CHAPTER 73: 070 WARM REDEMPTION

"You little bastard, always slacking off, not doing any work, yet you eat plenty—I’ll let you eat, I’ll let you eat, a rotten good-for-nothing born without a mother to raise you..." Accompanied by the woman’s full-throated scolding, a frail little boy shrank into a corner, his hands over his head, defending against the rain of punches and kicks.

Under his drooping eyelids, a trace of ferocity was concealed, like a prowling cheetah.

No matter how vile the scolding or how vicious the beating, the little boy still didn’t resist at all, as if he were resigned to his fate.

When the woman got tired of cursing, she stood with her hands on her hips, panting heavily, and glared fiercely at the little boy.

"Go pick up every single bean on the ground outside and put them in the basket. You’re not allowed to sleep until you’re done."

The little boy silently got up and hobbled outside. Under the moonlight, his thin silhouette seemed like it could be blown away by a simple breeze.

"Humph, if I catch you slacking off again, I’ll fucking beat you to death." The woman spat and swayed her bucket-like waist back to the main room to sleep.

The little boy squatted on the ground and tirelessly picked up beans mechanically, his small face displaying a numb coldness.

When Yun Ya pushed the door open and entered, this was the scene he saw.

A shadow fell before him, blocking the moonlight, and the little boy moved to the side a bit but stubbornly didn’t look up.

Suddenly, a shaobing appeared before his eyes, still steaming hot, its fragrance wafting into his nose in waves, making him swallow hard.

"Here, have this," the voice sounded in the boy’s ears, as if it were the music of the heavens.

He lifted his gaze in a daze, and the girl stood with her back to the light; her fair little face was as lustrous as jade under the moonlight, and those pitch-black eyes, brimming with warm light.

She seemed like a little angel who had suddenly appeared in his world.

She bent down to be eye level with him and stuffed the shaobing into his hand, "Eat up."

The boy couldn’t care less about anything else and gobbled down the food. In the blink of an eye, the shaobing was gone. Yun Ya touched his head with pity, "How long have you been starving?"

The boy lowered his head again and stayed silent.

Yun Ya looked at the bruises covering his body, then suddenly grabbed his hand and ran. The boy was caught off guard and tried to shake off her hand, but the girl’s palm was so soft, and in his hesitation, he no longer had the heart to let go.

Yun Ya took him to an ancient tree at the head of the village and said, "Wait here for me," before turning and running away.

The boy didn’t have to wait long, Yun Ya quickly came back carrying a bag and took out alcohol swabs and ointment to treat his wounds.

The boy instinctively recoiled, warily eyeing Yun Ya.

Yun Ya smiled gently, with the moonlight threading through the gaps in the branches, and those pitch-black eyes seemed to have gathered a sky full of dazzling stars, the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

"Untreated wounds can easily get infected and cause inflammation; it’s not just about suffering. It will be over quickly." As she spoke, the boy hesitantly extended his arm, stole a glance at Yun Ya, and then quickly hung his head again.

Yun Ya shook her head with a light laugh and started to focus on treating his wounds.

Many wounds all over his body were old and some were deep enough to see bone, leaving scars as big as bowls over time, countless across his frail and pale skin, a shocking sight.

No matter how much it hurt, the boy never frowned, as if he had no sense of pain at all.

Yun Ya’s gaze fell on his clenched fist, "What’s your name?"

The boy hesitated for a moment, "Ning Zihuan."

She smiled gently, "I’m Ji Yunya, nice to meet you, Zihuan."

Yun Ya watched his gaze become somewhat distant. Zihuan, I hope that in this life, you can break free from pain soon.

The Ning Zihuan she knew was ruthless and cruel, someone people would avoid at all costs, but who knew that a tragic and gloomy childhood taught him how to protect himself?

In some ways, she and Zihuan were very similar.

As a friend, this is all I can help you with.

Her eyes were as warm as the sun, something too remote for him, yet there she was, within reach, as if he could touch her with just a stretch of his hand.

From that moment on, she was the sole hope and salvation in his dark life.

——

The final episode of the show was being recorded amidst reluctant farewells.

Shen Luokui hugged Yun Ya, crying a river, while Yue Yi’an watched from afar with reddened eyes, and Mai Zheng simply hid, not daring to face anyone, only sneaking Yun Ya a note when they were about to part.

"Remember to call me." Then, he sobbed into his dad’s shoulder.

Mai Zheng, known as the proud little prince, could also cry, and if his fans saw, they’d surely tease him. Wuu wuu, it’s all Ji Yunya’s fault...

Yun Ya and Ming Han waved goodbye, departing without taking a cloud with them.

"Yun Ya, how about I adopt you as my goddaughter?" Ming Han coaxed and conned, determined to lure the little Lolita into his grasp.

Yun Ya looked at him oddly, and Ming Han sheepishly touched his nose. That look made him feel oddly uneasy.

"Uncle, if you really want a daughter, you can have one yourself. I’m not interested in playing house with you." With that, she did not look at him again, grabbed Yun Miao, and left.

Ming Han was left standing in disarray.

The fans didn’t know that he had been so blatantly scorned. Uncle? How quickly one can change faces...