The next morning, as Yu Mian headed out with her schoolbag, Pei Zhiyuan swore solemnly, “This time I definitely won’t lose you!”
Yu Mian nodded. “Mm. I believe you.”
Pei Zhiyuan looked a bit sheepish. “You’re not mad at me?”
Just imagining it happening to him — watching the car drive off, being left behind — he’d be scared to death!
Yu Mian smiled good-naturedly. “Not mad.”
Pei Zhiyuan flushed and scratched his head, not saying another word the whole way — until just before the classroom, when he said, “Little sister, wait for me after class.”
Yu Mian, obedient: “Mm!”
At dismissal time, Pei Zhiyuan dragged Yu Mian out by her sleeve — and froze at the school gate. “Auntie! Why are you here?”
Pei Songxi’s expression was mild. “I was passing by.”
Pei Zhiyuan happily tried to climb onto her and got his little hands swatted. “Down. If we don’t leave now, there’ll be traffic.”
She opened the car door. Pei Zhiyuan pushed Yu Mian in first, letting her board before clambering in after her, then whispered from the back seat, “Auntie doesn’t like holding kids, you know?”
Yu Mian stared at him without blinking.
So hugs were another one of their little secrets.
The car started and merged into traffic.
Pei Songxi dropped Pei Zhiyuan downtown. “Zhiyuan, your mama says your grandma wants to see you.”
Pei Zhiyuan had already spotted Ding Mei. “I see Mama! Bye, Auntie!”
He scrambled out of the car in a hurry. With the chatterbox gone, the car fell quiet.
Yu Mian stood up and leaned against the window. “Auntie Pei, are we going back now?”
Pei Songxi noticed — she’d said “go back,” not “go home.”
“To the mall.”
“To buy things?”
“Mm.”
The mall bustled with people. Yu Mian clung tightly to Pei Songxi’s hand, not daring to let go for even a second, her eyes full of nervousness and wariness.
Pei Songxi squeezed her little hand — then simply picked her up. “Don’t worry. I won’t lose you.”
Yu Mian looked at her, tears quickly welling in those clear, clean eyes — she hadn’t even cried yesterday, and now she fought hard to hold them back, drawing a shaky breath. “Mm. Auntie Pei wouldn’t.”
Pei Songxi carried her into a children’s clothing store. The moment the shop assistant saw her dress and bearing, she came forward warmly. “Shopping for this little one?”
Pei Songxi nodded faintly, carried Yu Mian along a few racks, and picked out several pieces. “Bring all of these down.”
Everything she chose was soft and sweet in color — powder blue, powder white, all bright and gentle shades, colors that suited Yu Mian.
Especially the Pink Bunny Coat — that porcelain-doll little face nestled into the fluffy collar made the shop assistant’s maternal instincts surge; she nearly reached out to pinch the girl’s cheeks. “She’s just too adorable!”
Yu Mian smiled a little shyly and tried on her new clothes. Pei Songxi crouched to straighten her trouser legs. “The pants are too long.”
“Mm… a little.”
“We’ll change for a new pair. And shoes — let’s look at those too.”
She picked out several pairs for Yu Mian: two pairs of little leather shoes in exactly her size, and three pairs slightly bigger. “Children grow fast. She can wear these once she’s grown a bit.”
Yu Mian lowered her head, looking at her, finding it strange, her voice clear and childish. “Then we can come back and buy them when I’m bigger.”
Pei Songxi fastened the shoe strap for her, as if she hadn’t heard the question.
Leaving the mall, Yu Mian couldn’t stop staring at the bags in Pei Songxi’s hands. “Auntie Pei, aren’t they heavy?”
“Not really.”
“Put me down. I can walk by myself.”
“It’s fine.”
Yu Mian looked away. “Oh.”
She lay against Pei Songxi’s shoulder, looking around. To a child, the mall was a vast, wondrous world — fragrant cakes, sweet candies, chocolates, toys, more candies… oh, and Cornettos!
As she looked, her hand crept up without her noticing to clutch Pei Songxi’s collar, her gaze locked straight ahead. Even after they’d walked past that ice cream shop, her body still leaned backward, staring, motionless.
Pei Songxi sensed something off and stopped, following her gaze backward, then retraced a few steps. “Want one?”
Yu Mian’s eyes shone with longing — but she didn’t dare say it.
“It’s getting cold out. Just a little bit, okay?”
“Okay!”
Pei Songxi paid for one and, holding the child, had the clerk hand it straight to Yu Mian.
Yu Mian took the sweet, fragrant cone, smiled sweetly, and held it to her lips. “Auntie Pei, you eat!”
“You eat it yourself.”
“Please eat first? You get the first bite!”
By the time they reached the garage, Pei Songxi set her down, put the shopping bags in the back seat, and crouched to ask, “It’s all going to melt… why do you insist I take the first bite?”
Yu Mian’s eyes curved, her smile pure sweetness. “Because sweet things should be shared with the person you like first!”
Pei Songxi froze, then reached out and touched her cheek. “I really won’t eat it… I understand what you mean, Mianmian. Be good.”
Yu Mian was a little disappointed but didn’t pester her further. “Okay.”
Back home, Auntie Zhang came out to help with the bags. “Why did you buy so much? You should have called Old Gao to come help.”
Pei Songxi held Yu Mian’s hand. “It’s fine. Is dinner ready?”
“Not yet — we were waiting for you. The sir is away on business. The eldest young master called — his mother-in-law is very ill, so their family won’t be back tonight either.”
Pei Songxi gave an “mm” and looked down at Yu Mian. “Anything you’d like to eat?”
For once, the two of them were alone in the house.
Yu Mian, freshly fed a cone and utterly content, wasn’t picky. “Anything’s fine!”
Auntie Zhang set down the bags and saw they were full of children’s clothes and shoes — she froze. So the Eldest Miss really did care for this child… That was a good thing. Otherwise, this poor girl, with no father or mother, would have no one to cherish her.
Yu Mian ate quietly and obediently, her appetite so good it startled Auntie Zhang. “My, eating so much! Careful, or your tummy will ache tonight.”
Yu Mian froze, chopsticks stilled, not daring to move.
“It’s not too much,” Pei Songxi said, serving her a piece of fish. “Let her eat.”
Auntie Zhang went “oh,” and as she walked out she marveled — since when had the Eldest Miss gotten so familiar with the little girl?
After dinner, Pei Songxi had just returned to her room when a small head peeked around the door. “Auntie Pei?”
Pei Songxi beckoned her in. On the table sat a fruit platter the servants had just brought up.
Yu Mian picked up a slice of honeydew and crunched down hard. “So sweet!”
“Any homework today?”
“Finished it! I did it during break at school!”
Only by finishing her homework early could she come find her afterward!
Pei Songxi lowered her eyes. “Go play over there.”
Yu Mian nodded, took a few steps out, then turned back and suddenly said, “Auntie Pei… I’ll be very good.”
“Mm?”
Pei Songxi looked up and met those clear, clean eyes — and froze slightly.
Yu Mian looked at her earnestly and repeated it with quiet certainty: “I’ll be very good.”
Can I stay by your side?
Pei Songxi read the unspoken words. She knew how cruel they were, yet she still had to say them. “I’m sorry.”
Yu Mian blinked, stunned. “…Auntie Pei.”
Pei Songxi sighed softly, walked over, crouched down, and looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Yu Mian’s eyes slowly reddened, but she forced a smile. “It’s okay. I… I understand!”
