‘You’re not allowed to cry,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘It makes you really ugly.’

Yuan Gun Gun hugged Hao Yan Che’s neck.

‘Young master, animals are all like that,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘If you treat them well, they’ll protect you, listen to you and they’ll be with you whether you’re happy or sad. But their lives are short. I’m scared of losing Xiao Yuan when Xiao Yuan dies. If all my small friends die in front of me like in the movie, I’ll be heartbroken.’

Hao Yan Che patted Yuan Gun Gun’s back.

‘What will happen if my family dies before me?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

Hao Yan Che didn’t know how Yuan Gun Gun’s brain jumped from animals to humans.

‘You must have a lot of free time to sit here and think about hypothetical situations,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Yuan Gun Gun was lost in her sad thoughts.

‘If I die, will you be sad?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘Of course I’ll be sad,’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘Why? Are you dying? You can’t die. Why are you dying?’

Hao Yan Che heard Yuan Gun Gun cry like he died in front of her.

‘Be quiet,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Are you sick?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘Is that why you’re dying and asked me if I’ll be sad if you die? You can’t die. If you die, I’ll be heartbroken like the dog’s owner on TV.’

Hao Yan Che didn’t want Yuan Gun Gun to cry. He knocked her head, opened the drawer and took out a chocolate from the chocolate box… Yuan Gun Gun immediately stopped crying, and jumped out of the bed.

‘I… I’m going to prepare your bath,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Stop,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Where are the chocolates?’

‘In here,’ Yuan Gun Gun said and rubbed her stomach.

‘All the chocolates?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Yuan Gun Gun took steps back.

‘Looks like it,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Good,’ Hao Yan Che said sarcastically and clapped his hands.

Yuan Gun Gun turned around and ran. Hao Yan Che caught her and carried her back to the bed. That night she knew she couldn’t escape punishment.

A couple of days later Yuan Gun Gun’s period left, and scheduled another visit for the following month.

On a sunny day Hao Yan Che held Yuan Gun Gun’s hand and they walked to the dining room. She let go of her hand after she saw Yi Tu. She ran to Yi Tu, shook Yi Tu’s arms and Hao Yan Che’s good mood soured.

‘Big brother Yi Tu,’ Yuan Gun Gun greeted.

‘Gun Gun,’ Yi Tu greeted.

‘Where have you been?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘Did you go on a trip?’

‘Yes,’ Yi Tu lied.

‘Was it fun?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Yes,’ Yi Tu said.

Hao Yan Che gripped Yuan Gun Gun’s waist and pulled her to his side.

‘Young master, my waist hurts,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Hao Yan Che scoffed and Yuan Gun Gun sat on Hao Yan Che’s lap at the dining table. She tasted the dishes before feeding Hao Yan Che.

The servants believed miracles existed after they witnessed their icy young master being tamed by their warm future young mistress.

‘Young master, what happened to big sister Jia Tao?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘I haven’t seen her for a long time.’

‘Gun Gun, the truth is she…’ Yi Tu interrupted.

‘Resigned,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Why did big sister Jia Tao resign?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

Yun Gun Gun bit half a spring roll, and fed Hao Yan Che the other half.

‘You don’t need to know,’ Hao Yan Che said and chewed the spring roll Yuan Gun Gun fed him.

Yuan Gun Gun remembered Qiang Jia Tao told her that Qiang Jia Tao used to be Hao Yan Che’s maid. Yuan Gun Gun wondered if in three years times Hao Yan Che would be as nonchalant after she returned to her family. She looked at Hao Yan Che’s cold eyes, and it made her sad thinking he wouldn’t care if she was gone.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘Nothing,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Yuan Gun Gun put half a random dish in her mouth, fed the other half to Hao Yan Che and he didn’t ask her about why she looked sad again.

After the meal, Yuan Gun Gun waved bye to Hao Yan Che.

‘Young master, I’m going to class,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Um,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Yi Tu waited until Yuan Gun Gun left before opening his mouth again.

‘Young master, do you want to hide the truth about Qiang Jia Tao from Gun Gun?’ Yi Tu asked.

‘Um,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Qiang Jia Tao is in hiding,’ Yi Tu said. ‘What happens if she comes back here and harms Gun Gun? Young master, you should tell Gun Gun the truth so Gun Gun will keep her guard up against Qiang Jia Tao.’

‘It looks like you care too much about Gun Gun,’ Hao Yan Che said.

***

End of Seventy-Four