This time, little Li Mei's heart thumped in her chest as a trace of anxiety appeared, sitting slowly into the depths of her heart.
Why was he coming?
That little fatty kid seemed to like running like a little toddler who couldn't run fast, but despite his clumsiness, he still wanted to make a run.
Ever since Li Mei was born, she knew her position well. Daughter of a fallen demonic sect that was worthless as slaves. She knew she couldn't make friends even if she tried to. So everytime children of Li family friends came to play, she could only stand on the side and stare at them playing from the sidelines.
Thus, aside from the servants at home, she wouldn't talk even a single word to anyone else. So when she witnessed the little fatty kid rushing toward her like this, she didn't know what to do.
What if he talked to her?
How should she reply to him?
No, she shouldn't talk to him. What if Madam Li scolds him too, because of being in contact with a demon?!
Li Mei pursed her lips and forcibly shifted her gaze away from the little, adorable, fatty young boy and ran outside with an empty bucket in her hand. That's the only thing she could do to save the young boy from his fate.
But who would have thought the little fatty kid would be so persistent? As she rushed out of the house from the backdoor beside the well, she heard the sound of footsteps crushing dried leaves on the ground. Thus, when she reached deeper into the bushes, she stopped abruptly and turned around, glaring at the little fatty boy.
"Go away!"
"Huh?" The little fatty boy also stopped, tilting his head in confusion. "But why? I only wanted to ask your name."
"I don't have a name!" Li Mei pursed her small lips in a thin line and said, "You shouldn't even glance in my direction."
"Why?" The little fatty kid seemed to be extremely naive as he looked at her.
"Because…" Li Mei made a sad face as her hand around the bucket tightened automatically. "I'm a demon."
The fatty boy frowned and asked, "So?"
He asked as if he didn't care about Li Mei's identity as a demon. Even the little girl was stunned by those words. She couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you disgusted with me?"
"Why should I?" The little fatty boy walked over and finally stood a foot away from her, showing a mild smile on his face. "You're beautiful."
Li Mei's heart jumped in her chest once again, but she still knew she couldn't stand here for a long time. She anxiously glanced at the house and said, "Go back. Please. If you don't, Madam Li will beat me for talking to you."
The little boy hesitated.
"If you don't want me beaten, please, go back."
"Okay, but I only wanted to ask you a question." This time, the little boy finally asked what he wanted to say for a while, "Have we met before?"
Li Mei shook her head. This adorable fatty boy had never appeared in her house before to play with her siblings. And she never got to go out of her house and see other people because no one lived between her house and the river down the mountain.
Thus, she was sure she never met him, but…
"I feel like I know you."
Li Mei's heart thumped for another time. Before she could open her mouth and speak a single word, childish voices echoed from the inside.
"Haohao! Where did you run off to?"
"Haohao!"
"Come back!"
"We still want to hear you play!"
"I think they are calling you," Li Mei pointed to the backdoor and said, "Go back."
The fatty little kid's eyes momentarily glanced back at the backdoor. But when he turned around once again, the little girl was already gone. He stood there, looking sad as he stared at the place where she was standing a while ago. He didn't know why… He seemed to be feeling traces of sadness in his heart.
Despite not wanting to be separate, little Li Mei still forced herself to walk through the bushes. Her heart felt as if it was going to be torn apart by the number of steps she was taking.
No, why was she feeling like this for a stranger? The little fatty wasn't her brother or family member. So why?
By the time Li Mei returned, she found out that Haohao had already returned to his home. Even though she was curious about the little guy's identity, she didn't want to make trouble for him. Thus, she curbed her desire and continued to work as usual.
But to her surprise, he appeared the next day too, and the next, and the next day after that! Every time he appeared, he would glance in her direction as if telling Li Mei to go out and wait for him.
At first, the little girl would ignore his gestures and continue to bring buckets one after another. But then, after a few days, she found herself standing in the bushes, waiting for the little fatty kid.
No way, was she even waiting for him?! Had she gone insane or something?
Before she could make up her mind and force herself to turn around once again, the little boy finally rushed over to her on time and gasped for breath, leaning against a tree.
"Thank… God…." Gasp. "You…" Gasp. "Didn't…." Gasp…. "Run away again!"
"Okay, out with it. What do you want with me?" Li Mei finally asked the question she had long wanted to ask ever since she found this little adorable guy chasing after her every single day despite knowing her identity. "I am a child of a demon. Demon! Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"But I only want to be friends with you." Haohao felt wronged as he pouted and said, "At least let me accompany you to the river, yeah?"
Li Mei hesitated. Sure, she also wanted to accompany him, but what about those siblings behind? Wouldn't they find out that Haohao was missing soon?!
Without even asking, the little guy chuckled as a trace of cunningness flashed across his eyes. "We were playing hide and seek. So I should currently be hiding from them, shouldn't I?"
"Oh…" This little guy was too smart for his own good. But what the heck was he using his smartness for?!
Li Mei pursed her lips. Even though she was anxious, her heart burst out of warmth as she glanced at the backdoor and said, "Whatever."