Chapter 40

Shen Jiujiu rode the favorable breeze back to Pei Mansion with Sui Ziming, craning his neck to peek at the front hall, which was surprisingly still ablaze with lights at this late hour.

Servants hurried to and fro with their heads bowed low, looking scared out of their wits.

Sui Ziming, who had been about to march right in with the little bird perched on his head, suddenly halted and let out an unexpected sneeze.

Shen Jiujiu patted the top of Sui Ziming’s head. “Chirp chirp?”

Are you getting sick?

Rubbing his nose bridge, Sui Ziming muttered under his breath, “This is bad. I can feel the killing intent.”

If he barged in and caused a ruckus tonight, his cousin would probably stuff him into a sack and hang him from the rafters to cure like jerky.

Sui Ziming wasn’t quite that bullheaded. He lifted the little bird off his head and adopted a reasonable tone. “Jiujiu, can you fly in on your own? I’ll head to the rear kitchen and grab something to eat.”

Shen Jiujiu tilted his head. “Chirp chirp chirp?”

Why not go inside and sit down? Have someone bring the food?

They usually ate either in the flower hall or the inner hall.

The flower hall was by the waterside garden, where a gentle breeze blew and the scenery was lovely—perfect for a comfortable meal.

The inner hall was in the rear courtyard, with ice for hot days and hearths for cold ones, plus a little kitchen right next door. It was all about convenience and comfort, ideal for midnight snacks when hunger struck.

So why had Sui Ziming developed this habit of sneaking into the main kitchen!

Shen Jiujiu’s wing swept across Sui Ziming’s forehead. He was genuinely curious. “Chirp?”

Sui Ziming didn’t understand chirp language. He was far more concerned with his own survival instincts.

He shook the little bird’s wings up and down, his tone solemn and earnest. “Jiujiu, I’m counting on you to handle things at home!”

Shen Jiujiu: “…”

What kind of nonsense is this?

Sui Ziming looked sympathetic. “Jiujiu, I’ve never seen the place like this before, but it’s obvious someone’s holding in a ton of anger. They’re seriously pissed.”

“God help me, I don’t even want to imagine what’s going on inside that house right now.”

Sui Ziming was certain that he, after a full day of hard work, wasn’t the one who’d stirred the pot. Pei Du didn’t pay him much mind anyway, so the culprit had to be this little bird dumpling who’d nearly stayed out all night.

Hiss. His cousin wouldn’t be sitting in the main hall waiting for the bird right now, would he?

Time to slip away.

He couldn’t afford to watch this drama unfold.

Sui Ziming hesitated, then sighed. “Jiujiu… ah, you’re on your own. Good luck.”

His cousin wouldn’t do anything to a mere little bird anyway. And at home, Shen Jiujiu’s status and favor far outstripped that of a mere cousin like him.

With everything figured out, Sui Ziming turned tail and bolted without a shred of guilt.

Shen Jiujiu: “…”

Whatever. Some people were just like that, always leaving the little bird utterly speechless.

Shen Jiujiu stopped worrying about Sui Ziming. He spread his wings and flew deeper into the mansion, scanning for his Benefactor.

Normally, finding Pei Du at night was simple—just head toward the brightest lights.

But tonight, the entire Pei Mansion was lit up, including the corridors in the rear garden. It shone so brightly against the capital’s night sky that it was almost blinding.

Shen Jiujiu flew a loop through the inner courtyard bedroom but found no sign of Pei Du. He landed on the stone table and scratched at his head with a claw.

Where was his Benefactor?

The little bird pondered for a moment, then planted his feet wide apart and let out a mighty shout. “Chir—”

Jia Shisan materialized in an instant. “The lord is in the front hall.”

Shen Jiujiu, who had just flown straight past the front hall without a second glance, blinked his eyes. He felt a tiny twinge of embarrassment.

Huh?

It was so late—why wasn’t his Benefactor resting and preparing for bed? What was he doing in the front hall?

Had some important guest arrived today, requiring a banquet in the front hall?

No wonder the whole place was so brightly lit.

But it was this time of night, and the guests still hadn’t left?

Puzzled but undeterred, Shen Jiujiu flapped his wings and headed for the front hall.

The front hall glowed brilliantly, like a beacon piercing the enveloping night—like a candle demanding attention. Anyone returning through the mansion’s front gates would spot it immediately.

And sure enough, Pei Du was there.

A grand dining table large enough for a dozen people sat empty save for him alone. He wore a robe of deep purple, its collar neat and sleeves impeccably pressed, his long hair tied back. There was none of the casual ease of someone ready for bed. Instead… well, he looked like he could head out the door at a moment’s notice.

The little bird glanced at the food on the table and immediately scrapped his earlier guess. A wave of guilt washed over him.

Shen Jiujiu was a clever and perceptive little bird.

Most of the dishes were light and oil-free. His usual menu was prepared to the highest standards for a little bird, but Shen Jiujiu often watched Pei Du eat and found himself drooling for human food.

That was how the mansion’s head chef had come up with the special little bird feast.

They were flavorful yet oil-free, boiled soft—either shaped into little balls or easy for Pei Du to tear apart. Shen Jiujiu was always utterly delighted whenever he dug in.

But for the sake of his health, these indulgent little bird happy meals only came once in a while.

Pei Du had clearly ordered this feast to celebrate the little bird finally finding his mother—a joyous occasion.

Yet he’d gone and fallen asleep, nearly failing to return before his Benefactor retired for the night.

Still, the little bird had his ways of coaxing his Benefactor.

Shen Jiujiu glided down onto the table, nimbly dodging bowls and plates before bumping straight into Pei Du’s finger. He lifted his head with brazen confidence. “Chirp!”

Time to eat!

Coaxing with cuteness worked well enough, but what his Benefactor responded to most was the little bird’s bold, familiar attitude.

Sure enough, Pei Du—who had been expressionlessly toying with a pouch—glanced down at the little bird for a moment before setting the pouch aside.

He first tied a bib around the little bird dumpling’s neck, then picked up his chopsticks to serve food to his clearly hungry charge.

Shen Jiujiu clutched his little bowl and tucked in with gusto, all the while sneaking glances at Pei Du from the corner of his eye.

Pei Du said nothing, his face betraying no emotion, his eyes unsmiling. Those phoenix eyes looked genuinely fierce in moments like this.

Hiss.

He was truly unhappy.

Shen Jiujiu shrank back a little and racked his brains for a way to make it up to him.

But as he thought it over, the little bird suddenly realized something.

Wait a minute—he’d made it back in plenty of time!

No staying out all night!

He had just started to puff out his chest when Pei Du spoke in a low voice. “I haven’t eaten yet either.”

Shen Jiujiu’s puffed-out chest deflated in an instant.

Little Bird glanced at his own talons, then at the chopsticks in Pei Du’s hand, his small bird face twisting into a troubled expression.

Little Bird wanted to feed his Benefactor too, but his claws just couldn’t manage it…

Yet Pei Du didn’t seem to intend anything more by his words. He simply lowered his gaze and quietly tended to Little Bird, serving him food until his feathers could scarcely contain his bulging belly.

Without another word, he cradled Little Bird and carried him back to the bedroom in the Inner Courtyard.

Shen Jiujiu found Benefactor’s silence unnerving, making his little bird heart race. He kept craning his neck for a glance.

Whenever man and bird locked eyes, Pei Du would gently pinch the soft feathers at Little Bird’s nape.

Shen Jiujiu sprawled in Pei Du’s palm. “…Chirp?”

Why only pinch that one spot?

Hurry up and pet Little Bird’s other places!

Pet him all over, and he won’t be mad anymore.

Pei Du acted as if he couldn’t understand a word of Chirp Language. His fingertip lingered on Little Bird’s neck, the pressure now light, now firm—teasing, elusive.

Shen Jiujiu felt the downy fluff along his wings bristling, ready to explode.

If Pei Du was angry, there wasn’t a trace of it on his face. He petted the bird, helped with washing up, changed clothes—all with his usual elegant composure.

But if he wasn’t angry…

From start to finish, Shen Jiujiu hadn’t heard him utter a single other word.

Perched on the pillow, Shen Jiujiu felt numb from beak to tail feathers.

So… so strange.

Little Bird had never even been in love. Why did it feel like he’d stumbled into one of those messy love triangle standoffs from a TV drama?

Moments later, Pei Du dismissed the maids. The door closed softly from the outside.

Dressed only in his under-robe, Pei Du leaned back against the bedhead and extended a hand toward Little Bird. “Why the long face? You were just a little late coming back—you did come back. Of course I’m not angry.”

“I was only lost in thought.”

Shen Jiujiu let out a huge breath of relief. Chirping happily, he hopped onto Pei Du’s finger.

Little Bird swayed back and forth on Benefactor’s finger, bubbling over with excitement as he recounted the scene of meeting Mother earlier that day. He didn’t care whether Pei Du could follow such a complicated string of chirps.

Pei Du listened with saintly patience, his fingers rubbing back and forth along Little Bird’s nape.

Shen Jiujiu twisted around to give Pei Du’s finger a gentle peck, then spread his wings wide—an invitation for Pei Du to pet those too.

Obligingly, Pei Du let his fingertips trail slowly over Little Bird’s outstretched wings.

Perhaps it was the overly full belly, or the post-nap drowsiness, but the petting quickly lulled Little Bird toward sleep.

Shen Jiujiu’s head bobbed forward once, twice… He was on the verge when Pei Du’s voice floated softly through the air:

“Jiujiu, where’s your necklace?”

Shen Jiujiu jolted awake, eyes flying open.

Pei Du continued to stroke Little Bird’s wings, his touch light and tender.

“Have you grown tired of it?”