A Villainous Childhood Sweetheart At Four And A Half - Chapter 6

After Pei Hanying’s words fell, the only thing that could be heard beside her ears was the whooshing of the cold wind mixed with snowflakes.

And hidden beneath it was breathing so faint it could almost be ignored. It was as if time had instantly frozen still.

Ning Song’s heart thumped a few times. Her lashes trembled lightly, and through the gap between her legs, she could still see the dazzling white reflected by the accumulated snow.

It made even her eyes sting, her eye sockets sore.

Was she… pitying her?

But she was not called Little Cat. It was probably her being self-indulgent again.

Scalding hot tears flowed from her eyes. Ning Song did not speak, but before she could react, a warm, soft hand suddenly grabbed her tightly. She was pulled up and forced to stand.

Pei Hanying had waited for quite a while just now without hearing the other girl’s answer. It was freezing outside, and her body had already begun trembling after standing there for only a short while. Ning Song, that fool, had probably been in this icy world for who knew how long.

If they waited any longer, she would probably burn herself stupid.

Right now, Pei Hanying could no longer care whether Ning Song was willing to go home with her or not. In any case, the words had already been spoken, and she truly was softhearted toward the little villain at this moment.

If Ning Song dared to hold a grudge after growing up, Pei Hanying would drag her down together.

After thinking this through, Pei Hanying looked at the girl crouching in place like a little mushroom, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up at once.

The body in her grasp was somewhat light and floating. It could almost be tugged along with just one pull, without much effort at all.

Being pulled by her, Ning Song stumbled underfoot and could not quite stand steady. In the end, she could only follow the inertia of her body and crash into Pei Hanying’s back.

The tip of her nose hurt from the collision. She still had not fully reacted and could only be led forward in confusion for a few steps, before she was buried in an embrace carrying a cold fragrance.

So warm.

This was Ning Song’s final thought before losing consciousness.

Pei Hanying lifted her head and looked at Ning Song in Pei Yuan’s arms. The little girl’s face was terribly red, while her lips were somewhat dry and cracked.

She grew a little anxious. “Mommy, let’s walk faster.”

Pei Yuan glanced at her and closed the back door.

“Fine. Then keep up.”

It was rare to see her daughter care about someone this much.

She quickened her pace, and Pei Hanying also broke into a little trot with her short legs, following behind her.

Once they entered the house, warmth rushed toward them, cutting off all the wind and snow outside.

Pei Hanying took off her clothes and sat on the sofa holding a cup of warming ginger tea, but her eyes kept drifting toward the guest room on the first floor.

Seeing this, Aunt Feng said, “Miss, finish the ginger soup quickly, and then you can go to the room to see Miss Ning.”

Pei Hanying’s body stiffened. She pursed her lips and retorted unhappily, “I wasn’t thinking of going to see her.”

That was the childhood form of the great villain. Who would want to go see her?

Aunt Feng looked at her with a cheerful smile and said good-temperedly, “All right, all right. You weren’t thinking of it.”

After gulping down the ginger soup in a few mouthfuls, Pei Hanying, in order to prove that she really had not wanted to see Ning Song, put it into action. She sat on the sofa for quite a while. Only after the family doctor arrived did she slowly follow behind the doctor toward the guest room.

When Ning Song arrived at the Pei home, the maids had already taken her to change into warm clothes. What she wore was still Pei Hanying’s old clothes that had become a little small.

The clothes Pei Hanying had worn last year fit the girl, who was as thin and tiny as a kitten, just right. Ning Song lay in the warm room with her eyes closed, her expression peaceful and serene.

The family doctor simply took her temperature and put her on an IV drip, then began treating the wounds on Ning Song’s face and body.

When the injuries Ning Song had originally hidden beneath her clothes were exposed before everyone, her hands and feet were red, swollen, and covered in sores. Seeing this, everyone present showed some unbearable emotion on their faces and silently cursed Ning Cheng in their hearts for not being human.

Pei Hanying watched from the doorway. In the end, she silently withdrew from the room.

Only once. No matter how pitiful Ning Song was, she could not soften again. Otherwise, the pitiful one later would be herself, Pei Hanying silently chanted in her heart.

Who knew how long Ning Song had gone without properly resting? She did not wake up for the entire afternoon.

Her high fever did come down a little. It was not until evening, close to dinnertime, that she finally woke up.

Pei Hanying had originally been lying over the coffee table, lowering her head as she filled in colors. The colors left by the paints on the paper were uneven in shade, and she was also somewhat restless.

After the last bit of pink was messily smeared onto the petals, she was just about to give up when a soft, timid voice suddenly came from behind her.

“The stamens aren’t red.”

Hearing the voice that had suddenly appeared, Pei Hanying’s hand paused, and the paint spread into a blot on the paper.

She lifted her head and looked at the girl currently stepping 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 mustered up the courage to say one sentence to her. After hearing this kind of reply, her heart, which had been raised high, slowly sank.

She lowered her eyes and stared at the soft, expensive carpet under her feet. “I’m sorry.”

What she had said had overstepped.

Only, she had thought that since Pei Hanying was willing to bring her back, at the very least, she probably did not dislike her.

She pursed her lips, and gloom appeared in her eyes once again.

“I’ll go back now.”

The Pei family home was very warm, but it was not a place where she should stay.

She had only stayed here temporarily for a while, yet Ning Song had already developed a shameful attachment to it.

As expected, she was a greedy person.

Pei Hanying looked at the girl’s departing figure. Although there was heating inside the house, Ning Song was only wearing soft yet thin thermal clothes, making her look even smaller now.

Just as Ning Song’s hand landed on the doorknob and she was about to open the door, Pei Hanying put on a stern little face and said, “You’re not allowed to leave. Come back.”

Seeing Ning Song’s movements pause, she spoke again, somewhat displeased.

“Did you hear me? I told you to come back.”

Hearing the movement in the living room, several maids who were busy working glanced over. Seeing that it was only the two little ones communicating, their attention returned to the work in their hands.

Only, quite a few of them silently mourned for Ning Song.

After all, Pei Hanying’s personality was somewhat spoiled and willful. Although she would not lose her temper at people for no reason, she could still be quite troublesome and had a bit of a princess sickness. But who could blame her? She was a real princess.

Ning Song raised her eyes. Her jade-green cat eyes still carried a bit of confusion. After standing in place for a few seconds, she eventually walked step by step toward Pei Hanying.

Just as she stood in front of the girl, she heard the other girl order, “Sit properly on the sofa.”

Then a fluffy jacket was tossed onto her body. “Put it on.”

Pei Hanying said to a maid, “Sister, please help me bring a pair of thick socks, pants, and slippers.”

Ning Song smelled the warm fragrance clinging to the jacket and silently followed Pei Hanying’s words, putting the clothes on.

Then the maid put pants, socks, and shoes on her. Because she was being arranged like a doll, she felt somewhat embarrassed, and a blush climbed onto her originally pale cheeks.

Only after seeing the little villain wrapped up tightly in front of her did Pei Hanying finally feel satisfied.

There was still a while before dinner was ready. Pei Hanying pushed the coloring book she had originally been coloring to the other side and said, “If you have an opinion, color it yourself.”

Pei Hanying did not really want to talk to Ning Song. After all, raising a person made it even easier to develop feelings than raising a cat or dog.

She was only taking Ning Song in this one time. The road ahead would still have to be walked by Ning Song herself.

Pei Hanying could not allow herself to develop feelings for Ning Song, and she also would not allow Ning Song to feel that she could rely on her in the future.

After making this decision, Pei Hanying let out a slight breath and watched as Ning Song knelt on the floor, leaning over the coffee table and slowly coloring.

She colored the picture very seriously. Every stroke was meticulous, her movements devout.

Pei Hanying could roughly guess the reason. It was probably because Ning Song had not played much before, so her movements now were incredibly gentle and cherishing.

Likewise, the finished work was especially beautiful.

Compared to Ning Song’s, Pei Hanying’s coloring was practically crude and shoddy.

She curled her lip and went to the kitchen to see what they were having for dinner tonight.

After seeing stewed pork ribs with radish, her mood became even worse.

She hated eating radishes, and Pei Yuan did not allow her to be picky with food. As long as she was not allergic, Pei Yuan would require her to eat at least a few bites.

Tonight, one piece of radish was definitely unavoidable.

Before long, dinner was ready.

The whole family, plus Ning Song, sat around the dining table together.

Pei Hanying and Ning Song were both children, so they sat next to each other.

After the maids served their rice and soup, they withdrew. Pei Yuan glanced at the somewhat restrained 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?”

Being looked at by the woman, Ning Song nodded lightly.

A small smile bloomed at the corner of her lips. Even at such a young age, one could glimpse the stunning beauty she would have when she grew up.

“Thank you, Auntie and Uncle.”

After saying this, Ning Song looked at Pei Hanying again and said very seriously, “And thank you too, Miss.”

Pei Hanying’s hand paused while picking up food. She felt a little strange inside.

She glanced at the girl. “You’re not allowed to call me Miss.”

For a moment, Ning Song was somewhat at a loss.

Seeing this, Pei Yuan said neither warmly nor coldly, “Pei Hanying, speak properly.”

Pei Hanying puffed her cheeks. Only then did she say to Ning Song, “Just call me by my name. My name is Pei Hanying.”

Ning Song’s eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded at her.

She knew Pei Hanying’s name, but this was the first time she had heard Pei Hanying introduce herself, so she also said softly,

“My name is Ning Song. Song as in ‘to praise.’”

It was no wonder Pei Hanying had called her Little Cat before. Every move the girl made, even her soft and timid voice, was cat-like.

So she simply followed her heart.

Hearing this, she only smiled at Ning Song, a bit of wickedness hidden in her sweet smile.

“Oh, Little Cat.” She knew her name but still refused to change the way she addressed her.

Very bad.

Chao Qing lightly glared at his daughter and placed a piece of radish into her bowl.

“Eat properly. You’re not allowed to bully the guest anymore.”

After Chao Qing finished speaking, Pei Yuan also placed a piece of radish into her bowl.

She spoke concisely. “Eat.”

Pei Hanying: “…”

She stared at the two sinful pieces of radish in her bowl. Just as she was about to surrender under her parents’ tyranny, the hem of her clothes was lightly tugged.

When she turned her head, Ning Song leaned close to her and whispered, “You don’t like eating radish? I can help you eat it.”

Ning Song was not picky. Being able to fill her stomach was already enough to satisfy her.

Hearing this, Pei Hanying calmly lifted her eyes and glanced at Pei Yuan and the others.

Before they noticed, she quickly withdrew her gaze.

She swiftly picked up the two pieces of radish from her bowl and placed them into Ning Song’s bowl, then picked up the fried egg closest to her and gave it to Ning Song as well. She enunciated clearly,

“You’re a guest. Eat more.”

Looking at the little girl nibbling at the stewed radish in small bites, Pei Hanying saw that her originally pale, cracked lips had been moistened by the soup. Her cheeks were steamed rosy by the heat, and she ate with a focused gaze.

For the first time, Pei Hanying felt that the little villain did not seem that detestable.

She was also…

After thinking for a few seconds, Pei Hanying finally came up with an adjective.

She was also pretty obedient.

And she was very, very pretty, like a porcelain doll.

Only her hair was a bit of an eyesore, like it had been gnawed on by a dog.