sorry for Yin Kairui, seeing how much trouble and bad luck he was going through. She had thought that if she showed him kindness and offered him help, he would realize how wonderful she was and be grateful to her forever.
But he had completely ignored her good intentions and treated her with nothing but rudeness and contempt!
Fine then, she thought to herself. Even if you come crawling back to me begging for help and forgiveness later on, I will never show you any mercy or give you what you want.
“Brother?” Shan Shan had seen everything that happened. She walked over to Yin Kairui and noticed that he was still trembling slightly where he stood by the door. “Are you okay? Did something bad happen?”
“I just ran into a complete lunatic,” Yin Kairui said, shaking his head. He truly believed that Zhuang Qinqin was the strangest, most unreasonable person he had ever met in his life.
After all, she was the only person who had