Chapter 17

After Pei Hanying finally left the room, Ning Song felt no relief.

Instead, anxiety and guilt continued welling up inside her until she was completely submerged in self-loathing.

Ning Cheng had been right. She really was no good.

Just so she could stay with the Pei family, she had actually considered resorting to such a despicable trick.

After the bedroom door slammed shut, she sat blankly on the bed for a while before getting up and walking into the bathroom.

Since the doctor had said she was about to recover, then if she became even sicker overnight, the Pei family would surely be willing to keep her a little longer, wouldn’t they?

As long as she didn’t recover, she would be able to stay with the Pei family for a few more days.

The thought instantly eased some of the weight pressing down on her heart.

It was as though the enormous boulder crushing her chest had been lifted away.

Ning Song silently repeated to herself that she only needed to make herself a little sicker.

She took off her clothes, folded them neatly to one side, and turned the shower on to cold.

Icy water poured from the showerhead, soaking her from head to toe.

The water was freezing against her skin. Even with the heating on, the cold seeped deeply into her, making her feel as though she had fallen into an icy abyss.

Ning Song began to shiver, so cold that even her calves trembled.

In a small voice, she told herself, “Just endure it. Endure it a little longer, and it’ll be over.”

She only needed to take one cold shower and come down with another fever.

Even as she thought this, Ning Song despised herself. Her intentions were truly despicable.

Water pattered over her body, and her tears spilled uncontrollably along with it.

She bit her lip, swallowing the sob threatening to escape.

She really was too greedy. The Pei family and Pei Hanying had already treated her so well.

Yet she kept wanting more.

A child’s body couldn’t withstand such abrupt shifts between hot and cold. Soaked through by the icy water, Ning Song began trembling all over.

Yet she still had no intention of stopping. She merely told herself to endure it for a little longer.

Then a knock came from outside.

At the same time, Pei Hanying’s voice rang out.

Ning Song’s entire body stiffened.

The moment she came to her senses, she hurriedly turned off the shower.

Finding the towel hanging nearby, she dried herself off.

The hand holding the towel trembled uncontrollably, causing her to drop it on the floor several times.

How had Pei Hanying come back?

Ning Song didn’t know why, but panic mounted in her heart until it nearly sank into an abyss.

Pei Hanying had clearly left the room in anger just moments ago.

Why had she come back now?

Ning Song couldn’t stop herself from wondering whether Pei Hanying had already discovered what she was thinking.

Now that Yingying knew how despicable and greedy she was, was she going to hate her and throw her out?

At the thought, Ning Song’s already dry eyes began to sting again. Pain and sorrow surged through her, and she could only put her clothes on with trembling hands.

Once she was dressed, she opened the door with a heart full of apprehension.

Pei Hanying stood outside.

Her eyes betrayed no emotion as she stared at Ning Song impassively.

Ning Song dug her nails into her palms. Her eyes reddened, and she immediately wiped away the tears that were about to fall.

She still remembered that Pei Hanying had said she didn’t like watching her cry.

“Yingying…”

She spoke quietly, wanting to explain herself, but when she met Pei Hanying’s icy gaze, she couldn’t get another word out.

Feeling the wave of cold air rushing toward her, Pei Hanying knew her suspicions had been confirmed.

She reached out and placed her palm against Ning Song’s exposed skin.

Her skin was impossibly cold.

Ning Song had been taking a cold shower.

Her entire body was freezing, and the healthy color that Pei [unauthorized copy]Hanying had finally managed to restore to her face had vanished, leaving her pale once more.

Pei Hanying took a deep breath and stared at Ning Song for a long time without speaking.

When she remained silent, Ning Song merely twisted her hands together without showing the slightest intention of explaining herself.

As the irritation in Pei Hanying’s heart intensified, she finally spoke first.

“Ning Song, explain yourself.”

Why had she taken a cold shower in the middle of winter?

Since when had Ning Song developed a tendency to hurt herself?

Upon hearing her words, Ning Song’s long-suppressed tears finally spilled over with a plop.

They fell fast and hard. Her choked [bailiantales.com]sobs resembled a kitten’s whimpers, yet she covered her mouth with one hand, struggling to silence herself.

Before long, her entire face had turned red from holding everything in.

Seeing her cry as though she were about to faint, Pei Hanying’s expression grew even darker.

“Why are you crying?”

She hadn’t yelled at her or scolded her.

She had only asked Ning Song to explain why she had taken a cold shower.

With Ning Song crying like this, Pei Hanying’s anger completely disappeared.

Only her expression remained cold.

She bent down and wiped away Ning Song’s tears.

But the little girl’s tears flowed like a spring. No sooner had Pei Hanying wiped them away than more spilled from her eyes.

Pei Hanying’s hand paused. Unable to bear it any longer, she pulled Ning Song’s hand away from her mouth and cupped the little girl’s face, her expression softening slightly.

She really was helpless when it came to Ning Song.

Ning Song was the one who had done something wrong, yet after being caught, she was also the one crying as though she had suffered a terrible grievance.

“Ning Song, stop crying.”

Ning Song looked at her, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Her nervousness finally made her hiccup.

She tried to speak, only for one sobbing hiccup after another to come out.

With no other choice, Pei Hanying took her hand and led her upstairs.

Once they entered her room, she stuffed Ning Song beneath the covers and switched on the electric blanket.

She wiped Ning Song’s face with a wet wipe, then placed a packet of tissues on the bedside table so they would be ready when needed.

In the end, Pei Hanying climbed beneath the covers as well and pressed close to Ning Song.

Sure enough, the little girl’s hands and feet were unbearably cold.

She was already so frail, yet she had deliberately sent Pei Hanying away to take a cold shower.

By now, Pei Hanying no longer cared about prying the truth out of her. She simply asked,

“You don’t want to get better?”

She had never seen a child torment herself like this before.

Pei Hanying took back every compliment she had ever given Ning Song about being clever. This little villain was clearly an utter fool.

Ning Song was wrapped in her arms, her face nestled close to the girl’s chest.

Every breath was filled with Pei Hanying’s warm, sweet fragrance.

At Pei Hanying’s question, Ning Song’s body tensed again.

She didn’t know how she was supposed to answer. Was she supposed to reveal all the shameful thoughts hidden in her heart and make Pei Hanying despise her and distance herself from her?

Ning Song realized she couldn’t do it.

She wanted to cry again.

When Ning Cheng beat her, she never cried. She could always hold back her tears.

But in front of Pei Hanying, she became as fragile as a porcelain doll. Even the smallest thing made her feel wronged and heartbroken, and tears slipped from her eyes with ease.

She bit her lip, unable to say a single word for a long time.

She was usually quiet, but Pei Hanying had never seen her refuse to speak like this.

Her behavior made Pei Hanying increasingly uncomfortable.

If Ning Song truly moved into the Pei household and reacted with silence every time she did something wrong, what was Pei Hanying supposed to do?

Could she really tolerate it forever?

After thinking it over, Pei Hanying realized she probably couldn’t.

Seeing that Ning Song appeared unwilling to say anything, Pei Hanying grew irritated.

She released her and sat up. Noticing Ning Song’s damp hair spread across the pillow, she decided she might as well fetch a hair dryer and dry it first. They could both calm down before continuing the conversation.

But when Ning Song saw Pei Hanying sit up and turn away, panic instantly seized her.

She thought Pei Hanying no longer wanted anything to do with her and was leaving.

The little girl scrambled out from beneath the covers and suddenly hugged Pei Hanying tightly from behind.

Clinging to her, Ning Song burst into tears once more.

She choked out,

“Yingying, please don’t be angry with me.”

“Wah… I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken a cold shower.”

“I… sob… I only wanted to stay.”

“Yingying, you can hit me, scold me, or tell me to get out.”

“Just don’t be angry with me. Don’t hate me, okay?”