Chapter 53: Sister-in-law

"Sister-in-law!"

Qiu Yiyao was startled. What on earth? Just a moment ago she was "elder sister," and after barely a few minutes she had been upgraded to "sister-in-law." Did your brother even know about this?

She looked skeptically at Bai Peiyu, watching him put on a stern face and scold, "Stop shouting nonsense."

"I'm not shouting nonsense. You and sister-in-law have the exact same scent. This is..."

Before Bai Lixuan could finish, Bai Peiyu had already stepped forward to cover his mouth. "Go cut some watermelon. I'm thirsty."

The more Bai Peiyu tried to cover it up, the more curious Qiu Yiyao became. "What does that mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything. His sense of smell isn't very sharp; he got it wrong."

Since when could someone get a scent wrong?

Qiu Yiyao didn't believe it. She raised her arm and sniffed carefully, but indeed couldn't smell anything unusual.

Seeing her sitting there alone, alternately raising her arm and pulling at her clothes, Bai Peiyu wore a helpless expression and followed Bai Lixuan into the kitchen.

Moments later, he came out with two slices of watermelon, handing the larger piece to Qiu Yiyao.

"I've already told Uncle Qiu that we'll be heading back a bit later."

Qiu Yiyao looked at the heavy rain outside the door, then glanced down at the time. It was nearly twelve o'clock. "I wonder when this rain will stop."

"Probably not until tomorrow morning," Bai Peiyu said, lowering his head to eat his watermelon while making sure to add, "If you're in a rush to go back now, I can take you."

"No, there's nothing waiting for me back there anyway."

What Qiu Yiyao said was the truth. In that house, she might have seemed free, but in reality, people were watching her every move at every turn.

From Granny Wang to Grandpa Qin, and even Li Zhen—none of their loyalties were clear. Staying here was much more liberating.

A loud roll of thunder accompanied an even heavier downpour. Bai Lixuan ran out from the kitchen, crying, "Brother, I want to sleep."

"Take a bath first. You smell like you've been rolling in the dirt."

Bai Peiyu placed his watermelon rind on the table and did not forget to instruct Qiu Yiyao, "I'm going to give him a bath. You should get some rest, too."

"Oh, go ahead."

In the living room, besides the table and chairs, a pile of straw was laid out in the corner. Xiao Hei was sleeping soundly on top of it. The last time she came, she had seen Bai Lixuan sleeping there as well.

Qiu Yiyao walked over to the bedroom at the other end. The moment she reached the doorway, a familiar fragrance wafted toward her.

Switching on the light, she found that the interior furnishings felt like an entirely different world compared to the living room.

Inside was a large bed with clean, neat sheets, accompanied by a bookshelf and a desk.

Catching that scent, Qiu Yiyao knew instantly that Bai Peiyu must have lived in this room.

Thinking of how he always came and went like a phantom, she guessed he must have stayed here to take care of Bai Lixuan because he couldn't put his mind at ease elsewhere.

She walked over to the bookshelf and casually pulled down a book, which turned out to be a volume on history.

Opening it, she saw meticulous notes written in blue ink throughout the pages.

"I wouldn't have thought that guy could be so studious."

She stood on tiptoe to pull down another book. Although it had been placed on the topmost shelf, not a speck of dust was on it.

The book contained similar annotations, though the handwriting clearly transitioned from childish to mature.

She placed the book back onto the shelf, unable to suppress a yawn, and unconsciously sat down on the edge of the bed.

She thought she would just rest for a moment—just for a moment.

Who would have thought that once she fell asleep, she would sleep straight through until dawn.

When sunlight streamed through the window and onto the bed, Qiu Yiyao finally rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Instinctively, she reached under the pillow to feel for her phone, but her fingers brushed against nothing. That was when reality set in.

Noticing the small blanket draped over her body, she couldn't help hitting herself hard on the forehead.

"Didn't I just say I'd rest for a moment? How did I manage to sleep the morning away? That guy is definitely going to tease me later."

She hurriedly put on her shoes and dashed out.

In the living room, apart from Xiao Hei lying on the straw with its eyes wide open watching her, there was no one else.

Stepping into the kitchen, she found the back door wide open, and the sound of laughter drifted in from the vegetable patch behind the house.

Bai Peiyu spotted Qiu Yiyao first. Carrying a melon in his hands, he walked toward her and said, "You're awake? Must be hungry. We'll have some melon in a bit."

He lifted the melon in his hand and shook it at Qiu Yiyao. It was a sweet melon.

"Mhm, whatever you grow is bound to taste good."

A sense of unexpected relaxation washed over Qiu Yiyao's heart.

Behind him, Bai Lixuan came running toward them happily, holding a melon in one hand and clutching a pear in the other.

"Look, sister-in-law, there's melon."

He was so eager to show the melon in his hand to Qiu Yiyao that he failed to notice the tangled melon vines covering the ground, and with a clumsy thud, he tripped and fell flat.

The melon and the pear flew out of his hands, tracing two separate arcs through the air before landing more than two meters away, splitting into several pieces upon impact.

Bai Lixuan looked up, saw that his melon was shattered, and his mouth drooped in sorrow as he prepared to cry again.

Qiu Yiyao frowned slightly, hurried over, and picked up a piece of the melon. "Don't cry, Lixuan. Look, it's still edible."

To prove she wasn't lying—and without caring that the melon was still stained with mud—she lowered her head and took a large bite. "Mmm... so sweet."

Seeing this, Bai Lixuan scrambled up from the ground, picked up a piece as well, popped it into his mouth, and flashed a goofy smile. "Sister-in-law, good."

Watching his innocent expression, Qiu Yiyao suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

She had heard every word spoken in the woods last night. Xiao Yi had driven the Bai family to their deaths, forcing the brothers to rely solely on each other. No doubt Bai Lixuan's condition was deeply connected to that tragic upheaval.

Yet whenever she caught the fleeting sorrow in Bai Peiyu's eyes, she couldn't help but envy Bai Lixuan for being able to remain as happy as a child.

"Sister-in-law, why aren't you eating anymore?"

Having finished his piece of melon, Bai Lixuan looked completely puzzled upon seeing Qiu Yiyao lost in thought.

"I'm not hungry right now. You eat it."

With mud still smudged across Bai Lixuan's face, Qiu Yiyao instinctively raised her hand to gently wipe it clean.

Taking in this scene, Bai Peiyu lowered his gaze to the melon in his hands, let out a soft sigh, and turned to walk back inside the house.