Chapter 6

After Pei Hanying spoke, all that could be heard was the cold wind whistling through the falling snow.
Beneath it was the faint sound of breathing, so quiet it could almost be ignored. It was as though time had suddenly frozen.

Ning Song’s heart pounded several times, her lashes trembling softly. Through the gap between her legs, she could still see the dazzling white light reflected by the accumulated snow.
It was so bright that her eyes began to sting and their rims ached.

Was she… feeling sorry for her?
But her name wasn’t Kitty. She was probably getting carried away again.

Scalding tears spilled from Ning Song’s eyes. She remained silent, but before she could react, a warm, soft hand suddenly seized hers tightly and dragged her to her feet.

Pei Hanying had waited for quite a while without receiving an answer. It was bitterly cold outside, and her body had already begun trembling after standing there for only a short while. Who knew how long that idiot Ning Song had been sitting in this frozen wasteland?
If they waited any longer, the fever might damage her brain.

Pei Hanying couldn’t concern herself with whether Ning Song wanted to go home with her. She had already made the offer, and she truly had gone softhearted toward the little villain.
If Ning Song still dared to hold a grudge once she grew up, then Pei Hanying would drag her down with her.

Having settled that in her mind, Pei Hanying looked at the girl crouching motionlessly like a little mushroom, grabbed her hand, and pulled her upright.
The body beneath her hand felt almost weightless. The girl moved with barely a tug, requiring hardly any effort.

Pulled along by her, Ning Song stumbled and lost her balance, ultimately crashing into Pei Hanying’s back with the momentum of her body.
The impact made the tip of her nose ache. Before she could fully process what was happening, she was led several steps in a daze and then gathered into an embrace carrying a cool fragrance.

So warm.
That was Ning Song’s last thought before losing consciousness.

Pei Hanying raised her head and looked at Ning Song in Pei Yuan’s arms. The little girl’s face was unnaturally ​read the original at bailiantales.com​red, while her lips were somewhat dry and cracked.
She said anxiously, “Mommy, let’s walk faster.”

Pei Yuan glanced at her and closed the back gate.
“All right. Keep up, then.”
It was rare to see her daughter care so much about anyone.
She quickened her pace, and Pei Hanying trotted behind her on her little legs.

The moment they entered the house, warmth rushed over them, shutting out all the wind and snow.
Pei Hanying removed her outer clothes and sat on the sofa holding a cup of warming ginger tea, though her eyes kept drifting toward the guest room on the first floor.

Seeing this, Aunt Feng said, “Miss, finish your ginger tea, and then you can go see Miss Ning in the guest room.”
Pei Hanying stiffened. She pursed her lips and retorted unhappily, “I wasn’t planning to see her.”
That was the childhood version of the main villain. Who would want to see her?

Aunt Feng looked at her with a cheerful smile and good-naturedly replied, “All right, all right. You weren’t.”

After gulping down the ginger tea, Pei Hanying remained seated on the sofa for quite a while to prove that she truly didn’t want to see Ning Song. Only after the family doctor arrived did she slowly follow behind them toward the guest room.

When Ning Song arrived at the Pei residence, the servants had already changed her into warm clothes—some of Pei Hanying’s old clothes that had become too small for her.
The clothes Pei Hanying had worn last year fit the girl, who was as skinny as a kitten, perfectly. She lay in the warm room with her eyes closed, her expression peaceful and serene.

The family doctor briefly took her temperature and put her on an IV drip before beginning to treat the injuries on Ning Song’s face and body.
When the injuries Ning Song had hidden beneath her clothes were exposed, everyone saw that her hands and feet were red, swollen, and covered in sores. Their expressions filled with sympathy, and they all silently cursed Ning Cheng for being inhuman.

Pei Hanying watched from the doorway before silently withdrawing from the room.
Only this once. No matter how pitiful Ning Song was, she couldn’t soften her heart again. Otherwise, she would be the pitiful one later, Pei Hanying silently repeated to herself.

No one knew how long it had been since Ning Song had rested properly. She didn’t wake once throughout the afternoon.
Fortunately, her high fever subsided somewhat. She didn’t regain consciousness until evening, when it was nearly time for dinner.

Pei Hanying had been leaning over the coffee table, filling in a coloring book. The paint left uneven shades across the paper, reflecting her restless mood.
After carelessly smearing the last bit of pink across a flower petal, she was about to unauthorized copy give up when a soft, timid voice suddenly came from behind her:
“The center of the flower isn’t red.”

At the unexpected voice, Pei Hanying’s hand paused, and the paint spread into a blotch across the paper.
She raised her head and looked at the girl standing barefoot on the carpet, her tone unfriendly. “I can color it however I want. What does it have to do with you?”

Ning Song had only managed to speak to her after gathering all her courage. Upon hearing that response, her heart, which had been suspended high with nervousness, slowly sank.
She lowered her eyes and stared at the soft, expensive carpet beneath her feet. “I’m sorry.”

She had overstepped.
She had simply thought that if Pei Hanying was willing to bring her home, then at the very least, she probably didn’t dislike her.

Ning Song pursed her lips as dejection returned to her eyes.
“I’ll go home now.”

The Pei residence was warm, but it wasn’t somewhere she belonged.
She had only stayed here for a short while, yet Ning Song had already developed a shameful reluctance to leave.
She really was greedy.

Pei Hanying watched the girl walk away. Although the house was heated, she wore only a soft but thin set of thermal clothes, making her appear even tinier.
Just as Ning Song placed her hand on the doorknob and was about to open the door, Pei Hanying said with a stern little face, “You’re not allowed to leave. Come back.”

Seeing Ning Song freeze, she spoke again with some displeasure:
“Didn’t you hear me? I told you to come back.”

Hearing the commotion in the living room, several busy servants glanced over. Seeing that it was merely the two little girls interacting, they returned their attention to their work.
Still, some silently mourned for Ning Song.
After all, Pei Hanying was rather spoiled and willful. Although she wouldn’t lose her temper at people for no reason, she could be exceptionally demanding and suffered from a bit of princess syndrome. But then again, she truly was a princess.

Ning Song raised her eyes, traces of confusion still lingering in her jade-green catlike pupils. After standing in place for several seconds, she eventually walked toward Pei Hanying one step at a time.
The moment she stopped before the girl, she heard another command: “Sit properly on the sofa.”

A fluffy jacket was then tossed at her. “Put it on.”
Pei Hanying turned to a maid. [unauthorized copy]“Sister, please bring me a pair of thick socks, some trousers, and slippers.”

Ning Song breathed in the warm fragrance clinging to the jacket and silently obeyed Pei Hanying, putting it on.
The maid then dressed her in trousers, socks, and slippers. Being handled like a doll made her feel somewhat embarrassed, and a blush rose across her previously pale cheeks.

Seeing the little villain bundled up properly before her, Pei Hanying was finally satisfied.
Dinner wouldn’t be ready for a while, so Pei Hanying pushed the coloring book she had been working on to the other side and said, “If you have so many opinions, color it yourself.”

Pei Hanying didn’t particularly want to speak to Ning Song. After all, it was much easier to grow attached to a person than to a cat or dog.
She was only taking Ning Song in this once. Ning Song would still have to walk the rest of her path alone.
Pei Hanying couldn’t allow herself to become attached to Ning Song, nor could she let Ning Song believe she would be able to rely on her in the future.

After making that decision, Pei Hanying exhaled softly and watched Ning Song kneel on the floor, lean over the coffee table, and slowly fill in the picture.
She colored with great care, every stroke meticulous and her movements almost reverent.
Pei Hanying could roughly guess why. Ning Song had probably never had many opportunities to play before, which was why she now treated everything with such gentle care.

Likewise, the finished picture was exceptionally beautiful.
Compared with Ning Song’s work, Pei Hanying’s coloring looked downright shoddy.

She curled her lip and went to the kitchen to see what they were having for dinner.
Her mood worsened when she saw stewed pork ribs with radish.

She hated radishes, but Pei Yuan didn’t allow her to be picky. As long as she wasn’t allergic to something, Pei Yuan would insist that she eat at least a few bites.
There was no escaping at least one piece of radish tonight.

Before long, dinner was ready.
The family and Ning Song sat together around the dining table.

Since Pei Hanying and Ning Song were the two children, they sat beside each other.
After the servants filled their bowls with rice and soup, they withdrew. Pei Yuan glanced at the somewhat reserved Ning Song and spoke to her gently:
“Xiao Song, our Yingbao likes you very much. Why don’t you stay at Auntie’s house tonight?”

Under the woman’s gaze, Ning Song nodded gently.
A faint smile blossomed on her lips. ​stolen content​Despite her young age, it already hinted at the breathtaking beauty she would possess when she grew up.

“Thank you, Auntie and Uncle.”
After speaking, Ning Song looked at Pei Hanying and added earnestly, “And thank you too, Miss.”

Pei Hanying’s hand paused while picking up food, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.
She glanced at the girl. “Don’t call me ‘Miss.’”

Ning Song immediately looked at a loss.
Seeing this, Pei Yuan said evenly, “Pei Hanying, speak nicely.”

Pei Hanying puffed out her cheeks before saying to Ning Song, “Just call me by my name. I’m Pei Hanying.”
Ning Song’s eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded.

She already knew Pei Hanying’s name, but this was the first time she had heard Pei Hanying introduce herself. She therefore replied softly:
“My name is Ning Song—Song as in ‘to praise.’”

It was no wonder Pei Hanying had called her Kitty before. Everything about the girl, even her soft, timid voice, resembled a cat.
So Pei Hanying simply followed her impulse.

At those words, she merely smiled at Ning Song, a hint of wickedness hidden within her sweet expression.
“Oh, Kitty.” She knew her name but still refused to change what she called her.
How mean.

Chao Qing lightly glared at his daughter and placed a piece of radish in her bowl.
“Eat properly. Stop bullying our guest.”

After Chao Qing finished speaking, Pei Yuan also placed a piece of radish in her bowl.
Her command was concise: “Eat.”

Pei Hanying: “……”
She and the two evil pieces of radish in her bowl stared each other down. Just as she was about to [unauthorized copy]submit to her parents’ tyranny, someone gently tugged at the hem of her clothes.
When she turned her head, Ning Song leaned closer and whispered, “You don’t like radishes? I can eat them for you.”
Ning Song wasn’t a picky eater. Simply being able to fill her stomach was already enough to satisfy her.

At those words, Pei Hanying discreetly glanced up at Pei Yuan and Chao Qing.
Before they could notice, she quickly withdrew her gaze.
She swiftly transferred both pieces of radish from her bowl into Ning Song’s, then gave her the fried egg closest to her and enunciated crisply:

“You’re a guest. Eat more.”

Watching the little girl take small bites of stewed radish, Pei Hanying saw how the broth moistened her previously pale, cracked lips and how the steam brought a rosy flush to her cheeks as she ate with complete concentration.
For the first time, Pei Hanying felt that the little villain didn’t seem quite so detestable.
And she was also…

After thinking for several seconds, Pei Hanying finally found an appropriate description.
She was actually quite well-behaved.

She was also exceptionally pretty, just like a doll.
Her hair was a bit of an eyesore, though. It looked as if a dog had gnawed on it.