Chapter 143

Those few days, the snow in Beicheng came intermittently.

Grandpa and grandma, Xiao Chen and Yu Na sat on the sofa, watching the classic TV shows that must be played during summer and winter vacations.

The old couple told Yu Na stories about Xiao Chen when he was young.

Grandma said, "This child is very delicate. He gets flustered over the slightest bump or scrape, as if the sky was falling down."

Grandpa chimed in, "When he was little, he didn't like to eat. He liked to hold his game console and play games. I would feed him while he played games without looking at the food in the bowl. I smashed up the vegetables he didn't like to eat into little pieces and mixed them into his rice to feed him."

Xiao Chen: "..."

His ears turned a little red. He reminded, "Grandpa, that was in my past life."

Yu Na was very curious. "What happened next? Did he eat it?"

Grandpa: "Of course he ate it. Afterwards, your grandma and I learned that when he didn't want to eat, we'd let him play video games and feed him while he played. That way he would obediently eat however much we fed him without being picky."

Grandpa laughed heartily recalling the scene, then sighed and said, "He was still little back then, only in elementary school. Later he broke that habit on his own. *sigh* My precious grandson has grown up so much already. He has his own career, his own family."

Just thinking about him as a child made Yu Na's heart soften unbearably. She wished she could hug him tightly and ruffle him.

In front of the elderly, he was still a child, the apple of their eye that they held tenderly in their palms.

Although these past few days they had been concerned about Yu Na, their daughter-in-law, how could they possibly neglect their precious grandson? Whenever they looked at Xiao Chen, the love in their eyes was unconcealable, as if looking upon a rare treasure.

Now Xiao Chen had grown up. It was time for him to start a family. He had learned an adult's stoicism.

But to the elderly, he would always be a child, the child who was always doted on.

After grandpa and grandma went in to take their afternoon nap, only the two of them remained in the living room. Yu Na really did take Xiao Chen into her arms, gently stroking his hair. "Baby, it's alright even when you grow up. You still have me. I will always treat you as precious, loving and doting on you for a lifetime."

"You can act spoiled with me. If you don't want to eat, I will patiently feed you mouthful by mouthful."

"In front of me, you can completely be yourself. Even if you get angry, I will pacify you."

Xiao Chen's emotions were usually stable, but at this moment, his nose inexplicably felt sour.

He was like a puppy, quietly letting her hold him, unusually not taking advantage of the opportunity to be naughty. He obediently nodded.

The snow stopped and started again intermittently outside.

When it started coming down again, Yu Na took the initiative to suggest, "Let's go out for a walk!"

"No," Just earlier Xiao Chen was an obedient big dog, now he reverted back to normal. "It's snowing heavily. It's too cold. You won't be able to take it."

"It's fine. If we go out for a walk, we might accidentally reach our whiteheads."

Xiao Chen: ?

He couldn't help laughing out loud. "Where did you learn that saying?"

"Online!"

He couldn't resist Yu Na acting cute. As long as she acted spoiled with him, he even wanted to pluck the moon from the sky and pick stars for her, to give her all the world's beauty.

When about to head out, Xiao Chen suddenly recalled something fun. "My grandpa made a sled before. Do you want to try it?" "Good, good!"

Afraid that Yu Na wouldn't be able to adapt there, grandpa and grandma had prepared warm packs for her in advance, as well as a soft pink mitt.

Xiao Chen helped her put on her clothes properly, zipping up the down jacket all the way, putting the knit hat on her head, lightly tugging it down to cover her ears. After she finished equipping all the winter gear, he went to the cabinet to take out the sled, then headed out the door with her.

The sled was simple. Xiao Chen had Yu Na sit on it while he pulled it from the front, not forgetting to remind her, "Sit tight, hold on to the sides."

The afternoon sunlight. Her smile.

The harsh, freezing wind hit their faces, but he didn't feel cold one bit.

Gripping the sled rope, he said, "I'm going to speed up now!"

"Okay!"

Yu Na took out her phone, smiling as she snapped a photo of his back.

She took off her knit hat. Snowflakes landed on her head, in her hair.

"Xiao Chen, we've reached our whiteheads!"

...

The more unbridled you are one day, the more painful the next day is.

—Yu Na had a fever.

What was worse was that when washing up, she discovered her period had come early too.

She had a pained expression, curling back into the quilt without moving.

Xiao Chen brought breakfast to the room, and also grabbed a hot water bottle. "Here, put this on your lower abdomen to warm it."

Yu Na listlessly took it. Xiao Chen hugged her up into sitting position again. He wrapped her tightly with the quilt. "Come, eat breakfast first."

Yu Na bowed her head. "No appetite."

"Be good," Xiao Chen gently coaxed her. "Eat first then lie down and sleep again, okay?"

Yu Na shook her head. "Don't want to eat."

Just then, grandma suddenly knocked on the door and came into the room. She held a bowl with red date and ginger tea inside.

"Na Na, listen to me. Eat breakfast first, then drink this ginger soup. Take the medicine last and you'll feel better soon."

Yu Na's attitude clearly changed. She obediently responded, "Okay."

Xiao Chen: ?

He thought inwardly, alright, differential treatment huh?

Grandma stroked Yu Na's head, about to leave the room. Xiao Chen suddenly grabbed her arm. "Grandma, you have to stay and watch her eat."

Yu Na: ???

Xiao Chen raised a brow, slowly and leisurely looking at the girl in bed. His gaze held some provocation. "She doesn't listen to me."

As a result, under grandma's "supervision", Xiao Chen successfully fed Yu Na the breakfast and ginger soup.

Before taking medicine, Xiao Chen suddenly recalled something. He asked, "Grandma, do you have glutinous rice paper?"

Yu Na's heart thumped heavily.

Grandma didn't understand. "What paper?" Yu Na reacted swiftly, snatching over the medicine. Flustered, she answered, "Nothing, grandma." She put the fever medication into her mouth, then picked up the water cup and swallowed the pill down in one gulp.

After she finished eating and drinking everything, grandma finally left with relief, leaving the room. But not before tasking Xiao Chen, "Keep her company."

"Mm."

"Na Na, rest well. Sleep a bit more. I'll have Xiao Chen bring you lunch later."

Yu Na nodded. "Thank you grandma."

After ensuring only the two of them remained in the room, Yu Na punched his arm. "You did that on purpose!"

But her whole body was weak without strength. Her punch was no different than a mosquito bite. "What did I do? Weren't you the one who said eating medicine should be wrapped in glutinous rice paper before?"

"That was how aunty did it in the past! How can grandma be the same as aunty?!"

"Alright, alright, my bad," Xiao Chen sat at the bedside, letting her lie down. "Does your tummy still hurt?"

Yu Na burrowed back into the quilt, murmuring affirmation.

Xiao Chen lay down beside her, hugging her into his arms. "Should I massage your tummy?"

"Don't want you to touch—" She pushed him away, sulking, "You always end up massaging somewhere else every time."

She looked angry, but being sick sapped her energy. Even her complaining was gentle and muted.

Xiao Chen couldn't help hugging her even tighter. His mouth nearly touched her ear. "I really will only massage your tummy this time, okay?"

"Then you have to promise!"

"I promise."

"Okay."

Yu Na hugged the hot water bottle to warm her hands. Xiao Chen used his hand to gently massage her abdomen. His strength was very light.

She looked at him with clear, tender eyes brimming affectionately like water. She couldn't bear to look elsewhere.

How could Xiao Chen withstand such a gaze? But with her being sick, he didn't want to act lecherous either. Keeping a straight face, he reminded her, "Don't look at me like that."

Who knew this girl in his arms seemed to deliberately ask, "Let's kiss then."

Xiao Chen: ?

Yu Na circled his neck. "Maybe it'll help soothe my tummy ache."

"You—" Xiao Chen very cooperatively lowered his head, first kissing her forehead. His voice also lowered. "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

In the end, they did nothing else that morning besides kiss when they got close.

In between, Xiao Chen went to the dining room to pour her a cup of hot water. After she finished the water, they continued kissing.

That morning, a neighbor came over to visit. Yu Na clearly heard the neighbor ask, "I heard Xiao Chen brought his girlfriend back home to spend New Year's?"

At the time, her arms circled around Xiao Chen's neck unconsciously tightened. She asked, "Should I go out and greet them?"

"There's no need," Xiao Chen blocked her lips again, "Come, keep relieving the pain."

"......"

He sucked at her lips, asking nonchalantly, "How is it, does it help?"

Yu Na's face turned red, "It does."

By noon, Yu Na was not as listless as she had been in the morning.

Xiao Chen very shamelessly took all the credit onto himself, "Being with someone skilled at kissing, aren't you happy?"

Yu Na: "......"