Chapter 39: Teaching

‘She’s so good to me. I misunderstood her before.’

Xing Lian thought to herself, her attitude towards Yue Li growing even gentler.

Yue Li sensed it quickly and was overjoyed.

The person she liked was gradually starting to like her back. 

Nothing in the world could make her happier than this.

Feeling that their affection was mutual, she increasingly wanted to be with Xing Lian day and night.

But for the sake of Xing Lian’s health, she couldn’t do that. 

It was truly regrettable.

Xing Lian also wanted to stay with Yue Li.

Not just because of the moved feelings after being ‘conquered,’ but also because she was utterly bored.

Although the rented courtyard was large, after staying there for over half a year, she had walked every corner of it.

There was no sense of novelty left.

With nothing to do at home, she felt incredibly bored and desperately wanted to go out. 

But her face was too eye-catching; going out would invite trouble.

Yue Li had also been very busy lately, so Xing Lian didn’t even have anyone to talk to.

Yue Li soon noticed this.

‘The little one had been listless and dispirited recently, looking rather low on energy. Was she sick?’

She felt her little hands, rubbed her little face, and observed carefully, finding the little one’s complexion rosy. 

It didn’t seem like an illness.

“What’s wrong with you?” She asked directly.

“Nothing much. I just feel a bit bored.”

“Bored?”

“Mhm.” Xing Lian nodded and said, “Staying home every day, just eating and sleeping. There’s nothing to do.”

A trace of guilt appeared on Yue Li’s face.

She provided the little one with food and clothing, took meticulous care of her, but had forgotten about her spiritual needs.

It was fine when she was around, but when she wasn’t, the little one was left alone at home with no means to pass the time.

What should she do?

Yue Li thought seriously.

Letting Xing Lian go out was impossible; she worried something might happen to her.

Methods to pass the time without going out…

‘Got it!’

“I’ll buy you some books to read. You…”

Halfway through her sentence, Yue Li suddenly froze.

Reading could pass the time and didn’t require going out. 

It was perfect for Xing Lian.

But Xing Lian couldn’t see, so she definitely couldn’t read characters.

If she couldn’t read, how could she read books?

“Buy books?”

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Xing Lian’s eyes.

In her previous life, she was blind, so she loved listening to stories. 

This world didn’t have radios; reading books was a great alternative.

“I want to read.” She looked up and said coquettishly.

“You know how to read characters?” Yue Li looked at her curiously.

“No, I don’t.” Xing Lian shook her little head.

“If you don’t know characters, how can you read books?”

“You can teach me. Or find someone to teach me.”

‘Teach her to read?’

Yue Li’s face showed a troubled expression. 

She was very busy now and had little time.

She wanted to refuse Xing Lian, but seeing her expectant expression, the words simply wouldn’t come out.

Thinking about it carefully, all her busyness outside was to please Xing Lian. 

If she refused Xing Lian, wouldn’t that be putting the cart before the horse?

She had to agree. 

She must agree!

“Since you want to learn, I agree. But I’m going to be very strict.”

“Got it.”

Hearing this, Xing Lian laughed.

Seeing her laugh, Yue Li pinched her cheek.

Teaching the little one to read could make her happy and also let her learn something. 

It was killing two birds with one stone.

Because of Xing Lian’s request, Yue Li temporarily gave up on earning money and focused on teaching her to read.

Yue Li went to a bookstore and bought some beginner’s books and character practice sheets, then began teaching Xing Lian.

Learning a writing system wasn’t a simple matter.

But perhaps due to the benefits of transmigration, Xing Lian learned very quickly.

Three months passed in a flash.

During these three months, Yue Li taught her day and night, finally managing to teach her enough to preliminarily recognize characters and read sentences.

“I didn’t expect you to be quite smart.”

Yue Li was very surprised she could learn to read in such a short time.

“I was always smart.” Xing Lian smiled proudly.

She was illiterate in her past life, but this life was different.

She could not only ‘see,’ but also read books, understanding the outside world without needing a radio.

Remembering that all of this was because of Yue Li, Xing Lian’s fondness for her increased once again.

She used to resent Yue Li for kidnapping her, but now she actually felt a bit fortunate.

***

Since Xing Lian learned to read, she never felt bored again.

At night, she would be affectionate with Yue Li. 

During the day when Yue Li went out, she would stay in her room reading books.

Yue Li had bought her many books of various genres.

There were continental anecdotes, history, novels, storybooks…

A whole chest of books awaited her reading. 

Xing Lian had completely become a homebody.

Seeing Xing Lian had something to do and was no longer listless, Yue Li breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon, her heart was in her throat again.

Before, even though Xing Lian stayed home, because she had nothing to do, she would always walk around the room or the courtyard.

Now, completely immersed in books, she either sat or lay down all day, causing her body to grow weaker and weaker. 

This couldn’t go on!

Xing Lian’s health was already poor. 

If she became even more frail, what about Yue Li’s nightly happy life?

“Lian’er, you can’t just read books all the time.”

“Huh?” Hearing this, Xing Lian blinked.

“Haven’t you noticed your body getting weaker? Your complexion has turned quite pale.”

‘Has it?’ Xing Lian looked bewildered.

Yue Li held the little one in her arms, feeling this couldn’t continue.

She needed to earn money, but she couldn’t neglect the little one either. 

She couldn’t let her go on like this.

“How about I take you out to play tomorrow?”

“Play what?”

“You’ll know when we go.”