“Sister-in-law, hurry and get on to take shelter from the rain.”
Mu Mianmian pulled the carriage to a steady spot before climbing inside.“Mm. Is everyone all right?”
“We’re fine. Luckily we have the carriage.”Ye Siyun smiled and handed her a towel, wiping her face. “Sister-in-law, your clothes are all wet. Hurry and change into something dry!”
Little A-Jin was already asleep, and Father was still unconscious. Mei Niang and Siyun were both women—only Ye Siming was there.
Holding the towel, Mu Mianmian looked at the man.“I need to change clothes. You…”
“Mm, go ahead.”Ye Siming quickly closed his eyes on his own initiative.
Ye Siyun thoughtfully hung up a piece of cloth to shield her.
“All right, thank you. I’m done changing.”
The clothes she had prepared were all coarse cotton and linen. There were finer garments in her space, but it wasn’t convenient to take them out and wear them.
Only then did Ye Siming let out a quiet sigh of relief and open his eyes.
The woman sat across from him, wiping her hair.
Her long black hair was wet and glossy, setting off her bright eyes, white teeth, and snow-fair skin. It was hard to imagine that such a soft, delicate girl could endure so much hardship.
His gaze shifted to her hands and he noticed how red they were. Pulling them all along the road must have been exhausting. The thought made him deeply uneasy, as if he owed her far too much.
Sensing his gaze, Mu Mianmian lifted her eyes and smiled at him, her voice gentle and soft.“Are you hungry?”
Ye Siming’s heart tightened.“I’m fine. If you’re tired, get some rest. I’m all right.”
A few days ago his injuries had been too severe for him to move at all. He was much better now, but his legs still hadn’t healed. Otherwise, he would have pulled the carriage himself and never let her suffer like this.
“Mhm. It’s raining now, so we can’t cook. But I prepared some dry food—we can eat that first.”
“After we eat, we’ll sleep for a while.”“This rain will last all night.”
Mu Mianmian took out a bundle from the bamboo basket. Inside were meat-filled flatbreads she had made. They would taste better heated, but under the circumstances, they had no choice but to make do.
Everyone ate one, then lay down to rest.
Exhausted, Mu Mianmian leaned against Ye Siyun and soon fell asleep.
“Brother, you hold sister-in-law while you sleep.”Ye Siyun looked at her brother and couldn’t help smiling.
Ye Siming said nothing.
They hadn’t formally bowed in a wedding ceremony, so they could hardly be considered husband and wife. Moreover, he still hadn’t figured out Mu Mianmian’s identity or her motives, so he didn’t want to get too close to her.
“I’m really tired. My little body can’t take it anymore,” Ye Siyun muttered.
With his sister complaining, Ye Siming had no choice but to take the small girl from her arms.
Only when he held her did he realize how tiny she truly was—soft and slender, light and delicate.
Bang! Bang!
Just then, someone started knocking on the carriage from outside.
“What is it? Who’s there?”
Outside, Shen Jia cried,“Your Highness, please let us get on to take shelter from the rain! It’s cold and wet out here—we can’t sleep at all.”
Her voice startled the little girl in his arms awake.
Mu Mianmian opened her eyes.Their gazes met.
Ye Siming subconsciously swallowed and said,“We’re already full. Go find someone else.”
“Big Brother, then at least let Grandmother get on and rest for the night,” Ye Silan said.
Outside, the people from the Ye family’s second and third branches were soaked like drowned rats. They crowded around the carriage, hoping to climb on and escape the rain.
“There’s no room.”
Holding the small woman in his arms, Ye Siming spoke to those outside, then lowered his voice to her:“You fell asleep, and Siyun said she was tired, so…”
“Mhm, I understand.”Mu Mianmian chuckled softly, not bothered at all by being held.
The man’s embrace was actually quite comfortable.
If it weren’t for the noise outside, she would have slept soundly.
After repeated pleading with no response, an enraged voice suddenly rang out from outside—
“Ye Siming, you heartless bastard! An unfilial son, an ungrateful white-eyed wolf! Get down here right now!”