313 Company
The nursing aide was stunned when she came back and saw the two children lying together. She set up the foldable bed and laid out the bedding. “Young Master, come and lie down here. You don’t have to squeeze together on the same bed.”
Shen Nian lifted the blanket and was about to get off the bed when Cheng Mu grabbed his arm unhappily. “What’s the hurry? You’re not sleeping now. Talk to me for a while. Ask her to leave.”
Shen Nian turned back and glanced at her calmly. “I can talk to you even if I lie on that bed.”
“Ouch.” Cheng Mu suddenly clutched her head and fell back onto the bed faintly. She whined pitifully, “It hurts. My head hurts. I can’t get up. Nian Nian, my head hurts so much.”
Shen Nian sighed softly and looked at the two stunned nursing aides. He said calmly, “You may leave. Bring in our dinner later.”
“Okay, okay.” The two nursing aides had been hired by Lian Jing, so they were naturally very submissive to Shen Nian. Moreover, they did not think that there was anything wrong with the two children playing together. After all, they were too young and did not need to observe the proprieties.
The room was empty after the nursing aides left. Shen Nian helplessly lay back on the bed. His arms were folded and placed on his chest, so that Cheng Mu could not touch him at all.
Cheng Mu also lay down obediently. She turned on her side and continued to look at his side profile. Suddenly, she asked curiously, “Doesn’t the back of your head hurt? Why don’t you lie on your side too?”
“It doesn’t hurt.” Shen Nian actually felt a little pain. There was a big bump on the back of his head, and he happened to be pressing against it. However, he could still endure this pain. It was better than having to look into her eyes.
Cheng Mu did not know if he was being stubborn or if it really did not hurt. She narrowed her eyes. He was not on his guard and she seized the opportunity to suddenly reach out and smack his head.
Shen Nian was caught off guard by her and felt a little dizzy. His wound hurt so much that he could not help but gasp.
Cheng Mu smugly drew her hand back into her blanket and looked at his pained expression with a smile. “I told you it must be very painful. Hurry up and lie on your side. Why force yourself to bear with it?”
“Cheng Mu!” Shen Nian growled and turned his head to glare at her angrily. However, the moment he saw the bandage on her head, all his anger dissipated. He could only turn on his side speechlessly.
But of course, his back was facing her.
Cheng Mu was immediately displeased. This way, she could only see the back of his head, which was less than what she could see just now. Although the boy was only six years old, she could already tell that he would grow into a handsome man.
His slender neck was exposed, and his hair was always combed neatly, making him look like a fair and delicate porcelain doll.
“Nian Nian.” Cheng Mu called his name softly from behind, then shut her mouth and stopped talking.
Shen Nian’s ears were red. Feeling the scorching gaze on his back, he felt a prickle go up his spine. Even his scalp crawled when she called his name so softly.
Shen Nian waited for a long time, but there was no reply. He turned around helplessly and faced her. One hand was pressed under his cheek and he stared at her with his round eyes. “What did you want to say?”
Cheng Mu had not expected him to turn around. She had suddenly grown sleepy, which was why she had stopped speaking. Now she was caught off guard and she suddenly felt her heart skip a beat when she met his clear, bright eyes. She stammered, “I- I’m sleepy. Tell me a story.”
Shen Nian’s face darkened. He gritted his teeth and reminded her, “Cheng Mu, I’m only six years old this year. You’re already ten years old.”
“So what?” Cheng Mu closed her eyes disapprovingly and stretched out her arm to push him. “You’re so smart. Surely you know how to tell a story? You can tell any story. When I fall asleep, you’ll be free too.”
Shen Nian sighed silently and closed his eyes as well. His voice was a little muffled. “Alright, then I’ll tell you the story Mom told me before.”
The boy’s childish but somewhat cold voice slowly filled the room. It was as if he had been born with some magic that could soothe a person’s pain.
Cheng Mu listened quietly. Even her headache eased at the sound of his voice. It was as if a cold dew had brushed against her wound, leaving only traces of coolness.
She slept until it was dark. When she woke up, there was a large empty space beside her.
She sat up in a panic and touched the space beside her. She only relaxed when she realized that it was still warm.
When Shen Nian pushed open the ward door with a cold expression, he saw the young girl leaning against the head of the bed in a daze. When she saw him enter, her eyes lit up brightly enough to illuminate the dim room.
“Since you’re awake, I’ll get someone to bring dinner in.”
With that, he turned and opened the door to leave.
Cheng Mu quickly stopped him from behind. “Wait, I-I’m a little scared. Can you keep me company first? I’m very scared of the dark.”