TOTWV CH5

Chapter 5: Pinching the Cheeks

The brother who had always kept his distance in Shi Li’s memories was now squatting before him, squeezing and pinching his cheeks.

The little bundle wobbled from the light shaking.

Shi Cheng curled his lips in satisfaction. “At least you have a conscience.” The kid hadn’t forgotten him after a week of not seeing each other.

Little Shi Li reached out to grab Shi Cheng’s hands. “Goggo, don’t pinch me anymore, it hurts-hurts.”

Only then did Shi Cheng withdraw his hands. Intrigued, he tousled Shi Li’s black hair again. Feeling guilty after spotting the faint red marks on his younger brother’s cheeks, he gave a soft cough, stood up, and glanced out the door.

There were still only the two of them.

Behind him, little Shi Li looked up at the high kitchen counter. Even if he dragged a small stool over and bounced on it, he probably couldn’t reach the milk powder and bottle stored in the upper cabinet.

It wasn’t time for Auntie to cook yet, so there was no food in the kitchen; it was completely empty.

It seemed his only option was to ask an adult for help.

Shi Li hesitated, pondering whether to ask his mother or Auntie, when his small face was pinched once more.

Shi Cheng said, “What are you dazing off for?”

Shi Li raised his head to look at his brother, somewhat hesitant. He didn’t know if his brother would help him.

Shi Cheng held his can of Cola, took another gulp, and suddenly felt his hem being tugged. Looking down, he saw Li-Li—who was not even as tall as his thigh—straining to look up at him, his milky voice soft: “Li-Li hungry.”

Fearing Shi Cheng might refuse, Shi Li lowered his head and pointed at his own little belly: “Gu lu, gu lu—”

Seeing Shi Cheng standing there without a reaction, he tugged the shirt hem again. “Brother? I’m hungry.”

Before he could react, Shi Li was lifted into the air by Shi Cheng. Pushing his short legs in the air, he was caught off guard when his brother planted a loud kiss on his small cheek.

Shi Li froze instantly, his round eyes blinking in shock.

Shi Cheng muttered softly, “Cute as hell.” He offered generously, “What do you want to eat? Brother will get it for you. If it’s not at home, I’ll take you out to buy it right now.”

Before the words fully landed, a voice tinged with anger rang out from the doorway: “Shi Cheng!”

Little Shi Li turned his head and called out obediently, “Mom.”

Xiang Xiaoying stood there with a deep frown, looking at Li-Li held high by Shi Cheng. Anxious and angry, she snapped, “Put Li-Li down right now!”

It was too dangerous. At such a height, watching it made her heart leap into her throat. If he accidentally dropped him, it would be fatal for a toddler as tiny as Li-Li.

Shi Cheng let out a “Tsk” and placed little Shi Li back on the ground.

Noticing the red marks on Li-Li’s face, Xiang Xiaoying said again, “What did you do to Li-Li again? Didn’t I tell you that Li-Li—”

Shi Cheng slammed the Cola can onto the counter with a loud thud. “Fine, fine! I won’t touch him ever again, okay? He’s like a porcelain doll—can’t touch this, can’t feel that.” He muttered irritably, “I’ll just stay as far away from him as possible.”

Xiang Xiaoying took a deep breath. “You—”

Shi Cheng interrupted, “Mom, I still have homework to do, I’m going upstairs.”

Shi Cheng stepped past Xiang Xiaoying. As he left the kitchen, his steps paused momentarily. “Oh, by the way, Li-Li said he’s hungry.” After a short pause, he grumbled under his breath, “Is all this really necessary?”

He raked a hand through his hair, leaving it a messy pile, and stomped up the stairs.

Not long after, even across an entire floor, a loud bang echoed as a door slammed shut on the second floor.

Little Shi Li trembled, his messy black hair—tousled by Shi Cheng earlier—shaking along with him.

Xiang Xiaoying let out a long sigh and gestured for little Shi Li to come over. She squatted down and smoothed out Li-Li’s hair with her hands. “Li-Li, does your face hurt?”

Little Shi Li raised his head and shook it. “Doesn’t hurt.” After a brief thought, he reached out to grab his mother’s hand. Because an adult’s palm was so large, Li-Li needed both hands to hold it.

Placing Xiang Xiaoying’s hand against his own cheek, the toddler said earnestly, “Mom, pinch Li-Li.”

Xiang Xiaoying froze for a moment, then instinctively squeezed gently as requested.

It was soft. With a light pinch, her fingertip sank into his fair cheek. Because he had been eating well over the past two days, he had put on a little meat.

“Mom, is my face very easy to pinch?” little Shi Li asked. Xiang Xiaoying replied, “Yes, Li-Li has gained weight.”

Little Shi Li pursed his lips. “Does Mom like pinching it?”

Xiang Xiaoying nodded.

Only then did little Shi Li say, “Then Brother likes pinching it too.”

Xiang Xiaoying was stunned.

As if knowing what his mother wanted to ask, Shi Li continued, “Li-Li doesn’t feel pain.” He told a tiny lie, though it really only hurt a tiny bit. “Mom, don’t worry.”

Xiang Xiaoying couldn’t help but soft-heartedly whisper, “Okay.”

When Li-Li was born, Shi Cheng was in middle school. Boys at that age had just entered adolescence—short-tempered, impatient, and thoroughly unpleasant.

On top of that, Li-Li was an exhausting child to manage. Due to his innate condition, knocking over bowls at home, throwing things around, spilling food all over the floor, and crying non-stop were daily occurrences.

After it happened repeatedly, an ignorant Shi Cheng once yelled directly in front of Xiang Xiaoying, terrifying Li-Li into sobbing hiccups and vomiting for two or three days straight.

After that, Xiang Xiaoying rarely allowed Shi Cheng to be alone with Li-Li. Later, Shi Cheng boarded at school during high school and was only home on weekends, giving them even less time together.

Li-Li’s attitude toward his second brother was even more distant than toward Auntie Liu.

Xiang Xiaoying had always thought the two brothers didn’t get along.

She had been overly anxious and misjudged the situation.

Putting the matter behind her, she asked, “Did Li-Li come to the kitchen because you were hungry?”

Little Shi Li nodded his head. “Mm!”

Xiang Xiaoying stood up. “Is Li-Li going to eat dinner later?”

Little Shi Li nodded his head again. “Gotta eat food-food.”

It would still take an hour or two for Auntie Liu to finish making dinner. Xiang Xiaoying thought about preparing a bottle of milk for Li-Li first to tide him over. She reached up to pull down the milk powder can, but before she could open it, a small milk bundle hugged her leg.

Shi Li raised his hands high up. “Can Mom give it to Li-Li?”

Xiang Xiaoying declined without hesitation. “No, the water is too hot.”

Shi Li shook his head. “But Brother said he would help Li-Li earlier.”

Xiang Xiaoying’s hand opening the milk powder can paused.

·

Shi Cheng was leaning back on his gaming chair—a costly purchase—holding a handheld console to battle monsters. After restarting two or three times and dying due to his own terrible gameplay, he tossed the console onto the desk in frustration.

As for homework, he had finished it all before coming home and even checked his answers with the teacher in advance.

All correct.

Shi Cheng played on his phone aimlessly for a while until he heard his bedroom door being knocked on. No, not knocked—patted.

He could tell the person was trying very hard, but the sound remained faint.

Shi Cheng got up to open the door. Looking straight ahead, there was no one there—until a noise came from down below: “Li-Li is here.”

Looking down, he spotted a tiny head.

The toddler raised his head, but Shi Cheng still couldn’t see little Shi Li’s face because Li-Li was hugging a pile of items in his arms: a milk powder can bigger than his face, and a small milk bottle tucked under his arm.

On top of the milk powder can sat a half-drunk, precarious can of iced Cola.

It was the Cola Shi Cheng had left in the kitchen earlier.

The stacked items were nearly taller than Li-Li himself, making for a nerve-wracking sight.

Shi Cheng frowned, picked up the Cola can, then removed the milk powder can, leaving Li-Li with just the small, easy-to-hold bottle. “What’s wrong?”

His tone was cold, sounding a bit fierce.

Little Shi Li pursed his lips. “Brother promised to help Li-Li.” He tugged at Shi Cheng’s hem. “Teacher said lying makes a bad kid.”

Shi Cheng raised an eyebrow. “Who said I was lying? It’s just a bottle of milk.” He scoffed at the accusation.

Standing around the corner, Xiang Xiaoying let out a sigh of relief as she watched Li-Li being led inside by Shi Cheng. Beside her was Auntie Liu, who had just returned from buying groceries. “You can rest easy now. I can tell these two kids are actually quite close.”

The fatigue between Xiang Xiaoying’s brows seemed to lighten slightly. “Shi Cheng and Li-Li both seem to like pork ribs.”

The steamed kind of pork ribs—without too many seasonings, just a bit of preserved vegetables and green onions—Shi Cheng could polish off an entire plate by himself.

Auntie Liu smiled. “Bought them, bought them! I’ll go make them right away.”

Inside the room.

Shi Cheng lifted Li-Li onto his gaming chair, set the Cola on the desk, opened the milk powder can, and scooped several large spoonfuls in. It nearly filled Li-Li’s bottle before he weighed it in his hands and scooped a portion back out.

He walked over to the water dispenser in his room, hesitated for a moment, and chose boiling water over cold water.

The milk bottle had thick, heat-insulated walls, so Shi Cheng didn’t notice anything amiss. After shaking it thoroughly, he reached out to hand it to Shi Li. “Drink up.”

Although Shi Li had returned to his younger self and his thoughts had grown childlike, he still possessed basic life common sense.

He didn’t take it. “This one can’t be drunk.”

Shi Cheng didn’t believe it. “Why can’t it be drunk?” Suspicious, he unscrewed the cap and poured a gulp toward his mouth without touching the rim—only to instantly be scalded into a sharp gasp of pain. He swallowed it forcefully and muttered a two-word curse under his breath.

Li-Li didn’t hear it clearly.

Shi Cheng poured the prepared milk into his own mug, scooped a few more spoons of milk powder, filled it with hot water, and then added half a cup of cold water. This time, he sampled it himself first.

Little Shi Li stared blankly as Shi Cheng dumped another bottle of milk, calling out in confusion, “Brother?”

Too sweet.

Shi Cheng kept his neck stiff, making no sound as he prepared another bottle.

This time, it was too bland.

Shi Cheng had already filled two large mugs of milk for himself. For the first time, he felt that an intelligent brain like his found such a simple task so tricky. It shouldn’t be like this.

Little Shi Li silently picked up the milk powder can, holding it up with both hands. “Brother, instruct-shuns.”

Shi Cheng: “…”

“Got it.”

He answered with a sour face.

On the fourth attempt, Shi Cheng followed the instructions step by step to prepare a bottle of milk. He tasted it, let out a long breath of relief, and placed it triumphantly on the desk in front of little Shi Li, feigning ease: “Drink up.”

Having been hungry for half an hour, Li-Li finally got to dig into his meal.