“Alright, stop crying. You’re a hardworking and sensible child. Heaven favors children like you, so it’s fine… Follow me from now on, and I will never let you suffer again.”
“Don’t cry. Look at you, you’re washing my feet and wiping your own tears at the same time. You’re getting the dirty water all over your face. Isn’t that gross? Stop crying now…”
Shen Yu looked at the weeping girl with a sense of helplessness.
In truth, if she put herself in the girl’s shoes, she could understand what was going on in Yin Qiu’s head.
At the end of the day, she was just a child—a child forcing herself to pretend to be mature.
Shen Yu, who was well-versed in Child Psychology, understood Yin Qiu’s emotions better than anyone.
For Yin Qiu, the moment she met Shen Yu was a choice between heaven and hell.
If Shen Yu had rejected her, she likely would have been sold to a brothel in the Capital City by now.
If that had happened, the news of Shen Yu being chosen by the current Emperor and the official decree being announced on the streets… she probably would have heard it from the mouths of brothel patrons or a madam.
“Sister isn’t dirty at all. Sister smells so, so good… sob…”
Yin Qiu’s words were still a bit mumbled.
This seemingly strong little girl was truly difficult to soothe once she finally broke down and started crying.
Even though she was overwhelmed with grief and felt wronged, she couldn’t bring herself to stop washing Shen Yu’s feet.
Her small body knelt on the floor, sobbing as she meticulously continued the task.
It was a sight that made one feel both pity and heartache.
Shen Yu could only resort to the same tactics she used back in her past life as a Standardized Residency Training Doctor: painting a bright vision for the girl.
From a psychological perspective, while making grand promises could be considered shameless, it was highly effective for boosting morale.
As the girl listened to the bright future Shen Yu described, her crying gradually subsided.
Under Shen Yu’s patient comfort and motivational speech, just thirty minutes later… not only had Yin Qiu’s mindset stabilized, but her enthusiasm had also surged.
Now, filled with hope for the future, Yin Qiu was brimming with energy.
she could hardly wait for dawn to arrive so she could go to Yimin Hall with Shen Yu to register and start her shift.
“Don’t worry, Sister! Yin Qiu will definitely work hard!”
Yin Qiu’s face was flushed, and the bridge of her delicate nose was red.
Shimmering tear stains still lingered on her cheeks—remnants of her crying—but her beautiful, spirited eyes were full of hope.
Shen Yu had been with Yin Qiu for about fifteen days now, and this was the first time she had seen the girl’s eyes light up like that.
It had to be said that Yin Qiu was truly beautiful and easy on the eyes.
“Sister, Sister, I’ve already folded the clothes you need to wear tomorrow. They’re at the foot of the bed.”
“Sister, Sister, I’m blowing out the lamp now. Stop reading and get some rest.”
“Sister, Sister! The bed is all warmed up. Come inside quickly.”
The nights in late autumn were quite cold.
The girl had taken off her outer clothes and wore only a red camisole that was slightly faded from washing.
Shivering, she used her body heat to make Shen Yu’s side of the bed warm and cozy.
Afterward, while ushering Shen Yu into the bed, she began to crawl toward her own makeshift pallet on the floor in the dark.
Because the inn was fully booked, the only room left for Shen Yu was one with a single large bed.
Since they had nowhere else to go, they had no choice but to take it.
Yin Qiu had volunteered to sleep on the floor, leaving the bed for Shen Yu.
But in this late autumn season, the inn wasn’t as well-insulated as the hotels in Shen Yu’s past life.
Sleeping on the floor for a whole night would definitely lead to a cold.
“Don’t go. Where are you going?”
“To the floor. I’ll leave the bed for Sister. I’ll be fine sleeping on the floor.”
In the darkness, Yin Qiu felt Shen Yu grab her arm.
Although she couldn’t see anything in the pitch-black room, the warmth of Shen Yu’s palm made her face flush for no reason.
‘Sister’s hand is so soft. Sister really smells so, so good…’
“What if you catch a cold sleeping on the ground all night? Do you know how much a dose of Cold Medicine costs? You’d be suffering from the illness and wasting money.”
At the mention of “wasting money,” Yin Qiu flinched instantly.
She hadn’t reacted at all to the mention of suffering from illness, but she had a deep obsession with the cost of things.
“T-That’s true.”
“Come back and sleep with me. I’ll hold you tonight to keep you warm.”
“…O-Okay! Then Yin Qiu will keep Sister’s body warm.”
Although Yin Qiu agreed, she only dared to lie cautiously on the very edge of the bed, leaving most of the space for Shen Yu.
She didn’t even dare to move her arms or legs, fearing that a single toss or turn would upset Shen Yu.
In the darkness, sensing how cautious Yin Qiu was, Shen Yu couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.
She reached out in the dark and pulled the young girl’s arm.
“Don’t be so stiff. Hold my waist. There—isn’t that much warmer? Alright, go to sleep.”
“Yes! Yes… Sister.”
Inside the warm blankets, Yin Qiu couldn’t fall asleep at all, yet Shen Yu fell asleep without any burden.
Even breathing, accompanied by warm breaths, brushed against Yin Qiu’s face.
Yin Qiu felt as if she were completely surrounded by a wonderful fragrance.
Against her hand was the soft and delicate touch of her sister’s waist.
In her nose was the warm scent of her sister’s body, mixed with a hint of medicinal fragrance.
And in the dim light, that stunningly beautiful face was just inches away.
“Ugh…”
Yin Qiu let out a subconscious whimper.
‘How could I possibly sleep like this? Sister…’
Yin Qiu instinctively pressed her legs together, unable to keep them dry.
Her face grew hotter and hotter.
She felt as if something in her heart had quietly broken through its seal.
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