Han Zhan stood back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He watched as Lian and i fawned over Little Bai, showering him with love like they had found a brother they thought was gone.
The sight tugged at his heart, yet he felt an undeniable urge to remind them of their own bond. "Hey, hey, hey! Aren’t I your big brother?" he interjected, amusent blending with mock indignation.
Lian looked up, a mischievous grin on her face. "Yes, but who says we can only have one big brother?" she replied defiantly.
i jumped in enthusiastically, "Let’s get him sothing to eat! He looks so small and hungry." There was a spark of kindness in her eyes, a genuine desire to care for Little Bai.
"I will go find him food," Han Zhan said, his tone shifting to seriousness. "Just stay here and watch over him." With that, he left the three of them alone.
Once Han Zhan was gone, i turned to Little Bai, her expression brightening. "I am i," she announced, a proud smile lighting her face.
Lian chid in with a playful twinkle in her eye, "And I am Lian. Can you tell the difference?" Little Bai nodded his head, a shy smile creeping onto his lips.
i could not help herself; she gently rubbed Little Bai’s face with her small fingers. "You are too skinny," she remarked, concern lacing her voice. "We need to feed you more."
"Oh, let touch it too!" Lian exclaid, her eyes shining with delight. "It’s so soft and cold!"
Little Bai, caught off guard by their attention, could only blink in response. He felt their hands brush his cheeks, their playful touches like feathers against his skin.
Lian and i explored his face with curious fingers, touching them until they were satisfied. It was a simple joy, a mont of innocence that made Little Bai feel both cherished and confused.
After a while, they finally let go. The girls inspected him closely, but when Lian reached to check his condition, Little Bai instinctively withdrew his hand. mories of past experiences with doctors flooded his mind, tightening in his chest.
Lian noticed the fear in his eyes. With a gentle hand, she patted his head. "There, there," she said softly. "We won’t hurt you."
i leaned in, her expression earnest. "Yeah, we are not like those nasty doctors."
Trying to ease his tension, Lian took out sothing from a brown bottle. It was vibrant red and shaped like a cherry, but Little Bai knew it wasn’t a fruit.
"Eat this," Lian urged, holding it out to him. "Don’t worry, it’s not bitter."
Before Little Bai could voice his hesitation, Lian swiftly popped the pill into his mouth. mories of being force-fed dicine surged back, and he braced himself for a bitter taste.
But to his surprise, it was sweet, lting on his tongue like candy. Warmth spread through his body, a cosy sensation that wrapped around him like a hug.
"It will give you more energy," i said, watching him with bright eyes.
Suddenly, Han Zhan returned, his hands cradling a tal cup filled with steaming porridge. The aroma wafted through the air, rich and savoury.
Xiang Yu had specifically asked soone to prepare this in advance for Little Bai, and Han Zhan had been tasked with bringing it to him.
He handed the cup to Little Bai, who stared at it in confusion, his brow furrowed. Lian was about to explain when a voice called out from the distance. It was Xiang Yu, beckoning them over with an eager wave.
Without a second thought, Lian and i dashed away, leaving Han Zhan and Little Bai alone. Han Zhan felt a small pang of uncertainty.
He had a sneaky suspicion that Xiang Yu was doing this on purpose, but he couldn’t quite grasp his motive.
Han Zhan turned back to Little Bai. "You eat it," he encouraged, watching as the boy’s eyes brightened with curiosity.
Before he could say anything else, Little Bai grabbed the cup, his hunger overwhelming any caution. Without considering the heat, he began to lift the cup to his lips, ready to gulp it down.
In a flash, Han Zhan reacted. "Wait, wait, wait! It’s hot!" he exclaid, quickly snatching the cup away from Little Bai’s grasp. Han Zhan held the cup out of reach, studying Little Bai’s face.
Little Bai still wore that bland expression, but his eyes held the look of soone who had been robbed. There was a hint of vulnerability beneath his stoic facade, a silent plea that accompanied the lost glimr in his gaze.
"Don’t do that!" Han Zhan said, stirring the porridge as a reprimand bubbled to the surface. "You will burn your tongue and throat. Do you know how troubleso it would be to heal that?" He watched as Little Bai stared up at him, his eyes wide and obedient, but devoid of understanding.
The boy had no concept of hot or cold, just a blank look as if the words floated around him without reaching his ears. Han Zhan sighed, feeling a pang of frustration. It was like talking to a wall. He picked up a spoon, scooped a small portion of the porridge, and demonstrated how to eat it. "Eat like this. Do you get it?"
Little Bai remained silent, his gaze fixed on the spoon, and Han Zhan scratched the back of his head, bewildered. Was there sothing wrong? Was this kid truly so naive? For a mont, he wondered if Xiang Yu had dumped this hot potato on him as a form of revenge.
"Here," Han Zhan said, handing the cup back to Little Bai. "Now, eat."
With a hint of hesitation, Little Bai followed Han Zhan’s earlier demonstration. He brought the spoon to his lips, taking a small bite. As the warm, savoury flavour spread across his tongue, his eyes widened with surprise. The taste was delicious, a sweet warmth that felt comforting and nourishing.
A flicker of light returned to Little Bai’s eyes, illuminating his expression as he savoured the porridge. The blandness faded, replaced by a sense of wonder that transford his deanour, and Han Zhan felt a small sense of relief wash over him. He felt like he was raising a pet. Maybe Little Bai wasn’t a hot potato after all.
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