The night gradually deepened. The evening wind howled, and the cicadas chirped softly.
Aunt Li carried a quilt and led Shu Yao into Xu Yi's room. As she made the bed, she said to Shu Yao apologetically, "Our place is small and there aren't many rooms for guests. You'll have to make do here. I'll take good care of the child at my place."
Shu Yao nodded and looked around the room. It was small but well - equipped.
All the necessary daily items were piled up in the room. Even the baskets, fruits and vegetables that should have been in the kitchen were "huddled" in every corner of the room.
The already small space became even more crowded, giving Shu Yao a bad visual experience and making him feel stuffy.
Aunt Li made a makeshift bed on the floor for Shu Yao, gave a few instructions and then left. "Xu Yi will be back later. Just leave the door open for him. You go to sleep. I'll go check on the child."
Shu Yao nodded blankly. The dim yellow candlelight cast strange shadows on the sundries. He thought these shadows looked just like the man - eating monsters in the storybooks.
He couldn't help but find it a bit funny. He was a tree spirit. How could he be afraid of being eaten?
There was no A Mu, no Ya Ya, and even that little thing wasn't by his side. Suddenly, a sense of loneliness welled up in his heart. Shu Yao got into the quilt uncomfortably.
The warm quilt soon lulled Shu Yao into a deep sleep. He usually slept lightly. Suddenly, he heard a loud "bang". A staggering figure stumbled into the room.
"Li... little beauty... burp. I'm here to play with you, big bro."
Shu Yao squinted his eyes and saw a burly body wriggling around like a headless fly. The dark - skinned face was flushed, with a lewd smile. Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth to the floor.
Taking a closer look, wasn't it Xu Yi?
What was wrong with him? He walked staggeringly and looked at Shu Yao with ill - intent, making Shu Yao's hair stand on end.
Before Shu Yao could think further, Xu Yi pounced on him. His big hands groped around randomly while he mumbled something disgusting.
"Oh my god, your skin is even softer than a girl's. Hahaha, where did my mother pick you up, such a beautiful thing? Let big bro have a taste first and then sell you to the entertainment house. With your good looks, I can make a fortune."
Shu Yao didn't know what he was up to. All he knew was that he felt nauseous and ashamed from Xu Yi's groping. Blushing, he pushed the drooling Xu Yi away forcefully.
"What are you doing? Why are you touching me?"
Seeing Shu Yao's innocent look, Xu Yi laughed even more. His already narrow features became even more repulsive and disgusting.
"What? Did I pick up a virgin? Then big bro has to love you even more."
Saying that, he quickly undressed and was about to pounce on Shu Yao again.
Even if he was naive, Shu Yao knew that what Xu Yi was about to do to him couldn't be good. Moreover, he was disgusted by Xu Yi's dirty appearance. Without thinking, he kicked Xu Yi hard in the chest.
Xu Yi was caught off guard. His burly body was thrown against the moldy wall and he howled in pain.
This commotion quickly attracted Aunt Li. "What's going on with you two?"
Seeing Xu Yi lying in the corner, Aunt Li was shocked. She quickly rushed over to help him up and asked about his injuries. She couldn't believe that a weak - looking young man like Shu Yao could kick her son like this.
Looking at the calm and composed Shu Yao on one side and the howling Xu Yi in the corner on the other, after all, Xu Yi was her own son. Aunt Li couldn't hold back her anger and shouted at Shu Yao.
"I was kind enough to take you in. Why did you kick my son? You... you ungrateful wretch!"
Shu Yao felt wronged. Why did she conclude that he had deliberately hurt Xu Yi without even asking about the cause?
Seeing Shu Yao standing there in a daze, Xu Yi quickly shifted the blame onto him. He sobbed and wiped his snot, looking like a real victim.
"Mom, you don't know. He's just a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has evil intentions towards our family. We were so good to him, but he beat me up. It's unjust!"
Shu Yao had no way to defend himself. Even if he told the truth, Aunt Li probably wouldn't believe him. Xu Yi's acting was so real that an outsider might really think Shu Yao had done something immoral.
Aunt Li glared at Shu Yao fiercely. She never thought that taking him in would be like inviting a wolf into the house. Looking at the red mark on Xu Yi's chest, she felt heart - ache.
"No... he touched me first." Stung by Aunt Li's look, which made him uncomfortable and also confused about her disbelief, Shu Yao blushed and quickly defended himself.
"You're talking nonsense. I'm a man. Why would I have evil intentions towards you? I... I just saw that your quilt wasn't covered properly and wanted to cover you up. Who knew you would beat me up first? Besides, I don't have such a perverse hobby."
Xu Yi scratched his head nervously. Aunt Li firmly believed that her son didn't have such a hobby. She pointed at Shu Yao's nose and scolded.
"My son is not what you said. I was blind to take you in, you ungrateful wretch. Now you take the child and leave."
She felt pity for the child and wanted to say something to keep them, but the words were already out and she didn't have the face to take them back.
The dim yellow candlelight shone on Aunt Li and Xu Yi's faces, each with their own mask.
Shu Yao felt a sudden pang of sadness in his heart and didn't want to stay any longer. There was a saying in the storybook:
If this place won't keep me, there will surely be somewhere else.
With that in mind, Shu Yao took the child and disappeared into the dark night.
The night was deep and the wind was strong. It was very cold outside. The bustling market in the morning was now empty. Only Shu Yao and the child were wandering alone.
Shu Yao couldn't bear it anymore. He stopped at an abandoned temple with the child in his arms. Holding the quiet child, his eyes finally turned red.
He couldn't hide his grievances. Why didn't Aunt Li believe him?
In the end, only this child was quietly accompanying him. "I didn't expect that in the end, only you're by my side. We're quite pitiful. I've seen the ways of the world today. I miss home a bit."
Shu Yao mumbled to the innocent child. The child blinked his big eyes and made soft humming sounds from his small mouth, as if comforting Shu Yao's wounded heart.
"I know you're trying to comfort me. You're so nice. I like you. By the way, I haven't given you a name yet. How about calling you Shu Yue? Do you like it?"
Shu Yao held Shu Yue's small hand and happily talked to himself.