Mu Qinqin blinked: “Needlework? Or… talking about the weather?”
Si Chengchen said nothing and turned to go find needle and thread.
Mu Qinqin smiled.
Not long after, Si Chengchen came back carrying a sewing basket. Inside were scissors, needles, and thread—everything complete, just messy. Combined with the chaotic stitches on his body, it looked even more disordered.
A cold smile curled at the corner of Mu Qinqin’s lips.
That Aunt Zhang had better not show up today. If she did…
She glanced at the hammer at her waist and narrowed her eyes.
Looking at the tangled threads in the sewing basket, Mu Qinqin tried to focus—but her spiritual power showed no response. She cursed the heavens for being unreasonable a few more times before reluctantly picking out a thread end.
She was extremely grateful.
She had spent several years doing cosplay before; whenever costumes broke at conventions, she always repaired them herself and had developed excellent stitching skills.
Wait…
Cosplay?
She suddenly looked up.
Her gaze burned as she stared at the man’s broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.
What a perfect build!!! He would look good in anything!
Then she looked down at his old military uniform, stitched together in a mess, and instantly felt energized. She quickly found the thread end, threaded the needle, and began sewing rapidly.
In just over ten minutes, the chaotic, crisscrossing stitches on the clothing were replaced with neat, fine stitching.
After cutting the thread, Mu Qinqin stood up, shook the worn military jacket, and handed it to him with bright eyes. “Try it on?”
“Mm.” Si Chengchen seemed to pause for a moment before nodding.
Although his vision was impaired, dressing wasn’t too affected—just a bit slower than others.
Mu Qinqin had wanted to help him put it on, but after looking at his slightly red ears… she decided against it.
It might scare him off.
After a rustling sound, Si Chengchen softly said, “Thank you.”
“I—”
The man’s voice finally snapped Mu Qinqin out of her daze at his looks. She blinked and circled him, eyes bright with undisguised admiration.
“Perfect face!” she gave him a thumbs-up.
Si Chengchen stiffened slightly as he sensed her joy. “You stitched it well.”
Mu Qinqin looked at him, noticing his stiffness, and blinked. “I think so too.”
“…Are you… better now?” Si Chengchen suddenly asked near her ear.
Her expression instantly froze.
She had forgotten to act.
“No, I’m not better. It still hurts. I was just being strong earlier,” Mu Qinqin said, limping back to the stool.
Si Chengchen: “……”
He was about to speak when a loud voice came from outside.
“Oh my, I came to check on the Si family boy! I already came twice this morning to cook for him and mend his clothes, and now I’m back again in the afternoon to take a look!”
Inside the room, Mu Qinqin could vaguely hear muffled praise of Aunt Zhang’s attentiveness.
The visitor was obvious.
Mu Qinqin’s hand itched.
She had just pulled out the hammer at her waist when her wrist was grabbed. The grip wasn’t heavy, just enough to stop her.
She turned to look at the man.
He stared at her with dark eyes. “Calm down.”
“I am very calm,” Mu Qinqin said innocently. “Am I not allowed to act?”
Si Chengchen was silent for a moment. “Give it to me.”
Mu Qinqin didn’t think he was stopping her at all. “You want to do it?”
Si Chengchen pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Mu Qinqin immediately smiled.
So he was secretly bad too.
“I just want to fix the table leg,” Mu Qinqin said, pointing at the shaky wooden table. She no longer bothered to pretend her butt hurt and hopped off the stool.
She suddenly noticed Si Chengchen watching her. His expression seemed a little strange…
Did he see through her?
Would she still be able to ask for a piggyback later?
A hug was probably impossible.
But a piggyback might still be doable.
Since she was already exposed, Mu Qinqin stopped pretending. She walked straight to the table.
At the exact moment the wooden door creaked open and a smiling, overly enthusiastic old woman appeared, the hammer “accidentally” slipped from her hand.
“Ah!”
“Ah!”
Two voices rang out at the same time.
One was Aunt Zhang, startled so badly she fell onto her backside.
The other was a light, almost cheerful “ah” mixed with satisfaction.
“Oh no, Aunt Zhang, are you okay? Are you okay?” Mu Qinqin ran toward her in “concern,” trying to help her up.
But too eager, she “accidentally” tripped and fell forward, crashing directly onto Aunt Zhang.
She had secretly signaled Si Chengchen with her eyes, but he didn’t seem to notice and instead stepped forward quickly.
Mu Qinqin only then remembered he couldn’t see clearly.
But it didn’t matter.
Before he could pull her up, she pressed her elbow down hard again.
Aunt Zhang, already dazed from the hammer scare, was slammed so hard she nearly spat blood. Her face went pale as pain surged through her waist and stomach.
Just as she finally caught her breath, Mu Qinqin shifted again and fell back down—crashing into her once more.
Aunt Zhang almost blacked out from the impact.
“You—you damn girl, get off me!” she stammered.
Damn girl?
Mu Qinqin smiled.
Anyone who messed with her and her beloved fictional man was truly…
hitting a steel plate.
She fell again heavily, elbowing Aunt Zhang’s waist.
“Ah!”
“You little—little vile… ah—!”
Another scream.
Mu Qinqin blinked.
Not her, really.
Then she noticed a foot stepping on Aunt Zhang’s hand.
Aunt Zhang was in so much pain she was drenched in sweat, unable to move her hand at all.
“My hand! My hand! Move your foot!” she cried.
“Is it Aunt Zhang?” Si Chengchen finally spoke, as if only now realizing who it was. He lifted his foot. “I can’t see clearly. Did she fall?”
Aunt Zhang, already in agony, tried to curse: “Are you blind?! Can’t you see me—ah!”
Another scream burst out.
Si Chengchen looked down at the girl whose gaze toward him had been bright and admiring, now filled with anger, and pressed his lips together.