Early the next morning, Pei Manning got up and was about to go to the yard to wash up when she saw Han Jingchen coming back from his morning run.
The man's black hair was soaked with sweat, and beads of sweat were oozing out of his forehead, covering his smooth and tough tan skin, which had a glossy glaze texture. He was wearing a vest and was raising his arms, wiping the sweat from his face and neck with a towel. His arms were slightly bulging with muscles, and they looked hard because of his strength.
Pei Manning withdrew her gaze. Because of Han's mother's question last night, she always felt a little uneasy in front of Han Jingchen.
"Han 땢 ji, good morning."
Han Jingchen paused, looked up, and his serious eyes swept across her rosy face. She seemed to be sleeping soundly: "Morning!"
Pei Manning looked at his face in surprise, because his pair of black and shiny eyes like an eagle now had a little red bloodshot in them, which made him look a little pitiful and scary.
"Han Bozhi, did you not get enough rest last night? Is the bed too small?" Pei Manning asked.
The small bamboo bed in the study had rails on both sides. Han Zhiren was tall, so his legs might not fit in the bed, but she didn't have any extra quilts, so she made one for him.
It would have been fine if she didn't ask this question, but as soon as she asked it, Han Jingchen's face turned dark.
He stared at the culprit who was unaware of anything, with an unknown emotion in his eyes, and gritted his teeth: "No! I slept well!"
The voice that had been frozen by cold water was a little hoarse, with an indescribable low-pitched magnetism, but every word sounded like it was squeezed out from between the teeth.
This tone doesn't sound very good.
"...That's good." Pei Manning looked at Han Jingchen who suddenly became angry and embarrassed, pursed her lips, and did not dare to ask any more questions.
She nodded and prepared to fetch water.
In fact, Pei Manning usually needs water from the outside world, but today Han Jingchen was there, and she was afraid that Han Jingchen would notice something was wrong, so she still needed well water.
After Han Jingchen finished speaking, he frowned and regretted his harsh tone. He had not intended to rush towards Pei Manning, but seeing that Pei Manning was frightened, he grabbed a handful of the coarse black short hair on his head in annoyance.
He walked over and pulled Pei Manning's arms and legs apart, "I'll fetch some water, you go rest over there."
He fetched a few buckets of water and brought them to the kitchen to fill up the almost empty water tank. Han Jingchen then replaced the honeycomb coals in the stove, boiled a pot of hot water, and warmed up the breakfast he had bought that morning.
Carrying a few buckets of water was easy for him, but for Pei Manning, who was small and weak, it took a lot of effort for her to carry even half a bucket of water.
I don't know how she usually fetches water bit by bit?
Thinking of this, Han Jingchen's eyebrows wrinkled.
"Han Zhi, have you completed your mission in Shanghai?" Pei Manning stood nearby, with nothing to do, so she made small talk.
"Yeah." Han Jingchen responded, then glanced at her, "Are you disappointed?"
“…”
Pei Manning was indeed a little disappointed. She thought Han Jingchen would stay in Shanghai for a while longer.
…
Han's mother also got up early. Seeing Han Jingchen and Pei Manning in the yard, she took back her steps that were about to step out of the door.
She took two steps to the window, opened it a crack, looked outside, and listened carefully to what the two people were saying.
When I heard Han Jingchen's harsh tone towards the little girl, I got so angry, what a fool!
After a while, the two of them left the kitchen, and she could neither see nor hear them.
Mother Han pretended to have just gotten up and was about to go out, but before she even stepped out of the door, she saw the two of them returning to the yard.
Mother Han paused and retracted her foot.
Han Jingchen heated up the breakfast and put it on the dining table in the main room. He glanced in the direction of the bedroom and raised his eyebrows: "Mulan Zhizhi, breakfast is ready."
Mother Han came out with a dark face: "What Mulan 땢zhi, I 놆 your mother!"
She turned around and walked forward to hold Pei Manning's smooth little hand, smiling gently and lovingly: "Manning, why did you get up so early? Why don't you sleep a little longer? The fourth brother is like this, he speaks harshly, don't bother with him."
Pei Manning was in a state of confusion, and she always felt that Aunt Han had not given up. She looked at Han Jingchen awkwardly and said, "No, I know that Han Zhi is cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
"Yes, yes, yes," what a sensible girl. "Then what do you think about our fourth child..." Before Han's mother could say anything, she was interrupted by Han Jingchen.
"Hey, Mulan, watch your words!"
Han's mother glared at him, you little bastard!
But it's also true that you can't get what you want in a hurry, and it would be bad if you scared the girl.
While eating breakfast, Han's mother said again: "Old Four, Mom is going to the department store later. Go and help Mom carry the things."
When Han Jingchen heard this, he knew his mother wanted to talk to him in private: "Okay."
Sure enough, not long after he left the house, his mother asked, "Old Four, what's wrong with you? Will you be able to pursue someone? You're only holding her back!"
Upon hearing this, Han Jingchen's eyebrows were twisted into knots: "Mom, Pei Zhi and I really have nothing to do with each other. Besides, this concerns the reputation of a female Zhi, so don't talk nonsense."
Han's mother looked at him and said, "It's okay?" It's okay. Why did she protect the girl behind her the first time she ran into the house? She is just old, not blind.
"It doesn't matter now, but we can be related in the future. Don't relationships develop slowly?"
Han's mother likes Pei Manning very much.
She is so old now, she has experienced all kinds of ups and downs over the years, met all kinds of people, and tasted the warmth and coldness of human nature.
The girls in the compound, most of them have the arrogance of children of cadres. Of course, this is not good. But the fourth child is also stubborn and will not tolerate anyone. In the end, both of them will end up with bloody heads if they clash head-on.
He is suitable for girls with a gentle temper, isn't there a saying? "Use gentleness to overcome strength."
Besides, although the girl looks seductive, she has a clear gaze, is delicate but not pretentious, and is a good girl.
She wouldn't harm her own son.
At this time, Han Jingchen said without thinking: "It is impossible for us to be related in the future! The girl is only 16 years old, about the same age as Mingli and the others. Am I such a beast?"
Mingli's full name is Han Mingli. He is the son of his eldest brother Han Jingxing. He is sixteen years old this year, half a year younger than Pei Manning.
Han Jingchen is the fourth child in the family. His eldest brother, Han Jingxing, is 40 years old this year. He is the youngest son, so his nephews are already grown up.
Han's mother was stunned for a moment: "Ah? It's so small."
Sixteen years old, a little young.
Although many girls of this age have started talking about marriage, in their compound, there are still girls in middle school. Girls in the compound will also consider getting married in their twenties.
Han's mother looked uncomfortable for a moment, and quickly changed the subject: "It's okay to be younger. After dating for two years, can't you get married? This age is not too young."
Han Jingchen: “…”
The old lady urged him to get married every day, and she actually took the initiative to suggest waiting for two years?
"You are so much older than me. You can just treat the girl well in the future. Don't bully her." After forcing her son to go and have sex with a young girl, Han's mother felt a little embarrassed. She thought that she had to treat the girl well in the future, otherwise she would feel guilty. "Otherwise, I will break your legs!"
Han Jingchen had a headache. Was he really determined to be with Pei Manning?
And broke his legs?
He suspected that Pei Manning was her biological child, right?
Moreover, in his eyes, Pei Manning was still a little girl about the same age as his nephew, and he had never thought of her in that way.
Besides, Pei Manning saw that he always looked nervous and resistant, so she had to stay away from him. She probably had no feelings for him at all.
Han Jing pursed his lips tightly, and Pei Manning's smile appeared in his mind. He said inexplicably annoyed: "Okay, Mom, I know how to handle my own affairs. Don't make trouble for me."
Mother Han looked at him and sighed. She didn't even know her son's temper.
Once he makes up his mind, nothing can change him. If he really likes something, no one can stop him. He knows how to protect his food. If he doesn't like something, no one can force him to do it.
The mother and son bought a lot of things and took them back.
Pei Manning saw the two off in the morning and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Aunt Han was too enthusiastic and she was a little overwhelmed.
As a result, not long after, the two came back with a lot of fresh ingredients.
When Han Jingchen walked into the kitchen, Pei Manning was preparing dishes. Warm goose-yellow light came in through the window, which was particularly warm on a spring day. The light turned the loose hair on her forehead into a thin golden color, and her snow-white and soft skin revealed a pinkish red.
Ten white and tender fingers, Han Jingchen looked at the cold light of the blade, flashing back and forth, and always felt that she would bite his hand.
He just rolled up his sleeves and took over: "I'll do it."
Pei Manning was squeezed aside: "Han Zhi, my arm is now completely healed."
Han Jingchen glanced at her. How could a grown man with hands and feet sit there idle and ask a little girl to cook for him?
"Just stand by and tell me what to do."
Pei Manning hesitated for a moment, and then felt that he did not want to discuss the matter, so she said, "Okay, then you come."
Mother Han put away the things and was about to roll up her sleeves to come over to help cook. When she walked to the door, she heard the sound inside and stopped.
Forget it. Even if her son's cooking today is terrible, she will still eat it to give him face.