The early morning sunlight filtered gently through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the courtyard. The air was moist and fresh.
After getting up, Wen Shiqing held a piece of egg cake between her lips as she let the little chick, Sansan, out of its coop. She ate a few bites herself, then broke the remaining piece into crumbs and fed it to the chick.
Sansan pecked at the crumbs on the ground with its tiny pointed beak, bobbing its head happily as it ate.
Wen Shiqing mixed herself a bowl of malted milk powder and left it to cool. Then she grabbed another honey bread roll and walked out of the room.
But when she looked around, Sansan was nowhere to be seen.
She stuffed the entire bread roll into her mouth and hurried off to look for it, calling out, “Sansan, Sansan, where did you run off to?”
She hoped the little chick hadn’t wandered outside the courtyard.
Just as she hurried toward the gate, she suddenly crashed straight into a solid wall of flesh.
Her head spun from the impact. When she looked up and saw that familiar handsome face, she froze.
She quickly chewed and swallowed the bread still in her mouth.
“Brother, why are you back?”
Xie Yucheng rubbed his chest where she’d bumped into him. He reached out and lightly flicked her forehead.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for Sansan. Sansan disappeared.”
Xie Yucheng pointed behind her.
A soft, adorable little chick casually strutted out from somewhere behind her.
“Are your eyes growing on the soles of your shoes?”
His thick brows drew together, his expression cold and imposing.
Wen Shiqing picked up the chick and gave a soft little hum. Then, in the Suzhou dialect, she muttered, “You idiot.”
Knowing she was insulting him again in her hometown dialect, yet hearing her deliberately put on that soft, sing-song tone, made it feel as though a feather had brushed against his heart.
A faint itch spread from his chest throughout his entire body.
He suddenly caught her chin and made her tilt her head up to look at him.
Then, just as Wen Shiqing’s eyes widened in shock, Xie Yucheng leaned closer and gently wiped a crumb of bread from the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
Her lips were soft and pale red, like fresh, tempting cherries hanging from a branch.
Xie Yucheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He lowered his hand, the corners of his thin lips curving slightly as he mocked her.
“You can even get your mouth covered in crumbs just from eating bread. You’re as stupid as your chicken.”
He strode into the house and asked, “Where are they?”
Wen Shiqing felt terribly embarrassed about what had just happened. She hurriedly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand to make sure there weren’t any more crumbs.
“Uncle Xie and my mom left early this morning.”
Xie Yucheng understood and looked at her.
“You didn’t go on a date?”
“What date?”
“With your little boyfriend.”
The girl hesitated.
“He, he, he’s been rather busy lately.”
Xie Yucheng raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He went into his room and began packing his things.
Wen Shiqing leaned against the doorframe and watched him.
“Brother, are you going somewhere far away?”
“Mm.”
He pulled some clothes out of the wardrobe and carelessly stuffed them into a bag.
Wen Shiqing’s eyes immediately lit up. She hurried over and stood in front of him excitedly.
“Brother, are you going on a long-distance trip? Can I come with you?”
The man pressed a finger against her forehead and pushed her away.
“No!”
The light in Wen Shiqing’s eyes immediately dimmed.
She softly murmured, “Oh…”
The disappointment in her voice drifted into Xie Yucheng’s ears.
Actually, Xie Yucheng had taken her on a trip once before.
Wen Shiqing had been fourteen at the time, and Xie Yucheng had been making a short-distance delivery. The truck had been packed full of grain, cooking oil, rice, flour, and other goods that needed to be delivered to a neighboring city.
Before Xie Yucheng left, Wen Shiqing had clung to his leg like chewing gum and refused to let go, insisting on going with him.
Yang Ying happened to be away from home those few days, having returned to her hometown to visit her mother.
Xie Guoli had simply waved his hand and said, “The factory doesn’t care about this sort of thing. Just take her with you. Take your sister out for a little trip.”
Xie Yucheng had no choice but to accept the assignment with a cold face.
Wen Shiqing had been incredibly excited the entire way.
She was like a lively little bird suddenly leaving its nest and rushing into the outside world. She rolled down the window and stuck her hand outside, feeling the wind brush against her skin.
During that two-day, one-night trip, she talked constantly, chattering away without pause.
Yet Xie Yucheng didn’t find her annoying at all.
His thoughts returned to the present.
After finishing packing, the man lifted his eyes and glanced at Wen Shiqing, who was still leaning against the doorway.
The girl’s limbs were slender. She wore a beige sleeveless top and loose navy-blue trousers. At home, she wore simple slippers, her soft pink toes peeking out.
Her head was slightly lowered, her long lashes thick and curled like a fan.
Her two fair index fingers were intertwined, absentmindedly twisting around each other, while her right foot swung back and forth every so often.
He had no idea what she was thinking.
Whatever it was, she looked pitifully aggrieved.
Xie Yucheng gave a low cough.
She lifted her head and met his eyes. Her red lips parted slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
She pouted and lowered her head again.
He didn’t know when it had started.
Perhaps it had been sometime within the past year or two.
She no longer clung to his legs and threw tantrums like she had when she was little.
Instead, she simply looked at him with that pitiful expression, her large eyes shimmering as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Xie Yucheng sighed.
“Go pack your clothes. This trip is going to take a while.”
The girl across from him seemed almost unable to believe what she’d heard. Her eyes widened.
His tone immediately turned harsh as he added, “If you dare cause me any trouble, I’ll sell you off to some mountain village, and you’ll never see your mother again.”
Wen Shiqing instantly jumped for joy.
A huge smile spread across her face as she ran over, rose onto her toes, and wrapped her arms around the man’s neck.
“Brother! Brother, you’re the best!”
She happily bounced up and down several times.
She even wanted to kiss his handsome face a few times, but she didn’t dare.
Xie Yucheng quietly pushed her away and put on a cold expression.
“Enough nonsense. You have ten minutes.”
After she left, the man let out a long breath.
He put his hands on his waist and rubbed his forehead, wishing he could slap himself twice.
How had he agreed to this?
Wen Shiqing flew back to her bedroom and quickly packed several changes of clothes, shoes, and socks.
She was afraid that if she wasted even a few minutes, Xie Yucheng would change his mind.
Summer clothes were light and didn’t take up much space, so a small handbag was enough.
“Brother, I’m ready!”
Less than ten minutes later, tiny beads of sweat had formed on her forehead. She stood at his doorway, slightly out of breath.
Xie Yucheng lazily glanced at her, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
“That fast?”
“Mm.”
“Then let’s go.”
Wen Shiqing packed up the remaining pastries and left Sansan with the neighbor to look after.
After locking the front door, Xie Yucheng slung his luggage diagonally over his shoulder and swung one leg over the motorcycle.
He tilted his chin toward Wen Shiqing, looking handsome, cocky, and full of swagger.
“Get on.”
Wen Shiqing climbed onto the back seat and carefully wrapped both arms around his lean waist, resting her head against his back.
“Brother, I’m seated.”
Xie Yucheng lowered his eyes to the pair of fair, delicate arms wrapped around his lower abdomen.
The corners of his lips lifted into the faintest smile.
He twisted the throttle.
The motorcycle shot forward with a whoosh, making the girl’s arms instinctively tighten around him.
Her soft chest pressed against his back. Her body heat seeped through their thin summer clothes.
Xie Yucheng’s entire body stiffened.
For the first time, he felt that riding a motorcycle was unbearably difficult.
The man’s tall, broad frame, wide shoulders, and strong back gave him an overwhelming sense of security. None of his muscles were excessively bulky; instead, his body was lean, powerful, and well-built.
A scent that was fresh like a winter forest yet faintly bitter like tobacco surrounded Wen Shiqing.
With her head resting against his back, the girl smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
They seemed to be filled with honey, so sweet it was almost overflowing.