Jiang Mengning didn’t push him. He wasn’t keen on eating anyway, which made sense—he was a bit slow on the uptake. Looking at the dishes on the table, she didn’t have much appetite.
Though she usually ate little meat to maintain her figure, she really couldn’t get used to these bland dishes.
Remembering that she had bought malted milk powder, she went to wash three cups and prepared three servings.
The malted milk’s aroma was rich, filling the kitchen with a strong milky fragrance.
Even Jiang Mengning couldn’t help but swallow.
“Mommy, it smells so good!” Niannian’s eyes lit up at the scent.
She hadn’t smelled anything so fragrant before and was already drooling.
“Yes, it’s very fragrant. Niannian, you have to finish it. Drink a cup morning and evening—it’s good for your health.” Jiang Mengning lifted the cup and fed Niannian a sip.
The little girl’s eyes sparkled, rolling around in delight.
She finished it but still pouted her lips for more, clearly enjoying it immensely.
She looked at her brother, then picked up his cup and ran over with it.
“Brother, drink it! It’s delicious!”
Huo Haowen didn’t want to accept his stepmother’s generosity. “I’m not drinking. I’m eating my meal.”
“Drink, drink, drink! I beg you!” Niannian pouted. She knew how to act cute and coax.
Her brother refused, and she felt sad.
Huo Haowen couldn’t resist his little sister, especially with the malted milk’s enticing aroma. His stomach grumbled with hunger. He glanced at his stepmother but quickly looked away, embarrassed.
He took the cup from his sister and drank it all. It was so good—so good it almost made him want to cry.
“Wow, brother drank it! Mommy, brother finished it!” Niannian exclaimed.
Huo Haowen, already embarrassed, felt his face burn. Jiang Mengning suppressed a smile and praised him:
“Mm, brother is very good.”
The little guy, being dramatic, only turned redder. Niannian held her brother’s hand.
“Brother, eat your vegetables. Mommy won’t scold us.”
Huo Haowen just wanted to disappear into the floor.
But, well, he was hungry, and this was growing season—he could eat a whole cow in one meal. He sat at the table, grabbed a few forks of vegetables, and buried his head in the food.
Even if he picked roughly, he didn’t take much, still mindful of his stepmother—afraid she might hit or scold him.
This woman could be so cruel, her words harsh and venomous.
Jiang Mengning sipped her malted milk, nibbled a few bites of rice, and some vegetables, then pushed the dishes toward the kids.
“I’m full. You two finish the food.”
Huo Haowen looked at the stepmother’s bowl. She still had plenty of rice left. Full already? She used to have a huge appetite.
“Can I have your rice?” he asked boldly. His own portion would never be enough; he rarely felt full before.
“Of course! If you don’t mind, go ahead.” Jiang Mengning pushed the bowl toward him. He didn’t care anymore—he just wanted to fill his stomach. Even if it was food the stepmother had touched, he’d eat it.
The food tasted great. Even plain vegetables could feel like braised meat. Jiang Mengning patted the little girl’s head and reminded:
“Eat slowly, chew well before swallowing.”
“Yes, Mommy,” Niannian said obediently, slowing her pace. Huo Haowen, somehow, also reduced his speed a bit.
After spending the day with the two children, Jiang Mengning found them quite adorable.
“By the way, will your dad come home tonight?”
According to the book, the original Jiang Mengning hated Huo Jinyan and didn’t want him back home.
He usually stayed in the dormitory and rarely came back. Sigh—what a handsome man.
Even if he didn’t sleep, he’d still be pleasant to look at. How could the original Jiang Mengning think otherwise?
Did she have some other lover more handsome than Huo Jinyan?
“He probably won’t come back,” Huo Haowen replied without looking up.
Jiang Mengning sighed.
Not coming back, huh? How was she supposed to deliver the underwear she bought? What a pity.
After dinner, Huo Haowen voluntarily washed the dishes and swept the floor.
Night had already fallen. Jiang Mengning finished washing up and went to her room.
Niannian slept in the same room as her brother. The room had two iron-frame beds, one per child.
Huo Haowen cared about his little sister, not wanting her to sleep alone, so he volunteered to watch over her.
The original mother wouldn’t have brought the child to sleep with her; she had no such intention. Jiang Mengning didn’t mind either—Niannian still had lice on her head.
If she slept together, it could spread. Best to wait until the lice were gone.
Niannian was extremely happy today—perhaps the happiest day she had ever experienced.
Looking at the new dresses, hairpins, and snacks her mother had bought, she couldn’t help telling her brother about Mommy’s goodness.
“Brother, look! Mommy bought me all this, even candy. Let’s eat together.”
Niannian shared a few pieces of candy with him.
Huo Haowen looked at her new clothes and skirts, and a twinge of jealousy struck him. If the person buying the things wasn’t the stepmother, he would’ve been even more envious.
“Little sister, why is she being so nice to you today?” Niannian didn’t understand, so she chattered about the day’s events vaguely.
Huo Haowen still didn’t trust their stepmother.
He warned his sister:
“Little sister, don’t forget how bad she’s been to us. Dad said the enemy’s sugar-coated bullets can be fake—they’re meant to trick us. She must have an ulterior motive. Don’t trust her easily. And if she ever asks you to go somewhere strange or meet strangers, don’t go.”
Niannian didn’t think as much as her brother.
She just felt her stepmother was nice and trusted her.
“No, Mommy’s changed for the better,” she said. At this age, reasoning with them didn’t work.
Huo Haowen could only try to be more vigilant himself.
“Sleep now. You’ve got school tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Mengning couldn’t sleep.
The bedboards were hard and uncomfortable.
Tossing and turning, she eventually took out the underwear she bought for Huo Jinyan and fiddled with it—such a boring night.
If Huo Jinyan were here, it would’ve been fun. Why wasn’t he back?
After an unknown amount of time, she finally fell asleep. Outside, the night was dark. Under the moonlight, Huo Jinyan stood straight in front of his own home. He had trained late into the night and had originally intended to go back to the dorm. Somehow, he ended up coming home instead. Standing at the door, it seemed inappropriate not to enter.