Chu Wan had never tried sleeping with a girl her own age before, so she was especially excited. After dinner, she called her wet nurse early to help her and Wu Shuang wash up, and then they rolled into the quilt together, covered their heads and chatted.
Having played all day, Chu Wan was quite tired, and before long, she fell asleep.
Wushuang yawned and lifted the blanket, revealing both of their little heads.
As soon as the lid was lifted, Chu Yao was seen sitting leisurely on the edge of the bed.
"Ugh," Wushuang pouted and complained, "Have you been eavesdropping on our whispers all this time?"
Chu Yao narrowed his eyes: "What's the point of eavesdropping on such childish talk?"
Wushuang snorted and said, "You're the childish one!"
"It's covered up." Chu Yao saw that she was holding herself up with her little hands, leaving a large gap between the blanket and her body, so he couldn't help but cover her up properly himself.
Wushuang, determined to go against Chu Yao, saw him carefully tucking in the blankets, and immediately waved her hand, lifting the blankets up again.
Chu Yao frowned, but before he could speak, he heard Wu Shuang ask in a soft, sweet voice, "Do you want to sleep with us?"
Chu Yao's lips curled up slightly: "Invited me? You don't mind my smell now?"
It was just a joke, why remember it for so long?
Wushuang complained inwardly, propped herself up, and threw herself into Chu Yao's arms, sniffing his neck: "You've taken a bath, right? You used plum-scented soap, it smells nice and doesn't stink."
Chu Yao took the opportunity to hug her, mimicking her gesture, and gently sniffed her, saying, "What you're using seems to be the same as mine." He then kissed her soft little face.
Wu Shuang became shy and buried her face in Chu Yao's arms, refusing to look up.
Why did you have to kiss her?
"After Qi Lan was pulled ashore, she started to have a fever. According to the female doctor, her whole body was burning hot. Her relatives had just passed away, and there was no one to take care of her, so she was carried onto the ship and rested in a cabin on the same floor as Mr. Lu."
As Chu Yao spoke, he stood up, and Wu Shuang felt herself being lifted up and carried away from the soft bed.
"However, her illness came on suddenly and suddenly, and we don't know if she will be better before the ship sets sail tomorrow."
"Then let her stay for now." Wushuang's face was still buried in Chu Yao's chest, so her voice sounded muffled, as if it were coming from behind a jar. "Just consider it as letting her take a boat trip to Hangzhou."
She was a girl, so it was inevitable that she was more soft-hearted than Chu Yao.
Moreover, Qi Lan is just an ordinary girl from a poor family. Although her background is unknown and she is considered to have an unclear origin, it is unlikely that anything will happen if a few more guards are assigned to watch over her.
Wushuang wanted to ramble on about these things, but then she thought that at her age, thinking too much would seem strange. She simply said, "After what happened to Cousin Qiu, Grandmother said that my eldest brother should go out and relax. I think he'll feel better after that trip." She'll be more receptive to advice and won't be so stubborn about becoming someone's servant.
During their conversation, Chu Yao carried Wu Shuang around, but then suddenly put her down.
Wu Shuang stepped onto the soft bedding, thinking it meant she was to lie down and sleep. Before Chu Yao could say anything, she obediently raised her head.
Huh—Chu Wan isn't on the bed, and the bedding isn't the same as before. Looking at the room's furnishings, although they're mostly the same, you can still see the differences.
Wu Shuang thought Chu Yao was just carrying her around the room, trying to lull her to sleep, just like when she was sick in Mo Cheng last time. Unexpectedly, he actually carried her to another room.
Without even asking, it's obvious that this must be Chu Yao's cabin.
He's a rather unreliable older brother, even competing with his own sister for a "bed partner."
Chapter 39 | Table of Contents
Chapter Thirty-Nine:
Wushuang silently grumbled to herself, her lips involuntarily pursing. (txt download 80)
Chu Yao saw this, frowned, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Wanwan will be unhappy if she wakes up and doesn't see me?" Wushuang asked, puffing out her cheeks.
How could he, as the older brother, be less worried about his younger sister than she was?
“She’s a deep sleeper. You could move her away or sell her and she wouldn’t wake up. Plus, she grinds her teeth and snores, which will keep you awake. It’s better for you to sleep here.” Chu Yao said as he reached out and scooped Wu Shuang up by her legs, gently laying her on the mattress. “I’ll take you back tomorrow morning. Anyway, she’s never gotten up earlier than me. As for you,” he pinched her little nose, “you seem to be used to sleeping until noon too.”
Don't hit someone in the face, and don't expose someone's shortcomings when talking about them.
Although she is not very diligent, she still cannot accept being directly called lazy!
Wushuang immediately retorted, "That's just because I'm sick. When I'm at home, you don't know, I get up before dawn to greet my parents, practice calligraphy with my sister, and, um, hand my father a towel after he finishes practicing his boxing."
What family would arrange for a four-year-old to get up before dawn to pay respects and hand a towel to the head of the household while he practices martial arts? Only a family so vicious as to have no shame would treat a five- or six-year-old maid so harshly.
Chu Yao didn't believe it at all. He raised an eyebrow, lay down next to Wu Shuang, and casually asked, "What calligraphy books has your sister been practicing lately?"
Wu Shuang hesitated for a long time before finally mumbling, "Sister is practicing... all the characters I don't recognize."
It seems even practicing calligraphy was a sham. Chu Yao chuckled inwardly. This little one actually knows how to save face. He pressed down Wushuang's little head, which was propped up, patted her back with his large hand, and whispered, "Sleep well, be good."
Wushuang naturally snuggled closer to Chu Yao, finding a more comfortable position. She held onto the collar of his nightgown with her little hands and obediently closed her eyes.
Since her trip to Mocheng, she had long been accustomed to being close to Chu Yao. She was no longer shy when he held her, and she didn't feel anything when they ate and slept together.
When she first discovered it, Wushuang secretly reflected on her own mentality. How could a sixteen-year-old girl be so shameless?
However, it is precisely because she is not young at heart that she can see clearly how good Yao is to her.
Besides, there's no need for gender segregation for a four-year-old child; she only feels awkward because she has something to hide. On the other hand, Chu Yao's behavior is open and honest. Whether sleeping together or bathing her, he never does anything inappropriate. Although he's not very skilled, it's no different from when his wet nurse took care of her, clearly showing he has no ill intentions.
It seems that Wushuang has always been judging others by his own petty standards.
From then on, she treated herself like a real child and no longer resisted getting close to Chu Yao.