Chapter Seven: Deliberate

When Mo Nianian left, she gave Jiang Hu a meaningful glance.

Jiang Hu’s eyes flickered and his whole body stiffened, unsure if the woman had noticed his little trick just now.

He had been too impulsive.

Restless, he sat there waiting for his death sentence.

But to his surprise, when Mo Nianian returned, she said nothing, simply taking him home.

The waitress was full of guilt, repeatedly insisting on taking Mo Nianian to the hospital for a check-up, but Mo Nianian declined.

A child’s mischief didn’t need to drag innocent people into it.

Tsk, she’d thought he was just a harmless little kitten, but his claws were unexpectedly sharp.

She went to the pharmacy to buy a box of burn ointment. Jiang Hu followed her the whole time, his demeanor tense and uneasy. What on earth was she thinking?

With some caution, Jiang Hu asked, “Are you alright?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not dying,” Mo Nianian replied carelessly.

All the way home, countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Hu’s mind. He didn’t want to die—not yet. He hadn’t even avenged his family; how could he die here so easily?

He even considered taking things further and just killing Mo Nianian.

But all the way home, Mo Nianian simply tossed him a light remark, “It’s getting late. Go to bed early.”

That was it?

The more Jiang Hu thought about it, the more convinced he became that Mo Nianian had seen his little trick. She knew he’d sabotaged her. So why hadn’t she reacted at all?

Why was she acting this way?

Mo Nianian really seemed to have changed. Could he trust her now? Or was this just another one of her tricks?

Unable to sleep, Jiang Hu tossed and turned all night.

After returning to her room, Mo Nianian could no longer keep up the façade. In pain, she bared her teeth. The burn was on her thigh. Though the skin wasn’t broken and there were no blisters, a large area was red and burning fiercely.

As her clothes brushed against the wound with each step, the pain intensified.

Burns always looked less terrifying than they felt—the agony was real.

She decided to wear a camisole and ran cold water over the wound, the fiery pain finally soothed.

After half an hour of cooling, the pain eased considerably.

Only then did Mo Nianian feel some relief.

The system, feeling timid, dared not speak. After all, it had told its host that, although the male lead would one day become a terrifying, murderous demon, for now he was just a weak, helpless child.

And yet, this “helpless child” had already caused such a scene.

The system practically wanted to hide itself.

It sneaked a glance at Mo Nianian’s wound—ouch, just looking at it made its whole body ache.

Timidly, it asked, “Host, how are you feeling now?”

“Not great. So, can I use the Restoration Pill?”

The system immediately firmed its stance, “No, something that miraculous isn’t allowed in this world.”

Mo Nianian rolled her eyes elegantly.

The system stayed quiet for all of two minutes, then couldn’t help but ask, “Host, why didn’t you settle the score with the male lead just now?”

“He’s just a kid. What’s there to hold against him?”

Besides, the way the original owner had treated him—if it were her, she’d have already found ways to get revenge. All he did was throw a basin of water on her.

She couldn’t be bothered to fuss over it.

The system’s eyes sparkled, “Host, haven’t you noticed you’re treating the male lead better and better? Keep it up! One day he’ll definitely be moved by you!”

Mo Nianian rolled her eyes again. If this was the way to lower the kid’s malice toward the world, she’d need hundreds of lives to survive it.

Forget it. Let nature take its course. At least, for now, the kid seemed well-behaved on the surface.

After all the commotion, she was hungry again. She remembered there were still a few custard tarts the child had made in the fridge. She opened her door, took out a tart, and began to eat slowly.

Jiang Hu, who’d been unable to sleep, heard her open the door and couldn’t help but come out for a look.

In the moonlight, Mo Nianian leaned lazily against the fridge, eating quietly. Her long, slender legs were so pale they almost glowed.

Water droplets slid down her thigh to her ankle.

Her hair was loose, softening her usual air of dominance and lending her a touch of fragility. The moonlight draped her in a veil, making her appear dreamy and beautiful, like a spirit under the moon.

For the first time, Jiang Hu realized that Mo Nianian was just a girl a few years older than himself.

Mo Nianian looked over, raising an eyebrow. “Still not asleep?”

Jiang Hu didn’t know what he was feeling. He quickly lowered his head and mumbled, “Mm.”

Mo Nianian fetched another tart and handed it to him. “Want some?”

“No, I’m not hungry.”

For a moment, Jiang Hu couldn’t even look directly at her. He himself didn’t understand why.

That sense of losing control surged up again. Somewhat desperately, he lowered his head, “Would you like me to make you something to eat?”

“No need, I’m not that hungry.”

“Then you should rest early.” Jiang Hu retreated to his room and closed the door in one seamless motion.

His mind was in chaos—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Only after a while did he calm down, recalling the glimpse he’d caught of the burn on Mo Nianian’s thigh.

It looked rather serious.

He stared into the distance, his thoughts drifting away.

Why was this kid running away? Was he afraid she’d settle the score over what happened earlier?

Are you really not going to hold the male lead accountable?

Would I even spare a child in your eyes?

The system, feeling guilty, replied, “Of course! In my eyes, you’re the embodiment of kindness and beauty. Otherwise, why would the higher-ups choose you to bring warmth to the male lead?”

No, not at all. In its eyes, Mo Nianian was the sort to make ten children cry if she could. But, as the saying goes, when under someone else’s roof, one has to bow their head. Poor system.

Mo Nianian replied softly, “Chosen me? Perhaps.”

Her voice was so quiet, the system didn’t catch it. Of course, it didn’t dare ask her to repeat herself.

After finishing the last bite of her tart, Mo Nianian finally returned to her room, satisfied. But the burn throbbed all night, keeping her from sleeping soundly.

The next morning, Mo Nianian discovered—miserably—that the burn on her thigh had worsened. Tiny blisters clustered together, red and swollen.

The pain still burned fiercely.

She regretted not giving the child a good beating last night, so he could know this kind of pain—damn brat.

But as soon as she stepped out the door, Mo Nianian left these thoughts behind.

Jiang Hu had cooked a tableful of dishes, waiting for her to get up.

He eyed her leg with concern, his voice thick with worry. “Sister, how’s your leg? Does it still hurt?”

Mo Nianian was a little surprised. Had the child turned over a new leaf?

She plopped down. “I’m glad you’re calling me ‘sister,’ but by seniority, you should call me ‘aunt.’”

Jiang Hu’s grandparents had adopted her when she was four, and Jiang Hu’s mother must have already been pregnant with him then, right?

Mo Nianian hadn’t read the details of this little world too closely and wasn’t sure.

Jiang Hu just kept his worried gaze on her leg, saying nothing at all.