The girl in her arms finally seemed to have calmed down. Her arms, which had been tightly wrapped around Xiao Wanqing, gradually loosened. Instead, she lowered her head, carefully inspecting Xiao Wanqing’s hands, checking whether she had gotten hurt from the fall.

  Knowing what she was worried about, Xiao Wanqing softened her voice to reassure her. “I’m fine. I did slip just now, but I didn’t get hurt, don’t worry.”As she spoke, she even showed Lin Xian her unharmed palms and elbows, moved her legs a little to show that everything was alright. Her clothes rustled and clung to her skin, dripping water all over the floor with her every movement.

  Only then did Lin Xian seem slightly relieved. She turned away, head bowed, refusing to meet Xiao Wanqing’s gaze. With the lingering nasal tone of someone who had just cried, she muttered, “Then go change your clothes quickly.” Her voice was muffled and low.

  Xiao Wanqing figured Lin Xian must be embarrassed about having cried. Girls tended to be sensitive like that—she understood all too well. So she didn’t expose her. Instead, she reached out and gently patted Lin Xian’s head with affection, replying softly, “Alright. But wait for me just a second.” With that, she picked up the bag in her hand and turned to head toward the kitchen.

  But just as she was about to leave, a gentle tug stopped her. Lin Xian had grabbed her wrist.

  “Where are you going?” Lin Xian asked in a low voice. Xiao Wanqing clearly wasn’t walking in the direction of the bathroom.

  Xiao Wanqing paused and turned back, a soft curve forming at the corners of her eyes and lips.

  “We finished the bottled water yesterday, and there’s no backup. I was going to the kitchen to boil some water for your medicine.”

  Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Lin Xian’s grip on her wrist tightened further. Her brows furrowed, her expression darkened, and she blurted out an unyielding, “No! You’re not going!”

  Xiao Wanqing was stunned by her forceful tone, staring at Lin Xian in surprise.

  The girl standing in front of her still had red-rimmed eyes and a pink nose from crying, her gaze dewy like a pitiful little bunny. Yet her voice was sharp and fierce, like a little tiger baring its claws in anger. At this moment, the little tiger seemed to be slowly withdrawing its claws under her gaze, revealing a nervous awkwardness.

  Lin Xian realized the moment the words left her mouth that she had spoken too harshly. She bit her lip, took a breath to calm herself, and looked up to soften her tone. “Auntie Xiao, you’re soaked. You should take a hot shower and change clothes before you catch a cold. Give me the medicine—I can boil the water myself. I do have some basic survival skills, you know. Don’t worry.”

  “It’s alright, boiling water doesn’t take long. It won’t delay anything,” Xiao Wanqing insisted gently.

  But Lin Xian only frowned deeper, her eyes fixed on the clingy, wet fabric stuck to Xiao Wanqing’s body. She clearly didn’t want to argue anymore. A flare of frustration rose in her chest again—Xiao Wanqing just never cared about her own health! She had no idea how much Lin Xian worried about her!

  Unconsciously, Lin Xian pressed her lips into a firm line, her expression darkening. Suddenly, she stepped in front of Xiao Wanqing, grabbed her wrist again without saying a word, and briskly pulled her toward the bathroom.

  Caught off guard, Xiao Wanqing stumbled a few steps after her. Looking at Lin Xian’s retreating figure, with its quietly brewing storm of emotions, she was momentarily at a loss.

  She tried to free her wrist, but the girl only tightened her grip. With no other option, Xiao Wanqing tried to placate her. “I’ll do as you say. I’ll go shower. You go boil the water, alright?”

  But Lin Xian didn’t respond. She only walked faster—until she all but shoved Xiao Wanqing into the bathroom.

  Standing in the bathroom, Xiao Wanqing stared at the girl blocking the doorway like a guard, as if afraid she’d run away instead of taking a bath. It made her both amused and helpless. Then, it dawned on her—Lin Xian seemed to be sulking?

  She hesitated for a moment before asking gently, “Xianxian… Can I go grab a change of clothes first?”

  Lin Xian froze. Looking at Xiao Wanqing standing there with a helpless, slightly pitiful expression, her mind finally cleared. A flush of red immediately bloomed across her cheeks.

  Oh no. What had she just done? Auntie Xiao was a full-grown adult—did she think she’d run off instead of showering? And she had been so fierce just now…

  Flustered, Lin Xian clutched the hem of her shirt tightly in both hands, trying to hide her embarrassment. She stammered, “I—I’m sorry… I got nervous and didn’t think it through.”

  Not daring to meet Xiao Wanqing’s gaze again, she quickly reached out, grabbed the bag of medicine from her hand, and turned to leave. Her voice was low and awkward as she said, “I’ll go boil the water. You… go grab your clothes.”

  Watching Lin Xian walk off, Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but smile. That sudden shift in expression, those awkward little movements… She was honestly—adorable.

  Finally alone, she bent down and rubbed her aching knee. Then, she tiptoed out to the living room, careful to avoid Lin Xian’s line of sight, and took the first aid kit. Only then did she head into the bedroom to fetch clean clothes and return to the bathroom.

  Warm water cascaded down from the showerhead, rinsing away the chill from Xiao Wanqing’s body. The heat wrapped around her, soaking into her bones and lifting the cold from her limbs. She ran a hand through her damp hair, brushing it back from her face. Suddenly, the image of Lin Xian earlier—angry because she had been worried—resurfaced in her mind. She could still hear her voice like a thunderclap: “You’re not going!”

  In that moment, something soft and secure bloomed inside Xiao Wanqing’s heart.

  She had grown up in a peaceful, simple household. Her parents had always been gentle people, and as their only child, they had doted on her endlessly. In her memory, apart from that one time, they had never even raised their voices at her.

  She never realized—until now—that worry could take on so many different forms. Human emotions were rarely pure and straightforward. It often took time, patience, and care to truly understand their subtle nuances.

  And later, it was from this awkward, clumsy concern that she first felt a strange kind of happiness and joy…

  As if a switch had been flipped, the gate to memory burst open. The past flooded in like a torrent of water from the showerhead—uncontrollable and overwhelming. Xiao Wanqing’s brows furrowed with pain.

  She tilted her head back, letting the water strike her face without mercy. After a while, she opened her eyes beneath the stream, blinked against it, and reached up to wipe her eyes. Then she turned off the tap.

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  Standing there in silence, she remained motionless for a moment. Only when she felt the creeping chill return did she finally exhale and reach for a towel.

  After putting on her top, Xiao Wanqing opened the first aid kit to treat the injuries from her fall.

  Her left knee had only bruised a little, but her right leg… it looked worse. It must have hit something when she fell. Below her knee was bruised and scraped, the wound a little raw and bleeding faintly, now pale from the soak. Against her porcelain skin, the purple-blue marks looked especially jarring.

  But she didn’t seem to care much. She disinfected the wounds, slapped on a few band-aids, and called it done.

  She avoided using herbal balm, afraid the strong smell would alert Lin Xian and make her worry.

  Then she carefully hid the first-aid kit in the highest cabinet of the bathroom vanity, changed into a pair of cozy loungewear pants she had specially picked out, then grabbed a towel and walked out as if nothing had happened, casually drying her damp hair as she went.

  She had hidden the first-aid kit in the highest cabinet of the bathroom vanity, changed into a pair of cozy loungewear pants she had specially picked out, then grabbed a towel and walked out as if nothing had happened, casually drying her damp hair as she went.

  The moment she stepped out of the bedroom, a faint scent of ginger drifted through the air. She paused, thinking for a moment, and an inkling of a guess formed in her mind.

  She softly called out, testing the waters, “Xianxian?”

  Almost immediately, Lin Xian’s voice rang out from the kitchen not far away. “Aunt Xiao, I’m in the kitchen, come here!” Her voice had returned to its usual clear and bright tone, even carrying a hint of excitement and joy.

  Seeing her hair no longer dripping, Xiao Wanqing stopped toweling it off. With a tinge of expectation she hadn’t realized herself, she quickened her steps toward the kitchen.

  Sure enough, as she had guessed, Lin Xian was standing by the gas stove. As Xiao Wanqing arrived, she was just turning off the burner and pouring out the ginger soup. Hearing footsteps, the girl turned around and looked at her, her slightly damp eyes shining as she said, “I made you some ginger soup—to help chase the chill away.”

  Xiao Wanqing stepped forward, draping the towel casually over the back of a chair and freeing her hands. She gently ruffled the girl’s soft hair, her lips curled into a tender smile, her voice full of undisguised delight. “Our little Xianxian knows how to make ginger soup? I really underestimated you.”

  Lin Xian looked up at her. Xiao Wanqing’s slightly damp hair was tousled, her fair face tinged with a soft flush from the steam, lending her a rare, delicate charm. Lin Xian could tell that Xiao Wanqing was genuinely surprised and pleased. She silently savored the sound of that “our Xianxian” and couldn’t help but feel a wave of happiness and shyness rise in her chest.

  Trying to hide her joy, she put on a nonchalant look and replied casually, “I’ve seen my mom make it a few times. It didn’t seem hard—I think I picked it up just by watching.” As she spoke, she carefully lifted the small bowl of ginger soup and offered it to Xiao Wanqing. “Drink it while it’s still warm.”

  Xiao Wanqing lowered her eyes with a smile and reached out to take it—

  But Lin Xian suddenly pulled the bowl back before she could touch it. “Wait, no. It just came off the stove. It must still be super hot.” Without another word, she quickly walked out of the kitchen and into the dining room. Xiao Wanqing followed right behind her, step for step.

  Lin Xian set the bowl down on the table, then sat down and gently began blowing on the soup.

  Xiao Wanqing stood not far behind, her deep, gentle eyes watching every move Lin Xian made without blinking.

  Lin Xian sensed her gaze and suddenly stopped. Like a thought had just popped into her head, she turned around, stuck out her tongue, and covered her face in embarrassment. “I… I forgot for a second. I don’t think I blew any spit into it, right?”

  Xiao Wanqing hadn’t expected that and let out a soft laugh. She came over and sat beside her, slid the bowl toward herself, and took a tiny sip. Tilting her head, she teased gently, “Even if you did, I wouldn’t mind.”

  As she spoke, her eyes shimmered like ripples spreading across a lake, layer upon layer of warmth.

  Lin Xian met her gaze and suddenly felt her heartbeat go a little off rhythm.

  She didn’t know why—she wanted to keep looking into Xiao Wanqing’s eyes, but at the same time, she didn’t dare. She swallowed hard and looked away, murmuring, “But if I passed my cold to you, that wouldn’t be good.”

  To that, she heard a soft, lovely laugh from Xiao Wanqing’s side. Then came her voice—always warm and pleasant, now with an uncharacteristic touch of playful charm: “I’m not afraid. After all, our Xianxian is so good at taking care of people.”

  Lin Xian felt her words land gently on her heart like magic, yet they stirred up waves that shook her completely off balance.

  Xiao Wanqing had always been an elegant eater, and somehow, a simple bowl of ginger soup became something like a royal delicacy in her hands.

  Lin Xian propped her cheek on her hand, watching her closely. The words “Is it good?” spun around on her tongue more than once, almost slipping out.

  But—it was just ginger soup. How good could it be? She told herself to keep a little pride.

  Yet, as if reading her mind, Xiao Wanqing not only finished the soup to the last drop but also looked up with a deeply satisfied smile, her delicate brows curved into crescent moons. “It’s really good.”

  Lin Xian tried to keep her cool, face taut, but still couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a grin. She stood up, picked up Xiao Wanqing's bowl, and walked toward the kitchen, tossing a mock-proud tease over her shoulder: “This just shows how incredibly sensitive your taste buds are, Aunt Xiao, and what excellent taste you have! I mean, someone as smart as me naturally has all my talent points maxed out, so anything I do is bound to be extraordinary.”

  Of course, Xiao Wanqing wouldn’t let Lin Xian wash the dishes. She followed her into the kitchen, stepped to her side, and took the bowl from her hands with a natural ease. “You’re still sick. Don’t touch water.”

  Then she graciously humored Lin Xian’s self-praise. “I agree. What an honor it was for me today to taste the exquisite soup prepared by Chef Lin herself.”

  Her movements were smooth and practiced. As they chatted, she had already washed the bowl and then moved on to clean the pot used for boiling the soup.

  Lin Xian knew Xiao Wanqing could be stubborn about certain household things. Arguing was pointless, so she just let her be.

  When the dishes were done, Lin Xian tried to coax her into going back to the bedroom for a nap, knowing full well that Xiao Wanqing hadn’t slept a wink the night before.

  Xiao Wanqing glanced at her watch and shook her head. “I took a shower, and now I’m not sleepy at all. I’ll nap a bit after lunch. You should go lie down for a bit. Does your head still hurt?” She was already mentally calculating that it would soon be time to start prepping lunch.

  Though Lin Xian hadn’t slept well either, she genuinely wasn’t tired anymore.

  So in the end, the two of them went to the study together. Sitting side by side, Xiao Wanqing reviewed her manuscript while Lin Xian read a book.

  The study was quiet, the only sound being the occasional soft tapping of Xiao Wanqing’s keyboard.

  At first, Lin Xian really did try to read. But eventually, she realized she hadn’t absorbed a single word.

  Somewhere along the line, it turned into Xiao Wanqing reading—and her, just quietly watching Xiao Wanqing.

  It was the first time since coming to stay that Lin Xian had observed her this closely while she worked. She saw how Xiao Wanqing’s eyes stayed focused on the screen, her elegant brows drawn ever so slightly, her fair and slender hands—one resting on the mouse, the other unconsciously tapping gently on the keyboard.

  From Lin Xian’s angle, she could clearly make out the fine lines of Xiao Wanqing’s face, sketched with the precision of a master artist.

  There was something so serious, yet so captivating about her.

  Xiao Wanqing shifted the mouse to open another document. Her brows slowly relaxed, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Lin Xian thought: she must be smiling again… in that beautiful way of hers.

  Resting her chin on her hand, she gazed at her. Unable to resist, she softly called out, “Aunt Xiao…”

  Xiao Wanqing was fully immersed in her work. Upon hearing the voice, she naturally paused what she was doing and turned her head toward Lin Xian. A hint of curiosity flickered in her expression, and the residual seriousness in her eyes hadn’t quite faded yet. But the moment she looked at Lin Xian, all of that was quietly swept away, replaced by a gentle, warm smile.

  Her eyes shimmered like a still, ancient spring, mirroring starlight—bright and serene.

  Yes, just as she thought...

  Lin Xian didn’t answer Xiao Wanqing’s unspoken question. She simply stared at her, tilting her head slightly, her bright eyes sparkling and her smile playful as she softly called out again, “Aunt Xiao…”

  Xiao Wanqing blinked, and a ripple of amusement stirred in her gaze. She understood now—Lin Xian was teasing her again. But she didn’t get upset. Instead, the corners of her lips lifted into a soft smile, and a faint dimple appeared on her cheek. She reached out gently, brushing the tip of Lin Xian’s delicate nose with her finger, then turned back as if nothing had happened and calmly resumed editing her manuscript.

  Outside the window, heavy clouds loomed over the city, wind howled, and rain lashed violently.

  But Lin Xian, her lashes gently lowered, felt her heart melt into something warm and quiet. She rested her head on the table like a kitten that had just been lovingly petted, content and serene.

  For a fleeting moment, time seemed to pause in blissful stillness.