Chapter 56: Little Pillow
Bai Luochuan first took him to see Old Bai. Mi Yang stood at the door and greeted him. The old Mr. Bai was in the study, arranging a sand table. The study was antique, and the sand table on the large sandalwood desk was a bit out of place, but the old man didn’t care at all. He beckoned for the two little ones to come over, looked at them carefully, and then smiled. “Yangyang, how come you’ve become so distant with Grandpa after not seeing him for a while?”
Mi Yang shook his head. He was still in mourning. Children were not so strictly forbidden from going to other people’s houses, but Old Bai was an elder, after all, and some old people were still superstitious about these things.
The old Mr. Bai also saw the black armband on his arm. He said to him, “It’s fine. Grandpa crawled out of a pile of dead people back then. I’m not superstitious about these things.”
He had Mi Yang come over and asked about his family’s situation. Mi Yang answered one by one. Old Bai sighed, opened the drawer of the heavy sandalwood desk, and gave him and Bai Luochuan each a long, red velvet box. He said to them, “Take them. You can go and play by yourselves. Luochuan, take good care of your little brother.”
Bai Luochuan nodded in agreement and took Mi Yang out.
They opened the boxes in the hallway and looked at what was inside. It was two Parker fountain pens. It should have been a gift that had been prepared in advance.
Bai Luochuan was very satisfied with using the same things as Mi Yang. He had seen that some families with brothers always wore the same clothes and used the same things, which he found very interesting. He and Mi Yang were both only children, but the young master Bai felt that he was Mi Yang’s older brother, and wearing the same things would make them seem closer, and their brotherly relationship would be better.
Mrs. Bai had also tidied up a bedroom for them. The old residence was too big and seemed empty. She was afraid that the two children would be scared by the sudden change of environment, so they were still staying together.
She had prepared double sets of children’s supplies before coming here. Everything was the same, just in different colors, and they were placed in the bedroom for them to use together.
When Bai Luochuan saw it, he was curious. “Why are there two blue toothbrushes?”
Mrs. Bai said, “Yours is dark blue, and Little Good Boy’s is light blue. You’ve both grown up. Little Good Boy is a boy, so blue looks better on him.”
Bai Luochuan touched it and said with satisfaction, “Yes, blue looks better.” And it was more like his.
Mi Yang didn’t mind, but Mrs. Bai had taken care of him very thoughtfully, which still warmed his heart.
At night, when he was about to sleep, Mi Yang suddenly remembered something very important.
He lay there, tossing and turning for a few times, and finally couldn’t stand it anymore and sat up, annoyed. “Oh no, I forgot to bring my little pillow.”
Bai Luochuan was tired from the journey during the day. Hearing him say that, he first reached out and touched it, then frowned. “This one is buckwheat husk. It’s not soft enough. You can try mine…”
Mi Yang was also sleepy, but he couldn’t fall asleep without his pillow. “Even if yours is soft, it’s not the one I use.”
Bai Luochuan pulled him to lie down next to him. The two of them were on the same soft pillow. Bai Luochuan closed his eyes, hugged him, and patted his back comfortingly a couple of times, murmuring, “Try it. I think this one is very similar to the one I use at home. When you were sleeping before, you rolled over to my side several times. Didn’t you fall asleep then?”
Mi Yang lay there reluctantly. Every time he wanted to turn over, the young master Bai would hook his shoulder and pull him back a little, coaxing him, “Just close your eyes first. This one is really as soft as the one we use at home.”
It was unclear whether it was the comfort that worked or if he was too tired from the busy day. Mi Yang became sleepy, and with the gentle patting of the small hand on his shoulder, he slowly fell asleep with even breathing.
When Mi Yang woke up the next day, he was still a little disoriented about where he was. As he turned over with his eyes squinted, his head bumped into the little child’s next to him. They both grunted, opened their eyes wide to look at each other, and then laughed together.
Bai Luochuan seemed to be fine. He got up and dressed with vigor. Mi Yang’s head was still a little sore. He touched it and muttered, “So hard.”
Bai Luochuan heard him and turned to ask him, “What?”
Mi Yang shook his head. “Nothing. I want to go home for a bit.”
Bai Luochuan immediately said, “No.”
Mi Yang said, “I just need to get something. I’ll be back after I get my pillow.”
Bai Luochuan was a little hesitant and frowned. “Can’t you sleep on my pillow? You used it yesterday, and I think you slept very well. Why don’t I get a few more for you to try?”
Mi Yang looked at him and didn’t say anything.
Bai Luochuan said reluctantly, “Alright then. I’ll go back with you in a bit.”
On the way back, Bai Luochuan repeatedly emphasized that it was very far and would take a long time to get to Mi Yang’s house, and that it was not easy to come out, so Mi Yang should get his things and quickly go back with him.
Mi Yang: “…”
That’s not what you said yesterday. You said it was very close, just a few steps away, and that I could go home at any time!
Bai Luochuan pretended not to see Mi Yang’s look and was still nagging him in the car, “You have no idea how hard it was for me to come here. I had to negotiate with my mom for a long time, and I even had to study in Shanghai for two weeks!”
Mi Yang was curious. “You went to Shanghai? Are you transferring schools?”
Bai Luochuan was annoyed by this. He frowned. “I don’t know. My mom really wants me to study there, but it still depends on my grandpa. Anyway, to come and find you, I was busy for half the summer vacation, attending classes all the time. I think you’ve almost forgotten about me.”
Mi Yang said, “How could I?”
The young master Bai looked unhappy.
Mi Yang couldn’t move with his hand being held, so he could only wiggle one finger in his palm.
Bai Luochuan turned to look at him and saw the child looking at him with his slightly drooping puppy eyes, as if trying to please him. He was both pitiful and cute. The little flame in his heart was immediately extinguished. He liked it most when Mi Yang was obedient, especially when his eyes were only on him. He reached out and pinched Mi Yang’s cheek, snorting, “You don’t even remember what day it is in a few days.”
Mi Yang’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at him. “I remember. It’s your birthday, right? We always celebrate it together every year.”
Only then did Bai Luochuan feel at ease, and the corners of his mouth lifted a little. “What are you giving me?”
Mi Yang actually hadn’t prepared anything yet and said with a stiff upper lip, “Um, let’s keep it a secret for now. I’ll give you a surprise.”
The young master Bai was delighted by the word “surprise,” and his eyes were sparkling all the way.
After returning to Mi Yang’s grandfather’s house, Mi Yang pushed the door open and first got his small pillow. Then, holding the pillow, he went to greet Cheng Qing and also wanted to ask for some pocket money to buy something to make a small handicraft for the little young master to cheer him up.
Bai Luochuan followed him the whole time, so Mi Yang had to secretly ask Cheng Qing for money.
Cheng Qing was busy in the kitchen and couldn’t hear what he was saying. As she lifted the pot lid, she said, “What? Yangyang, can you speak up!”
Mi Yang: “…It’s nothing.”
Cheng Qing was making steamed fish. Not long after she had put it on, she opened the lid, thinking of adding some fermented black beans, which Mi Zehai usually liked. Just as she opened it, a cloud of fishy steam rose up, and her face changed. She hastily dropped the pot lid and ran out, gagging a couple of times.
Mi Yang was startled and quickly chased after her. “Mom, are you alright?”
Cheng Qing waved her hand but was still too nauseous to speak.
Mi Yang poured her a glass of water. Seeing that Cheng Qing’s face had relaxed a little after rinsing her mouth, he was slightly relieved. He took the glass and said worriedly, “Mom, are you sick? Should we go to the hospital to have a look?”
Cheng Qing said, “It’s fine. I’m just too tired these past few days. I didn’t sleep well last night. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Mi Yang was still very worried and was about to go and tell Mi Zehai but was held back by Cheng Qing. Cheng Qing said helplessly, “It’s really not necessary. Mom will be fine after some rest. Let’s wait a few days, and then Mom will go to the hospital to have a look, okay?”
Mi Yang reluctantly agreed.
Cheng Qing smiled and stroked his head.
