Although Li Mocheng didn’t want to delegate, Wanwan was still a little girl, and her bath had to be done with Zhang Nan and the servants.
When the fair-skinned little milkball ran out in her yellow dress, she resembled a dancing little daisy, and immediately hugged Li Mocheng’s long legs.
“Big Brother, Wanwan’s all clean and fragrant now. Don’t believe me? Smell!”
She stretched her tiny hand, barely reaching past his knees.
“All right, let me smell.” Li Mocheng squatted and symbolically took a sniff.
“Big Brother, does Wanwan smell nice?”
“Very nice!” Li Mocheng’s eyes were filled with indulgence.
He noticed her hair still damp, so he fetched a towel to dry it properly.
“Mo-cheng, should I do it?” Zhang Nan asked, feeling a little redundant standing by and having sent the servants to fetch water.
Li Mocheng shook his head and lifted Wanwan: “I’ll take her to my place to play. Fifth Aunt has worked hard; she should rest first.”
“Uh… it wasn’t that much work,” Zhang Nan muttered to himself.
Li Mocheng carried Wanwan straight out, heading to his east wing.
…
Old Master and Old Madam Li waited until dusk, but Wanwan hadn’t been returned. They sent the servants to fetch her from Li Mocheng.
The first two attempts, the servants were dismissed by him. Only after eight o’clock did he appear, holding Wanwan, much to the old couple’s complaints.
Though they grumbled, seeing the siblings’ good relationship made them happy.
They let Li Mocheng stay and play with Wanwan until nine o’clock, then sent him home.
“Big Brother, bye-bye.”
After nine, prompted by the Old Madam, Wanwan waved goodbye to Li Mocheng.
If not for the elders’ opinions, Li Mocheng would have loved to whisk her back to his side.
“See you tomorrow,” he said reluctantly.
Wanwan, already sleepy from playing, rested in the Old Madam’s arms, eyelids drooping.
“Rest early too. I’ll come to pick up my granddaughter in the morning; make sure she’s ready,” Old Master Li said.
Since recovering, he had stayed in the rear villa and had no intention of moving back. The Old Madam didn’t push, happily keeping Wanwan to herself for a good night’s sleep.
“I know, you’re so naggy,” she replied, holding Wanwan and heading back to rest.
…
Night had long passed its midpoint.
Moonlight poured over the ground like cold water, reflecting off the thin, sharp features of a boy.
Li Moying lay on the rocking chair in the courtyard, trying over and over to sleep, only to be haunted by roaring black clouds, black dragons wandering mountaintops, carnage, screams, and wails everywhere.
His head ached as if splitting open.
He could only keep his eyes open, enduring the long, silent night…
Around four in the morning, Li Moying woke from his nightmare, sweat soaking his back. His rising and falling chest made him breathe heavily.
He was fed up with this torment.
Springing to his feet, he headed toward the main courtyard.
Before the Old Madam’s servants woke, he silently entered the bedroom.
On the double bed, little Wanwan lay curled up against the Old Madam’s arm, tiny fists lightly clutching a corner of the quilt, sleeping soundly with her mouth slightly open.
Li Moying noticed a small drool puddle and gently wiped it with his sleeve, frowning slightly.
Seizing the moment while the Old Madam slept, he carefully lifted Wanwan into his arms.
The instant he touched her, sleepiness washed over him. Fighting his heavy eyelids, he carried both the doll and her blanket back to his room.
Once on his pillow, he instantly fell asleep.
Wanwan, unaware she had been moved, shifted slightly in her sleep, pressing her little hands to his face and resting her legs across his long thighs, sleeping peacefully.
…
“Where’s the child?”
Old Master Li woke early, asking the Old Madam for Wanwan.
She, just roused, saw the empty spot beside her and was utterly confused.
“She was here sleeping with me last night! How is she gone now?”
“You see, you’ve lived this long and can’t even watch a child!” Old Master Li stormed off. The Old Madam hurried to get dressed to search with him.
After experiencing Li Moying sneaking Wanwan the previous night, their suspicions immediately fell on him.
The two elders and servants hurried to the east wing, entering through the north gate, startling Li Moying’s servants.
“Where’s Third Brother? Is Wanwan with him?” Old Master Li shouted.
A servant, who often attended Li Moying, replied: “Yes, Little Miss is sleeping in Third Young Master’s room. She hasn’t woken yet.”
“That brat! Didn’t punish him yesterday, and today he’s doing it again, stealing children from my room!”
The old man stormed in, raising his hand to spank Li Moying’s bottom.
He then scooped up Wanwan, who woke and, rubbing her eyes, sweetly greeted him:
“Good morning, Grandma.”
“Oh, my dear, did Grandma wake you? It’s all that naughty Third Brother’s fault—he stole Wanwan here and didn’t even let her sleep well.”
Wanwan blinked, noticing she was in an unfamiliar room, turning her little head to look around.
Li Moying, originally sleeping deeply, woke soon after Wanwan was taken.
He sat up, stretching, his loose pajamas hanging crookedly, a couple of buttons undone.
“Third Brother!” Wanwan greeted him with her big dark eyes, smiling.
The Old Madam scolded him: “You little rascal! Always causing trouble! You used to dislike Wanwan, and now you sneak into my room to steal her?”
Li Moying’s sharp phoenix-like eyes fell on Wanwan in her grandmother’s arms. Though he had only slept four hours, he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
Facing the Old Madam’s reprimand, he explained: “Grandma, you know, I’ve been tormented by nightmares all these years. Insomnia has become my norm…”