Although it was quite good already, Zhen Yu felt that was just because Han Mingyue had a kind heart and remembered old affection, pitying the weak.
At least, it was not as considerate and meticulous as now.
"Xiao Yu, time to take your medicine!" Zhen Yan shouted as soon as he entered.
Her brother’s voice interrupted Zhen Yu’s comparison.
Suddenly, she thought that this was exactly what she wanted...
She looked up and smiled at Han Mingyue, who was now more attentive to her than in her previous life—a good thing indeed~
After taking the medicine and warm water handed over by her brother, Zhen Yu drank water in three gulps and had to tilt her head back three times before she managed to force the pill down her throat with difficulty.
No choice, her throat was too narrow.
According to Mrs. Zhen, as a child, she had to break a pill into four pieces before she could swallow it...
Han Mingyue frowned as he watched; the pill would become bitter once dissolved in the water, and Xiao Yu was drinking it several times without any expression.
How bitter must it be in her mouth...
Zhen Yan took the water cup his sister handed him and casually uttered ’hm’ in response.
"Do you have any rock sugar? Get a piece for Xiao Yu."
Zhen Yan walked out with the cup, "I’ll look for it in the kitchen."
"No need," Zhen Yu stopped him, but her brother didn’t listen to her.
"Don’t go to the Fu Family anymore, I’ll make you noodles."
Zhen Yu really wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t.
"My mom will be back soon, let her do it later!"
Han Mingyue nodded and said nothing more.
After Zhen Yan stuffed a piece of rock sugar into his sister’s mouth, they left together.
Zhen Yu lay back in the warm bed, the dim light filled with a faint sweetness in her mouth.
It felt like it reached her heart and spleen, feeling cared for was really nice.
Zhen Yu thought she’d have to wait until Mrs. Zhen came home before she could have dinner, but after just about ten minutes, Mrs. Fu came over with a big soup bowl with a lid.
"Xiao Yu~~ I heard from your brother you’re about to catch a cold?" Mrs. Fu put the bowl on Xiao Yu’s desk and warmed up by the heater first.
"Mhm~ You came to bring me food?" Zhen Yu asked with a hint of a smile.
"Of course!" Mrs. Fu, feeling warmer, took a seat at the edge of the bed after ensuring she wouldn’t pass the chill to the patient.
She chuckled as she opened the bowl lid and handed it to Zhen Yu, joking, "You’re the hero of the day! We can’t let you go hungry, can we~"
Zhen Yu took the large bowl handed to her and went along with the jest, "Then I should eat more~ Reward according to my contribution, right~"
Mrs. Fu stood up to walk to the kitchen, "Eat up! If it’s not enough, I’ll bring you more! Smell it first~ I’ll go get you some chopsticks, haha..."
Zhen Yu looked at Mrs. Fu’s retreating figure and indeed lifted the bowl to take a sniff.
It had to be said, Mrs. Fu’s cooking was really good; the chicken stewed with mushrooms served with plain white rice made Zhen Yu’s mouth water.
Mrs. Fu turned back with chopsticks and thrust them into Zhen Yu’s hands, "Eat up!"
Zhen Yu crisply replied, "Okay~" and took a piece of chicken into her mouth.
After swallowing, she said, "It’s delicious! Auntie, you should go back to eat too! I’ll return the bowl to you tomorrow~"
"What’s this about returning! I’ll have Fu Yu come over for it~" Mrs. Fu said, and felt Zhen Yu’s forehead with her hand, "Have a good sleep after eating~ You’ll feel better when you wake up!"
"Yes! I’ll sleep after I finish eating!" Zhen Yu obediently agreed.
"I’ll head back first then!"
Watching Mrs. Fu leave the bedroom, Zhen Yu buried her head in eating.
The bowl was too big; even though she was full, there was still a small half left.
Zhen Yu put on her shoes, got out of bed to place the bowl on the desk, didn’t bother brushing her teeth or washing her face, and truly, as told, went straight to sleep.
She felt so good that she even forgot the worries about chilblains.
She woke up when it was barely dawn.
Maybe because she went to bed too early, she woke up early as well.
Zhen Yu, parched, put on her clothes and went to the living room to find water.
Just as she opened the door to step out, Mrs. Zhen was calling from the kang, "Xiao Yu~ Are you feeling any better?"
"I’m okay~" Zhen Yu’s voice was hoarse and sore from dryness, reluctant to talk more.
She went to the small table by the window, poured a cup of warm water, and drank it in big gulps, quickly downing a cupful.
Mrs. Zhen nagged and complained, "Look at you! What prowess does a young girl need to show off? Where has that got you? See? You’ve caught a cold and yet it’s you who suffer!"
Zhen Yu poured another cup of water, and in a gap, called out, "Mom~"
Her tone was winding and prolonged.
Mrs. Zhen fell silent for a moment, pulling up her quilt as she sat up.
When she spoke again, her attitude had shifted.
"Mom knows that losing a child is a serious matter," Mrs. Zhen’s tone was exceedingly grave, "but however serious it may be, it’s someone else’s problem! Compared to my own child, everything else is insignificant."
Zhen Yu sipped the water slowly, listening attentively.
"Your brother learned it from me," Mrs. Zhen sighed, "Sigh~"
"You beat up that man like that; if Bai Yong spreads the word, how will you ever get married? Who would dare to marry you?!!"
"Mom~ I’ll change!" Zhen Yu’s tone was very sincere, "I will definitely change!"
After all, she had someone she liked; she certainly didn’t want him to look at her with fear and hatred in the future.
"Mom isn’t saying you shouldn’t save people, but you have to think about yourself! You’re only 12 and still a girl, if people find out you’re always fighting and brawling, you could be drowned in their spit!"
Zhen Yu put down the half-finished cup of water and went over to the kang, snuggling into her mother’s embrace.
Mrs. Zhen held her daughter with one arm, the other hand occasionally stroking her long hair draped down her back, feeling inwardly that she was after all still a child, too impulsive!
"Mom~" Zhen Yu called out softly, not knowing where to start with her many thoughts.
"Ah~" Mrs. Zhen answered, organizing her words.
"I won’t ask who you learned Martial Arts from; after all, it’s not bad for a girl to be skilled! If something happens in the future, you’ll be able to defend yourself. I’ve heard domestic violence is on the rise these years~"
"But Xiao Yu, you have to know, there is a common saying that goes, ’A barking dog never bites.’ Do you understand what Mom is trying to say?"
Zhen Yu’s voice was muffled, but her pronunciation was clear, "I understand; I know what to do now."
Mrs. Zhen worried her daughter was just speaking words without intention, continued sternly, "In the future, think things through before you act~ Can you ask adults for help~ Don’t always try to handle it yourself! You’re not allowed to lift a hand unless it’s absolutely necessary! Do you hear me clearly?"
"I hear you clearly."
"You see, you!" Mrs. Zhen flicked Zhen Yu’s forehead with her index finger, frustration showing, "Your brother says as soon as junior high started, your grades shot up like a rocket! Don’t just grow in grades without growing your intelligence!"
As she spoke, she prodded her daughter again, "What good is it to only know how to fight? You should use your brain more!!"
Zhen Yu was getting impatient listening; she also wanted to use her brain, but even when she did, it was useless!
Was practicing Martial Arts not hard? Or was hitting people not tiring?
If her mind wasn’t almost completely devoid of schemes and plots in her past life, would she have needed to toil so hard to learn self-defense techniques?