Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 83 - 78: Guarding Against Her Like Guarding Against a Lecher
The autumn night’s chill seeps in, even with doors and windows tightly shut, as it grows colder the deeper the night goes.
Lin Qiao was awoken by the cold once again. Instinctively, she tugged at the quilt, curling her legs up and murmuring lowly, "So cold."
At this moment, a low, muffled sneeze came from outside the room.
Half-asleep, Lin Qiao took a moment to react, and then she immediately opened her eyes, grabbed her clothes, and went out.
Perhaps those inside heard the door open, as the sneezing stopped.
It seemed to come from Song Tingfan’s room. She walked to the door, gently knocked, and softly called, "Little uncle?" Then she shivered.
No, she needed to buy a blanket, even if it was expensive.
Soon, there came the sound of light footsteps inside, and the door opened, a low voice in the darkness asked, "Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?"
"Did you catch a cold?"
In the pitch-black darkness, Lin Qiao couldn’t see him, only approximately knew his position. She raised her hand to feel his forehead but accidentally touched his mouth first, then moved higher, finding his forehead slightly warm.
She felt her own forehead to compare, confirming that Song Tingfan’s was warmer. "Little uncle, you’ve got a fever. Let me get some alcohol to wipe it."
"Sister-in-law, it’s fine, I’m okay." Song Tingfan’s mind was a bit foggy, and he couldn’t suppress a cough, which escaped as a "cough."
"Get inside and lie down quickly." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Worried, Lin Qiao hurriedly led him inside and made him lie down, then turned to the kitchen. After a while, she managed to pour a bowl of alcohol.
Upon returning to the room, she lit the firelighter, illuminating the room. Setting it carefully on the ground, she secured it before looking at Song Tingfan.
His face looked somewhat unwell in the dim light.
"Little uncle, where do you feel uncomfortable?"
The concern naturally showed on her face, though she herself was unaware.
Not wanting her to worry, Song Tingfan nodded, lying, "Sister-in-law, I am fine, return to your room and sleep."
"Still claiming to be fine? Your voice is hoarse." Lin Qiao poured a bit of alcohol into her hand and rubbed it on his forehead, repeating the process and then did the same with his palms.
After thinking for a moment, she added, "Little uncle, take off your clothes, and let me rub some on your back too."
Take off his clothes...
Song Tingfan’s pupils enlarged slightly, instinctively clutching his collar, "No, no, that’s not necessary." He even scooted a little to the side.
As if defending against a lecher.
Lin Qiao: "..."
Though she appreciated good looks, she couldn’t possibly be interested in a twelve-year-old child.
No matter how handsome, she had no such thoughts.
"Little uncle, be good, listen, it will be over soon."
Seeing he still didn’t understand, she softly coaxed, "Little uncle, be good, once I rub in the alcohol, it’ll be better. Don’t be shy, I’m your sister-in-law, it’s nothing."
Embarrassed for a moment, Song Tingfan, seeing his sister-in-law’s persistence, turned away and took off his top, his ears immediately flush red.
The slender build didn’t reveal the toned muscles beneath. His back muscles were quite defined, and after a few glances, Lin Qiao poured some alcohol and began to rub his back.
Just as she touched him, the young boy’s body tensed. Aware of his discomfort, she worked quicker, rubbing three times before putting the bowl down.
Once Song Tingfan got dressed, she said, "Little uncle, get under the quilt and stay warm, you’ll sweat a bit."
She helped tuck him in, feeling the thin quilt, and went to fetch her own quilt to cover him.
Originally, the house had only two quilts, one thin and one slightly thicker.
The slightly thicker one was given by the sister-in-law to the grandparents, and the one she bought later was thin.
There were no extra quilts at home.
Song Tingfan quickly said, "Sister-in-law, I’m not cold."
"Alright, why are you trying to be strong in front of your sister-in-law?"
Lin Qiao lightly tapped his forehead, then brought over a stool, sat by the bedside, and said, "Go to sleep, sister-in-law is here watching over you."
The gentle tone of her voice was comforting, and Song Tingfan looked at her with a hint of longing, recalling his parents used to say the same.
Niu Niu, go to sleep, your parents are here watching over you.
Thinking of his parents made him a bit sad, but not as much as before.
His sister-in-law’s presence by his side watching over him.
He wanted to say she didn’t need to stay, but he greedily embraced the warmth and stayed silent.
After a while, he shifted a bit and shyly said, "Sister-in-law, sleep with me."
This child was worried too much. If she didn’t, he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep, also, it was indeed cold sitting there.
Lin Qiao nodded, extinguished the fire, took off her shoes, and got on the bed. Under the quilt, she instinctively reached out to check if Song Tingfan was covered.
Afraid he might feel embarrassed, she moved closer herself, "Little uncle, sleep."
Whether it was the warmth of two blankets or Song Tingfan himself, she no longer felt cold and drifted off without realizing how long.
She awoke when the sun was three poles high.
At the bedside was a bowl of pale yellow water, honey water. A few days ago, Song Tingfan had obtained some wild honey, not much, a small half bowl.
Lin Qiao sat up and rubbed her eyes, puzzled why whenever she shared the bed with the antagonist, she woke up late?
If the antagonist wanted to harm her, her body might already have been torn apart by the beasts by now.
In the yard, Song Qin was sweeping, Song Rong used his toes to tease the dog, looking significantly better.
Hearing the door open, both looked over, and Song Qin lovingly said, "Qiao’er, did we wake you?"
Judging by her tone, she knew Song Tingfan was sick. Lin Qiao shook her head, tidying her hair, "Grandma, how is little uncle?"
"He’s okay now. You silly child, why didn’t you call me to help?" Song Qin teased slightly.
Hearing that Song Tingfan was alright, Lin Qiao felt relieved, "I can manage, Grandma, I’ll go to town later to buy some quilts."
"I still have some Silver Coins, take them." Not waiting for her reply, Song Qin turned back to fetch a money bag.
Her earnings from making square clothes, Lin Qiao hadn’t taken any.
Lin Qiao had about two taels of Silver, plus the drawings she would exchange today. She had drawn four sheets, and the Boss had said the price had increased to 500 cents per sheet, so she’d have two taels.
That would be enough.
While washing her face, she said, "Grandma, it’s enough."
"Even if it’s enough, take this."
Firmly, Song Qin handed it to her. Seeing as she wanted to return it, she feigned annoyance and added, "Or Grandma will get upset."
Lin Qiao had no choice but to accept it. After breakfast, she set out with a basket, but upon reaching the village entrance, she didn’t leave immediately, spending a few cents on some peanut brittle to take to the school.
As soon as she arrived, school let out, and kids rushed to the toilet, some half-grown, mindless ones pants down, urinating under the tree.
In comparison, the antagonist was rather well-behaved.
Seeing no sign of Song Tingfan, she went to the entrance. There he was, reading something with a straight back, earnest and focused, resembling a bookworm.
She couldn’t help but chuckle, "Little..."
Remembering it was the school, she called out his name, "Tingfan."
The young boy’s head jerked up. Upon recognizing her, he beamed, exposing all his teeth like a child, "Sister-in-law."
Then he hurried out, saw her basket, and excitedly asked, "Sister-in-law, you’re going to town?"
Lin Qiao nodded, took out the peanut brittle and placed it in his hand, then lifted her hand to feel his forehead. It wasn’t very warm anymore, "Going to buy some things, eat the peanut brittle after class."
"Okay." Song Tingfan’s heart felt as though it was filled with honey, his eyes sparkling.
