Chapter 3: Bathing the Cub

As he fell, the pearwood box slipped from his grasp, and the pills scattered across the ground, mixing with the dirt until their colors were indistinguishable.

Jiang Niannian watched Yin Li fall to the ground, her heart filled with even more pity.

But suddenly, she noticed Yin Li grabbing the pills and stuffing them into his mouth.

She quickly grabbed his wrist, speaking softly, “Be good, spit them out. They’re dirty, we can’t eat them…”

Yin Li looked up at her, his eyes like a trapped beast, staring at her with a gaze full of despair.

After a long moment, he spoke in a voice that didn’t match his age, “You don’t understand at all…”

Jiang Niannian’s heart ached.

How could she not understand?

She looked at the boy in front of her, his clothes dirty and reeking of a sour stench, his original appearance completely unrecognizable.

His body was covered in scars, some old and scabbed, others fresh and bleeding, especially on his wrists, which were slashed with numerous cuts.

Once a prodigy in the world of cultivation, he had been reduced to nothing overnight, now ridiculed by everyone.

He had been gravely injured, his eyesight was failing, his legs were crippled, and his body was nothing but skin and bones.

He was imprisoned in this dilapidated bamboo courtyard.

Jiang Niannian wanted to hug him, but he deliberately avoided her.

Yin Li refused to look at her, only saying, “Stay away from me.”

Everyone eventually leaves him.

Those who are kind to him either die because of him, or those who dislike him will eventually grow tired and abandon him.

So, it’s better not to be kind to him from the start.

He doesn’t need it.

“Whose little child is this, with such a big temper? Not likable at all,” Jiang Niannian teased as she scooped him up, but then froze.

He was too light, shockingly so.

Yin Li was also momentarily stunned, then began to struggle violently, “How dare you! I told you not to touch me! Get out!”

“I won’t!” Jiang Niannian retorted, exasperated.

“If you keep misbehaving, I’ll… I’ll spank you!”

Yin Li looked up at her with a complicated expression.

Realizing her tone had been too harsh, Jiang Niannian sighed, “Wearing these dirty clothes must be uncomfortable. Let’s wash up so your wounds can heal faster, okay?”

“If it’s out of pity, there’s no need.”

Yin Li’s voice was hoarse, tinged with sickness.

“It’s not pity. I just think it’s unfair for our little master to suffer like this. The heavens are too unjust, don’t you think?”

Jiang Niannian smiled, though her eyes were a little wet, as she carried him inside.

Yin Li looked at her, confused.

“What do you want from me?”

If you’re being so kind to me, what is it that you want to take away?

But I have nothing left.

Jiang Niannian smiled, “I want to see the young master happy every day. Does that count?”

She then pinched his thin face and said, “Come on, give me a smile.”

“How improper,” Yin Li swatted her hand away but stopped struggling, allowing her to carry him.

【Target’s Favorability +10, Points Earned 100, Current Favorability: -44. Keep it up~】

No way, how does this favorability have a negative value?

Isn’t it supposed to start from zero?!

As Jiang Niannian stepped inside, a cloud of dust immediately made her eyes water.

Dirty clothes were strewn across the floor, the walls were moldy from dampness, and some sour-smelling soup had splashed on the ground, making the entire place nauseating.

Although she had prepared herself mentally, the reality still broke Jiang Niannian.

The person in her arms stiffened, his face visibly darkening.

Of course, before Jiang Niannian had come to this world, the original owner of this body, who served Yin Li as a maid, often slacked off, denied him food and drink, and even joined others in humiliating him.

【Favorability -1, Current Favorability: -45.】

【Favorability -1, Current Favorability: -46.】

Jiang Niannian dared not delay further.

She quickly set Yin Li down on a stool, fetched some hot water from the kitchen, poured it into a wooden tub, and mixed it with cold water until the temperature was just right.

In her past life, she often volunteered at an orphanage, helping children bathe, so she instinctively reached to remove Yin Li’s pants.

Suddenly, she felt a cold gaze from above her head.

She looked up to meet Yin Li’s eyes, which were as cold as a winter pond.

Yin Li, like a wounded little beast, clutched his undergarments, staring at her warily.

Jiang Niannian blinked her eyes, “…” I’m really not a pervert; look at my innocent eyes.

“Ahem, then the young master can wash himself. I won’t look.”

“Get out,” Yin Li’s voice was cold.

“I’m worried about you. I’ll face away from you. Don’t worry, I won’t peek.” Jiang Niannian turned her back to the tub.

Yin Li hesitated for a moment, then, seemingly convinced that Jiang Niannian wouldn’t peek, finally began to undress and prepare to step into the tub.

But then, he heard her mumble, “So small, nothing much to see anyway.”

Yin Li froze, then slipped and fell into the tub.

“Splash!”

A loud splash echoed through the room.

Jiang Niannian quickly turned around, “What happened?!”

“Get out!”

Water splashed everywhere as Yin Li quickly covered himself, his ears turning red, and his face darkened.

“Don’t come near! Get out!”

He glared at her with narrowed eyes.

Jiang Niannian looked back at him, her concern still evident. What if she let her guard down and this little guy fainted while bathing and drowned in the tub?

Their eyes locked, neither blinking for what felt like ages.

Both were exhausted by the stare-down.

Finally, Jiang Niannian broke the silence.

She rummaged through a cabinet, pulling out a bar of soap, and approached Yin Li.

“What are you doing?! Don’t come near me!”

“I just want to help the young master clean up.”

Yin Li backed away, but the tub was only so big, leaving him nowhere to retreat. His face tensed as he growled, “Shameless! Immoral! So disgraceful!”

“Yes, yes, the young master is absolutely right,” Jiang Niannian replied nonchalantly, wetting a cloth and carefully avoiding his wounds as she wiped away the dirt from his body with gentle hands.

Yin Li lowered his head, his black hair spreading out in the water.

He kept his hands protectively over a certain area and said, “You weren’t like this before.”

“Yes, I was terrible before, but from now on, I’ll stay by your side and take good care of you.”

Yin Li hummed in response, his tone neutral and revealing no emotion.

His red eyes seemed clouded with dust, making it hard to read his thoughts.

【Favorability +10, Points Earned 100, Current Favorability: -36, Total Points: 200.】

Jiang Niannian was thrilled and became even gentler with her actions.

After finishing Yin Li’s bath, Jiang Niannian left the room.

Outside, the sky had grown dim and overcast, and it seemed like a heavy rain was imminent.

Yin Li sat quietly on the bed.

That woman said she would be back soon, but it had already been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and she hadn’t returned.

He closed his eyes, a bitter smile curling on his lips.

As expected, it was another lie.

Anyone who’s kind to him is fake.

They can only pretend for so long before they get tired of it.

Thinking of how he had let his guard down earlier, he found it both absurd and laughable.