Chapter 6: When Will You Grow Up

The servant rubbed his hands together in excitement, ready to go to the Madam’s quarters to report the good news and claim his reward.

But with a glance from the corner of his eye, he happened to catch the young heir swiftly pulling a handkerchief from his sleeve and spitting out the small piece of bun skin he had in his mouth—completely and intact.

The servant’s face fell in disappointment. With a sigh, he picked up the empty basket and quietly left.

Well, it made sense. The young heir’s obsessive cleanliness was something he’d been born with and had always been difficult to deal with.

It was said that the towel he used to wash his face each morning had to be changed daily. Any used dishes had to be washed at least three times—with scalding hot water, no less. Even the bed he slept on at night had to be cleaned every hour for fear that a single speck of dust might fall upon it.

The Marquis and his wife had once invited the imperial physician from the palace to treat the young heir’s condition.

But even the imperial physician had no solution for his obsession with cleanliness.

If even the imperial physician couldn’t cure him, how could a little girl picked up from outside possibly have a remedy?

Yao Yao was eagerly waiting for Xie Yixing to take a bite of the bun. As soon as he did, she happily grabbed her own meat bun and devoured it with gusto.

When Xie Yixing was done with the bun he’d barely taken a bite of, and was using a clean handkerchief to wipe his hands, he looked down to see the little girl’s face now covered in oil from eating.

But Yao Yao was completely satisfied.

She had never eaten such a delicious meat bun before—thin skin, fresh meat, and with one bite, her mouth was filled with juicy flavor.

If only her parents and siblings could taste it too.

Yao Yao blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the sour tears.

Her gaze landed on the meat filling inside the bun and saw it had minced carrot mixed in. She suddenly thought of the little rabbit she used to raise in the backyard, and a strange sourness welled up in her heart again.

Xie Yixing looked down and noticed her long, curled eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.

Seeing that she hadn’t moved or spoken in a while, he realized something wasn’t right.

At that moment, Suoxin—the maid who had been standing by to serve—noticed that the young heir had furrowed his brows, and her heart jumped into her throat.

Everyone in the household knew how much the young heir hated filth.

This little wild girl from outside had no table manners at all, eating like a mess in front of the heir and getting oil all over herself. The heir would surely be disgusted.

But it was the Marquis’s wife who had insisted on keeping this wild girl. She had even said that the girl would be arranged to stay in the heir’s study and accompany him in reading.

With no background, and only capable of eating and drinking—what help could such a wild girl possibly offer the heir?

Suoxin was just about to step forward with a basin of water when a cold glare froze her in place.

“Leave.”

The young heir spoke with a straight face, no different than usual, but it still made Suoxin’s back break out in a cold sweat.

The feeling of guilt crawled up her spine like ants gnawing at her toes. She immediately lowered her head and backed away with the basin in hand.

Yao Yao saw Suoxin hunch her shoulders and run off quickly. Her attention was forcefully pulled away, and she muttered unclearly, “Is Yao Yao very ugly? Why won’t that sister talk to me?”

Upon hearing her speak, Xie Yixing’s expression softened. The coldness in his eyes instantly vanished, and the corners of his lips lifted unconsciously. “You’re not ugly.”

“Really?”

Yao Yao looked up in surprise.

Seeing her round chin lift slightly, Xie Yixing curled his fingers and clenched the handkerchief tightly in his palm, answering with a soft “Mm.”

Yao Yao clapped her hands joyfully and sweetly called out, “Shizi gege (Young Master Brother), you’re so nice!” As she said this, she moved to give him a hug with the same greasy hands that had just held the bun.

Seeing the oily palms about to land on him, Xie Yixing’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly and he narrowed his eyes. “But you’re a little chubby.”

Yao Yao instantly pouted, pulled her hands back, grabbed her chubby waist, puffed out her cheeks, and protested, “Mother says Yao Yao is still growing and must eat well at every meal! When I grow up, I’ll naturally be slim!”

Xie Yixing stared directly into her eyes and suddenly smiled. “When will you grow up?”

Yao Yao widened her eyes and seriously rubbed her chin as she thought. “Maybe one year, maybe two years, at most three…”

In Yao Yao’s mind, one year or two years would pass in the blink of an eye.

Because when she was with her parents and siblings, she was always the one being spoiled.

Father would lift her high in the air, Mother would make delicious food for her, Big Sister would sew pretty clothes, and Second Brother would buy her toys.

But now, Mother didn’t want her anymore.

She couldn’t find her home, and she couldn’t see her father, big sister, or second brother.

Yao Yao pouted and sniffled hard. It felt like what she’d just eaten wasn’t her favorite bun, but an unripe sour date.

Xie Yixing noticed the change in her expression and assumed she was upset because he had said she was “a little chubby.” The smile in his eyes vanished, turning cold.

The little girl might be a bit plump, but her skin was fair and soft, and her features delicate. She looked like one of the chubby porcelain dolls he kept on his windowsill, and he couldn’t help but want to reach out and touch her.

He clenched the handkerchief in his hand, then gently reached out to wipe the corners of her mouth, brushing away the crumbs from the bun.

Unexpectedly, Yao Yao’s eyes turned even redder, and she mumbled hoarsely, “It used to be my mother who wiped my mouth.”

Only then did Xie Yixing realize the little girl was homesick. A sharp pain pricked his heart.

Even if she found her family again, what if she was abandoned once more?

What if someone else picked her up?

A sudden sense of urgency surged in the young heir’s chest. He quickly grabbed Yao Yao’s chubby wrist, his normally indifferent eyes now rippling with emotion. “From now on, I’ll be your family. How about that?”

“But I already have a father, a mother, a big sister, and a second brother.”

Yao Yao tilted her head and blinked.

Hearing her reply, Xie Yixing’s beautiful peach blossom eyes lifted slightly, and a faint dimple appeared at the corner of his lips. “There are many kinds of family.”

Yao Yao didn’t understand but mimicked seriously as she tried to reason. “Brother Yuanyang once said, when I grow up, he’ll make me his bride. Does that mean he counts as my family too?”

The smile on Xie Yixing’s face vanished like the wind. “Who’s he?”

Yao Yao answered honestly, “He was our neighbor before we moved.”

Just a neighbor.

Xie Yixing felt a surge of displeasure.

How could the little girl he liked be lured away by some random person?

He shook his head with certainty, the coldness in his eyes rising. “He doesn’t count.”

“Why not?” Yao Yao pressed.

Xie Yixing lowered his gaze, unconsciously flexing his knuckles, and deliberately emphasized his tone. “He just wants to eat you.”

“Eat Yao Yao?”

The little girl’s pupils widened in fear, her mouth falling open in shock.

Seeing that his words had frightened her, Xie Yixing proudly bit his lip.

Yao Yao couldn’t understand. How could Brother Yuanyang, who always brought her snowflake crisps, nougat, and candied hawthorns, want to eat her?

Facing her confused expression, Xie Yixing decided to go all in. “He’s a werewolf. He eats children.”

This time, Yao Yao was truly scared. Without thinking, she threw herself into Xie Yixing’s arms, rubbing her chubby little head against his chest and whimpering, “Yao Yao doesn’t want to be eaten!”

Seeing how easily she believed him, Xie Yixing’s chest lifted slightly. A sweet, unfamiliar warmth quietly bloomed in his heart. He instinctively clenched his fingers and gently patted her shoulder twice. “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

He had always spoken concisely.

But today, he’d exchanged more words with a little girl than he had in months.

Realizing how much he’d changed, Xie Yixing’s lashes trembled slightly, his gaze flickering uncertainly—then suddenly, he had a revelation.

Could there still be hope for his illness?