“Oh~” Pei Yuning reluctantly turned his eyes away and dashed upstairs.
Reaching Su Jin’s door, he cleared his throat and tried to lower his voice. “Sister Su, Sister Su, are you awake?”
At that moment, Su Jin’s sleepy eyes fluttered open. The room was dark, and she was surprised at how long she had slept. Hearing Pei Yuning calling, she quickly responded, tidied herself, and prepared to go downstairs.
She turned on the light and changed into a cream-colored turtleneck sweater and deep blue pants.
If it had been before, she would have worn silk and brocade, but now that was impossible. She had to dress plainly, so as not to attract attention or invite criticism.
With her clothes on and her hair braided into two plaits, she let Tuan Tuan out of the space and went downstairs.
The sound of her footsteps drew everyone’s attention, and they all looked toward Su Jin.
Under the warm lights, her outfit was simple yet gentle, instantly catching everyone’s eye.
Pei Yuning’s eyes lit up; he almost stared in awe. “Sister Su, you look so beautiful.”
Hearing this, Su Jin’s lips curved slightly. “Thank you, you’re very cute too.”
Pei Yuning blushed immediately; it was the first time a beautiful older sister had complimented him.
Pei Yucheng, who was speaking with Grandpa Pei, let his deep gaze linger on him for a moment, a faint ripple passing through his eyes.
Grandma Pei waved at Su Jin. “Xiao Jin, come here.”
Su Jin walked over, greeted everyone in turn, and sat in front of Grandma Pei.
Grandma Pei held her hand. “Xiao Jin, how was your rest? Did you sleep well?”
Su Jin smiled shyly and spoke softly. “Grandma, I rested very well. I… accidentally slept too long and kept everyone waiting. I’m really sorry.” Her cheeks flushed slightly.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Xiao Jin. Consider this your home from now on. Besides, you helped us so much today and rode in the car for so long. It’s only natural to sleep a bit more. The meal’s just been prepared.”
Pei Yuning nodded busily beside her. “Yes, Sister Su, as long as you slept well, we can eat…”
Pei Yuan, knowing his younger brother’s character, kicked him lightly. “Comrade Su is downstairs; we can wash our hands and eat. Go wash up.” He gave Pei Yuning another nudge.
Pei Yuning wanted to complain—everyone was bullying him—but he didn’t dare. One was stronger than him, the other a tattletale. He reluctantly went to the kitchen to wash his hands.
After dinner, everyone sat in the living room, chatting.
After a while, Grandma Pei asked, “Xiao Jin, are you seventeen or eighteen? I remember you weren’t born in spring.”
Su Jin smiled. “Almost eighteen, just a week away.”
Grandma Pei’s smile grew wider. “Perfect, just perfect!”
Su Jin’s eyes filled with curiosity, but before she could ask, a child’s cry echoed from the first-floor room.
Sun Limei hurried back to the room and saw her eldest grandson crying. Heartbroken, she held him close.
“Good boy, Xiao Rui, good boy~
Grandma’s here, grandma’s here. Don’t be afraid…”
Her voice trembled with emotion, repeated over and over as she gently stroked the child’s head and back. “It’s okay now, Xiao Rui, it’s all over…”
The others followed, their hearts aching at the sight, wishing they could punish whoever had harmed the children.
Pei Yuan looked at Pei Wenci, still blank-eyed and dazed. He stepped forward, cradled him, and checked him over, frowning deeply.
His elder brother and sister-in-law were both at the research institute, leaving the children at home. Now this happened…
They hadn’t dared to inform them yet, worried it might affect their work during this critical period.
After a while, Pei Wenrui clung to Sun Limei’s neck, crying quietly. She could do nothing but hold and comfort him.
Su Jin felt a headache coming on. She had expected the Pei household to be peaceful, but such an incident occurred just upon her arrival.
There were many with grudges against the Peis—someone capable of harming the children like this was no mere prankster.
Seeing the children like this, her heart ached. She wondered if the Lingquan water would help calm them.
While everyone’s attention was on the children, she quietly stood and said softly, “I’ll get some water.”
She poured a glass, subtly adding two drops of diluted Lingquan water, then knelt in front of Sun Limei and gently coaxed Pei Wenrui.
“Xiao Rui, would you like some water? You’ve been crying for so long; your throat must be sore. Let’s soothe it a bit.”
Pei Wenrui, lying in Sun Limei’s arms, blinked at Su Jin with teary eyes. He stretched his neck to sip a few mouthfuls before burying his head back into Sun Limei’s lap.
Su Jin then sat by Pei Wenci and softly coaxed him. The boy stared blankly, unresponsive, his eyes empty. When she gently held the cup to his lips, he sipped a little.
Having done all this, Su Jin’s mind settled somewhat. She placed the empty cup on the corner of the table.
Watching the children, Pei Wenrui obediently lay back in Sun Limei’s arms with eyes closed. Pei Wenci yawned, his head nodding.
Su Jin quickly supported Pei Wenci, letting him lean against her. As his eyes gradually closed, she exhaled in relief.
Sun Limei, seeing both children asleep again, returned to her room with Pei Yuan, holding the children. She stayed in the room to watch over them.
Everyone was exhausted from the day’s events.
Grandma Pei saw their weary faces and waved them off. “It’s fine, everyone should rest early. Xiao Jin, come, I’ll show you the bathroom on the second floor…”
After a brief introduction, Su Jin went upstairs. Pei Yuan took Pei Yuning home.
Pei Yucheng had originally intended to return to the barracks, but given all that happened today, he stayed at home in case the family needed him.
Once everyone had finished washing up, he went upstairs. His room was next to Su Jin’s; her room had been set up from his old study.
Entering the empty bathroom shirtless, he noticed a faint fragrance—light and clean, the same as Su Jin’s.
He didn’t pay much attention, thinking girls were troublesome with all their soaps and lotions. Why not just wash with water? His mother always used all sorts of bottles and creams anyway.