Chapter 39 - Why Are You Crying? (2/2)
“No more crying.”
Gu Nianbin ordered heavily. Du Xiaoxian stopped crying immediately. Naturally she was afraid of the young master. As long as Gu Nianbin showed a trace of anger, she would think of nothing but obey his order.
Gu Nianbin raised his hand to wipe her tears away, but she dodged. She didn’t want to dirty his hand.
She took out a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her tears.
However, she kept sobbing softly.
Gu Nianbin patted her back a few more times, waited for her to calm down and asked, “Tell me why you’re crying?”
Du Xiaoxian lowered her head and mumbled, “I… I made a mistake.”
“It was just an accident. No one blames you.”
Gu Nianbin pulled her to sit down and said, “Have you been sitting here for a long time?”
He felt her hands, “Your hands are cold. Don’t sit outside so long in future. If you want to stay alone, you can go to my study. OK?”
Du Xiaoxian looked up at him, “Sir, why don’t you scold me? I would feel better if you did.”
“I know you didn’t mean it, so I won’t scold you.”
Du Xiaoxian can only see his profile in the dim light. His expression was somehow strange. She couldn’t tell exactly what was strange about him.
“My mom reproached you just now. I hope you won’t mind. She is kind in nature and would soon forget it.”
“No, her ladyship was right. I deserved it.”
Du Xiaoxian answered in haste, “I… I won’t mind.”
“Good.”
Gu Nianbin pulled her up and said, “Let’s get inside. You have to go to school tomorrow.”
Du Xiaoxian did not expect that she could get over with this issue so easily and thus became more anxious. She bit her lips and asked, “Then, will Miss Xia… be mad with me?”
“No,” Gu Nianbin took her out of the bush to the house.
After getting into the hall, Du Xiaoxian waved at him, “Good night, Sir.”
Gu Nianbin was about to nod when he suddenly noticed her scald on the hand. He caught her waving hand and looked at it sternly, “What happened? Was it…”
Du Xiaoxian withdrew her hand, “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Gu Nianbin looked bad and took her upstairs.
Du Xiaoxian didn’t know his intention but she could tell that he was angry, although she had no clue of the cause of his anger.
She was extremely nervous and had to trot all the way to catch up with him.
Gu Nianbin took her to his bedroom and had her sit down on the sofa. He took out an ointment from the drawer and gently applied it on the back of her hand.
The ointment was cool and refreshing. Du Xiaoxian felt much better. She began to shed tears again as Gu Nianbin was tender to her.
Gu Nianbin looked up at her when he heard the sound. His face was still stern, “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
Du Xiaoxian was too frightened by his sharp gaze to breathe. She lowered her head and eventually uttered, “It doesn’t matter. My skin is rough enough to stand it.”
Though still angry, Gu Nianbin was amused by her silly words. He forcefully hit her intact hand, “It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
His hit was forceful. Du Xiaoxian grinned in pain, but she insisted, “It doesn’t hurt!”
Gu Nianbin sighed, “Xiaoxian, you have to learn to protect yourself. You need not pretend to be fine. If you hid your injury from others, things might get worse. You will suffer more by then.”
Du Xiaoxian now admitted with a nod, “It hurts a little.”
“The scald or the hit?” asked Gu Nianbin.
Du Xiaoxian looked at her two red hands, “Both.”
Gu Nianbin rubbed her hair with a smile, “Xiaoxian, when you grow up, you will leave this place and me to lead your own life. I hope you know how to protect yourself before leaving. Don’t get hurt again. It is critical. You cannot be counted as an adult until you know how to protect yourself.”
Du Xiaoxian looked into his eyes and nodded seriously, “I see, Sir. I will protect myself. Don’t worry.”
Gu Nianbin nodded as well, “That’s right. Alright, go to sleep now. Come to my room tomorrow morning for another time of ointment.”
“OK.” Du Xiaoxian raised her hand to smell the ointment and then smiled at Gu Nianbin, “It smells good.”
“Off you go now,” Gu Nianbin chucked at her and suddenly asked, “Did you help your classmate do the duty today?”
“Yes,” Du Xiaoxian nodded, “Her hands got hurt. I have to help her.”
“Don’t do it tomorrow. Your hands got hurt as well. Got it?”
Du Xiaoxian nodded and looked at her hand. It was a little bit hot and now nothing bad with the ointment. Would it still hurt tomorrow? Nonetheless, to her, Gu Nianbin’s words were decrees which she would never disobey.