TSWPF -Chapter 98 Testing the Waters

An Dian glanced at Liu Zhihao, then at the tiny little one clutching his clothes and swallowing her saliva. He frowned—this meal was meant to replenish their master’s body. How could he give it to someone else?

Liu Zhihao caught An Dian’s thoughts and said, “My wound hasn’t healed yet. I can’t eat such greasy food. Give it to Ningning!” If he didn’t let her eat, her drooling would be unstoppable.

Hearing this, An Dian felt a little frustrated. He had intended to give his master the best food, but had forgotten that his master couldn’t handle greasy meals. It seemed this little brat was getting lucky.

“Here, have some.” An Dian handed the lunchbox to Li Qingning. “Master, I’ll bring you some lighter food in a bit.” If the master didn’t eat better, how could he recover?

If it weren’t for them never leaving their master’s side, the master wouldn’t have been so gravely injured.

The four of them should never have obeyed the master and left his side.

This time, he resolved to stay by the master’s side no matter what.

Li Qingning swallowed the saliva that had reached her lips, looked at the food in the lunchbox, and then glanced at An Dian.

She tugged at An Dian’s robe and, in a few swift movements, climbed onto his lap, leaving him completely stiff.

He looked down at the tiny little one sitting on his lap, wanting to shout at her to get down, but when he met her big round eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say a word. He could only stiffly remain still, letting her sit there.

Li Qingning’s little hands cupped An Dian’s face. Smack! She kissed him on the cheek, said “thank you,” and, while An Dian was still stunned, nimbly climbed down, grabbed the lunchbox from his hands, and scampered away.

“Yummy, let’s share.” She beamed as she ran to Li Qingling and the others, placing the lunchbox in Li Qingling’s hands. “Sha…share…”

Although Li Qingning was a little foodie, she wasn’t selfish—if something was tasty, she would share it. Li Qingling was very pleased by her gesture, giving her a thumbs-up, praising her a little, and picking up a small chicken drumstick for her to eat first.

After giving it to her, she divided the rest among the other children.

When it came to the old man, he waved his hand, “No, leave it for Ningning to eat.” At his age, he didn’t feel right competing with the children for food.

Li Qingning held up her little chicken drumstick and mumbled, “Eat…eat…”

“Ningning means she’s had enough and wants you to eat,” Li Qingling explained, putting the chicken from her chopsticks into the old man’s mouth. “If she wants you to eat, just eat. Why all the fuss?”

The old man’s eyes welled up at the children’s thoughtfulness. He lowered his head, trying to hide it, and said it was delicious.

At his age, no one had ever cared for him this way—not even those so-called relatives, who only sought what they could get from him. Once they realized there was nothing to gain, they’d turn their backs on him.

But the children, who had only known him for a few days, treated him sincerely.

Li Qingling glanced at the old man, smiled faintly, and distributed the remaining food among the children.

An Dian watched the scene and twitched the corners of his mouth in frustration. The food he had painstakingly brought was being eaten by everyone.

“Weren’t you supposed to bring me light food? Go now.” Seeing the kids enjoy the meal, Liu Zhihao felt hungry too and prompted the twitching An Dian. “Next time you bring food, make sure to bring enough for everyone here.” He couldn’t eat while the children stared at him.

An Dian nodded and disappeared.

The children marveled at An Dian’s ghost-like speed.

It took him half an hour to come back with steaming, lighter food placed in front of Liu Zhihao. He sneaked a glance at the little foodie—if she dared to snatch food from their master again, he wouldn’t hold back.

Liu Zhihao sipped the soup, then put it down. It wasn’t as tasty as Li Qingling’s cooking.

“An Dian, this isn’t like you!” An Dian was the youngest of the four bodyguards and often playful. He could joke with his master occasionally, and Liu Zhihao indulged him.

An Dian scratched his nose, embarrassed. He realized he had overreacted—why bother with such a small child?

“Master, not tasty?” He frowned as he watched Liu Zhihao set the soup down.

Liu Zhihao didn’t even lift his head. “I just drank a bowl. If I drink more, I won’t have room for the meal.”

Before the words were out, a cute little voice piped up, “Brother Ziheng, what are you eating?”

A tiny head peeked from behind An Dian. An Dian stiffened, his rare expression of annoyance appearing. Damn it, when did this little one come over? How did he not notice?

If it had been an enemy, would he even be alive?

A cold sweat broke out on his back.

Liu Zhihao nearly spat out his food, covering his mouth and swallowing quickly.

“Eating now. Ningning, do you want some?”

Li Qingning completely ignored An Dian’s dark expression, tugged his robe, and climbed onto his lap with practiced ease.

Her eyes were fixed on Liu Zhihao’s meal. She swallowed, patted her stomach, and shook her head. “Full…don’t want.” Her sister said that if she kept eating after being full, her tummy would hurt. She didn’t want tummy pain, so she stopped.

Liu Zhihao couldn’t help but smile, looking at her gently. “Then Brother Ziheng will treat you tomorrow, okay?” He didn’t even remember when he last smiled—seeing this innocent little one, he couldn’t help it.

Hearing there would be more tomorrow, Li Qingning’s eyes curved like crescent moons. Her tiny head nodded eagerly, saying okay.

An Dian looked down at the little one in his arms, feeling helpless. Adults feared his cold expression—why wasn’t this child afraid?

Had he become soft?

“Master…” He looked at Liu Zhihao pleadingly, hoping he would take the little one down.

Liu Zhihao glanced at An Dian and chuckled inwardly, ignoring him completely, continuing to talk with Li Qingning.

The master had changed—he no longer cared about An Dian.

“You…little one, get down.” With no choice, An Dian had to tell her off himself.

Li Qingning’s eyes were on Liu Zhihao’s meal, ignoring An Dian. Taking a deep breath, An Dian grabbed her under the armpits, lifted her down quickly, and stood up—he dared not sit again.

Blinking, Li Qingning looked confused. She turned to An Dian. “Are you tired of sitting?”

An Dian twitched his mouth, silent. He stared at her for a few seconds, then looked away.

He had no idea what to say to this little one.

Li Qingning glanced at him twice more before her attention shifted. She ran to Liu Zhihao, sat down, and curiously asked about the food—what it was, and if it was good.

Liu Zhihao patiently answered her questions. After finishing his meal, she still lingered, reluctant to stop eating.

An Dian quickly packed Liu Zhihao’s utensils and leftovers into a lunchbox and vanished.

He moved so fast it was as if being chased by a ghost.

If anyone knew he was afraid of a little one, they would laugh their heads off.

After that day, An Dian never lingered when delivering meals. He left as soon as he placed the food.

Liu Zhihao secretly smiled—he hadn’t expected An Dian to be scared by a little girl. That was so unlike him.

Li Qingning and the other children had been very happy these past few days. They had eaten lots of good food they’d never had before.

Every morning, the children got up at dawn to practice horse stances for an hour.

Even when their legs shook and they sweated profusely, they didn’t complain.

Liu Zhihao nodded approvingly. Their perseverance exceeded his expectations.

He had thought that after a day of training, they’d give up due to exhaustion. But they persisted silently.

“Zhimou, where are your parents?” Liu Zhihao asked casually as Liu Zhimou applied the golden ointment.

Liu Zhimou looked at Liu Zhihao’s back wounds and said calmly, “Gone…”

“Gone? When?”

His hand paused briefly before continuing the application. “They caught a plague last year… didn’t make it.” Having spoken with Li Qingling before, he noticed some resemblance to Liu Zhihao but didn’t think much of it.

After all, many people resemble each other in the world. Similarity meant nothing.

But hearing Liu Zhihao’s question now made him tense inwardly.

He knew his parents weren’t originally from Niutou Village—they had settled there over a decade ago. Their manners had always differed from the villagers’.

He hadn’t thought much of it before, but now he suspected that his parents came from a distinguished background.

Why they had settled in Niutou Village remained a mystery. They had never told him anything, and he had never asked.

Gone last year? Really last year?

Liu Zhihao’s expression darkened slightly. Afraid of probing too much, he quickly changed the topic: “Do you go to school with Zhiyan and the others?”

With Fourth Uncle’s knowledge, he would do well in lessons.

“Yeah…” Liu Zhimou nodded. “Father taught me before… after he passed, I went to school with other teachers.” If it hadn’t been for this disaster, he would have been ready for the exams.