Chapter Thirteen: The Dream Recurs

  On the other side, Su Mochen led Qin Se and Sheng Xiao back to the main courtyard. The sky had already darkened. Before long, a seamstress from the needlework room came to take Su Mochen's measurements, preparing to make clothes. The seamstress was a clever person, seeing Qin Se, Sheng Xiao, and Liu Mama in the inner chamber, she knew they were Su Mochen's confidants, so she also took their measurements. Su Mochen gave her an extra glance.

  After finishing her bath, it was time for dinner. Without Liu Mama's instructions, the kitchen had already prepared a sumptuous meal suitable for a young lady. Su Mochen gazed at the lavish dinner spread before her and sneered inwardly.

  "Sit down and eat together!" Now it's still early spring, Su Mu Jin had someone set up dinner in the house. Looking at Qin Se Xiang, her body was as thin as a bamboo stick, wearing winter clothes that seemed empty. Her heart felt a pang, thinking of her past life when she relied on Qin Se Xiang for survival, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for them. "Don't be restrained, since Mother passed away, I've been living in a daze, unaware of things. If it weren't for you all protecting me, I'm afraid the Su family would have lost their eldest daughter long ago. Now that I've narrowly escaped death and thought things through, as the eldest daughter of this household, I mustn't let people look down on me. Otherwise, wouldn't that make Mother unable to rest in peace?"

  "Miss, you're thinking correctly." Madam Liu listened to her words and looked at her with comfort. Madam Liu had never married in her life, and the zither and flute were what she had raised, already treating them as family members. Looking at their thin bodies, how could she not feel heartache? She took the lead and sat down, then called out to the two of them, "You two shouldn't be too formal either. Miss is concerned about you, so in the future, serve Miss well, and don't let scoundrels take advantage of you, that's the way to repay Miss."

  Qin Se stared at the full table of dishes, her eyes shining brightly. Sheng Xiao was still okay, lowering her eyelids to avoid looking at the food. They had not eaten their fill for a long time. Previously, as long as they could get some delicious food from the kitchen, they would find ways to give it to the young lady. The two of them and Liu Mama had been gnawing on rice balls for a long time. The two listened to Liu Mama's words, swallowed hard, and responded softly, "We remember what you said, Mama." As they spoke, they sat down quietly.

  Su Mojin didn't have much of an appetite, and she was full after just a couple of bites. She put down her chopsticks and watched as Qin Se, Sheng Xiao, and the others wolfed down their food, and couldn't help but smile. Before long, the dishes were all empty, and Sheng Xiao looked at the messy table, his face flushing red with embarrassment, and he pursed his lips in discomfort.

  They are serving beside the girls, if others see such eating habits, won't they lose all the girl's face!

  "I'll forgive you this time, but next time don't gobble down your food like wolves and tigers."

  Qin Se took out a handkerchief and wiped away the oil stain from the corner of her mouth, looking embarrassed as she lowered her head.

  After dinner, Su Mojin sat for a while in the lamplight, and then Zhen Hong extinguished the lamp.

  Qin Se guarded the night and slept on the soft bed in the compartment. After a whole day, she was already exhausted, and as soon as her body touched the bed, she fell into a deep sleep.

  But there was no good dream, and the scenes of her past life came flooding in like a horse looking at flowers. On the spacious big bed, Su Mojin slept extremely restlessly, her fingers tightly grasping the quilt, her lips moving constantly, as if she was talking, but not making a sound, and beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

  In my dream, it was all Rui'er's appearance.

  "Mommy, Mommy, look what Rui'er brought for you?!" Little Ning Rui's big black eyes shone with joy. With a "smack", she planted a wet kiss on Su Mu Jin's face and then proudly pulled out a small handkerchief from behind her back. The handkerchief was embroidered by herself, with exquisite double-sided embroidery that was unmatched in the whole house. Su Mu Jin smiled slightly, took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom, and gently wiped Ning Rui's sweat, saying softly, "Rui'er brought Mommy something nice again! Mommy is really happy, but next time Rui'er must walk over calmly and not rush like this! On such a cool day, it's easy to catch a cold after sweating, and Rui'er hates taking medicine the most!"

  "Rui'er must be good and filial to his mother, or he will get sick."

  Su Mu Jin's heart warmed, and she stroked his small face, holding him on her lap. Under Ning Rui's expectant gaze, she opened the handkerchief, revealing a few dark purple grapes quietly lying inside, their plump juice staining the cloth, looking very appetizing.

  Her fingers paused, and a layer of misty air rose in her hazy eyes. How many years had passed? Besides Rui'er, who else knew that she loved to eat grapes the most?

  She glanced at Ning Rui's small face, which was full of expectant expressions. She smiled slightly and put a grape in her mouth, "Mmm... it's really delicious, Rui'er!"

  Little Ning Rui's sweet voice was gentle, hugging her neck and smiling with curved eyebrows, "As long as you like it, Mother."

  "Rui'er..."

  "Huh?"

  Su Mojin carefully wrapped the remaining grapes in a silk handkerchief and put them aside. She gently stroked Ning Rui's back, looking at his eyebrows which were identical to hers, feeling slightly relieved. In a soft voice, she said word by word, "Rui'er, from now on, you can't secretly bring the things Grandmother gave you here to Mother, do you understand?"

  Four-year-old Ning Rui is already very sensible.

  Upon hearing this, the small face scrunched up into a ball, like a delicate bun. The smile on his face gradually fell away, and his voice was tinged with disappointment, "Is it because Mother is afraid that Grandmother won't like me because of this?"

  Su Mo Jin didn't know how to explain to her four-year-old son why she wasn't liked by his grandmother, so she smiled lightly and stroked his little head.

  "Ruier has been out for a long time today, should go back to learn writing."

  Ning Rui's arm around her neck tightened.

  "But Rui'er doesn't want to go back, Rui'er wants to sleep with Mother. Mother, you've never slept with Rui'er before. I heard Xiaolu say that when she was little, Mother always slept with her."

  Su Mojin's heart felt a pang of sadness, and she almost shed tears.

  "It's Mother who owes Rui'er an apology..."

  "Mommy, mommy, don't cry. It's Rui'er who didn't listen and made you sad. Rui'er will listen to mommy's words and go back to write quietly. Mommy, don't cry."

  The little child was busy helping her wipe away tears, and her big phoenix eyes also became misty.

  Su Mu Jin blinked away the moisture in her eyes, grasped his chubby little hand and smiled gently, "It's just that Rui'er is too sensible, Mother is happy."

  "Really?!"

  "Really!"

  The scene changed suddenly.

  In the dimly lit house, cold room.

  Little Rui'er's pupils were dilated, and she whispered in pain, "Mother...Rui'er...it hurts!"

  Su Mu Jin's eyes suddenly opened, his heart was in severe pain, his breathing was heavy, and his face was deathly pale!

  As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a dark figure standing by the bed, and her breathing suddenly tightened!

  Digression

  Today is the college entrance examination, I wish all students can get good grades. Also, I wish one of my cousin's younger brother and two younger sisters can achieve their desired results and be admitted to their ideal schools.