"..." Jiaojiao instinctively hid her left hand behind her.
The scar stretched across her entire palm. Although it had already healed, the pink lines left behind by the stitches made it look even more grotesque, like a fleshy centipede.
Jiaojiao had disliked this scar for quite a while now and naturally didnât want Ruan Hao to see such an ugly blemish on her hand.
Back then, she had been hospitalized. It happened during a time when Ruan Hao hadnât returned to the Shu Family, so he was completely unaware of Jiaojiaoâs injury. He only noticed it himself just after arriving home, when Jiaojiao held his right hand. However, there were a lot of people present at the time, and he didnât ask about it in detailâit merely etched itself into his memory.
"What is it, Jiaojiao? Could it be thereâs something your big brother isnât allowed to see?" Ruan Hao asked, feigning an expression of hurt.
Jiaojiao pressed her lips together. Even though she knew he was only pretending, she still couldnât bear it and reluctantly stretched out her small hand.
From the end of her middle finger to her wrist, a five-to-six-centimeter pink mark came into view, revealing just how deep and severe the injury had been at the time.
"How did you get hurt?" he asked.
Jiaojiao swore she could hear traces of coldness in his voice, even though his face remained gentle as ever.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Jiaojiao bit her lip. "I cut myself. I was drinking milk, and the bottle shattered, so it cut me."
It was probably impossible to find another person in the whole world who could injure themselves so severely just from drinking milk. Even Jiaojiao herself felt a bit mortified.
Ruan Hao didnât say a word.
Feeling nervous, Jiaojiao tugged on his sleeve. "Big brother, are you mad?"
Ruan Hao shook his head. He only lifted her sleeve, glanced at the undamaged Peace Rope on her wrist, seemed to let out a breath of relief, and then gently said, "Be more careful next time."
Jiaojiao nodded repeatedly, understanding her own clumsy nature. She resolved that sheâd never handle things herself in the future. After all, she had a bunch of brothersâwhy not let them take care of things for her?
Ruan Hao held Jiaojiaoâs left hand. In the end, he still couldnât help but feel distressed. His index finger repeatedly brushed against the scar in her palm.
Jiaojiao took the opportunity to fully indulge in being spoiled, leaning almost entirely into his arms by the end, her small mouth chattering non-stop. Ruan Hao, from start to finish, remained patient and doting. For this little sister, he seemed to pour out all the warmth he had accumulated over his lifetime.
Old Master Shu, who had once been a low-profile individual, had become increasingly fond of showing off. He reserved the largest hotel in Beidu, and as soon as the two cars stopped at the hotel entrance, attendants immediately stepped forward to receive them.
They were led down the corridors toward their private room.
Jiaojiao, holding Ruan Haoâs hand, couldnât resist tilting her head up to take in the brightly lit, extravagant hotel, paying no attention to where she was walking. Beside her, Ruan Hao did not scold her but instead gently reminded her along the way.
Old Master Shu had reserved the largest private room, spanning sixty to seventy square meters. It was equipped with a television, a sofaâessentially a small living roomâand staffed by ten uniformed attendants standing by.
This was the first time Jiaojiao had entered such a luxurious hotel, and while tongue-tied, she couldnât help but cast a look of sympathy toward their familyâs Ruan big-shot. A private room here was nearly half the size of their familyâs restaurant before it had been remodeled...
Of course, she would never disparage their small family restaurant. But she knew their familyâs big-shot must have some thoughts about it.
After all, back when Grandfather visited the Ruan Family, the greatest selling point Ruan big-shot had was that very restaurant.