The girl’s eyes widened. This white rabbit was adorable! So fluffy.
The girl stepped forward and immediately scooped the little rabbit into her arms.
The little rabbit was exceptionally docile, even nudging her palm with its mouth.
The girl giggled. "HAHAHA! This is fun! It tickles..."
Ji Youzhi, still kneeling on the ground, was completely stunned. He had expended an immense amount of effort to catch this rabbit. He knew all too well how fast this rabbit could dash about on White Cloud Mountain. If it weren’t for the lightness skill he had learned from his Third Sister-in-law, Zhu Xiuxiu, he probably wouldn’t have caught it.
"Suisui, do you like this little rabbit?"
Seeing the girl liked it, Ji Youzhi finally let out a huge sigh of relief. That’s good, she likes it. My gamble paid off, he thought.
When he received Third Sister-in-law’s letter saying Suisui’s life was hanging by a thread, he had been desperate to rush back. However, at that time, he was in the midst of capturing a notorious brigand and had just pinpointed their den, which delayed his return. Thinking of his mother’s temper, he knew he’d likely be scolded for returning late. Thus, he thought of getting something for the girl to make amends. So, on his way back, he encountered this rabbit on White Cloud Mountain. He chased it for a whole morning before finally catching it.
"I love it!"
The girl loved the little rabbit in her arms, stroking its fur with her small hands. Getting excited, she even kissed the little rabbit’s mouth.
"Aiyo, my little treasure, it’s fine if you like to hold it and play, but why are you kissing it? Go, quickly, go rinse your mouth!"
Seeing the girl’s actions, the old woman was so alarmed she forgot about being angry with her son. She pulled the girl over to fetch water to wash her hands, rinse her mouth, and wash her face.
Ji Youzhi knelt foolishly on the ground. Is... is Mother not seeing me? he thought.
"Get up quickly," Zhu Xiuxiu quickly shot Ji Youzhi a look, then whispered, "Mother has her little treasure now; she doesn’t have time for you. Why did you bring a rabbit back?"
Ji Youzhi said, "A few days ago, I had just caught some notorious brigands. Thinking I was so many days late returning home, I figured Mother would surely punish me. So, I thought I’d cut across White Cloud Mountain, which would save two days of travel. That’s where I caught it!"
Zhu Xiuxiu breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, thank goodness. Old Seventh caught this rabbit; it didn’t follow him home by itself,
However, just as she was thinking this, Ji Youzhi continued.
"I spent a whole morning catching it, but before I even got off the mountain, it ran away again. The sun was too fierce, and I didn’t want to linger on the mountain, so I came back. But I never expected that when I got to the back of our house, this rabbit was hiding there, cooling off in the shade!"
BOOM! Like a bolt from the blue, Zhu Xiuxiu’s expression looked as if she had been struck by lightning.
Yet, Ji Youzhi was still speaking.
"It’s strange, though. This time when I caught it, the rabbit didn’t struggle at all. It just let me carry it back."
Zhu Xiuxiu: "..."
"Third Sister-in-law, don’t you think my luck is just too good? This rabbit even followed me home on its own!" Ji Youzhi grinned foolishly. His expression seemed to say: Third Sister-in-law, hurry and praise me! Maybe if you praise my good luck, you’ll get some too!
However, when Zhu Xiuxiu heard his words, she couldn’t help but give him a sympathetic look. Oh, Old Seventh! There’s someone else just as ’lucky’ as you. He’s currently being confined by Mother!
She patted his shoulder. "Go wash up and head back to your room to rest."
Ji Youzhi: "???"
The old woman finished cleaning up the girl. Then, she bathed the little white rabbit and put it on a sieve in the sun to dry. Strangely enough, the little rabbit was very docile. When she placed it on the sieve, it didn’t move at all, just squatted there. It only stirred once its fur was completely dry from the sun.