CA | Chapter 8

◎The center of the watermelon.◎

Ning Jia was awake in a hazy sort of way, but her steps were unsteady, so she had to lean on his support. Shen Yicheng held up one of her arms with a single hand, as if he were carrying a rabbit plush toy by the ear. Ning Jia was also very cooperative, and on the way back she did not bring up her curious little questions again.

Shen Yicheng was already indulging her quite a lot. She had not done anything outrageous so far, but her little schemes were not really clever enough to count as scheming in his eyes.

Still, little Ning Jia was too pitiful.

Ning Guoqiang had looked after him quite a bit. Now that he was dead, Shen Yicheng could not quite bear to see her all alone.

As long as she stayed within his tolerance and did not make too much trouble, he would take care of her until she came out of this grief.

He should have talked to her, but tonight might not have been the right time. Shen Yicheng felt that she was not fully clearheaded, so he told her to go upstairs and rest. She should not play until midnight again tomorrow. He had something to tell her.

Ning Jia was instantly on high alert, and ninety percent of her drunkenness vanished at once.

What was he going to say? Had he thought her probing had gone a little too far, and was he about to kick her out?

After washing up, Ning Jia lay in bed for a long time without being able to fall asleep. She had gone through every possible accident that might happen, until a crash of thunder split the sky.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside the window. Ning Jia got up, went to the terrace, and was about to close the floor-to-ceiling glass window.

But the darkness and rain outside seemed to urge her on, leaving her restless. Ning Jia asked herself what she was so worried about. Was she worried that life would become even harder without Shen Yicheng as a backer, or was it simply that she did not want to lose Shen Yicheng himself?

Between those two emotions, the first had the upper hand.

All living things chose the easier way to survive. Ning Jia was no exception. She had been testing the limit of his indulgence, inch by inch stepping into his forbidden zone, wanting to know exactly how much he could accept.

The more he retreated and yielded, the more she wanted to know whether he could accept even more of her demands.

She wanted his hand, wanted his embrace, wanted to be able to act spoiled the way she had before.

Ning Jia could not wait until tomorrow. If Shen Yicheng intended to give her up, then she did not want to waste any more time here. She also wanted to cut off those illusory, hallucinatory expectations of hers cleanly and decisively.

Of course Shen Yicheng had no idea what kind of storm was raging upstairs. He slept very well. Halfway through the night, thunder and rain grew violent and shattered his sleep. Shen Yicheng got up to go downstairs for water, and happened to run into Ning Jia.

Seeing her standing there without moving, he asked, “What is it?”

After all, she had not kept going downstairs. Maybe she was wearing pajamas and felt awkward having him there.

Shen Yicheng pretended to walk toward the living room to make it easier for her to move around, but Ning Jia followed after him too. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and asked, “What do you need to tell me tomorrow?”

Shen Yicheng lifted a brow. Under the floor lamp, he finally saw the uneasy look on her face and understood that a single sentence from him had kept her awake with worry.

He had her sit on the sofa, then took a newly bought watermelon from the fridge and split it open with ease. Ning Jia still followed behind him. She had thought he was going to make some sweet little dessert to coax her, but Shen Yicheng merely stuck a spoon into the center of the watermelon, then placed it in a glass dish. That dish was then handed into her arms.

That half a watermelon was bigger than Ning Jia’s head.

Her mood went from tense to speechless.

She hugged the watermelon and sat down. Shen Yicheng’s idea of “indulgence” was really heavy-handed.

She picked up the spoon, circled the flesh, and scooped out the sweetest part before handing it to Shen Yicheng. He did not stand on ceremony and took it to eat.

Maybe it was the mood of the conversation, but Shen Yicheng did not realize she had taken back the spoon, stuck it into the flesh again, scooped out a piece, and put it into her own mouth.

“Is it good?”

Ning Jia nodded, while waves of unease churned in her heart. She only hoped he would get to the point soon.

She kept her head down eating watermelon, and her leg was pressed by the basin hard enough to leave a red ring.

Shen Yicheng saw it too and lifted it with one hand. Ning Jia did not dare slack off. After all, it was Young Master Shen personally holding it up for her, so she could only lower her head and eat the watermelon fresh from the fridge. It was icy cold and maddeningly sweet.

Shen Yicheng rested his cheek on one hand, leaning against the sofa. Ning Jia quickly finished half of it. She could not eat any more, and she also did not want him holding his arm up like that the whole time, so she wrapped both hands around the glass dish and set it on the coffee table in the living room.

He saw her stick out her soft little tongue and lick the watermelon juice from her lips.

Shen Yicheng spoke first. “How have things been lately?”

Ning Jia did not understand and said, “I’m fine.”

“Are you still upset?”

Ning Jia’s expression stiffened. She realized what he meant to say. Then she lowered her head and replied, “I’m not upset, Second Uncle.”

Shen Yicheng got straight to the point. “I have a friend who got his master’s in New York. If you make an appointment, he should be able to fit you in quickly on my recommendation. But he’s in the United States. If you’re willing, I’ll have someone send you over there every week. His clinic has a very nice view.”

The round-trip airfare and time, as well as the appointment fees and the favor involved, would all be covered by him.

Was that what he had wanted to say?

Ning Jia wanted to ask whether she had been acting too unnaturally, which was why he thought there was something wrong with her.

She could not bring herself to ask. Instead, she said, “I’m already seeing a counselor.”

He thought it had been arranged by the police, so he said, “Maybe something more professional would be better. There’d be enough time too.”

Shen Yicheng picked up a small object from the table and fiddled with it in his hand. “Worried he’ll tell me?”

Ning Jia gave no answer.

“Ning Jia, this is only a suggestion. It’s the most convenient option for me, so you don’t have to accept it.”

Her voice was a little hoarse. “I know.”

“Think it over carefully.” Shen Yicheng had wanted to pat her shoulder the way he treated all his younger relatives, but when he noticed she was wearing a sleeveless camisole pajama top, he withdrew his hand. Ning Jia, however, lifted her own hand to hold his fingers. With a trembling voice, she said, “Second Uncle, I don’t want to go.”

Shen Yicheng was put in a difficult position. He did not have any suitable friends in the country. Since he did not know them well enough, he could not feel at ease. More importantly, to be honest, he did not really know what had happened between Ning Guoqiang and his wife, because in his eyes, before everything happened, that had still been an enviable, happy family. Something this big had happened, and it was not his place to guide or comfort her.

Ning Jia wrapped both of her hands around one of his thumbs. Shen Yicheng had wanted to say something, but she closed her hands and held his entire palm.

“I won’t cause you any trouble.” Knowing full well that he meant well, Ning Jia still could not stop her tears from falling.

She had always been very obedient. Ning Guoqiang often said, “My Jia Jia is so sensible.” Ning Jia really had been well-behaved and obedient, her crying so soft it was barely audible. Shen Yicheng could not stand women’s tears, especially with her head lowered, almost resting against his shoulder.

Ning Jia’s desire climbed upward. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist. Shen Yicheng did not push her away. He lowered his head to look at how miserably she was crying, then softened his voice. “Don’t cry.”

She leaned against him in dependence. Shen Yicheng could not find any tissues, so he reached out and wiped her tears away with his fingers.

Ning Jia’s breath caught. She looked up at him. Her tear-soaked eyes were a little red, but her pupils were extremely clear. Ning Jia tilted her head and rubbed against his fingers, then took hold of his wrist.

Shen Yicheng gave a low laugh, watching what other move she might make. Then Ning Jia lowered her eyes, gently kissed his fingertip, and took his finger into her mouth.

In that instant, everything turned upside down and went out of order. Ning Jia’s movements carried the innocence of first experience as she chewed and swallowed him.

The look in Ning Jia’s eyes seemed to be that of someone feeding, something like plundering. Then again, it might have been more reasonable to think of it as dependence. That gaze, like that of a young lion, probably would not appear in the eyes of a weak little rabbit.

Shen Yicheng simply had not expected her to do it so openly under his eyes this time. He pulled his hand back. Ning Jia was a little reluctant, but she did not want to force him, so she leaned into the crook of his neck and sniffled softly, somewhat drained of strength.

“Second Uncle, can you carry me back to bed?”

“What, you can’t walk anymore?”

It had been a fairly serious conversation at first, but now it had become a complete mess, and even his tone had taken on a trace of teasing. Ning Jia closed her eyes and said, “I thought you were going to kick me out, and it scared me so much my legs went weak.”

A hint of amusement entered his expression.

Of course, Shen Yicheng did not carry her in his arms. He merely supported her, even half-carried her upstairs. Ning Jia could not make sense of it. Did he really not understand, or did he simply not want to indulge her bad habits?

When they reached the bedroom, Shen Yicheng dropped her onto the bed. Ning Jia did not want him to leave. She already had the alcohol in her system, and all she could think about now was his hand. She had just sucked it once and still had not had enough, so she grabbed the hem of his shirt and tried to pull him back.

Shen Yicheng looked down and said, “What is this?”

Even a fool would have seen what she was thinking.

Shen Yicheng was used to seeing fragile people like her, people who urgently needed a new support to keep going. Ning Jia had latched onto him, developed some subtle and strange thoughts about him, so what exactly did their relationship count as now? Before, Ning Jia had spun around him, happily calling him Second Uncle. Now this kind of ambiguous clinginess, what reaction was she hoping to get from him?

Hearing that, Ning Jia let go of him at once.

Shen Yicheng turned and left her bedroom, like a fish slipping off the hook.

Even the thing already at her lips could still fly away. Ning Jia pounded the pillow in frustration. Her absurd behavior made the heat surface from inside her skin, turning her into a bright red little shrimp. She sat up, wanting to take some sleeping pills and quickly forget this damned mess, when suddenly she felt a surge of nausea churning in her stomach.

Shen Yicheng did not know how to cook, let alone take care of a child. The only thing he could think of was giving her something delicious to eat, and he had not considered what might happen afterward. Ning Jia had not paid attention either. He gave it to her, so she ate it. With that half watermelon, plus the alcohol she had drunk at night, her stomach ended up hurting badly.

Shen Yicheng lay back on the pillow, looked at the spot where she had kissed him, and just as he closed his eyes, his phone began to vibrate again.

He picked it up and saw that it was Ning Jia’s WeChat call.

Shen Yicheng let out a long sigh, feeling that he had provoked the little ancestor he should never have provoked.

He answered and put the phone to his ear, then heard Ning Jia’s weak voice say, “Second Uncle, my stomach hurts. I can’t get up. Help me get my medicine.”

Each word came out with effort.

After simply explaining the situation to him, Ning Jia lay back on the bed, hurting so much she felt like the world was spinning. Soon Shen Yicheng had found stomach medicine and hot water. Ning Jia took the medicine, sweat beading all over her forehead.

Her stomach and spleen were very weak. Now that she had curled up, she vaguely saw him sitting beside her, and heard his question in her ear: “What did you eat that upset your stomach?”

What else could it be, if not that half of your watermelon.

Seeing her little face turned bloodless from all the tossing about, Shen Yicheng had no chance of leaving again. He sat beside her, sighed, brushed back her hair, and asked if she wanted him to call a doctor. Ning Jia shook her head at once.

Ning Jia’s hands were clutching the fabric over her abdomen. Shen Yicheng reached over, and she held his hand against her belly. His palm covered her, warm enough to feel scorching, and at once soothed her.

Ning Jia lay on her side, but it was not convenient for Shen Yicheng, so she turned onto her back. His hand was large, and Ning Jia helped him find the places that needed warmth. Shen Yicheng stayed awake and massaged her through the night, until Aunt Zhang came over to make breakfast for them.

Seeing that Ning Jia looked somewhat dehydrated, Aunt Zhang could not help lecturing Shen Yicheng. “Kids love cold things, so how could you give her so much cold watermelon in the middle of the night? Isn’t that just going to keep her miserable until tomorrow?”

Only then did Shen Yicheng understand what had caused it.

He himself rarely got sick, and the medicines at home were all prepared by the housekeeper. Even if he needed one, he would have to search for a while.

He only used bandages, adhesive bandages, and hangover medicine often.

Aunt Zhang took a good look at Ning Jia. She was still asleep, her face a little pale, but she seemed to be sleeping well, so Aunt Zhang told Shen Yicheng to go rest first and let her stay to keep watch.

Aunt Zhang had two daughters of her own, so she was especially fond of the lovely Ning Jia. Seeing her sleeping with a smile, she could not help reaching out to brush aside her slightly damp hair. Ning Jia softly called out, “Second Uncle.”

Aunt Zhang still did not quite understand the relationship between the two, but hearing that “Second Uncle” made her understand a little. Ning Jia narrowed her eyes. Knowing her own action was inappropriate, Aunt Zhang pulled her hand back a little. Ning Jia saw her blurry silhouette and opened her mouth.

Aunt Zhang heard her vaguely call out, “Mom.”

At once her heart softened. She lowered her head and patted her. “Sleep. Sleep. Everything will be better when you wake up.”

Tears suddenly rolled from the corners of Ning Jia’s eyes.