Morning arrived!
Li Xiao slowly opened his eyes, still feeling somewhat dazed.
Had he dreamed of his mother last night?
No, that hadn’t been his mother.
He vaguely remembered the hands that had held him. They were not his mother’s hands, yet they had been incredibly warm.
For four years, he had endured every stormy, thunderous night alone. Yet last night, in his dream, he had heard someone soothing him, telling him not to be afraid.
As he slowly sat up, he discovered that all the wounds on his body had been cleaned and bandaged.
He abruptly looked up and realized there was someone else in the room.
Shen Xia was leaning against a couch, one hand supporting her forehead as she caught up on sleep.
It was her!
She had been the one who treated his wounds last night, and she had been the one keeping watch over him.
As the details of the previous night gradually returned to him, his heart trembled slightly, and an unfamiliar emotion welled up inside.
He had been so vulnerable last night. Why hadn’t she taken the opportunity to kill him? Could it be that she truly wasn’t trying to harm him?
He reached behind him and touched the wooden hairpin hidden there. It was still in place.
After a moment’s hesitation, he pushed it deeper into its hiding spot.
He would wait a little longer.
For now… he wouldn’t kill her. Perhaps keeping her alive still had some use.
At least, that was what he told himself.
“You’re awake? How are you feeling?”
Just then, Shen Xia also woke up.
Rubbing her sore neck, she stood and walked over, naturally placing her hand against his forehead.
“Your temperature is normal now. That’s good, you made it through.”
She let out a sigh of relief.
After returning from the main hall last night, he had developed another fever. Worried that it might worsen and damage his mind, she had stayed here the entire night.
Feeling the warmth of her palm, Li Xiao’s brows furrowed slightly, and an awkward expression crossed his face.
He slapped her hand away and climbed out of bed, limping toward the door.
Although he had decided not to kill her for the time being, that did not mean he intended to accept her kindness.
What he hated most was owing anyone a favor.
Looking at her hand after it had been brushed aside, Shen Xia snorted softly.
Quite the temper.
Still, she had more or less figured him out by now. He looked like a vicious wolf on the outside, but underneath, he was really just a fragile little puppy.
“Stay put and rest today. Don’t run around.”
She caught up to him, pressed him back down, and dragged him toward a nearby chair.
The moment he realized she was opening his clothes, Li Xiao became both embarrassed and angry.
He immediately struggled.
“Stop moving. Your wounds have opened up again!”
Seeing the reddened injuries, Shen Xia grew annoyed and flicked him on the forehead.
“If you keep treating your body like this, you’ll be dead within a few days. Then how are you supposed to get your revenge?”
She deliberately put on a fierce expression.
Li Xiao’s eyelids twitched violently.
A murderous intent stirred in the depths of his eyes.
Did she know something? Who had sent her?
Without even looking up, Shen Xia knew exactly what he was thinking.
“I wasn’t sent by anyone, and I don’t want your life. Just think of me as someone who dislikes the Murong Family as much as you do. Helping you is helping myself.”
There was a little more patience in her voice.
She had thought it through last night. Li Xiao’s guard was simply too high. If she wanted to help him, it would be better to speak plainly about certain things.
Li Xiao clenched his fists tightly but said nothing.
His expression clearly showed that he did not believe a word she said.
Although Shen Xia had expected this reaction, she still found it irritating enough to laugh.
Without warning, she reached out and pinched his face.
When her younger brother refused to listen back in her previous life, this was exactly how she dealt with him.
Pinching his cheeks, she forced him to look at her.
“Li Xiao, think about it. You’re just a slave right now. Anyone can kill you whenever they want. What exactly do you have that’s worth scheming over?”
“Am I after your malnourished body because you’ll never grow taller? Or am I interested in how you’re still young and don’t like bathing?”
“You…”
Li Xiao’s face turned bright red with anger.
Although he had no idea what “malnourished” meant, he was certain it wasn’t a compliment.
And what did she mean by saying he didn’t like bathing?
He liked being clean!
It was just that those people never gave him the chance.
After holding it in for a long time, he finally managed to stubbornly blurt out:
“I… I do bathe!”
“Alright, alright, you do bathe. Happy now?”
Shen Xia replied absentmindedly.
“Qianzhu, bring the water in.”
“Yes, Seventh Miss.”
Very soon, Qianzhu entered carrying a basin of hot water.
“I’ll do it myself. You can leave.”
After taking the basin, Shen Xia dismissed her.
Qianzhu lowered her head obediently and hurried away.
Watching her cautious and respectful attitude, Li Xiao’s suspicions deepened.
He knew Qianzhu was one of that old hag’s people. She was ambitious and proud by nature. There was no reason she should be treating Shen Xia with such respect.
While he was still pondering the matter, Shen Xia had already begun wiping his face with a warm towel.
“What are you doing?!”
He immediately panicked.
Was this woman becoming more and more shameless? Why was she touching him again?
“I’m cleaning your face. Do you plan on staying filthy forever?”
There was a trace of disgust in Shen Xia’s voice.
She had wanted to complain about it last night. Just how long had it been since he had properly cleaned himself? He looked like a little dirt-covered bun.
Meeting Shen Xia’s gaze, Li Xiao’s face grew even redder.
Did she think he wanted to stay dirty?
Whenever he managed to clean himself up, Shen Ying and those vicious people would only find new ways to torment him.
“It’s alright. No one will bully you anymore.”
Shen Xia’s voice softened.
No one would bully him anymore?
The words echoed in Li Xiao’s ears, leaving him momentarily stunned.
It felt as though someone had suddenly gripped his heart.
Then he felt a cool sensation across his chest.
“What are you doing now?!”
Only then did he realize Shen Xia was wiping his chest.
As though struck by lightning, he immediately jumped backward.
“I’m helping you clean up.”
Shen Xia looked completely calm.
“You… you… you…”
Li Xiao was so flustered he could barely speak.
After staring blankly for a long moment, he finally snatched the towel from her hands and pushed her toward the door.
“I can do it myself. Get out!”
With a loud bang, he slammed the door shut behind her.
Standing outside, Shen Xia still called out a reminder.
“Don’t take a bath until your wounds have healed. And whatever you do, don’t let the injuries touch water.”
“G-Got it.”
His response from inside was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
Outside, Shen Xia flicked the water droplets from her fingers, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Let’s see how he handles that.
All day long he did nothing but suspect her motives. After teasing him a little, he no longer had the energy to play mind games.
After quite some time, Li Xiao finally emerged from the room.
His face was now clean and fair, but he kept twisting his fingers together awkwardly, looking like a shy newlywed bride.
This woman was truly devious.
She was deliberately using this method to lower his guard.
And yet…
He did not seem to dislike her all that much.
How annoying.
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
“Since you’re done, let’s eat. After breakfast, I’ll take you out to buy a few new sets of clothes.”
Shen Xia reached out as if to take his hand.
Li Xiao quickly retreated.
Clenching his teeth, he said, “I… I won’t suspect you anymore. We can get along peacefully. Just don’t do that again. I’m a man, and you’re a woman. It’s inappropriate.”
Shen Xia nearly burst out laughing.
He wasn’t even as tall as she was. She truly had no interest in this little bean sprout.
Still, if this little episode could make him behave, it was worth it.
She nodded.
“Alright, whatever you say. Let’s go.”
Li Xiao slowly followed behind her.
As he stared at her back, his thick eyelashes fluttered repeatedly, and no one could tell what he was thinking.
“Smells wonderful.”
Hu Jiuchi had caught the scent of steamed buns and immediately rushed out of his room, a wine flask tucked under his arm.
Qianzhu had already arranged breakfast on the stone table in the courtyard.
Looking at the lavish spread before him, Hu Jiuchi shot Shen Xia a strange look.
“Girl Shen, it’s only been one night. Has the Shen Family suddenly become rich again? Even an unfavored concubine-born daughter like you is eating this well now?”
Although he had only been in the Shen residence for a day, he already had a rough understanding of Shen Xia’s circumstances.
An unfavored concubine-born daughter was usually mistreated even by the kitchen staff.
Yet overnight, everything had changed.
“Senior Hu, eat first. From now on, while you’re staying in the Shen residence, just tell me whatever you want to eat.”
Shen Xia quickly handed him a pair of chopsticks.