As he approached, Wen Jiaren stared coldly at Mu Xiao, her gaze filled with disgust and annoyance as she snapped, "Mu Xiao, stay away from me. Don't touch me."
Mu Xiao's small frame shuddered as he stared dumbly at Wen Jiaren, the disgust in her eyes stabbing his fragile little soul. He raised his small hand to cover his chest where she had hit him, "Mom... Aunt Jiaren, Xiao'er's chest hurts so much."
"Shut up, no talking when it's time to sleep."
Wen Jiaren forced herself not to look at Mu Xiao's pained expression, convincing herself he was just feigning pity. She turned her back on him, thinking that after tonight the little nuisance would certainly stop bothering her.
A long time passed, and she didn't hear the child's tender voice again. Assuming he had fallen asleep, she turned back to meet a pair of eyes filled with loss and insecurity, shimmering with tears yet dry.
A pang struck Wen Jiaren's heart, and her voice softened unintentionally, "Aren't you sleeping yet?"
