Bai Shuyin rushed to the written announcement on the wall. A large crowd surrounded the announcement board. There were a few jobs offered hung on it, starting from looking for construction workers, hunters, and a lot more. Her own cerulean eyes searched for what a young kid her age could do.
Skimming through the announcement as she struggled among the people who carried the distinct smell of the market, a mix of fish, vegetables, sweats, and concretes. It said there was a teahouse currently looking for temporary workers, offering to pay 50 bronze ores per day. Based on what she had observed, a small meatbun cost at least 10 bronze ores.
'Is this the harsh reality of living in a city?!'
Bai Shuyin heaved out a sigh. What could she do? She needed to feed Wang Heiyue. This kid was going to be the future's greatest king. He might be a bedwetter and supporting a runny nose at this moment, but only for now. She was going to raise him into the world's greatest gentleman capable of melting women's hearts with only a glance! Raising a player was a big no-no to her! She herself hated that kind of man.
The white-haired transmigrator's eyes glinted and she nodded to herself, determined. She dragged Wang Heiyue by his hand to stand on the side of the announcement board to avoid being trampled by the crowd. She looked down, wanting to tell this small steamed-bun her plan about working in the teahouse, only to have two huge and dark orbs looking directly at her.
Wang Heiyue had been looking at her throughout the entire time, his eyes never left her any second aside from blinking from dryness. He had yet to avert his eyes when they made eye contact, causing Bai Shuyin to feel a bit self-conscious.
She scratched her cheeks embarrassingly and quickly looked everywhere but him. His stare was unnerving, They were piercing through her, sending electric zaps. She was so sure those eyes were trying to drill holes in her that every strand of hair on her skin stood tall as she shivered.
Loud cheering and laughter caught her attention, drawing her away from Wang Heiyue, who twitched slightly as if he wasn't enough to hold her attention and glared at the source of voices. Bai Shuyin's cerulean blue eyes trailed to where the cheers came from and noticed children running mindlessly and playing around happily.
There were 5-6 children playing the traditional chinese jumping rope on the side, further away from the crowded marketplace. They were drenched in sweat from hours of playing and clothes covered in dirt. Squeals and happy shouts came out of the ones jumping the long elastic rope while the other two swinging the rope sang.
She saw how Wang Heiyue was looking over so longingly. Assuming that he wanted to join them, Bai Shuyin almost chuckled, the sound coming out as a snort. 'No matter how serious he tried to be these several years, he is still a kid at heart.'
"Ah Yue."
Dark obsidian orbs rotated upwards. His lips naturally arched into a smile. "Yes, Yin Yin?" He asked lightly.
"Looks like they are having fun," She commented, gesturing over. Slowly, she crouched down so she could be at the same head level. "Go have some fun, big sis is going to find some money and feed you--" She looked him over and took notice of his dirty clothes and untamed hair, "--and perhaps, some new clothes as well."
The boy shrugged his shoulders, his lips had turned down into a frown, ready to refuse but Bai Shuyin immediately cut through him before he could say a word. "Go, I will come pick you up when the sun goes down."
She smiled and rubbed Wang Heiyue's head. Leaving a gentle peck on his forehead, she also didn't forget to pat him in the butt to push him over where the other kids were.
"Have fun."
Smiling, she whirled around and checked the location of the place before heading towards the teahouse. She looked back once in a while to check if Wang Heiyue did what he was told to. Bai Shuyin had thought that he would have trailed after her and she was surprised to see him staying rooted at the same spot she left him.
Being stared like that by a kid gave another level of creepiness, to be honest. If she was back in her world, she would have smack or beat some sense into the kid or even threatening to gouge his eyes out while screaming, "What the fuck are you looking at?"
It was too bad that the kid this time was her younger brother. Bai Shuyin tried so hard not to shiver and ignored how invalidated she felt under an eleven-year-old's scrutiny. Again, she had to say. It was fucking creepy.
After taking a few more steps, she peeked around and there he was, again. Not moving from his spot. She halted her steps when a thought crossed her mind. Wait-- Of course, the kid would be scared, being left alone in an unknown and unfamiliar place for him.
Okay, maybe she was wrong leaving a kid to play in an unfamiliar place. What was she thinking? Just because he was one of the awesome Male Lead who could split a mountain in two if he wanted to, she thought he could withstand anything. Who was she kidding? He was just a kid right now, a cute and innocent one at that.
Just as she was about to wave him over, he had already bounded over. "Fine, you clingy bedwetter. Stay close to your sister, kay?"
Wang Heiyue nodded knowingly. Bai Shuyin smiled fondly and Wang Heiyue smiled in a way that set almost all of Bai Shuyin's alarm off. This wasn't the first time it happened. She had noticed these slight differences in his behaviour throughout the years.
His smiles differ from one another and the one he just sent her, made his other smiles seem fake in comparison. And the way he glanced around their general vicinity with a veiled calculation in his eyes made Bai Shuyin slightly shaken.
Were these little signs indicating that Wang Heiyue will still blacken despite the happy childhood?
Were his psychopathic tendencies born with him, swimming and partying inside his blood? Or was it provoked?
Armed with her minimum knowledge of this world, Wang Heiyue was known as a war fanatic too.
No. She was sure he wouldn't turn into one. He was a good and obedient kid and nothing will change. Right? Bai Shuyin couldn't help but felt a surge of fondness swelling in her chest when the child looked at her for validation.
'Yep, nothing will change.'
But, for fuck's sake, she needed to drill some manners into his head. Staring so intensely at someone, especially a woman, would only earn you different types of titles. Something like…
Pervert.