Translator:Â 549690339
Seeing Nie Chenglang with a worried frown, Xu Chaomu clapped and laughed heartily, âCome on, think harder. Youâre so smart, Mr. Nie, you can definitely guess.â
Nie Chenglang pretended to think for a few more minutes before he suddenly realized, âOh, I got it. Itâs the white rabbit (spit) right?â
âI knew it, Mr. Nie, youâre really intelligent and talented. Thumbs up for you!â Xu Chaomu said, propping her chin and looking at him.
She changed her posture frequently, with a gentle smile always on her face.
Nie Chenglang found her chin-propping look extremely adorable, and without meaning to, his hand still reached out and touched her hair.
She looked beautiful when she smiled, not at all like when he first saw her with tears all over her face and sorrow in her eyes.
âFinished talking, can we go to sleep now?â Nie Chenglang said.
âNope.â Xu Chaomu shook her little head like a rattle drum, âNot sleeping without a reward.â
âHow old are you? Still needing a reward to sleep, just go to bed, Iâll turn off the lights for you.â
âMr. Nie, youâre so stingy.â
âHm? What reward do you want, then?â
Xu Chaomu touched her belly and smiled innocently, âIâm hungry.â
âYouâre really hopeless, I shouldnât have picked you up.â Nie Chenglang shook his head helplessly, but his smile was very gentle.
That gentleness was like the ocean, capable of making one drown in it, unable to extricate oneself.
Rings of halo shone upon his face as he stood up, and the tall figure intended to walk towards the doorway.
Xu Chaomu watched him like a child who had done something naughty, looking like she had gotten away with mischief.
âMr. Nie, are you going to find me something to eat? Mr. Nie, youâre really kind. Iâm going to present you with a banner of honor,â Xu Chaomu babbled on.
âWhere is there anything to eat? Iâll go make you some supper.â
After saying that, Nie Chenglang opened the door and walked out.
Outside, there was still a drizzle, pitter-pattering, like a mournful violin playing continuously.
The ground was wet with rain, and there was moss on the steps.
Even though this place was remote and simple, it felt even more like a paradise, uninvolved with the outside worldâs contention. As if all the mundane troubles had nothing to do with it, the tranquility, remoteness, and ethereality here composed a stunningly beautiful picture.
The land was open and flat, with neat houses around, good fields and lovely ponds, bamboo and mulberry trees included. The paths interwove, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard from afar.
Nie Chenglang took an umbrella at the door, his steps steady, slowly merging into the rain.
Xu Chaomu gazed at his silhouette, feeling somewhat dazed.
Soon, Nie Chenglang disappeared into the rain curtain.
He really went to the kitchen to make Xu Chaomu something to eat. There wasnât much to work with here, so he made a bowl of noodles for her.
Xu Chaomu sat on the bed in a daze, Nie Chenglangâs laptop on his desk, and she started to play games out of boredom.
When Nie Chenglang came in, she was engrossed in the game, and curious, he leaned over to look.
ââ¦â Nie Chenglang was at his witsâ end.
Minesweeper.
âLost againâ¦â Xu Chaomu said, disheartened.
âHere, eat up the noodles, or youâll start complaining about being hungry again,â Nie Chenglang handed her the chopsticks.
âIâll eat after I win a round.â Xu Chaomu became stubborn, like pulling ten bulls back wouldnât work.
âEat!â Nie Chenglang insisted, putting the chopsticks in her hand.
âNo no, let me win a round first.â
âThen Iâm going to dump it,â Nie Chenglang said, rising to his feet.
âHey, donât dump it, Iâll eat!â
Xu Chaomu climbed down from the chair and grabbed the bowl from his hand.
âIâll eat the noodles, and you win a round for me. Why canât I win, when Iâm clearly so smartâ¦â
âWith that IQ of yoursâ¦â Nie Chenglang gave her a disdainful look.
Afterward, Nie Chenglang casually clicked a few times, thoughtfully pondering.
Soon, he finished a round and won.
Xu Chaomu stared with her mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time.
âHow did you play that, teach me, Mr. Nie, please teach me!â Xu Chaomu leaned in to look at the computer.
âWatch carefully, click this one, look, then this oneâ¦â Nie Chenglang started to teach her, âEven a five-year-old can play this. Does that mean your IQ is worrying?â
Xu Chaomu felt challenged and reached to snatch his mouse, âI might know something you donât.â
âThen tell me, what do you know?â
âI know how to fight.â
Nie Chenglang was caught between laughter and tears.
Her small hand brushed against Nie Chenglangâs large one as she grabbed the mouse, and she didnât notice anything, but Nie Chenglang pulled back his right hand, feeling an unusual sensation sweep through his chest.
âMr. Nie, if I donât win this round, youâre the dummy.â
Nie Chenglangâs thoughts were drifting, so he responded with a faint âHmmâ from his throat.
Xu Chaomu smirked slyly; he had taken the bait.
And as it turned out, her IQ really was worryingâshe didnât win.
She shrugged her shoulders and glanced at Nie Chenglang, âMr. Nie, youâre the dummy.â
Having said that, she rolled over to eat her noodles.
One has to admit, the noodles were very fragrant, and she ate them with great satisfaction.
âHmm?â Nie Chenglang was slow to react. By the time he caught on, Xu Chaomu was already giggling at him.
âYou called me a dummy, go stand in the corner as a punishment tomorrow!â
âMr. Nie, your IQ is worrying,â Xu Chaomu mimicked his tone.
âYouâre so mischievous and capable of anything,â Nie Chenglang looked at her with both exasperation and amusement.
Soon, Xu Chaomu finished her bowl of noodles. Blinking, she asked Nie Chenglang, âMr. Nie, are you hungry?â
âWhat if I say I am?â Nie Chenglang looked at the empty bowl she had eaten clean.
âEven if you are, thereâs none left.â Xu Chaomu smiled wickedly and shrugged her shoulders.
Nie Chenglang had never seen such a mischievous ghost of a girl before.
âSo now can you go to sleep?â Nie Chenglang looked at her.
âHmm⦠almost.â
âYouâre harder to coax than those little kids,â Nie Chenglang expressed helplessly.
Having said that, Nie Chenglang stood up, took his clothes, and spread her quilt for her.
âSleep tight, and Iâll wake you up tomorrow. No sleeping in,â Nie Chenglang told her as he turned off the light.
The room instantly plunged into darkness, and then there was the sound of Nie Chenglang closing the door.
Outside the window, the rain drizzled, the sound tapping rhythmically on the eaves, creating a âthunk-thunkâ noise on the tiles.
Xu Chaomu felt secure; this was where she grew up, where she had her most carefree childhood.
She liked days like this, without troubles, without sorrows.
Clutching the quilt, which carried a clean scent just like Nie Chenglangâs fruity fragrance, she felt content.
Here, it was lovely.
It couldnât compare to the Shen Family villa, nor to their luxurious clothes and gourmet food, but given the choice, she didnât want to return to the Shen Family anymore.
The next day, the rain had stopped early on, and the sun slanted in from over the eaves.
Xu Chaomu couldnât remember the last time she had slept so soundly and so late. She slept deeply until the door was knocked on.
âMadam, Madam, Madam Xu, wake up; the sunâs shining on your bum!â
A bunch of little brats knocked on Xu Chaomuâs door energetically.
Xu Chaomu turned over, ignoring them.