His eyes flickered gently.
"Big brother, we’re running out of ginger at home."
Zhi Chen smiled, "Alright, I’ll go to Balibao in a bit and buy some more."
Yixuan, "Buy extra. If Baobao catches a cold, it would also be your fault, big brother. Now with the heavy snow and cold weather, please take extra care of Baobao to prevent her from falling ill."
Was this a soft nail? Like a needle, unnoticeable, yet sharp.
Dong Huiying ran into the kitchen, and Yixuan followed. When Yixuan entered, he saw Dong Huiying about to wash rice and cook.
"Baobao, let me!" The water for washing the rice was too cold, and he worried it might chill her, so he took over the task.
Dong Huiying turned to glance at him and noticed he seemed to be in a bad mood, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.
"What’s wrong? Who upset you?" She could tell he was unhappy.
Yixuan silently glanced at her as if he wanted to say something, then he sighed deeply, "No, it’s nothing, just the weather is too cold, making me feel uncomfortable."
"Are you ill?" She wiped her hands dry, then touched his forehead, but his body stiffened abruptly. She paused, then withdrew her hand, "I’m sorry, I was too abrupt." She almost forgot, he didn’t like her touching him.
He remembered in the past, whenever Baobao accidentally touched him, his body would react subconsciously, wanting to avoid her yet forcing himself to stay, which always left him tense.
Since then, their relationship seemed close, but there was still a distance, not as casual as with other people.
Could it be because of this reason?
"Baobao..." After washing the rice, he wiped his hands, then turned around to look at Dong Huiying.
"Hmm?" She responded, about to chop the vegetables, but he suddenly grasped her hand.
Then, he pressed her hand against his forehead.
Yixuan’s eyes were gentle like water. His voice was very clear but also very warm.
"You see, I’m not afraid anymore."
He thought he had become somewhat impatient, seeing his brothers falling for Baobao, not oblivious to the fact, and that made him even more anxious.
His gaze fell on her lips, and he softly told her, "I don’t know when it started, but the image of Baobao from before is gradually becoming blurred. I can hardly remember it now. What I can see and remember now is all of Baobao’s goodness—your tolerance, gentleness towards me, and your smile, even the way you looked when you gave me the wooden hairpin."
He pulled out a wooden hairpin from within his robes, the very first item Baobao had given him before these events unfolded at home, a unique gift for him alone.
"Do you still remember this?"
She was stunned for a moment. Then, Yixuan slowly stepped forward, their bodies already close, now almost touching.
"I’ve always worn it close to me. I made a mistake once. If life could start over, if I could go back to that moment, I would rather stab myself a few times than do what I did back then. Actually, the reason I said what I did back then wasn’t just for the sake of this family. I think I had feelings for you, but I had not yet realized it then."
Dong Huiying was somewhat dazed. What day was it today, after all?
First it was Zhi Chen, now Yixuan...
Yixuan seemed to be reminiscing, and, laughing lightly, he said, "I had already fallen for you long ago."