Volume 1, Chapter 3: A Done Deal

A warmth in his arms pulled Cui Heng back to his senses.

“Young master, if you’re feeling unwell, just say so. I’m here—I’ll stay by your side no matter if we’re poor or rich. I’ll walk with you all the way!”

Cui Heng’s hand gently rested on Yin Tiantian’s back.

“Did I scare you? Don’t be afraid, I’m fine.”

Yin Tiantian’s eyes were red-rimmed. Looking into his eyes, she saw the worry reflected there.

“I’m fine,” he repeated once more.

“Young master, the doctor prescribed some painkillers. I’ll help you brew the medicine! The doctor said once you take it, the pain will ease!”

He softly responded with a “good,” watching as Yin Tiantian hurried off to the kitchen.

By the time Yin Tiantian returned with the medicine, Cui Heng was already lying down, likely restless from the pain in his leg.

Yin Tiantian hadn’t slept all night. Shen’s father and mother had both developed high fevers in the night. She brewed medicine, forced it into them, wiped their foreheads and limbs with warm water, and tended to them until the early hours.

Cui Heng muttered in his sleep—she couldn’t understand his words.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry…”

Startled awake by his murmuring, Yin Tiantian noticed the fire had died down and rose to rekindle it.

Exhausted, she rested her weary eyelids and nodded off by the bedside.

In a drowsy haze, she heard someone try to open the door but fail. Cui Heng opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Yin Tiantian’s small face scrunched up in a frown. Several times he tried to keep his eyes open but failed.

“Ergou, if you bother me again, I’ll beat you to death!”

The girl seemed to be dreaming; her soft, gentle tone held no threat. Cui Heng thought of the orange cat that used to sneak into the Hou residence as a child—both adorable and fierce. Every time it tried to intimidate, it only ended up making people laugh.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared at the window. Ergou was clawing at it, peering inside.

“Tiantian! My mother just baked some pancakes. I brought you two warm ones—hurry and open the door!”

Outside was bright, but the room was dark. Though there was a hole in the window, Ergou couldn’t see anything.

Cui Heng flicked a few sorghum seeds from the broom near the bed, shooting them at Ergou’s eyes. Ergou yelped, covered his eyes, and ran off.

“Fuzhu, Tiantian…”

Shen’s mother woke and, recalling the events of yesterday, couldn’t hold back her tears.

The crying roused Shen’s father as well, and no matter how tired she was, Yin Tiantian couldn’t fall asleep again.

“Father, mother, I’ll go make breakfast!”

The son they had raised for eighteen years was not their biological child. The couple needed time to come to terms with this, and Cui Heng needed time to bond with them. Yin Tiantian was an outsider. At times like these, all she could do was find a way to fill everyone’s stomachs.

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Opening the door, two pancakes were left at the entrance. From next door came the sharp voice of Wang Cuihua scolding.

“A thief in the house? Why are my pancakes missing two? Ergou, did you take them to please that sly fox next door? You good-for-nothing, what’s so special about that little fox that she stole your soul?”

“Tiantian’s not a fox! Mother, I just like Tiantian!”

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