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Translated by newbienoona

Edited and proofread by pumpkingirl920

She doesn't remember how she finally got back up, but she takes a few steps back before running the hall in a circle. The dog starts chasing her. Eventually, she hides behind Han Qilu and tightly wraps her arms around his waist. The dog still thinks they're playing a game of peek-a-boo.

"Help!" She latches on to Qilu pitifully, tears start streaming from her eyes.

Touched by her plea, he says, "Batian, go away. Otherwise you're not getting dinner."

The dog is ready to pounce on An Chuxia but the warning held him at bay. Finally, the dog obeys and sits down. The dog and Chuxia exchange gazes. She feels if she breaks contact, he will lunge at her.

Qilu laughs, finding the situation rather ridiculous as he watches their expressions.

Puzzled, she asks nervously, "Why are you laughing?" Her eyes dare not leave the dog. However, the dog seems to be bored. He stretches his paws before him. He blinks his eyes lazily before resting his head on his forefoot. The dog's eyes shut as its chin hits the back of the paws.

She is relieved.

He never thought he'd see the day An Chuxia feared anything. He is proud of this discovery. "I was laughing… ."

She glances at him despicably. She is anxious because she feels bullied.

"Miss, I said… ." Qilu leans so close to her face he can smell a light fragrance with a hint of milk on her. "Did you have to hold on to me this whole time?"

She suddenly remembers throwing her arms tightly around his waist! She releases him quickly. A pink tinge colors her cheeks instantly.

"I'm sorry!" She apologizes politely.

Han Qilu lifts an eyebrow to her. "My family seems to like Batian, but it seems like you don't. To us, he's cute. He usually doesn't care for others. But you… he seems to like you a lot."

She seems to be caught in a trance. Han Qilu pokes her face to wake her up from her stupor. It shocks him to see the sadness in her eyes.

"When I was younger… much younger, my father would go philandering, leaving me and my mother. One night, I had a high fever. My father took our money and my mother couldn't take me to the doctor. She had to go to the streets and beg." She remembers vividly the scent of pantothenic acid.

Han Qilu knew she was from a poor family but he was unaware how dire things were. His chest tightens. Why is he feeling distressed?

"That day, my mother calls me over to the doorstep, and this rich man stands before us. He gives us this dog to protect me and my mother. Sadly, all the dog did was leave bite marks on my feet," she recalls. Another tear rolls down her cheek.

She wakes up from her melancholia and realizes she's said too much. She finds Jian Yuan standing by the kitchen door, crying. Next to her is steward Han, stoically trying to hide the tear in his eye.

"That's why I'm afraid of dogs," An Chuxia says, smiling, acting like nothing happened. "You know what? This story isn't that poignant. My tears just flow quickly."

Translated by newbienoona

Edited and proofread by anks

Jiang Yuan smiles as she marvels at An Chuxia. She rushes over and hugs her tightly.

“Xiao Xia, mother will make sure you won't get hurt again," Jiang Yuan promises, crying profusely. An Chuxia thinks this family has been good to her. She feels safe.

She still feels the Hans owe her. However, her mother had late stage cancer, and helping others keep on living was what she wanted.

Now, she may have been wrong. Everyone experiences parting and meeting. Everyone encounters sad and happy things. It's important to experience the rain to smile again.

"Xiao Xia, mama decided you shouldn't go to school. You're more tired now! Stay at home and enjoy the break." An Chuxia regards these words as the beginning to her end.

What is there to enjoy? She is not an old man. When did she suddenly turn into a mother? What would become of her?

"That… ," she wants to say to Jiang Yuan but can't find the words to say so.

Qilu glances at his mother and impatiently pulls her away from Chuxia.

"Old woman, hold her any tighter and she'll suffocate," he says coldly, but without the usual frost. His mother has always felt powerless. Maybe it's her naivete but he usually doesn't question.

"I'm not the one distressed. My An Chuxia is!" she argues.

"Now you're going to deprive other people's right to education? Despite being an author, you still have much to understand." Qilu suddenly frowns. He lifts his nose and sniffs. "What's that smell?"

“Agh, my steak!!!" Jiang Yuan screams before running back to the kitchen. Then she comes out shouting, "Fix it!!!"

Chuxia and Qilu tacitly look toward the kitchen, shaking their heads.

“What is there to fix?" Han Liuhai asks as he enters the hall. Steward Han quickly retrieves the master's briefcase and jacket.

“My steak!!!” Jiang Yuan cries her eyes out. “I stubbornly asked the chef to let me make dinner, so I can cook the steak I've learned to prepare."

Han Qilu mercilessly says, “You have no one to blame but yourself!"

Liuhai shoots Qilu a withering stare. He walks to his wife and shows sympathy and affection. "There's no chance of fixing it."

She calms down a little bit but she pitifully states, “But if I don't fix it, we won't have dinner."

"I just want you to calm down," Liuhai says, chuckling. He turns his head to Chuxia and says, "Remember yesterday when I told you we will make arrangements to settle your ident.i.ty at the school? Now, I will take you where you can be familiar with them."