Chapter 12: New Clothes

This meal was eaten harmoniously by the two of them.

Perhaps accepting the fact that she was going to stay, Bai Cheng'an no longer had yesterday's frosty demeanor.

Even during the meal, he asked for her name.

"I... I... am called... Lin... Lin... Ruan Ruan." With a mouthful of food, Lin Ruan Ruan's vague voice sounded even more tender.

If it weren't for her tall figure, no one would suspect she was just twelve or thirteen.

"Lin... Ruan?" Bai Cheng'an paused his hand from picking up the meat, furrowing his brow at the girl.

Though she was delicately beautiful and indeed quite soft, her name shouldn't be 'Ruan.'

"Two... two... two 'Ruan's." Swallowing the delicious meat, Lin Ruan Ruan gestured with two fingers.

"Two 'Ruan's!" Bai Cheng'an widened his eyes. Were her parents afraid she wasn't soft enough?

Lin Ruan Ruan tilted her head. What was wrong with two 'Ruan's?

This rough man shouldn't be so shocked just because she's called Lin Ruan Ruan, even though her name does have some personality.

Wait, Ruan Ruan... soft soft...

This guy wouldn't have misunderstood, right?

"N... n... not that 'soft'... it's... it's the 'Ruan' in my surname." She became flustered, her tongue starting to twist. Even after a long time, she couldn't finish what she wanted to say, wishing to bite off her unruly tongue.

"The 'Ruan' in your surname?" Bai Cheng'an continued.

Lin Ruan Ruan vigorously nodded, yes yes, it's that 'Ruan.'

"In that case, 'Soft' Mian Mian would be better." Bai Cheng'an commented aptly.

Lin Ruan Ruan: ...

She couldn't get over this 'soft' joke.

"You... you..."

"I'm Bai Cheng'an." Without waiting for Lin Ruan Ruan to finish asking, Bai Cheng'an answered directly.

She stuttered so much, who knows when she'll be able to finish a complete sentence, it's better if he just answers directly.

Now that she knew his name, Lin Ruan Ruan nodded in agreement. Bai Cheng'an, it's not a particularly stunning name either.

With a name like this, he dared to make fun of her.

Anyway, this meal was much more harmonious than yesterday's.

After the meal, Bai Cheng'an went straight to wash the dishes and pans, while Lin Ruan Ruan collapsed on the bed, pondering about the meat she just ate, which was different from the meat she used to eat.

By the time Bai Cheng'an finished everything and returned, she had already fallen asleep like a log.

From her delicate nose came the unexpected sound of snoring.

During the daytime, the sun wasn't so cold, but now that night had fallen, a chilly feeling began to creep into her heart.

Occupying his bed, the girl simply wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, leaving only a small head exposed.

Under that head of hers, beneath the slightly yellowed strands of hair, was a bruise that hadn't completely healed.

Frowning, Bai Cheng'an turned away. When he returned, he brought with him a white piece of cloth, bought with the money he earned from selling the wild mountain goat he hunted today.

He even left a bit of the meat they ate just now for her. This girl was so thin, she probably hadn't been eating properly.

Gently wiping Lin Ruan Ruan's face, he checked the swelling bruise. What kind of mood would she have had to be in to get such a serious bruise...

Feeling a warm thing brush against her face, Lin Ruan Ruan instinctively reached out to grab it, trying to hold onto that warmth.

Held by her, Bai Cheng'an's expression changed for a moment. When he realized she was pulling his big hand toward her chest, he was even more excited and directly shook off her soft little hand.

"You girl, why are you so wanton?" He cursed quietly, turning away.

But his cursing voice was so quiet that even he could barely hear it, and Lin Ruan Ruan certainly wouldn't have heard it. He left angrily, but the person in the bed was still sleeping sweetly.

It was just that the sudden withdrawal of warmth made her frown slightly, then turned over and continued to sleep soundly.

Outside, the autumn wind roared, and the thatched grass on the roof was blown off in twos and threes.

After washing himself clean, Bai Cheng'an brought back a set of clean women's clothes.

"Today's purchase reminded him of Lin Ruan Ruan's worn-out clothes when he passed by the ready-made clothing shop.

Not only were they worn-out, but also dirty, and very thin.

Although it still seemed sunny in autumn, the weather was gradually getting colder.

Her thin clothes couldn't block the cold in the morning, making her susceptible to catching a chill.

He placed the clothes on a nearby shelf, pondered for a moment, then decided to throw away that set of old clothes.

This way, tomorrow she would only be able to wear the clothes she bought herself.

With these thoughts in mind, he lay back on the bed.

As soon as he lay down, the girl who had already occupied his bed came closer, unabashedly pressing her body against his.

Frowning, he looked at the woman clinging to him with some disdain.

He had never seen such a bold and wanton girl in his life. He wondered if it was because she had been married before that she was so unabashed around men.

Though he lacked a wife, he wouldn't just settle for any woman.

Whether she was a widow or not didn't matter, nor did it matter if she stuttered. What mattered was that she didn't throw herself at any man she saw.

At this moment, Lin Ruan Ruan was sleeping soundly and unaware of his thoughts.

After a gust of wind, she snuggled closer to him.

Bai Cheng'an felt somewhat annoyed. He should push this woman away, or even throw her out of the room.

But seeing the injury on her head, and her stuttering speech, he felt a twinge of pity.

Moreover, with so many people causing her trouble, throwing her out would practically be sentencing her to death.

In today's troubled times, if he could save one unfortunate soul, it could be considered accumulating merit...

The autumn wind roared all night, and who knows how much thatched grass was blown off the wooden house.

When Lin Ruan Ruan woke up, Bai Cheng'an was no longer in the wooden house.

She noticed the set of brand new light yellow clothes by the bed. When she picked them up, she realized they were women's clothes that fit her size perfectly.

That burly man actually bought clothes for her!

Her eyebrows raised slightly, and Lin Ruan Ruan felt somewhat pleased.

She was just a girl picked up from the roadside, yet he still bought her new clothes. Such a simple-hearted man, easily deceived.

Looking around, she noticed her old tattered clothes from yesterday were nowhere to be found.

Could it be that he was afraid she wouldn't wear the clothes he bought, so he threw away all the old ones?

Thinking this, her already pleasant mood improved even more.

Such a good man, it would be a shame if he were deceived by some woman.

After changing into the light yellow dress, although the fabric didn't seem expensive, it was much more comfortable than what she had worn before.

Her previous clothes were made of coarse hemp, hard and rough, which would painfully chafe her skin.

After carefully tying her hair to match the dress, she wanted to go find Bai Cheng'an."