Upon waking, he felt a moment of disorientation, not knowing what evening it was. He rubbed his head groggily as he sat up and, in a swift movement, his gaze met with Fourth Brother’s deep and dark eyes.
Liang Haoming sat cross-legged on the floor, looking expressionlessly at his fifth brother, Liang Yuening, who was on the bed.
After a moment of stupefaction, Yue Ning glanced down at the bed plank beneath him and then at Fourth Brother, who retained his expressionless face. He was somewhat puzzled in his heart; how did he end up lying here?
Fourth Brother suddenly turned his head away, "Your sleeping posture is terrible!"
As usual, he appeared cold and frosty, but why did Yue Ning feel like there was a hint of disdain in Fourth Brother’s demeanor?
His lips twitched slightly.
Yue Ning smoothed his own scanty, short hair. He remembered that before falling asleep, he had been sitting outside the door looking at the stars and must have dozed off unwittingly due to sheer exhaustion.
After getting up, he glanced at the wooden bed and had a vague suspicion—could it be that the little woman had carried him back?
No, perhaps he was just being over-romantic.
"Fourth Brother, was it..." He wanted to ask if it was Fourth Brother who had carried him when suddenly Dong Huiying pushed the door open.
"Awake?" Her face beamed with a sweet smile. "Just in time, I’ve just steamed some meat buns, and there’s a pot of vegetable porridge, along with two plates of quick-fried vegetables. Hurry up and wash your hands, and come eat."
Afterward, she went on her way out the door without another word.
Haoming scrambled up and followed Dong Huiying out.
Yue Ning paused for a moment, then also followed them.
Dong Huiying was a skilled cook, and her buns had thin skins filled with plentiful meat. After washing up, the three sat around the table, and Liang Yuening grabbed a bun, declaring "Ah woo" before taking a big bite. Then, with relished satisfaction, he narrowed his eyes—delicious, very delicious!
He turned to look at Dong Huiying, who was slowly sipping her porridge. The white rice porridge was sticky and steaming hot, burning her slightly with each sip, which she had to cool with gentle blows. Liang Yuening flicked his eyelids before taking a bite of the quick-fried vegetables followed by a mouthful of the meat bun, thoroughly enjoying his meal. However, the bowl of white rice porridge at his side remained untouched.
Dong Huiying did not think much of it and assumed he simply did not like porridge. She peeled two boiled eggs, one each for Liang Yuening and Liang Haoming, which brought Liang Yuening immense joy—he felt like he was on cloud nine.
Eggs! She had given one to herself first, then to Fourth Brother!!
After a while, he offered, "Here, have my bowl?"
He pushed his bowl of white rice porridge towards Dong Huiying as she was getting ready for her second bowl.
She glanced at him, only to see him purse his lips, "I don’t feel like having porridge this morning, and it would be a hassle to pour it back. Plus, it’s been cooling off for a while now and won’t be too hot."
"Thank you, then," she said as she took the bowl from him, not noticing that, as she lowered her head to drink the porridge, Liang Yuening clenched his fist tightly, his spirits considerably lifted.
He beamed with excitement at Fourth Brother beside him and noticed that Fourth Brother’s bowl of untouched white rice porridge seemed to stir a sense of triumph within him.
"You’re not having porridge, Fourth Brother?"
Liang Haoming: "...I am!"
So, Liang Haoming took a sip, but the corners of his eyes harbored a glimmer of gloom, somehow becoming slightly unhappy.
On one hand, the two brothers, Liang Haoming and Liang Yuening, shared a somewhat warm yet simultaneously invisible tension-filled atmosphere with the young lady.
Meanwhile, over at the Li family’s residence.
After waking up, Liang Shujun had a basin of warm water brought by Servants for him to freshen up. Not accustomed to being waited upon, he sent the Servants away and washed his face and combed his hair himself, then changed into the clothes prepared for him by Young Master Li.