Yearning For Warmth, Day and Night - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Twelve

After Eleven left, Wei Hui got up and changed into her nightgown. Looking down at the scars on her chest, she pushed aside her sheer skirt. The ugly scars, usually somewhat concealed, were now exposed in the light, clearly visible, one, then two. Wei Hui’s ears suddenly echoed with the child’s question: Does it hurt a lot?

Does it hurt?

Wei Hui buttoned her nightgown. She had undergone many surgeries, had many episodes. The initial fear and pain of illness gradually turned into numbness. Now, she felt no pain at all.

Her hand touched her chest, and she saw the doll placed on the bedside table, still wrapped in its packaging bag. She walked over, placed the doll on the floor beside the bed, closed her eyes, and prepared to rest. Yet, the child’s sincere gaze kept appearing before her. Wei Hui sat up again, picked up the doll from the floor, and opened the packaging bag.

The doll wasn’t big, just right for holding in her arms, and light gray. As the packaging fell away, a small piece of paper also dropped out. Wei Hui bent down to pick up the paper and saw a few crooked words written on it: Happy Birthday, Third Miss.

The handwriting wasn’t neat or pretty, rather clumsy, like a primary school student’s. The handwriting on the exquisite card felt out of place. Wei Hui held the card, her lips curving slightly. She opened the bedside drawer, placed the card inside, and turned to look at the cloth doll. The dog’s black eyes were shiny, as if the child was staring at her. Wei Hui wasn’t so resolute after all; she placed the doll deep inside the bed and turned over to rest.

…

She was awakened in the night by the wind. Outside the window, rain lashed and wind blew, rattling the windowpane. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t drunk milk that night, but she slept restlessly. After being woken up twice, she got up, put on a coat, and stood by the window. The streetlights downstairs cast a dim yellow light. The angle of the falling rain was very clear, hitting the ground directly and creating ripple after ripple. After watching for a few minutes, she saw a familiar figure appear downstairs.

The person was wearing loose, light-green sportswear, her figure slender. She was holding an umbrella, walking quickly in the rain, her body swaying in the strong wind, but she soon continued forward. Wei Hui’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Wasn’t that Eleven?

What was this child doing out at night? And in such rain?

She stared at the slender back for a few seconds, then turned and went downstairs. She took a black umbrella from by the door. By the time she reached the main gate, she could no longer see Eleven.

“Where is she?” Her clear, cold voice cut through the darkness. The security guard in front of her pointed to a small path not far away: “Miss Eleven went that way.”

“I’ll accompany you…”

Wei Hui coldly interrupted: “No need.”

She finished speaking and walked out the gate, following the direction the security guard had pointed. This small path was rarely used, and in the dead of night, with wind and rain, it felt even more deserted. She walked a few steps forward; it was pitch black all around. Rainy days naturally absorb light, and this path had no streetlights. The beam from her phone’s flashlight didn’t reach far.

After walking for about a few minutes and still not seeing the slender figure, Wei Hui couldn’t help but call out, “Eleven?”

No one responded, only the crisp pitter-patter of rain on the black umbrella. Wei Hui held her umbrella and walked a few more steps forward. Just as she was about to turn back, she saw a glimmer of light coming from under a tree not far away. She focused her eyes; it was indeed Eleven.

She was squatting on the ground with an umbrella, her back to Wei Hui. Wei Hui’s brows furrowed even tighter. She walked a few steps closer, stood behind her, and called out, “Eleven.”

The person whose name was called let out a gasp, almost jumping up!

Wei Hui, however, had little patience and simply asked, “What are you doing here?”

Her voice was too unique, too clear and cold. Eleven recognized it after a few seconds of hesitation. She turned around in disbelief, and sure enough, she saw Wei Hui standing behind her with an umbrella. The rain had dampened her nightgown, its hem soaked. Her entire face was hidden under the black umbrella, showing no clear emotion, but from her voice, she wasn’t very happy.

Eleven didn’t know how Wei Hui had come out, but she still answered honestly: “I came out, there was something.”

Wei Hui stared at her: “What is it?”

Eleven moved aside a little, and Wei Hui saw that she was holding a dog in her arms. It wasn’t small, but just now, with the umbrella and her body obscuring it, she hadn’t seen it. Now, one person and one dog were staring at her intently with two pairs of eyes. Wei Hui’s breathing hitched: “Where did it come from?”

Eleven shook her head: “I don’t know, I found it on the road.”

She finished speaking and bit her lip, still holding the dog with both hands, unwilling to let go: “I originally wanted to ask you tonight if I could bring it back…”

Eleven’s words were cut short. Wei Hui suddenly remembered the gift Eleven had given her, also a fluffy dog doll. So that was why. Wei Hui’s face tensed, and she retorted, “What do you think?”

No need to think. Hearing that, Eleven knew Wei Hui definitely didn’t like it. Her head drooped, her shoulders slumped. Her chest was already stained with dirt from holding the dog, and the rain poured down, making her clothes cling to her body. Eleven knew how disheveled she looked now, just as disheveled as Twelve.

Wei Hui impatiently turned around: “Go home.”

A pair of small hands timidly grabbed the hem of her nightgown. Wei Hui looked down and saw Eleven’s bright, shimmering eyes. Eleven gave the umbrella back to shield the dog, getting soaked herself. Now, rain ran freely down her hair, along her delicate contours, dripping from her chin.

Just like at the Wang family, she was also holding onto her like this, in this very posture. Wei Hui’s indifferent eyebrows met Eleven’s eyes, gazing at each other. Wei Hui unconsciously moved the umbrella further over her, compromising: “Just for tonight, it’ll be sent away tomorrow.”

Eleven still held on, her clear voice exceptionally distinct in the darkness: “I want to keep it, can I?”

“I’ll just keep it in the backyard. I promise I won’t let it mess up any of your things. I just want it to have a place to sleep, so it doesn’t have to get rained on like this.” Eleven finished speaking, and Wei Hui looked at the dog. After being washed by the rain, the dog’s fur color gradually became apparent: yellowish, long-haired. The dog was sticking out its tongue, its mouth open. Its eyes looked at Wei Hui, then at Eleven, its head tilted.

Wei Hui somehow recalled the way Eleven had tilted her head that day. The vague fragments of memory became clear. She didn’t immediately refute, only saying, “We’ll talk about it when we get back.”

Eleven knew she couldn’t push her luck any further. She obediently let go of Wei Hui’s nightgown, turned, loosened the dog’s leash, and, holding the umbrella and leash, looked somewhat happy.

Although Wei Hui hadn’t directly agreed to her keeping the dog, she hadn’t firmly refused either; there was still a chance, there was still a chance.

Eleven, holding Twelve’s leash, followed closely behind Wei Hui. The two of them, a person and a dog, hurried towards the Wei family home.

When they reached the main gate, the security guard was startled and immediately opened the door. Eleven didn’t dare to bring the dog into the living room; she just stood at the doorway and said, “I’ll take it to the backyard.”

Wei Hui was silent for a few seconds: “Come in.”

Eleven boldly looked at Wei Hui. Now with the light, she saw that Wei Hui’s expression wasn’t impatient, cold, or stern, but calmly looking at her, her expression as usual.

Only then did she feel relieved enough to lead Twelve into the living room. Twelve was very well-behaved, unlike typical dogs that go wild in unfamiliar places. It sat obediently beside Eleven. When Eleven took a step, it followed. Wei Hui looked at the person and dog, seemingly conjoined, and had no choice: “Go take a hot shower first.”

She said, raising her chin: “Wash it too.”

Although she didn’t say it explicitly, Eleven could still see the disdain in her eyes. She looked down at herself, covered in black mud, most noticeably on her shoes. Just by standing for a moment, there was a circle of water stains on the floor. In such a state, it was already a blessing for Wei Hui to allow her inside, and now she was even permitted to bring the dog to wash. Eleven was filled with gratitude. She lowered her head and solemnly said, “Thank you, Third Miss.”

Wei Hui opened her lips: “Go on.”

Only then did Eleven take Twelve upstairs. She first ran water for Twelve’s bath. The messy, dirty fur gradually revealed its original color under the water and shampoo: light gray, a very beautiful shade. Its fur was long; it took Eleven about ten minutes of blow-drying to get it half-dry after washing. Then, she tied Twelve to the bedpost and went to shower with new pajamas.

It was half an hour later when she emerged from the bathroom. Twelve was already lying by the bed. Seeing her come out, it immediately stood up—a tall body, beautiful fur, and a pair of round eyes. Eleven couldn’t help but rub its head and softly call, “Twelve.”

The dog gave a single bark. Eleven immediately covered its mouth, putting a finger to her lips, signaling it to be quiet.

At this hour, she wondered if the Third Miss was asleep?

Eleven thought of how she had clutched the Third Miss’s nightgown earlier, and how Wei Hui had looked at her without coldness, and the scene of her accompanying Eleven in the rain. She bit her lip, got up, went downstairs, and prepared a cup of milk to take to Wei Hui’s door, gently knocking: “Third Miss?”

Wei Hui was destined to have a sleepless night. She had just showered and was about to go to bed when she heard a knock and Eleven’s soft call. Her brows were tightly furrowed. Had she given this child too many exceptions, making her so bold now?

She opened the door with a cold face, only to see Eleven smiling shyly, holding a cup of hot milk. Warm steam rose, and those eyes, hidden with stars, looked at her, saying, “Third Miss, thank you just now. Have a cup of milk before you sleep.”

Wei Hui swallowed the scolding words she was about to utter. Eleven in front of her wore a flattering, cautious smile, as if afraid of being rejected. Wei Hui paused for a few seconds, took the milk from her hand, and drank it down.

The warm, sweet taste slid down her throat, making her voice less cold when she spoke again: “Is the dog settled?”

Eleven nodded repeatedly, wishing to hear Wei Hui say that Twelve could stay. But Wei Hui looked at her for a few moments and said, “I used to have a dog too.”

“Later, I gave it away.”

Eleven clutched the cup, hearing her say, “So, I won’t agree. Tomorrow, I’ll have Aunt Liu send it away.”

As if condemned to death, Eleven’s face instantly lost color. She lowered her head, her vision blurred, her voice heavy with a nasal tone: “I understand, Third Miss.”

Wei Hui saw her thin, slightly hunched shoulders. She lowered her eyes, took a step back, and closed the door.