Chapter 46 After the childhood sweetheart returned to the Bai family, his mother...
When he returned to the Behemoth family home, his mother Odatta and father Hilonimos had already prepared the meal.
Odatta stood in the doorway, smiling, and said, "The three of you just happened to run into each other? I was just about to look for you. Come in quickly. It's autumn now, and you're only wearing so little. Are you alright?"
As she said this, she came over, first gently straightened your collar, and then tied the scarf around your neck.
You can see the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, which become more pronounced when she smiles, but her eyes, hidden within those lines, exude warmth.
"Try it on quickly, this is a scarf that Auntie knitted for you before," she said. "That Bai'er doesn't even care about his wife. He's always running around fooling around and he's so clumsy. Don't be angry with him."
The soft cashmere felt so gentle against my cheeks.
Aunt Odatta was always so gentle and kind to you. When you were a little child, she would gently wipe the soup off your face with a handkerchief while you ate, smiling and saying, "Eat slowly, eat slowly, be careful not to choke." As you grew up, she would buy you lots of new clothes from time to time. Scarves were just small gifts; there were also sweaters, blankets, new dresses... She loved you like a daughter.
You thanked her, and bathed in her loving gaze, you were a little at a loss for words, so you could only bury your face deeper into your scarf.
You hear Xi Lian covering her mouth and chuckling, and Bai E hurriedly denying and making excuses.
"Mom—"
He glanced at you, who had turned away from him, then at Xi Lian, who was laughing uncontrollably, and blushed deeply himself.
"Don't say that, don't say it so early... We've only just started dating..."
Upon hearing this, Odatta immediately shook her head in disapproval and glared at him.
"You little rascal, what are you saying that's so discouraging? I've told you from the beginning, if you like someone, you should say it as soon as possible. Otherwise, what if someone else snatches her away when she's so outstanding... I've watched her since she was little. You two have been inseparable since you were playing in the mud. Your old mother has known about your little feelings for a long time, and there's that time when you used to chase after her like that..."
"Cough cough."
Hilonimos noticed his son's predicament and, recalling his own youthful days as a similarly naive boy, felt a pang of sympathy.
He took pity on his wife and leaned out of the kitchen window, interrupting her long-winded speech and changing the subject:
"Hey, honey, check if the honey pancakes in the pan are done yet? Don't let them burn, I'm chopping meat and can't get away..."
Odatta then exclaimed "Ah!" as if suddenly realizing something, and hurriedly went back.
Bai E breathed a sigh of relief.
He watched your retreating figure, wanting to say something, but he was too nervous. Several times he opened his mouth, but the words were swallowed back down. He could only touch the back of his neck, where the temperature was also burning hot.
Strange... Shouldn't it get cooler at night? Why is he even hotter...?
Xi Lian tugged at your sleeve and smiled at you:
"Do you remember all the silly things Bai'er did to make you happy when you were little? Back then, you two always loved running around in the fields, causing all sorts of mischief and wearing out your shoes. Bai'er felt really guilty when he found out, and behaved himself for a while, just to save up money to buy a new pair of shoes... Aunt Odatta saw his room light still on in the middle of the night, and was about to scold him for playing so late, but when she opened the door, she found him writing an apology letter to you..."
You pursed your lips. "...I remember. Actually, I didn't blame him at the time, since going out to play was often my idea. It's all thanks to Xiaolian for always being tolerant of us and cleaning up after us..."
"Oh dear, what nonsense are you talking about?" Xi Lian tightened her grip on your clothes. "Isn't it only right that I help you?"
*
In your somewhat hazy childhood memories, the misunderstanding that arose because of a pair of shoes is still very clear.
Back then, you and Bai'e couldn't stay at home. Although Xi Lian indulged you, she always shook her head and said that a beautiful girl's time is very precious, so you two should go catch frogs yourselves and stay at home to help you deal with the adults' inspections.
It was already pitch black outside, but the air quality here was excellent. Even at night, the miracle of Eulonis illuminated the area brightly.
The night light bathed the roof tiles in a soft glow, making Bai E's white hair appear even more translucent.
The little boy held up one finger and made a "shh" gesture at you.
“We’re going to catch a frog this time and gather some reeds to make bookmarks,” he whispered. “I thought the scenery at the pond was beautiful before, and it must be even more beautiful now… Partner, let’s be quiet and not disturb others.”
You nodded seriously and placed your hand in his.
The two of them weren't even as tall as the doorway, but they were anything but lacking in courage. Bai E led the way, holding your hand, and you noticed his ears slowly turning red, which puzzled you.
"Xiaobai, what happened to your ear? Is it injured?"
"..." Little Bai'er didn't dare turn her head, her grip on your hand trembling. "No, it's not—"
But after denying it, he didn't know how to explain it and could only stammer, his voice barely audible.
"...Yes, I'm injured. But don't worry, partner! It's just a minor injury!"
"I see..." you nodded knowingly.
"Then you must take good care of yourself." You squeezed his hand tightly with concern.
Bai'er's ears turned even redder.
It's strange, why is his injury deteriorating so quickly?
Occasionally, mischievous boys in the school would play pranks, catching frogs and secretly putting them in other students' desks before morning classes.
After the students greeted each other, they rummaged through their desks to get their textbooks. The frog, startled, jumped out with a "ribbit, ribbit," startling everyone and turning them pale with fright. Then, the frog ribbited away again.
The mischievous kids burst into laughter.
"You can't do this!" Little Whitey clenched his fists and stood up. "This is a serious matter. Apologize now!"
The mischievous children, taking advantage of their numbers, bared their teeth at him and refused to back down.
You tugged at Xiaobai'er's sleeve and shook your head at him.
It's definitely not the right thing to do; violence won't solve the problem. But perhaps you could use their own methods against them...
...
The pond at night was filled with the rhythmic croaking of frogs and the chirping of unknown insects. The night breeze made the reeds sway, creating the illusion of a vast sea of reeds.
Bai E led the way, clearing away the lush weeds, and you followed behind, tiptoeing quietly.
You've been having a blast these past few days... Bai'er doesn't seem tired at all, but you're starting to feel the strain.
But tonight's operation is crucial; we can't back down now. You and Bai'er are the most compatible duo; neither of you can be missing!
Bai Er has grown taller very quickly. You vaguely remember that half a year ago you were a little taller than him, but now he has grown taller than you.
You wondered, "Did Xiaobai secretly drink goat milk? Why has it suddenly grown so tall?"
Bai E froze.
He did indeed secretly drink goat milk... Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing for him to be shorter than the girl he likes, right?
Although his mother and teachers often say that boys develop later than girls, he always wants to grow taller and taller, even taller than his partner, so that he can protect his partner!
"...Cough, I didn't steal any...Let's not talk about that, we've arrived!"
"Oh." You didn't ask any further questions. You were too young to understand a boy's pride.
You stopped by the pond, and the clear water reflected your two innocent faces.
The wind rippled the lake water, scattering your reflections on the surface and turning them into strange, crooked faces that made you and Bai E laugh uncontrollably.
After some discussion, you go to gather reeds, and Bai'e goes to catch frogs.
Bai E carried a large net and left.
You blinked, watched him disappear from sight, then lowered your head to make sure the reeds completely concealed your body before squatting down to check your aching ankles.
...The soles of the shoes were too thin and had already worn through. Especially the laces, the hemp rope had broken but was still connected by thin threads, and the fine knots were rubbing against my ankles, making that area bright red.
The skin on the instep is also a bit broken, and it stings with every movement.
You licked your lips, loosened the knot with your hand, and then stood up and took a few steps.
It doesn't hurt as much this time, but I walk with a loose, unsteady gait, and my shoes sink into the damp mud, making a squelching sound.
Sigh. If Bai E finds out, he'll worry again... He always values you more than himself. If he finds out you're neglecting yourself to be with him, he'll be heartbroken.
But you don't want to see him looking disappointed either. A relationship can't always be one-sided with one person giving. In your heart, Bai E is also very important—at least important enough that you'd rather endure this pain than see his beautiful blue eyes clouded.
So, you two are actually quite similar.
Before you could even prepare yourself, the voice of the person you were thinking about came from afar.
"Partner—there are so many frogs here! I scooped up quite a few with just a few strokes, do you need any help? I—"
Bai E suddenly stopped.
Under the moonlight, he saw the girl awkwardly hide her right foot behind her left, seemingly unaware of how clumsy her acting was and how awkward her posture was, as she forced a smile at him.
"Really? I have something to do here, I haven't started yet..."
Bai E pursed her lips.
He decisively lowered the large net and squatted down to grab your ankle.
"Let me see," he said softly.
You were stunned for a long time.
Aside from the worry that she didn't want him to see, she belatedly felt a little embarrassed.
"No……"
You wanted to say "I'm fine." But Bai'er, unusually, didn't listen to what you said, and stopped talking. Seeing that you weren't cooperating, he used a little force to grab the slender ankle that was hiding.
His voice was deep.
"Don't move, let me see." He repeated it again.
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