It was already dusk. Candles strained the eyes, and he didn't have many, so it was about time to wash up.
Even though he usually slopped the pigs, he didn't want to come across as a sloppy kid.
"Anyway, as long as you can stand the bugs."
Bo Xin had suffered hardships as a child too. Not like the original host—a pampered young lady who married and had an easy life.
She'd been bitten by leeches in the water, and centipedes had crawled over her calf while she lay in bed.
How could she be afraid of bugs?
But then she noticed the little red bumps on him. "I bet you're as attractive to bugs as I am."
Ever since she was little, whoever she slept with, the mosquitoes would only bite her. Her grandmother had called her a human mosquito coil, which earned her a good scolding.
Jiang Yuxu fell silent, as if she had hit the mark.
His expression was caught between a smile and a grimace.
So this was where he inherited his bug-attracting constitution.
Bo Xin lay on the hard bed. The blanket was neither warm nor big enough. Jiang Cuijuan said there were no extra blankets. Since this house already had Jiang Yuxu, it meant he was considered superfluous in their eyes.
Lying on the outside, her arm could touch the wall. She stretched out her arm and pulled Jiang Yuxu into her embrace.
The small space meant he had nowhere to escape even if he wanted to.
Though she had never had children in her past life, the students she sponsored were mostly around this age, so she was familiar and close with them.
Whenever Jiang Yuxu showed signs of moving, she would whisper, "Don't move, you'll fall off."
Then, feeling the stiffness of the child in her arms, she smiled a mischievous smile.
All night, Bo Xin didn't sleep well, nor did the child in her arms. The dark circles were more noticeable on Bo Xin's face, probably because her skin was so pale.
Jiang Yuxu had inherited her fair skin, but wind and sun had roughened it a lot.
With proper care later, it could definitely be restored.
He was only eight; no matter what, a child's skin is tender.
At dawn, the car engine roared loudly. Bo Xiao had driven down once and came back; what he could buy at night was limited, so he went again in the morning.
When his sister saw him, Bo Xiao was genuinely startled. "Sis, maybe you should sleep in the car tonight instead."
"No need."
Bo Xin hadn't slept well last night, but she was in good spirits.
There were red bumps on her wrists; she casually dabbed some water on them. Afraid Bo Xiao would say something, she added offhandedly, "You do look quite well."
Bo Xiao had shaved before coming, so he didn't look like a sloppy uncle.
With his hair casually tousled, he had a kind of handsome, carefree look.
After all, his face spoke for itself.
And because his face resembled Bo Xin's so much, Jiang Yuxu hadn't mistaken their relationship; he knew Bo Xiao wasn't his father.
Seeing the miniature version of his brother-in-law before him, Bo Xiao couldn't suppress his playful urge. "Have a piece of candy, and call me 'Uncle,' okay? One candy per 'Uncle.'"
Jiang Yuxu's expression didn't change. His gaze wandered elsewhere before returning to Bo Xiao's palm, and he said with some disdain, "...I'm not a three-year-old."
'Eight-year-olds don't like candy anymore?' That question was written all over Bo Xiao's face. He awkwardly put the candy back into his pocket, then sneaked another glance through the pocket opening.
He hadn't misremembered, had he? Just the wrapper alone used to get the eight-year-old at home excited for ages.
"But maybe you'd like hopping frogs, kites, toy planes—things like that. When conditions allow, Uncle will get you a whole set."
Jiang Yuxu had never seen such things, but from the names alone, they didn't interest him.
He frowned. Were those the things the child she raised liked?
His eyes fell on Li Qiang'an. Inexplicably, he felt Li Qiang'an was a bit like that; was his personality the same? That was really annoying.
Even after being rescued and scrubbed several times by his grandmother, the stench still lingered in Li Qiang'an's nostrils.
So when he saw Jiang Yuxu's expression, he felt a chill and decided to hide behind his parents.
Jiang Yuxu let out a faint, inexplicable smile.
Bo Xin had brought some money. She certainly had enough, but leaving the money here made her uneasy. She took it all, not leaving a single cent behind.
At the door, she ran into Jiang Cuijuan. Bo Xin said she wanted to go to the town to buy something, as a token of gratitude to the people who raised the child.
Jiang Cuijuan naturally agreed with a smile.
Her smile was insincere. So seeing Jiang Yuxu's smile now—though odd in expression—was at least genuine.
Bo Xin felt pleased and couldn't help asking Jiang Yuxu, "What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing."
Clearly, he didn't want to tell her. But Bo Xin didn't mind this little hiccup.
She took a candy from Bo Xiao and popped it into Jiang Yuxu's mouth. "Try it—it's sweet."
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