As soon as little Wanwan heard there were pastries, she lifted her skirt and dashed into the house.
Li Moyi sat on the redwood chair, holding a piece of pastry in his hand, savoring it slowly.
“Third Brother!” Wanwan, like a little rocket, zipped over to him.
Her big, sparkling eyes fixed on the pastry in his hand, her pink little mouth curved into a smile, and even her two perky pigtails seemed to bounce with excitement.
“Do you want some?”
“Yes! Third Brother, look, I washed my hands.” Wanwan stretched out her tiny hands.
However, after a whole morning playing by the river with Grandpa Li, she had eaten plenty of snacks, leaving her face a little greasy, like a painted little tabby cat.
“Even washed, still dirty,” Li Moyi said, but there was not a hint of displeasure in his face. He extended his arms and lifted her into his lap.
Though the fishy smell lingered, her special presence made him involuntarily want to stay close to her.
As soon as she leaned against him, his nerves relaxed, and the restless energy inside him gradually subsided.
“Eat it yourself,” Li Moyi murmured, reclining in his chair, and slowly closed his eyes.
In that hazy moment, he realized it had been too long without rest, which explained his overwhelming drowsiness.
Old Madam Li, having finished watering the flowers, came inside and saw Wanwan sitting on Li Moyi’s lap, happily munching on the pastry.
Glancing at the sleeping young boy, she smiled helplessly.
“Ah, this one falls asleep so quickly!”
Thinking back over the years, Li Moyi had always been proud and aloof. Except for the shameless Li Mobbing, few had close interactions with him in the house.
But now, with Wanwan around, even the distant Third Brother had started coming over more often.
“Wanwan, don’t eat too much. We still have fish to eat later.”
“Okay, then I won’t eat the pastry. I’ll wait for the fish!” Wanwan immediately set the pastry aside.
Although small, she always took everyone’s words seriously and never acted willfully.
Old Madam Li couldn’t help but adore her. At times, Wanwan’s maturity was almost heartbreaking.
“Wanwan, did you have fun going fishing with Grandpa today?”
“Yes!” Wanwan replied cheerfully.
“Then tomorrow, Grandma will take you to the flower-and-bird market. Do you want to go?” Old Madam Li suddenly decided to take her out.
Wanwan happily agreed: “Yes!”
“Then tomorrow we’ll go and buy lots of pretty flowers for you.”
“Yay! Wanwan loves pretty flowers!”
The reason Wanwan always agreed so eagerly when someone suggested an outing was because in her original home, she had never been valued.
Her parents constantly quarreled, her brothers ignored her because she was too small, and her sister always snatched any gifts meant for her.
But in this family, Grandpa and Grandma accompanied her daily, the brothers shared their goodies, and everyone took her out to play. Naturally, Wanwan was delighted.
By the time the fish was ready, it was almost lunchtime.
Old Madam Li woke the sleeping Li Moyi so he could join the meal.
After lunch, Old Madam Li decided to take a nap.
Wanwan, tired from a morning of fishing with Grandpa, yawned and her little eyelids drooped.
Li Moyi noticed and offered to take Wanwan to rest in his room.
Old Madam Li was worried: “You need care yourself; how could you take care of Wanwan? If you want to sleep, just squeeze in here!”
Li Moyi frowned. Since age six, he hadn’t shared a bed with elders, and now she expected the three of them to squeeze together?
Seeing his conflicted expression, Old Madam Li rolled her eyes, ignoring him, and took Wanwan to lie on the soft couch.
“Ah, so comfy, right, little treasure?”
Wanwan obediently replied, “Yes, Wanwan sleeps with Grandma to grow taller!”
Li Moyi: “……”
Hearing the gentle breathing inside, he got up and walked in.
On the couch, Old Madam Li lay on the innermost side, Wanwan in the middle, wearing her usual sleeping doll jacket, one tiny leg resting on Grandma, sleeping soundly.
Although Grandma teased him, she left enough space for him to lie down.
Li Moyi had always thought that with so many children in the Li family, aside from the eldest brother, the others weren’t truly cared for by elders.
Combined with seven years of insomnia, he preferred quiet and avoided family contact, feeling distant from this kind of affection.
But now, through subtle gestures of the elders, he could feel their care.
No matter how mature his mind seemed, he was still a thirteen-year-old.
No child doesn’t want to be cared for—and Li Moyi was no exception.
He held Wanwan’s soft little hand and soon felt drowsy, falling asleep amidst the warmth.
…
“Ah, my old back!”
Old Madam Li sat up with difficulty, realizing the space left for her was barely a slit, no wonder her back ached.
“You little brat, so big and still can’t sleep properly!”
She regretted letting him stay and squeezed in. Carefully, she moved to free more space for them.
Then she went outside and called the servants: “Go fetch a doctor, this nap nearly took half my life!”
Wanwan opened her eyes and found herself sleeping head-to-head with Li Moyi.
The spot where Grandma should have been was empty.
“Where’s Grandma?” Wanwan asked, sitting up.
Li Moyi, also awake, rubbed his sleepy eyes and met her curious gaze.
“Third Brother, Grandma’s gone.”
Li Moyi knew she hadn’t disappeared—she must be outside on business.
“Do you want to get up?” he asked.
Wanwan nodded, waiting adorably for him to get her clothes.
Thinking of future nights sharing sleep with her, Li Moyi took responsibility to care for her.
He picked up her little skirt from the night before, checked front and back, and started pulling it over her head.
“Third Brother, wait! I haven’t taken off my little jacket yet!”
Wanwan flailed her tiny fists in protest.
Li Moyi froze. Wanwan wriggled free and, with much effort, pulled the skirt over her head, exhaling in relief.