Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 4

by Little Panda

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I like your eyes.

Shiyi stood at the hospital entrance. After Pei Tian parked the car and walked to her side, he brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes and said, “Let’s go in.”

(LP: Changing “Eleven” to “Shiyi”. Still the same meaning but more appropriate. This change will be reflected in the site but not on Ko-Fi… editing chapters there is a pain (〃＞＿＜;〃))

Unlike the busy hospital Shiyi had imagined, this hospital was nearly empty. Security guards stood on both sides, and upon seeing Shiyi and Pei Tian, they immediately opened the doors. Pei Tian’s tall figure walked straight in, with Shiyi following behind him like a child who hadn’t grown up (an idiom expressing innocence and vulnerability). She wore plain white athletic wear that didn’t quite fit—it was oversized, making her frame appear even more petite. Her bright eyes showed hints of evasiveness when looking at others, her expression uneasy.

Since her earliest memories, this was her first time entering a hospital. The surroundings were bright and pristine, with sunlight reflecting brilliantly off the glass, everything seeming full of vitality. Yet Shiyi felt out of place. Like the previous night, the feeling of not belonging here overwhelmed her entire body, and she wanted to escape.

Her shoulder was gripped, and Pei Tian’s cold voice rang out: “Miss Shiyi, you’re going the wrong way.”

Shiyi swallowed, clasped her hands tightly, and slowly turned around, hearing a familiar voice say, “You’re here.”

She looked up to see Su Ziyan, the only person since yesterday who made her feel at ease. Perhaps because he was a doctor, he gave off an inexplicable sense of security. Seeing his gaze fall on her, Shiyi shyly replied, “Mm.”

Su Ziyan said to Pei Tian, “I’ll take her for the examination. Have a seat.”

Pei Tian nodded imperceptibly and walked toward the lobby chairs. Shiyi followed Su Ziyan, watching as he picked up paper and pen at the front desk. The two young ladies at the desk were pretty, with adorable smiles. They called out to Su Ziyan, “Dr. Su, isn’t that Assistant Pei? Why is he here?”

They looked at Shiyi while asking, “Oh, where did this young lady come from?”

“She’s really beautiful.”

Su Ziyan tapped their heads with his pen: “What ‘young lady’? Where are your manners?” He turned and asked, “What’s your name?”

The person beside him bit her lip: “Shiyi.”

Su Ziyan furrowed his elegant brows: “Shiyi?”

He gave Shiyi a strange look: “What kind of name is that?”

The two young women were still looking at Shiyi curiously when Su Ziyan, with his refined face bearing a smile, said: “Come with me.”

Shiyi followed Su Ziyan into the examination room.

During the examination, Su Ziyan asked about her name, and Shiyi repeated what she had said the night before. Su Ziyan nodded: “No parents?”

Shiyi shook her head slightly. To her, parents were merely a title, one she had never even uttered. Su Ziyan finished writing the medical record and looked up at her: “Let’s start the examination.”

His voice had a calming effect, his manner gentle, his face wearing a smile. Shiyi unconsciously relaxed. She noticed him making marks in his notebook after each examination. After about an hour, the examination was complete, and Su Ziyan led her from the examination room to his office, smiling: “Two more reports will be ready the day after tomorrow.”

Shiyi wrung her pant legs with both hands, carefully looking at him, and asked, “Dr. Su.”

“What does Third Miss want me to do?”

From getting out of the car yesterday until just now, this question that had troubled her for so long was finally asked. Shiyi’s beautiful eyes looked at Su Ziyan, hoping desperately to get an answer from him.

But she was disappointed.

Su Ziyan merely closed the medical record and said, “Shiyi, this question, you should go back and ask Third Miss.”

Shiyi’s previously expectant eyes became dim again, her shoulders slumping. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to ask; she didn’t dare to ask. In front of that person, it seemed even saying one extra word was wrong.

She even somewhat regretted why she had provoked Wei Hui.

Perhaps at that time, she should have chosen someone else.

Pei Tian, seeing the two come out, stood up and said to Su Ziyan, “Dr. Su, is it finished?”

Su Ziyan glanced at the still timid Shiyi and nodded: “It’s finished.”

He walked to the front desk and said quietly: “Give me the medicine.”

The front desk handed him a bag containing several types of medicine. Su Ziyan brought it to Shiyi and extended his hand: “The instructions for use are all written on them, including the scar removal cream, to be applied once in the morning, noon, and night.”

Shiyi accepted it with her head lowered, saying in a weak voice: “Thank you, Dr. Su.”

Seeing this, Pei Tian said: “Then we’ll take our leave.”

Shiyi turned around carrying the bag, her figure thin and delicate. The image of her frail frame during the examination was still fresh in Su Ziyan’s mind. Watching Shiyi and Pei Tian get into the car, he couldn’t help but call Wei Hui: “What exactly do you plan to do with this child?”

Wei Hui had just left the conference room, and when she received this call, her secretary was still reporting her schedule behind her. She raised her hand, and the secretary stood in place as Wei Hui walked to the window: “Has she had the examination?”

Su Ziyan: “It’s done.”

Wei Hui nodded: “Is she clean?”

Though they were simple words, coming from her mouth they sent chills down one’s spine. Su Ziyan frowned: “Clean, completely clean!”

“You still haven’t said what you’re going to do with this child?”

Wei Hui rarely laughed lightly, but her voice remained cold: “This child is quite capable. You’ve only met twice, and now you’re questioning me because of her?”

Su Ziyan was left speechless.

He certainly hadn’t meant to question Wei Hui, but the child’s last dim gaze, appearing timid yet not knowing what to do, that lost and helpless look had made his heart ache, which was why he couldn’t help but call her.

Wei Hui didn’t explain much, only saying: “Alright, send me her examination report, I have my own arrangements.”

Su Ziyan sighed: “I’ll send it to you shortly.”

After Wei Hui hung up, she received a message from Pei Tian: Third Miss, shall I take her back to the Wei residence?

Her fingertip hovered over the screen for a while: Yes.

Shiyi was sent back to the Wei residence. In the vast garden, servants were watering flowers and weeding, while Zhang Ma was bustling about. When Shiyi wanted to help, Zhang Ma was startled and immediately respectfully asked her to just sit and rest. Shiyi stood behind everyone, regretting for the second time that she shouldn’t have bumped into Wei Hui yesterday.

If she hadn’t bumped into Wei Hui, she wouldn’t be in this dilemma now.

But she just wanted to survive properly.

Was that wrong too?

She sat on the bench, surrounded by unknown flower fragrances. Shiyi glanced around—red flowers and green grass, all trimmed into shapes, many plants whose names she couldn’t even pronounce were arranged together, swaying gently in the wind and emitting subtle fragrances. This was her first time sitting in a garden, appreciating these flowers and plants, with no one behind her rushing her to work, no strange gazes or sharp, unpleasant voices.

Shiyi greedily admired the beautiful scene before her. Soon after, the main gate slowly opened—Wei Hui had returned.

The car window was half-open, and Shiyi saw Wei Hui’s cold profile with sharp eyes. She immediately stood up.

Wei Hui rarely came home for lunch—she was busy with work and usually ate at the company. So when the butler saw her, he was stunned for a moment. Only when Wei Hui stepped out in her high heels did he react, walking to her side: “Third Miss, why have you returned?”

Wei Hui gave him a faint glance, and the butler understood, skipping the previous topic and continuing: “Have you eaten lunch?”

“Not yet,” Wei Hui spoke, then called to the person standing stiffly on the other side: “Shiyi, come here.”

Shiyi bit her lip and walked over.

The two walked to the living room one after another. The butler went ahead to the kitchen to have Zhang Ma prepare lunch. Zhang Ma peeked out and, seeing it was indeed Wei Hui, frowned: “Why has Third Miss come back?”

A girl washing vegetables beside her whispered: “Zhang Ma, what’s the relationship between this Shiyi and Third Miss?”

As soon as she spoke, several girls in the kitchen stared at Zhang Ma, their eyes full of curiosity. Zhang Ma shook her head: “How would I know?”

Another girl washing vegetables lowered her voice: “I heard that yesterday Third Miss brought her back from the Wang family.”

“The Wang family?”

The speaking girl nodded, wiping her hands with a dry cloth, and whispered even more quietly: “Because Shiyi stole something and was beaten, Third Miss happened to run into her and brought her back.” She pointed to her temple: “The scar is still there.”

Others chimed in: “That’s impossible.”

“She looks like such an honest child.”

“Don’t spread rumors.”

“What rumors? Don’t you all know? This Shiyi is a habitual thief, she steals wherever she goes! Just yesterday, she stole Madam Wang’s ring, that’s why she was beaten!”

Everyone was struck speechless. Zhang Ma heard this and appeared thoughtful, then after a few seconds she scolded: “Enough, stop chatting and prepare lunch!”

The others glanced at Zhang Ma’s expression and lowered their heads to start cooking.

In the living room, Wei Hui sat on the sofa, reviewing documents. Shiyi stood behind her, seeing documents with both images and text, along with various symbols she couldn’t understand. After Wei Hui read through it twice, Shiyi finally recognized the two characters on the title page—it was her name.

Shiyi.

She didn’t dare make a sound. After Wei Hui closed the documents, Pei Tian hurriedly walked in from outside and said in her ear: “Third Miss, the Shen family has prepared a dinner banquet and invited you.”

Knowing she disliked such occasions, Pei Tian added: “They’ve also invited Chairman Wang.”

Wei Hui turned her head to look at him, her gaze sharp and imposing, and said: “Then let’s go take a look.”

Pei Tian nodded: “I’ll arrange it right away. This afternoon…”

He looked at Wei Hui, then at Shiyi. Wei Hui said: “Go to the office.”

After Pei Tian acknowledged and left the living room, Shiyi remained standing at the edge of the tea table, her body stiff, head lowered, her beautiful hair covering half her cheek, like a child at a loss. Wei Hui, thinking of the contents she’d just seen in the examination report, softened her expression slightly and said with her red lips: “Do you want to know why I brought you back?”

Upon hearing this, Shiyi immediately looked up at Wei Hui, her expression eager, hands nervously clasped together, her beautiful eyes staring at Wei Hui. This was the first time she had been so bold, looking directly at Wei Hui. The surroundings instantly became quiet, leaving only her wildly beating heart, which was clamoring noisily, making her eardrums hurt and head dizzy. Shiyi swallowed.

Wei Hui put down the documents and stood up, taking two steps to stand in front of Shiyi, her brow ridge sharp, and said seriously: “Because I really like your eyes.”

“They’re beautiful.”

Shiyi’s face turned pale, her lips trembling, and her heartbeat, which had just been in her throat from nervousness, suddenly stopped.

The author has something to say:

Everyone can try to guess why Third Miss took in the little cutie.