SC Chapter10

In the early morning, a drizzling rain fell outside the window. Shen Yunjie laboriously opened his eyes and saw Xiao Yuan was sitting beside him and crying. Xiao Yuan held a flatbread larger than his face in his hand, and he would take a couple of bites, stop to sob and hiccup, and call out “Father,” his little face a mess, like a kitten’s.

“Xiao Yuan…” Shen Yunjie’s voice was hoarse and weak as he spoke. Even the slightest movement made his entire body ache as if his bones had been shattered, causing his vision to go black in waves.

“Father!” Xiao Yuan tumbled toward Shen Yunjie’s hand, and carefully grasped his finger. Shen Yunjie endured a wave of dizziness and gritted his teeth to sit up. He had been changed into an inner garment, and the bed was clearly tidied up.

“Father, I’m scared.” Xiao Yuan’s tears streamed down his face with distress as he cowered in Shen Yunjie’s embrace. Shen Yunjie tenderly wiped away the tears from Xiao Yuan’s eyes, leaned down, and kissed the child’s forehead: “Xiao Yuan doesn’t need to be afraid. That uncle isn’t a bad person; he won’t hurt Xiao Yuan.”

Xiao Yuan looked down at the flatbread, which he had been gnawing on for a long time but still hadn’t finished, and obediently nodded. Shen Yunjie endured the soreness below and forced himself to get up and take Xiao Yuan downstairs.

Due to the rain, there weren’t many people on the street, only an old woman was buying flatbread. The old woman hiked up her vegetable basket on her arm and, as usual, chattered relentlessly: “That girl Xiao Cui is such a good one! She’s virtuous, considerate, and pretty too. On top of that, she’s completely devoted to you.”

Xiao Ning acted as if he hadn’t heard, wrapping the hot flatbread and tucking it into the old woman’s basket.

The old woman handed him the copper coin, not forgetting to continue her advice: “Isn’t it nice to have a confidante at home? You’re not getting any younger. Do you really plan to live alone like this forever? Listen to this old woman, while you’re young…”

“Young Master…”

The old woman followed the voice to look inside and saw a person slowly descending the stairs.

Shen Yunjie hadn’t found his own clothes and could only wear Xiao Ning’s outer robe as he came downstairs. He was in severe pain below and barely able to hold onto the railing. His pale lips were slightly pursed as a fine layer of sweat coated his forehead. Though he looked sickly, he was still like the autumn moon reflecting the willow, with a complexion like frost and snow, making it impossible for people to look away.

The old woman craned her neck to peer inside and immediately exclaimed in surprise, “Heh! This, this is…”

Xiao Ning curved his lips and said lightly, “A distant relative suffered misfortune. Since he had nowhere to go, he came to stay with me.”

Shen Yunjie was startled, but he didn’t say anything more and just bowed his head in acceptance. Xiao Yuan, who was beside him, tilted his small head and softly called out, “Father.”

The old woman widened her eyes, poked Xiao Ning with her elbow, gave him a look, and whispered, “And he even brought a child as well?”

Xiao Ning gave a cold snicker, and the dough in his hand slapped onto the cutting board with a pah sound. He turned to Shen Yunjie with a cold face and said, “What are you doing down here? Weren’t you tired after being tossed around all night yesterday?” Shen Yunjie’s face felt slightly hot. The areas his collar didn’t cover revealed blue and purple blotches, clearly indicating he had been ravaged.

That old woman couldn’t utter another word. She grabbed her basket, turned, and left, eager to gossip about this shocking news to the surrounding ten streets.