Chapter 13: Eating Milk Dates

Wei Yuhui glanced toward the townsfolk hurrying toward the city gate. Her eyes lit up as she tried to raise her voice:
“Cousin, it’s almost time for the fireworks. If we go early, we might be able to get a good spot.”

The area near the city gate was crowded and chaotic—perfect timing to make a move.

As soon as Yao Yao heard “fireworks,” her attention was immediately drawn. She clapped her hands, showing her pearly white teeth, and responded excitedly,
“Yao Yao wants to stand up high and watch the fireworks!”

Xie Yixing wasn’t particularly interested in fireworks; the only reason he agreed to come was for Yao Yao.

Noticing the little girl’s attention had shifted away from the white rabbit lantern, his eyes drooped slightly in displeasure.

A joyous day ruined by a killjoy.

With visible annoyance, Xie Yixing lifted his gaze halfway.

At this point, Wei Yuhui hadn’t yet realized that she was the one dampening the mood. She continued to smile faintly while waving from the roadside—only to suddenly be frozen in place by a cold, piercing stare.

Those seemingly childlike black eyes hid a chilling, unfathomable sharpness. One look was enough to make her back go cold, the subtle pressure numbing her limbs.

Wei Yuhui had no choice but to look at Yao Yao instead. She saw that Yao Yao was still nestled in Xie Yixing’s arms. He was holding the lantern he had just won for her in a riddle game. The cold gaze that had just frozen her now softened inexplicably when it returned to Yao Yao.

His burning gaze clung to Yao Yao, refusing to part from her even for a moment.

Yao Yao, being a naturally curious child, stopped several times during their walk from the riddle area to the city gate—either drawn by snacks or enchanted by some novelty.

“Sugar figurine…”

“Milk dates…”

“Mmm, such fragrant pear blossom cake~”

Wei Yuhui was getting impatient but dared not say a word in front of Xie Yixing.

Even if she didn’t utter a sound, a single sharp glance from Xie Yixing was enough to leave her breathless.

Before they even reached the city gate, Yao Yao’s arms were already full.

She lowered her head, sniffing the sweet aroma of the pear blossom cake, then popped two milk dates into her mouth and chewed them simultaneously. Her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.

Xie Yixing, walking closely beside her, noticed she wanted to spit out the pits. Without a word, he pulled out his handkerchief, spread it in his palm, and gestured for her to spit into it.

After she finished what was in her mouth, he continued to feed her without hesitation.

When Yao Yao was finally full and content, she picked up a milk date and held it to his lips with a sweet, innocent smile.
“Brother Persimmon, you eat too!”

A servant from the marquis’s residence, following from a distance, gasped as he saw the chubby little girl trying to feed street food to their young master.

Everyone in the household knew that the young master was a germaphobe and a picky eater. He never ate food from outside.

Even the food prepared in their own kitchen was often rejected.

As the servant wiped cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve, he saw the young master actually open his mouth and let Yao Yao feed him the milk date with her chubby fingers.

He was shocked.

Was the young master possessed? Or had that little girl bewitched him?

In all their years serving at the marquis’s residence, they had never seen him willingly accept food from anyone.

Even when Lady Xie washed her hands three times, he still refused the pastries she offered.

Under Yao Yao’s hopeful gaze, Xie Yixing reluctantly moved his lips and chewed the milk date twice.

A rich milky sweetness spread across his tongue.

Still, he forced a smile and gave a lukewarm comment:
“Tasty.”

The servants behind them immediately clutched each other’s ears in disbelief, mouths agape.

Either the young master was possessed—or they were hallucinating!

He actually ate street food!

If the household chef Zhang knew that the young master preferred food bought from a stall over his own dishes, he’d probably faint from grief.

Even Wei Yuhui, who was walking nearby, looked on enviously.
How could she ever be that close to her cousin?

Last year, when she stayed at the residence, she had tried putting a piece of meat into his bowl—only for him to flip the whole table.

And that was with clean chopsticks. He still found it dirty.

Yet Yao Yao hadn’t even washed her hands, and he still accepted the milk date she handed to his lips?

Could she have cast a spell on him?

Especially after recalling what her mother told her:
If Yao Yao remained at the marquis’s residence, not only would she corrupt her cousin, she might even seduce him like a little fox spirit.

Wei Yuhui became even more mentally unsettled. That’s why she absentmindedly agreed to help Madam Tian take Yao Yao out of the marquis’s residence tonight, leaving her in Tian’s care.

Her mother had promised not to harm Yao Yao—only to send her away, forbidding her from ever returning to the capital or seeing her cousin again.

Yao Yao, blissfully unaware that she was being targeted, happily licked her sugar figurine after finishing the milk dates.

It was shaped like a little rabbit, lively and cute.

Watching her tiny mouth constantly move, Xie Yixing felt both a sense of satisfaction and concern—that eating so many sweets might give her a toothache the next day.

So he reached out and took away the sugar figurine and the remaining milk dates from her hands.
“That’s enough for today.”

Yao Yao almost cried when she saw her treat disappear.

Noticing her quivering lips, Xie Yixing quickly explained,
“If you get a stomachache when the fireworks start, you’ll miss everything.”

Yao Yao pondered this for three seconds and decided that fireworks were more important. She immediately nodded obediently.

Tilting her little face up, she blinked at him gratefully.

Xie Yixing looked down and saw her thick, curled lashes fluttering. Her fair, round cheeks made her look even more innocent and adorable.

Her young, delicate face was like a budding flower cradled in his palms. Her brightly colored clothing was like petals wrapped tightly around her, protecting the plump, tender heart within. He felt an overwhelming tenderness toward her.

Unable to resist, Xie Yixing reached out and patted Yao Yao’s round little head.

Wei Yuhui, standing nearby, instantly felt her eyes well up with tears.

Her cousin always treated her indifferently, yet was so gentle with an outsider like Yao Yao?

Wei Yuhui suddenly realized something she had been avoiding.

Her cousin’s coldness toward her wasn’t because of anything Yao Yao did—but because of what she did. She was too pushy, too greedy.

Inwardly, Wei Yuhui despised Yao Yao for lowering herself to gain favor, but she couldn’t help feeling jealous that it actually worked.

With resentment in her eyes, she glanced sideways and spotted a nearby vendor selling sweet pear syrup. She immediately turned to her maid,
“Go buy a bowl.”

Meanwhile, Yao Yao, now chewing on air with nothing left in her mouth, suddenly smelled something sweet and fragrant.

She widened her eyes and saw Wei Yuhui walking toward her, carrying a bowl of steaming, aromatic pear syrup.

She instinctively swallowed.

But Xie Yixing had already noticed the approaching figure and his eyes grew instantly wary.

Wei Yuhui looked at him cautiously, her tone submissive:
“Cousin, would you like some sweet pear syrup?”

“No.”

Xie Yixing refused bluntly.

Disappointment once again flickered in Wei Yuhui’s eyes. She thought that if he accepted milk dates from Yao Yao, he might accept the syrup from her.

But Xie Yixing didn’t even bother to glance at her.

Only Yao Yao stared longingly at the bowl in her hand and whispered softly:
“Yao Yao wants a taste too.”

Her voice wasn’t too loud or too soft—just enough for Xie Yixing to hear.

Ah, he almost forgot. This little glutton was still by his side.

Xie Yixing’s cold gaze instantly melted into warmth as he looked at her.
“If you want to drink it, I’ll buy it for you.”

Although annoyed, Wei Yuhui quickly snatched the bowl from the maid and eagerly offered it.
“Cousin, let Yao Yao have mine instead.”

But her presumptuousness was met with another cold, penetrating glare, making her scalp tingle.

Xie Yixing had sensed something off about her for a while.

Ever since they left the house, she’d been glancing around nervously—guilt written all over her face.

Feeling exposed, Wei Yuhui grew increasingly anxious. She wanted to slip away, but couldn’t.

Xie Yixing reached out to stop Yao Yao from taking the bowl. Without a word, he scooped her into his arms and walked around Wei Yuhui.

Unwilling to give up, Wei Yuhui tried to follow.

Just as Xie Yixing signaled the hidden guards in the crowd to drive her away, Yao Yao suddenly tripped and fell forward—her round little body rolling a full circle.

Thankfully, Xie Yixing reacted quickly and caught her, preventing her from being trampled.

Wei Yuhui stopped in her tracks. Seeing the stains on both sides of Yao Yao’s dress, her lips curled into a delighted smirk.

She covered her lower face with her fur fan and said faintly:
“The fireworks are about to start. Isn’t it too late to go back to the residence and change clothes?”