“Aiai, Lele, time to eat!”
Ying Yu and Yun Han had prepared a table full of dishes, all of which were favorites of the two girls. In the bedroom, Xiao Zetong had finally finished coaxing Ying Aiai. Answering Yun Han’s call, she gave Aiai’s nose a playful pinch.
“Go wash your face quickly, then come out to eat.”
“Lele, stay and sleep over tonight, okay? You haven’t slept in the same bed as me for so long. Please?”
Ying Aiai shook Xiao Zetong’s arm, wearing her signature puppy-dog expression. Smitten by her cuteness, Zetong didn’t have the heart to refuse and nodded in agreement.
At the dinner table, Ying Yu chatted casually, the atmosphere as relaxed and cozy as if the four of them had been a family for a long time.
“Lele, have you heard from your two mothers lately?”
“Not really. The last time Mommy contacted me was a month ago. She said she and Mama were on a luxury cruise liner, living a life of luxury.”
A helpless but happy smile touched the corners of Xiao Zetong’s mouth as she spoke of Xiao Xiao and Ding Xinxin. She was helpless because she hadn’t seen them in so long, but happy because they were enjoying themselves. For Zetong, as long as her parents and Aiai were happy, she felt blissful.
“It’s good to know they’re safe. Here, Lele, have some braised fish. Your aunt made it specifically for you.”
Ying Yu placed a piece of fish in Zetong’s bowl. Watching the tender fish, Aiai’s mouth began to water; she wanted some too.
“You eat this. The wounds on your back haven’t healed yet, so you can’t have fish,” Xiao Zetong said, placing a piece of steamed spare rib in Aiai’s bowl instead.
Aiai stared at the rib. She wanted fish; she didn’t want this bland, flavorless rib. She looked at everyone with that puppy-dog gaze again, but they all tacitly ignored her. When her hand reached out toward the fish, Zetong tapped the back of it with her chopsticks. Aiai immediately puffed out her cheeks, retracted her hand, and began rubbing it dramatically as if she were in great pain.
“If you want fish, recover well and get better quickly,” Ying Yu said, patting Aiai’s head. She still treated Aiai like a child, though Aiai’s behavior at the moment certainly warranted it. In truth, Aiai wasn’t even that fond of fish, but ever since she got sick, she had been restricted from spicy or “stimulating” foods. Her daily diet consisted of extremely bland bird’s nest soup or steamed dishes.
“Eat properly, or I’m going home right after dinner,” Xiao Zetong threatened.
Without another word, Aiai picked up her bowl and began eating obediently. Ying Yu and Yun Han exchanged a smile; only Xiao Zetong could truly handle this little livewire.
After dinner, Ying Yu and Yun Han made an excuse to return to the old Ying family estate, leaving the house entirely to Aiai and Zetong. They didn’t want to play third wheel to the young couple.
“Lele, what are you watching?”
After showering, Aiai climbed onto the bed next to Zetong, drying her hair with a towel while looking at the TV.
“Can’t you see? A boring idol drama. By the way, take your clothes off.”
Zetong wanted to check how the wounds on Aiai’s back were healing, but the request was completely misinterpreted. Aiai’s fair face instantly turned as red as a beet.
“Lele, that… I mean, I’m willing… but I’m still an injured person… the doctor said I can’t do any strenuous exercise…”
Hearing these stuttered, awkward words, Xiao Zetong felt a sudden urge to smack this eccentric girl. What on earth went on inside that little head of hers?
“Ying Aiai, can your thoughts get any filthier?” Zetong said with a fake, chilling smile.
Aiai froze. Had she really gotten the wrong idea?
“I want to look at your injuries. My aesthetic sense hasn’t degraded to the point where I’d be interested in a washboard.”
Zetong’s gaze wandered pointedly toward Aiai’s chest. Admittedly, Aiai wasn’t as well-endowed as Zetong, but “washboard” was a stretch!
“Hey, Xiao! Don’t you look down on me! This young lady’s figure is actually quite impressive, okay?” Aiai puffed out her chest to prove she wasn’t a washboard.
“Stop talking. Clothes off, turn around,” Zetong ordered, turning off the TV.
Aiai pouted but eventually turned around and removed her top, revealing her back covered in knife scars. As Zetong unwrapped the gauze, her heart ached. That back, once as smooth as fine jade, was now marred by a chaotic web of scars.
“Aiai, once the wounds are fully healed, let’s get plastic surgery to remove these scars, okay?” Zetong reached out to touch them but stopped mid-air, afraid of causing pain.
“Lele, do you care that much?” Aiai asked with a frown. If Zetong cared, she would do it, but deep down she didn’t want to. Removing so many scars would be a major surgery, and she didn’t want to waste time on something so meaningless.
“No, I just feel bad for you,” Zetong shook her head gently. How could she care? Even if Aiai were disfigured, she wouldn’t care because she loved the person, not the shell. Beauty fades with time, but the heart remains the same, doesn’t it?
“Lele, to be honest, I don’t want the surgery. No one knows how the results will turn out. Besides, you’re the only one who sees my back. If you don’t mind, who am I fixing it for?”
“Aiai, does it still hurt?” Zetong asked, looking at the slowly closing wounds.
Aiai shook her head. “Not really. It just gets very itchy sometimes.”
Itching is a normal sign of healing. Zetong got up, took the medical kit from a drawer, and began changing Aiai’s dressings. She was an expert at this by now; since Aiai’s hospitalization, she had performed almost every dressing change herself, never missing a single one.
“I’ll take you to the hospital for a follow-up in a few days. I won’t feel right until I hear the doctor say you’re okay.”
After applying the medication and helping Aiai dress, Zetong helped her lie down and tucked her in. She used the remote to dim the lights to a soft glow. Aiai reached out and wrapped her arms around Zetong’s waist, finding a comfortable spot in her embrace before closing her eyes. As long as Zetong was by her side, she felt at peace. Soon, her breathing became steady as she drifted into sleep.
Zetong stroked Aiai’s cheek. “Aiai, don’t worry. I will make sure those who hurt you pay back ten—no, a hundred times over,” she whispered. Of course, Aiai, currently dreaming, didn’t hear a word.
Since the next day was the weekend, both girls slept in until they woke up naturally. Aiai woke up first. Through the window curtains, the sunlight cast a golden glow over Zetong’s face. To Aiai, Zetong’s moist lips looked incredibly tempting. She leaned in for a soft kiss, then got up to wash and change into loose loungewear.
In the living room, the housekeeper was busy. She greeted Aiai politely, and Aiai returned a friendly smile.
“Auntie Wang, is breakfast ready?”
“It’s ready and waiting in the dining room.”
Aiai brought the breakfast back to the bedroom, placed it on the nightstand, and woke Zetong.
“Lele, wake up and eat.”
Zetong grumbled a bit at being woken from a beautiful dream, but seeing Aiai’s angelic smile, her morning grumpiness vanished instantly.
“Auntie Wang made your favorite preserved egg and pork porridge. Hurry up and eat.”
Zetong sat up, stretched, and went into the bathroom. When she emerged, all traces of sleep were gone. She sat on the bed and shared the meal with Aiai. Compared to Zetong’s hearty porridge, Aiai’s breakfast was quite humble—a bowl of plain congee, three vegetable buns, and a glass of fresh juice. Since Aiai’s stomach wasn’t very strong, her breakfasts were always light.