Chapter 172: My Childhood Friend Could Never Be a Fool! (8)

Qi Ye reached into his pocket and pulled out a small hand that stretched through the gap in the iron gate, holding out a pinecone in his rough palm.

This pinecone was much fresher than the one he had given her yesterday—clearly just picked.

Bai Yao glanced at him.

His face was pressed against the cold iron gate, his large eyes bright and unwavering, not shifting an inch.

She sighed inwardly and took the pinecone from his hand.

His eyes curved into crescent moons.

After a long moment of hesitation, Bai Yao asked, “Can you find a way to get in?”

Qi Ye nodded.

She said, “Then come over here.”

He approached the fence. With some inexplicable talent, he climbed up a single railing, then leapt onto a tree in the yard and slid down the trunk.

His impressive display left Bai Yao speechless.

Qi Ye ran up to her, water dripping more noticeably from his clothes.

Bai Yao grabbed his hand and led him inside. Standing in front of the washing machine, she said, “Take off all your clothes.”

Qi Ye, as innocent as a child without a hint of defense, obediently stripped completely, even kicking off his shoes.

His limbs were strong yet slender, clearly malnourished, but his belly was swollen.

Bai Yao reached out and touched his hard, distended stomach—likely due to indigestion from overeating, which was not a good sign.

Thinking she was playing with him, Qi Ye smiled foolishly when she touched his belly, inadvertently revealing the absence of two front teeth.

Bai Yao tossed his dirty clothes into the washing machine, then dragged him into the bathroom. She set a bottle of shower gel before him and turned on the shower, saying, “Wash yourself clean before coming out.”

She stepped out and closed the door behind her.

After a long wait with no sign of him, she grew worried and stood outside, asking, “Are you finished yet?”

No one answered.

Bai Yao pushed open the door and saw the boy crouched on the floor, playing with bubbles. Their eyes met—his gaze pure and innocent.

Her eye twitched. She strode in, grabbed the showerhead, and sprayed him.

Unexpectedly, he struggled, splashing water all over her. Bai Yao didn’t tolerate it; she pressed his back down to keep him from escaping as the warm water mercilessly rinsed the grime from his body.

The water flowing off him was black at first, only turning clear after a long while.

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Bai Yao roughly wiped him with a dry towel, then wrapped him in a fresh bath towel.

When Qi Ye emerged from the bathroom, renewed, Bai Yao looked a little disheveled herself—her pretty dress damp and her delicate braids loosened, as if she had just been in a scuffle.

She shot him an annoyed look.

Qi Ye’s black hair was limp and wet, his eyes wide with innocence. Wrapped in the towel, he looked pitiful. Compared to her, he seemed the one wronged.

Forget it—no point arguing with a fool.

Bai Yao tossed the washed clothes into the dryer and led him upstairs to her room.

She placed the newly acquired pinecone in a small box on the desk, alongside the other pinecone. Together, they almost looked like decorative trinkets.

It was Qi Ye’s first time stepping into such a pink and delicate room. His curious eyes darted about, landing on a teddy bear on the bed. He reached out a finger to touch it, then hesitated mid-air.

Bai Yao caught his hand and pulled him to sit in a chair. Then she asked, “Have you eaten breakfast?”

He nodded.

“I’m not talking about pinecones or flowers—real breakfast,” she clarified.

He looked confused.

Bai Yao went downstairs to fetch the leftover steamed buns from that morning and stuffed one into his hand. “Eat.”

Qi Ye sniffed it gently, then took a small bite. He liked the soft, fluffy texture. Opening his mouth wide, he bit off half the bun in one gulp, eating too quickly and nearly choking. Fortunately, Bai Yao had also brought him a box of milk.

Standing before him, arms crossed, Bai Yao lectured in a high-handed manner, “You have to chew slowly and not rush eating. It’s bad for your stomach. You’re not a little kid anymore. Be obedient and sensible, understand?”

Qi Ye didn’t answer, staring at her intently while sucking on the straw.

Bai Yao continued, “You can’t roll around in the fields or pee anywhere you want. If you need to go, use the bathroom. You’re still young, but when you’re older, if girls see your private parts, that’s called being a pervert!”

Qi Ye took another bite of the bun.

She went on, “Don’t eat things off the street; some are poisonous. What if you get sick?”

Qi Ye slurped noisily from the milk carton.

Bai Yao took the empty carton and tossed it in the trash. Qi Ye tried to retrieve it but she blocked him.

He finished the remaining bun, then anxiously stretched out his empty hands toward her, his black eyes moist.

He wasn’t full—he wanted more.

Bai Yao said, “You can’t eat until you’re stuffed; that’s not good for your health!”

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Qi Ye pressed his lips, looking a bit wronged.

Bai Yao was unforgiving. She had him sit still and grabbed the hairdryer to dry his hair.

He curled his knees to his chest in the chair, his hair all fluffed up, revealing a smooth forehead. He opened his mouth and mimicked the whirring sound of the dryer, clearly finding it amusing.

The bath towel slipped open several times, revealing his small body, but Bai Yao couldn’t stand it and irritably pulled the towel back up.

Finally, when he was mostly cleaned up and the clothes downstairs were dry, Qi Ye changed into his own clothes.

Because they had been so dirty for so long, even after several washes, the white clothes and shoes still bore some stains. But compared to how he looked before, he was clean and tidy.

Dressed in the school uniform, Qi Ye looked just like any ordinary child.

Bai Yao felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

Suddenly, Qi Ye opened his arms and hugged her, rubbing his face against hers.

Bai Yao looked at him suspiciously, unsure if this was a gesture of thanks.

The next moment, he opened his mouth and bit her cheek—though perhaps because he was missing two teeth, it wasn’t a bite but more like a gentle nibble.

Startled, Bai Yao pushed him away, frantically wiping the spit from her face. “Don’t bite me!”

Qi Ye’s eyes sparkled. Maybe he thought this was a game, and he lunged again. Bai Yao fell backward onto the sofa, and he softly nibbled her cheek once more.

He seemed like a large dog nuzzling his owner for affection, making excited snuffling sounds from his throat, as if a fluffy tail wagged behind him. He was telling her he enjoyed playing like this.

Bai Yao’s neck was tickled by his soft hair. She pushed him away with both hands, occasionally touching his ticklish waist. He lay atop her, panting and laughing, his body trembling with delight.

For some reason, she felt a little soft-hearted.

Outside, the sound of a car passing came through.

Fearing her parents had returned, Bai Yao looked toward the floor-to-ceiling window. A black car had pulled up in front of the neighboring house.

She nudged him. “Qi Ye, someone’s come to your home.”

Qi Ye lifted his head and saw a man stepping out of the car. Suddenly, his black eyes darkened with ferocity, a low, dangerous growl emanating from his throat. His whole body tensed, and his hands gripped Bai Yao tighter.

He resembled a wild beast ready to pounce.