This boy had been manic-depressive.
It took a lot of work for her to get him to slowly accept the people around him and become normal.
He had changed drastically overnight, and had once again closed himself off. It might even be worse than she imagined.
Even so, he still remembered Shengsheng and remembered to protect her.
Watching him shrink into a corner like he was cut off from the world, she couldn't stop her tears.
But she knew that her pain was no match for a tenth of what he suffered.
What was even more painful than having your only family die in front of your eyes?
Yes, Aunt Wanrong was dead, and to this moment, she was finally willing to admit it.
"Brother Axiu, come home with me. I'm Shengsheng. Look at me, I'm your Shengsheng." Without extending her hand again, Liu Yusheng hunched down so that her face could be reflected in his line of sight, pointing to the red headband on her bun, while saying that she was his Shengsheng.
Qian Wanjin watched at the back, his heart on his mouth. That was a madman, who could give people the smack. This Nannan really dared to stick her head out. Was she looking for death?!
"Go up there and pull her away. And also.." After a pause, he added reluctantly. "Capture that boy in the carriage and take him back to Xinghua Village!"
Exactly the moment he thought the young man would still ignore her, his eyes moved and fell on the dazzling red color on Liu Yusheng's head. And then he looked down, looking at the faded headband in his hand. For a second, confusion filtered in his eyes, as if wondering why the color was wrong.
"I'm Shengsheng. Can talk, can smile, the living Shengsheng. If you don't believe it, you can touch me." Hesitantly, Liu Yusheng slowly took the young man's other hand and led him to stroke up her own bun, the pair of red headbands, and over her own smiling cheeks.
This time, he didn't refuse. He even moved with curiosity and caution.
"Shengsheng…" Then he looked at the headband in his palm again. "Not Shengsheng?"
His fingers pinched and squeezed the novelty in front of him, while the other kept a warm smile on her face. It was just too unpleasant to look at.
After thinking about it, the young man loosened the headband from his hand and threw it away, then took Liu Yusheng into his arms, turned around, and continued to turn his back on everyone.
Qian Wanjin: "…" What just happened?
Is it that easy to change your mind? Where's all the fierceness you used to beat people up for a hair tie?
Sh*t, he is a fake, right?
"Hey, hey! Hey, Nannan, Liu Yusheng? What do you want to do? Are you going to nestle in here with him? Don't be ridiculous, and hurry home with me!" He was on the verge of exploding. Now, Axiu was the enhanced version of a beggar, so filthy it was unbearable. Didn't she find him stinky?
"Brother Axiu, let's go home, shall we? Take Shengsheng home." Liu Yusheng lifted her small face and whispered.
As long as he had her in his eyes and she spoke, he could hear her.
The young man's eyes turned confused and dull once more.
"Don't you remember the way home? Would you like me to show you the way?"
Qian Wanjin's eyes were still open wide when he sat on the carriage.
That stone-hearted Axiu, who had suppressed him whenever and wherever possible was so easy to coax? Hehehe!
Wrapping Liu Yusheng in his arms as a hair tie, he wanted to punch him so badly! Hahaha!
Qian Wanjin roughly shut his eyes and opened them again. He turned and leaned over towards the two hugging each other, akin to the Yin and Yang, and said, "Brother Axiu, I'm Sheng sheng. She's a fake. Let her go and hug me, hmm?"
Bang! A loud bang sounded inside and the entire carriage shook.
Immediately, someone roared. "Liu Yusheng! I'm gonna kick him out of the carriage! This bastard is a bully!"
"Pfft! Hahahahaha -" Nestled in Axiu's arms, Liu Yusheng couldn't help but convulse in laughter, looking at the sorry figure lying on the floor.
Hearing the little girl's crisp laughter, Axiu's silent eyes fluctuated. He dropped his head and looked at that brilliant smile, and tenderness slowly overflowed in his eyes.
"Uhm, Young Boss, M-Miss Liu…" The middle-aged man, who shrank in front of the carriage and tried to erase his existence, rubbed his hands and spoke numbly as the carriage entered the town. "The person has been found. Does the reward still count?"
"What do you think you're doing? Did you find him? You have the nerve to ask for a reward! If it wasn't for Nannan herself, she would have missed him again! Do you still think you did this? Take those five taels of silver and get out of here!" Having pent up anger and looking for a place to vent it, Qian Wanjin fumed at the middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man was scolded so much that his old face turned red. He didn't dare to argue due to his opponent's identity, so he could only turn to Liu Yusheng.
"I'll pay this silver. Although you found the wrong person, if you hadn't brought us over, I wouldn't have been able to get him back." Liu Yusheng smiled and pulled out the silver ticket and handed it to the middle-aged man.
1000 taels was an astronomical amount of money for an ordinary family, but she gave it out without feeling any distress at all.
It was worth it.
On the other side, Qian Wanjin turned away with his pursed mouth, not stopping her. Anyway, it wasn't his silver that was spent. She didn't even feel bad about it, so why should he?
The man took the silver ticket, thanked her profusely, and got off the carriage. Then the carriage resumed its journey to Xinghua Village.
Looking at someone whose face was stinky since he was kicked, Liu Yusheng thought for a while and decided to flatter him. "Young Boss, thank you for your help for so long. I'll brew you two jars of top quality medicinal wine later to show my appreciation. Don't be mad with Brother Axiu about what happened just now. His condition is somewhat unique. I'll tell you more about it later. Besides, you're Young Master Qian who wanders around the business world and kills in four directions. You wouldn't care about such a trivial thing, right?"
Qian Wanjin sneered. "Who am I, Qian Wanjin, that I would fight with a crazy… with him? Just don't forget about the promised top-quality medicinal wine." Ahhhh! Disregard it? I'll kick his ass!
Don't think about it! You'll only be stressed thinking about it!
It was already late afternoon when they returned to the village.
The villagers, who were busy in the fields and worked in the winery, were walking home one after another. When they saw the Qian family carriage, they all made way for it, not forgetting to yell a greeting to those inside the carriage.
No one in the carriage answered, leaving only a trail of dust for those who fell behind.
"Young Boss is in a bad mood again today."
"But whenever he's in a bad mood, he must have taken a beating from Nannan."
"Haiy, that Young Boss' temper comes and goes quickly. Let Nannan smile at him tomorrow and take him around, and the weather would be cleared right away."
The villagers bantered. Loud as their voices were, Qian Wanjin still caught a word or two from their conversation even at a distance. Hearing the contents of those conversations, his face turned completely black as ink.
At this age, he has fallen into Nannan's hands.
Even the villagers knew how to deal with him. How much dignity could he still regain as the young boss?
Qian Wanjin sized up Liu Yusheng several times, and narrowed his eyes.
… Speaking of which, was he really that easy to coax?