Ruan Jiaojiao pursed her lips, no longer hiding her feelings, and nodded: "I really miss him."
Now it was Shu Jie who didn't know how to respond; all she could do was raise her head to smile at her and fed her another slice of apple.
After feeding her, as she was getting ready to fetch some hot water for Jiaojiao to wash up, Jiaojiao grabbed her sleeve: "Mom, if... if Brother Xu calls back, don't tell him I got hurt. If he calls at night, just say I'm asleep. Don't make him worry."
Upon hearing this, Shu Jie's throat tightened, and it took her a while before she finally nodded.
After Shu Jie went out to get water, Ruan Jiaojiao was helped back into bed by Ruan Jianguo. She heard the clattering noises outside and turned to look, but couldn't make out anything in the dim light.
"Dad, is it raining?"
"No, it's hailing," answered Ruan Jianguo. Seeing her restless, he didn't know where he found a storybook and hurriedly suggested, "My darling, let daddy read you a storybook."
