At the swimming pool, Yuan Gun Gun held a towel in her hands and she watched Hao Yan Che swim laps. If he wasn’t such a scary monster, many women would fall in love with his beauty. Like how Na Liu Ting Du had many woman chasing after Na Liu Ting Du. She wondered why Hao Yan Che and Na Liu Ting Du didn’t have fat on their bodies. She rubbed her stomach, it was soft, no signs of bones underneath her stomach. She was envious Hao Yan Che and Na Liu Ting Du ate more than her, but they weren’t fat.
Yuan Gun Gun looked at the clock on the wall, it was eleven at night.
‘Young master,’ Yuan Gun Gun called. ‘I want to go to the bathroom.’
Hao Yan Che kept swimming. Yuan Gun Gun put the towel on a chair, she dashed to his bedroom to clean his bedroom and take her small friends back to her bedroom.
By the time Yuan Gun Gun returned to the swimming pool, Hao Yan Che was wiping his wet body with the towel. Then he flung the wet towel at her face.
‘Ow… young master, it’s wrong to throw your dirty towels at people,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
‘Where did you go?’ Hao Yan Che asked.
‘To the bathroom,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. She poked Hao Yan Che’s chest. ‘What’s wrong?’
Hao Yan Che ignored her and walked to his bedroom.
The following night at ten, Yuan Gun Gun used the same reason to sneak into Hao Yan Che’s bedroom. But she got caught the moment she opened the drawer.
‘Yuan Gun Gun!’ Hao Yan Che called.
Hao Yan Che glared at the small animals clinging to Yuan Gun Gun’s body.
‘Young master…’ Yuan Gun Gun said. She pointed at the white puppy on her lap. ‘Hehe… meet Xiao Yuan, Da Yuan’s puppy.’ She pointed at the white snake coiled on the white puppy’s head. ‘This is Xiao Chen, Da Chen’s child.’ She pointed at the baby hedgehog in the pocket of her apron. ‘This is Xiao Gun, Da Gun’s baby.’ She pointed at the chipmunk on her shoulder. ‘And this is Xiao Bi…’
‘Da Bi’s child,’ Hao Yan Che said.
‘Young master, you’re an incredible psychic,’ Yuan Gun Gun praised.
Hao Yan Che smiled for three seconds.
‘Yuan Gun Gun!’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘You dare raise animals in my room. I’m going to strangle you.’
Yuan Gun Gun took steps back.
‘Young master… don’t be angry,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I’ll take them outside.’
Hao Yan Che took a deep breath. He raised his hand to knock Yuan Gun Gun’s head.
‘Wait,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I’ll hit myself.’
Yuan Gun Gun knocked her own head. Hao Yan Che stared at her speechless while she rubbed the bump on her head.
‘It’s late,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Goodnight young master.’
‘Stop!’ Hao Yan Che said.
Yuan Gun Gun stood still.
‘Get rid of them,’ Hao Yan Che said.
Yuan Gun Gun shook her head.
‘Do you want me to get rid of them for you?’ Hao Yan Che asked.
‘Young master, look at Xiao Yuan’s cute white hair,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Look at Xiao Bi’s cute tail. Look at Xiao Chen’s smooth white skin, and Xiao Gun’s cute spins. Young master, let me keep them here.’
‘No!’ Hao Yan Che said.
‘Why?’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I’m alone here in your home. I don’t have my loving parents here. I don’t have my doting big brother Du here either. Why won’t you grant my small request?’
Yuan Gun Gun couldn’t stop herself from crying.
‘I want to go home… daddy… mummy… big brother Du…’ Yuan Gun Gun called.
***
‘Yuan Gun Gun, your tears are useless,’ Hao Yan Che said.
Yuan Gun Gun put her small friends on the floor. She wrapped her arms around Hao Yan Che’s neck and she kissed his cheek. He looked at the little ball’s lips, and couldn’t believe what happened.
‘Now can I raise them here?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.
Hao Yan Che pushed Yuan Gun Gun off him.
‘No,’ Hao Yan Che said.
‘Why?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘It always works on big brother Du…’
‘Yuan Gun Gun, be quiet!’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Who do you think you are? Do you think you’ll get your way if you kiss someone’s cheek?’
‘I…’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
Yuan Gun Gun didn’t know why Hao Yan Che was angry to that extent. She looked at her feet, and wiped her tears.
‘You’re right,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Tomorrow I’ll call big brother Du. He’ll come pick them up.’
Hao Yan Che hugged Yuan Gun Gun. He held her chin and kissed her apple red lips.
‘Young master… I can’t breathe,’ Yuan Gun Gun murmured.
Hao Yan Che bit Yuan Gun Gun’s tongue, and he nibbled her numb lips.
‘Young master… we can’t do this,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘My mummy told me, only two people who love each other can kiss on the lips.’
Hao Yan Che looked at Yuan Gun Gun’s rosy cheeks, and he let go of her.
‘Do you think I want to kiss you?’ Hao Yan Che asked. ‘It’s because I don’t want to lose. You took advantage of me by kissing me. I kissed you back so I won’t lose to you. In the future, you’re not allowed to take advantage of me again.’
‘Oh… I understand,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. She picked up her small friends. ‘Goodnight young master.’
‘Wait,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Take them outside to the garden. In the future they are not allowed inside.’
‘Young master, are you saying I can raise them here?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked. ‘Young master, you’re a good person.’
Yuan Gun Gun stood on her toes to kiss Hao Yan Che’s cheek. But he looked coldly at her. She took a step back and smiled at him.
‘Young master, don’t worry,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I won’t take advantage of you.’
‘Go to sleep,’ Hao Yan Che said.
‘Yes young master,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Goodnight.’
Yuan Gun Gun carried her small friends outside.
Hao Yan Che rubbed his cheek. He asked himself if he felt disappointed Yuan Gun Gun didn’t kiss him again.
At half past eight in the morning, Yuan Gun Gun woke up Hao Yan Che.
‘Young master, wake up!’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
Hao Yan Che opened his big violet eyes and looked at Yuan Gun Gun’s face.
‘Good morning young master,’ Yuan Gun Gun greeted.
Hao Yan Che got out of bed, and Yuan Gun Gun followed him to the bathroom.
‘Young master, what do you want to eat for breakfast?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.
Hao Yan Che brushed his teeth.
‘Did you take them to the garden?’ Hao Yan Che asked.
‘Not yet… don’t be angry,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. She fiddled her fingers. ‘It was cold last night. I was scared they would catch a cold.’
Hao Yan Che silently walked to Yuan Gun Gun’s bedroom. After he opened the door, her small friends woke up on the pink bed.
Yuan Gun Gun held Hao Yan Che’s wrists.
‘Young master, don’t hurt them,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.
The animals sat on the pink bed except Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan jumped off the bed, looked up at Hao Yan Che and barked at Hao Yan Che like Xiao Yuan was greeting Hao Yan Che.
Yuan Gun Gun hunched over Xiao Yuan to pick up Xiao Yuan.
‘You’re not allowed to hold it,’ Hao Yan Che said.
Yuan Gun Gun listened to Hao Yan Che. Hao Yan Che turned around and her small friends followed him like he was their young master.
***
End of Chapters Thirty-Nine to Forty