Chapter 261: Little Rabbit

Chapter 261: Little Rabbit

"Yamei'er, you rest well, I'll come see you again tomorrow when your mother isn't home!" Xingxing, who was very conscious of time, hurriedly told Yamei'er, "Take good care of yourself."

Yamei'er seemed to be in better spirits now, with the candy Xingxing gave her in her mouth, nodding her little head eagerly: "Mmm, mmm, mmm."

Xingxing then tiptoed out of Yamei'er's room like she was sneaking around, carefully closing the door behind her.

The yard remained quiet.

Xingxing suddenly realized, without the big rooster, Yamei'er's yard was so quiet.

Xingxing quickly crawled out through the small opening again, luckily, she went unnoticed by Yamei'er's mother.

Yamei'er was still unwell, her mother wouldn't let her go out, not even out of the house.

Every day, Xingxing would wait until Yamei'er's mother went out, then she would sneak into Yamei'er's house through the small opening, play with Yamei'er on the heated bed for a while, and then sneak out.

Xingxing was really lucky, she had been crawling in and out of Yamei'er's house through the small opening for five days in a row, and never once ran into Yamei'er's mother.

Actually, after Xingxing fed Yamei'er the medicine, Yamei'er felt much better that same day, but her mother said that a cold and fever should be nursed for at least seven or eight days, especially for a child, not to be careless just because of her young age, or it could leave a lingering illness that would be very uncomfortable later on.

Yamei'er's father was quite moved, thinking that his new wife truly loved Yamei'er from the heart.

So Yamei'er had to endure staying in the house for another seven or eight days.

However, Yamei'er was still a child after all, no matter how obedient she was, her childlike nature couldn't be suppressed.

Especially since every time Xingxing had to crawl through the small opening to come play with her.

Yamei'er felt like she was turning into a mushroom from staying indoors so long.

But when Yamei'er told Ruan Shi that she wanted to go out and play, Ruan Shi's expression darkened.

Although it was only for a moment, it still scared Yamei'er.

"Yamei'er, you can't be so willful," Ruan Shi quickly returned to her usual gentle demeanor, as if the sudden change in her expression was Yamei'er's illusion.

"You need to take good care of your body, it's so cold outside now, and the ground is slippery, you've just recovered from a serious illness, what if you fall?"

Ruan Shi spoke softly to Yamei'er.

Yamei'er was soothed by Ruan Shi's gentle, dripping tone.

Well, it seems like what her mother said made some sense...

Yamei'er reluctantly agreed.

The next day, when Xingxing found out that Yamei'er still couldn't go out, she felt a bit regretful: "...My second brother and the others are off today, they said they would take me to the front mountain to catch rabbits."

Yamei'er was so jealous, she nearly burst into tears: "I really want to go out and play too!"

"Then let's go!"

"But my mother won't let me..." Yamei'er said dejectedly.

Xingxing thought for a moment and advised her: "...Your mother might just be worried about you. It'll be better when the weather gets warmer!"

Yamei'er had no other choice, she unhappily watched from the window as Xingxing crawled out of the yard through the small opening.

She could even hear Xingxing's second brother talking to her outside the yard: "...Is Yaya not coming?"

"Yeah, her mom won't let her go out."

"Tsk, let's go then. Watch me catch a fat rabbit for you, and I'll have my mom cook us some braised rabbit!"

"Wow! Second brother, let's go quickly. My mouth is watering!"

—Not to mention Xingxing, even Yamei'er inside the house was almost drooling listening to this.

Bai Ge'er, Liu Ge'er, and Gui Ge'er took Ju Ge'er and Xingxing into the mountains. Although they didn't go deep, they had a fruitful afternoon.

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er each carried a fat rabbit, and Gui Ge'er held a bamboo basket with a nest of baby rabbits inside!

They had caught the whole rabbit family!

The two big rabbits were naturally sent to the kitchen—as for the nest of baby rabbits, Ju Ge'er and Xingxing both clamored to keep them. The maids, who adored them, found an old bamboo cage used for rabbits, padded it with old clothes and cotton, and set up a home for the six baby rabbits.

Xingxing had an idea and discussed it with Ju Ge'er.

Ju Ge'er, who doted on his sister, waved his hand when Xingxing specially asked him: "As long as you're happy!"

"Ju Ge'er is so good!" Xingxing was thrilled.

Ju Ge'er was quite proud: "Of course, who else could be better than me?"

He was practically strutting around.

The next day, Xingxing carried a basket and sneaked over to climb through Yamei'er's doggy door again.

Having climbed through the doggy door so many times these days, Xingxing was now quite adept at it.

When Xingxing entered, Yamei'er sat listlessly on the heated bed, her little face lifeless.

Yamei'er sighed and explained to Xingxing: "...I told my mom I wanted to go out and play, but she wouldn't agree no matter what."

She kicked her feet in frustration, "I can't explain it, but I feel like what my mom is doing isn't right..."

Xingxing, who had no parents, didn't know how typical parents should behave. She tilted her head and thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to comfort Yamei'er.

However, Xingxing quickly came up with a way to cheer Yamei'er up—

"Ta-da!" Xingxing set the bamboo basket on the heated bed, presenting it like a treasure, "Yaya, look what I brought for you!"

Xingxing lifted the cloth covering the basket, revealing a thick layer of old clothes and cotton wadding, with a cute little rabbit covered in gray fur and a white patch on its head nestled inside.

Yamei'er indeed forgot all her troubles in an instant, her eyes widening as she exclaimed, "Wow!" and hurriedly gathered around.

"A little rabbit!"

"Yep, didn't I go into the mountains with my brothers yesterday?" Xingxing vividly described how they caught the wild rabbits, making Yamei'er exclaim "wow" repeatedly like a little frog.

"I discussed it with Ju Ge'er, and this one is for you!" Xingxing was very generous, "Since your mom won't let you go out, you can play with this little rabbit in your room!"

Yamei'er was indeed thrilled—she had thought the little rabbit was brought by Xingxing to play with her, but it turned out to be a gift for her!

Yamei'er was so excited she could hardly speak, hugging Xingxing tightly: "Xingxing, you are the best, best, best friend I've ever had in my life!"

Yamei'er said "best" three times in a row.

Xingxing was both happy and a little shy.

The two little ones played with the bunny on the traditional heated bed, known as a kang, for a while. Xingxing, figuring it was about time, said goodbye to Yamei'er and squeezed out through the small opening.

Xingxing thought that even if Yaya couldn't leave the house, she wouldn't feel so lonely anymore.

Yet, unexpectedly, the next day, Shuangyun, who was the first to rise, opened the gate of the Yujia household and let out a horrified scream—

On the doorstep lay a bloody, dead rabbit.

Shuangyun instantly recognized the bloody rabbit by the white patch on its head. It was unmistakably the same rabbit she had helped Miss Xingxing select and gift to Yamei'er just the previous day!