CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: COME TO THE STUDY, I’LL TEACH YOU

As soon as Song Fang came back, she went to the kitchen to boil water. When she brought it in, she saw Song Wei still in the room, wiping Wen Wan’s forehead with a handkerchief. She quickly turned away, "Third Brother, go and call the doctor. I’ll take care of Sister-in-law; it’s nothing serious."

Song Wei glanced at Wen Wan and saw her determined look. He hesitated, "Your sister-in-law means that she just needs to rest for a while and there’s no need to call the doctor."

The urgency on Song Fang’s face hadn’t faded, "She’s in so much pain, how can it be nothing?"

At that moment, Song Fang suddenly shut her mouth, thinking perhaps her sister-in-law was having her period and couldn’t bring herself to say it in front of her brother, so she didn’t want a doctor called?

Not caring to think it over, Song Fang took a few quick steps, put the bowl of hot water on the table, pushed Song Wei out, and closed the door before sitting down next to Wen Wan to ask if it was her period causing the stomach pain. If so, she should nod, and she added that she had experienced it too. Her mother had made some herbal remedies, and there were still some left at home. If Sister-in-law couldn’t bear it, she would cook some immediately, ensuring it would take effect right after consumption.

Wen Wan shook her head, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips, though she felt frustrated inside. If only she could speak, saying something would be easier instead of always having to go in circles, leaving people worried and unclear.

Song Fang asked several times, and each time Wen Wan shook her head, leaving Song Fang a bit puzzled. Finally, she blamed herself for not understanding her third sister-in-law’s subtle cues and had no choice but to open the door and invite Song Wei back in.

Song Wei sat down and pressed the back of his hand to Wen Wan’s forehead. It was neither hot nor cold, just normal body temperature.

Knowing she had calmed down, Song Wei looked at Song Fang, "Do you need the embroidery thread urgently?"

Song Fang stared at him, "At a time like this, you still care about my embroidery thread?" She handed him the half-cooled bowl of hot water, "Take care of Third Sister-in-law; I’ll go unload the cart."

Song Wei helped Wen Wan sit up, one arm around her shoulders and back, while the other offered her water.

Wen Wan actually wanted to say she was perfectly fine, and there was no need to treat her as if she were a critically ill patient, but after thinking about it, she gave up on explaining.

"Did Wanwan deliberately stop me from going to the county because she didn’t want to travel with Second Sister-in-law or for another reason?" Putting down the bowl, Song Wei’s deep, mellow voice finally broke the silence.

From Wen Wan’s viewpoint, he was sitting with his back to the light, his features shrouded in shadow, unclear, making him appear more profound.

Wen Wan leaned back against the headboard, thought for a while, then pulled his hand over and wrote four words in his palm: Do you blame me?

The man’s fingers were slender yet strong, his palm big and wide, with deep lines, and each of her touches seemed to caress the traces time had etched there.

He was no inexperienced young lad.

Wen Wan clearly understood she was facing a mature man who had seen much of the world. Many things could not escape his eyes, and the more she concealed, the more childish it would seem.

She wanted to confess to an unusual premonition, but it was too frightening. She couldn’t imagine how he would react upon learning the truth.

So, she wanted to first test his attitude, to see if he was mad about her feigning illness.

Song Wei lowered his gaze.

The little girl writing in his palm had already retracted her hand, as if a schoolchild afraid of being hit with a ruler after doing something wrong. She simply tucked her hand under the covers, cautiously and a bit fearfully glancing at him, before sitting up straight with a composed and obedient look, ready to listen attentively.

Her playful and adorable little action instantly softened Song Wei’s expression.

Not that he intended to blame her at all; even if he did, she had melted it all away with her charm.

Without making Wen Wan labor to explain anything, Song Wei directly attributed the cause to his second sister-in-law, thinking that since the little girl didn’t like her, they could simply avoid the second household in the future.

He reached out, pulled the hand she had tucked under the blanket into his palm, squeezed it. It was soft.

"Can you write your own name?"

Wen Wan thought for a moment and shook her head.

Her name had too many strokes and was too difficult to write.

"Let’s go to the study. I’ll teach you."

Seeing Song Wei intentionally change the topic, Wen Wan understood that he wasn’t angry with her. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, her mouth curving into a smile. Song Wei felt as if his heart was being gently kneaded, turning to mush.