Qian Yixuan pursed his lips and placed the artwork that Meng Zhiyao had just finished in front of Meng Wan.
“Dark, twisted, oppressive… A 7-year-old child with so many negative emotions, you must be scared too, right?” Meng Wan just glanced at it.
She had seen Meng Zhiyao's paintings, so she knew them all too well.
"You've noticed it too, haven't you? He's not like a real autistic child."
"What do you think?" Meng Wan didn't answer Qian Yixuan's question, but instead posed a new one.
"It's less about autism and more about being abused. He's very guarded, but judging from his current state, at least he's willing to go out and communicate with people, which proves that he's doing alright."
Qian Yixuan rested his chin on his hand, his long eyelashes casting a shadow under his eyes, deep in thought.
"But according to you, he has hardly had any contact with outsiders, and his family has protected him very well. So where was he abused?"
Yes, where is it?
A person flashed through Meng Wan's mind, but without any evidence, no matter how much she suspected, she wouldn't casually bring it up.
"It seems you have an idea." Qian Yixuan only glanced at Meng Wan before understanding what she was thinking.
But Meng Wan only turned her head to look at Meng Zhiyao, who had already finished eating and was obediently cleaning up her lunchbox, just like Meng Wan.
“He quite likes it here. Could I bring him here occasionally? It’s not good for him to stay cooped up in his room all the time.”
“Of course, I’ll be here for the next few months. Even if I’m not, you can come anytime you want,” Qian Yixuan said without hesitation.
"And the fact that he is willing to go out is a good sign. Staying cooped up in his room will only narrow his world and will not do him any good."
"Although the painting is depressing, I quite like the style. How should I put it? I wish I could be closer to him." Just like she herself had been redeemed, she also wanted to redeem her younger brother.
"Give it a try. At least I don't think he's that averse to you." Meng Wan looked away from Meng Zhiyao, her words carrying a hidden meaning.
Qian Yixuan paused for a moment, then got up and walked towards Meng Zhiyao.
After spending the morning together, Meng Zhiyao stopped avoiding him, but she also ignored him, looking at the pile of magazine covers on the bookshelf without touching them.
Completely different from Tang Li, who is also seven years old and at the age where even dogs would dislike her, Meng Zhiyao is quiet and well-behaved. Even when she is sick, she is obedient, does not make a fuss, and does not cause trouble for anyone.
“These are all for you to look at.” Qian Yixuan knelt down and pulled out two sketchbooks.
"Want to see this?" He waved it, and Meng Zhiyao's gaze followed his movement.
"Your sister won't be back so soon. If you're bored, you can go to the art studio to paint or look at picture books."
Meng Wan came out at some point and nodded when she heard Qian Yixuan's words. She had expected Meng Zhiyao to shake his head and refuse, but to her surprise, he took the sketchbook and walked towards the art studio.
The two breathed a sigh of relief. Qian Yixuan followed him without disturbing him, and instead set up a new easel and began to paint his own picture.
The two, one big and one small, were doing their own things. Meng Wan looked around and then picked up a book to read as well.
The quiet afternoon and the rare leisure time made all three of them feel relaxed.
Time ticked by, and when I looked up, it was already four o'clock.
"Meng Zhiyao, let's go back."
When Meng Wan walked in, she found that Meng Zhiyao had already sat down next to Qian Yixuan, holding a sketchbook in her hands, but her eyes seemed to be glued to Qian Yixuan's paintings.
"Would you like to stay a little longer?" Seeing this, Meng Wan knew that this trip had not been in vain.
Meng Zhiyao shook her head, clutching the picture book, her expression somewhat frustrated that she hadn't been able to finish it.
Qian Yixuan put down his paintbrush and rubbed his head. Meng Zhiyao not only did not resist, but also handed the picture book back to him.
"Take it home if you like it."
Meng Zhiyao shook her head.
Qin Yi had warned him not to take other people's things casually, because what you like might also be what someone else likes, so even if the other person says they want to give it to you, it might not be from their heart.
Meng Zhiyao didn't understand what Qin Yi meant, but she still agreed not to take other people's things without permission.
Qian Yixuan was somewhat surprised. Most children would have happily accepted such a suggestion, but Meng Zhiyao, who clearly liked it, still refused. He looked at Meng Wan, who paused, and then seemed to understand the educational philosophy that the Meng family had instilled in Meng Zhiyao.
With a slight movement of her eyes, Meng Wan mouthed something to Qian Yixuan, who understood and looked away.
"Does Yaoyao know about the library?" Qian Yixuan looked into Meng Zhiyao's eyes.
Meng Zhiyao nodded. Qin Yi had taken him there before. There were many books there, and sometimes Qin Yi would exchange a library card for a lot of books with the librarian. He liked the library.
"You can treat this place like a library. Once you've finished reading, bring the books back next week and exchange them for new ones. How about that?"
Qian Yixuan has gentle features, speaks softly, and is very patient. Even after knowing him for so long, Meng Wan still finds him amazing.
She didn't interact with many children, only Tang Li and Meng Zhiyao, whose personalities were at opposite ends of the spectrum. It would be a lie to say that communicating with them wasn't a headache. However, Qian Yixuan had enough patience for both children, but was extremely tired of socializing.
Meng Zhiyao subconsciously looked at Meng Wan.
"Then you should cherish it. If you break it, you won't be able to borrow new books in the future."
Upon hearing this, Meng Zhiyao nodded, her little face flushed, her eyes bright, and she held the picture book tightly in her hands, clearly very happy.
Qian Yixuan ruffled his hair, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's go, I'll take you back."
In the car, Meng Zhiyao clutched the bag containing picture books, looking at it as if it were a precious treasure. Meng Wan ruffled his hair, then turned her gaze to the outside of the car. A familiar figure flashed by, and Meng Wan frowned.
"Stop the car."
Qian Yixuan reacted quickly and stopped steadily by the side of the road.
"What's wrong?"
"I think I see Tang Li." Meng Wan rolled down the car window and looked back.
"Tang Li? The second young master of the Tang family?"
"Hmm." Meng Wan unbuckled her seatbelt, stopped when her hand touched the door handle, and looked at Meng Zhiyao, who was engrossed in her own world.
"Do you want to come downstairs with me or wait for me in the car with Brother Yixuan?"
When she asked that question, Meng Wan didn't have high expectations. She subconsciously thought that Meng Zhiyao would choose to stay in the car and wait for her, but unexpectedly, Meng Zhiyao grabbed the hem of her clothes.
Meng Wan was taken aback. She wasn't a particularly sentimental person, but at this moment she felt inexplicably... relieved? She couldn't quite put her finger on it, just like when Tang Li called her "sister" for the first time, which made her feel strangely happy.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
