Chapter 41 (1/2)

Yuan Gun Gun followed Hao Yan Che to the garden. It looked like paradise to her. There were luscious tall trees, a pond, sculptures and a small playground that included a slide.

'Young master, I want to go on the slide,' Yuan Gun Gun said.

'Can your bottom fit on the slide?' Hao Yan Che asked.

Yuan Gun Gun rubbed her bottom.

'You're right,' Yuan Gun Gun said.

Yuan Gun Gun lifted Xiao Yuan onto the slide, and she watched Xiao Yuan slide down.

'Xiao Yuan, you're so cute,' Yuan Gun Gun said. 'Everyone come here and slide too.'

'Let's go inside,' Hao Yan Che said.

'Young master, I want to play... I mean young master is hungry and we should go inside,' Yuan Gun Gun said.

Yuan Gun Gun held Hao Yan Che's hand, and they walked inside together.

'Young master, when did you build the playground?' Yuan Gun Gun asked. 'My small friends are happy to have somewhere to play, sleep and eat.'

Hao Yan Che didn't answer.

'Young master, don't you think I'm getting smarter by the day?' Yuan Gun Gun asked.

Hao Yan Che didn't answer because he only wanted to hold Yuan Gun Gun's soft hand forever.

After breakfast, Hao Yan Che stood in front of the study room window and watched Yuan Gun Gun play with her small friends. He didn't know why he let her keep them in his home and built a playground for her small friends. Was it because he didn't want to disappoint her? He only knew he was becoming stranger by the day.

Hao Yan Che felt relaxed whenever he saw Yuan Gun Gun smile. What scared him was he dreamt of her at night. Before he met her, he didn't dream. Why was his first dream, a dream about a rice ball like her? His rice ball was still playing happily with her small friends in the garden. She fell on the ground, her dress rode up her thighs and he could see her cartoon underwear.

Hao Yan Che frowned when Chen Jia Ting and Chen Jia Wen helped Yuan Gun Gun stand up and pinched Yuan Gun Gun's face. He sat back at his desk, and stared at the reports. He thought about how everyone in his home loved Yuan Gun Gun including Mrs Chen and Jia Tu. He reminded himself that in three years, Yuan Gun Gun would leave and he would gain freedom. Did he want to take care of Yuan Gun Gun for three years? He shook his head, Yuan Gun Gun was only his maid.