Chapter 1224 - Want to Make You Stay (102)
Chapter 1224: I Want to Make You Stay (102)
She saw quite a few, but she could not catch any no matter how she tried and was left completely exhausted.
She had run around back and forth extremely quickly.
Shi Bao’er knew she had to catch one by hook or by crook, but since it was difficult to do so with her hands, she started to think of other methods.
She took off her small cardigan and tied it onto a long stick, making it act as a net.
She became more successful this way as she was quickly able to catch a small white rabbit.
Carrying the small rabbit, Shi Bao’er returned to report her mission.
It took her more than two hours to get to the foot of the mountain and report.
Looking at the small rabbit she had brought back, No. 5 was surprised at how she no longer ran away.
“Here.”
No. 5 took the small rabbit from her and remarked, “Go and wash your clothes.”
While she took the clothes she had changed into in the morning and washed them, No. 5 hurriedly went to call An Xiaoning to get further instructions from her.
Upon hearing that Shi Bao’er not only did not escape this time but also caught a small rabbit, An Xiaoning told No. 5 to assign a second mission to Shi Bao’er.
When Shi Bao’er returned from washing her clothes, No. 5 went to the luggage to get a huge packet of tiny beads and passed it to her.
“Your Auntie’s second mission for you is to cluster all of these beads into a single piece of string.”
Shi Bao’er’s whole face was creased into a huge frown. Inside the heavy bag, there were countless tiny beads stored. She looked at No. 5 in disbelief and remarked, “When will I be able to finish this?”
“Your Auntie has said, if you’re able to finish stringing the beads together today, the small rabbit that you caught will have its life spared.”
“Then, does it mean that if I don’t string these beads, the small rabbit will die?”
“Yes.”
“Just let it die, then. I’m not going to string these beads anyway.”
No. 5 completely did not expect her to say that. After his gaze flickered for a moment, he told her, “Your Auntie did not say that if the little rabbit were to die, you’re to stay in the room with the snakes again. However, Uncle No. 5 has a video to show you. If you still refuse to string the beads and want to let the rabbit die after you see this, then I’ll ask for further instructions from your Auntie. Okay?”
“What video are you talking about?”
“You’ll know when you see it.” It was a bloody video of a rabbit being skinned alive that No. 5 had once seen on the internet. He went to find this video and showed it to Shi Bao’er.
With her two hands holding onto the phone, Shi Bao’er went from a state of indifference to the point where she could no longer bear to look on. “Uncle No. 5, here. I’m not watching this anymore…”
“Watch it until the end first.”
Suppressing her discomfort, Shi Bao’er finished watching the video until the end.
After she was done watching, she passed the phone back to No. 5.
“Do you want to string the beads, then?”
Shi Bao’er could only reply as she sat at the bedside, “I’ll just do it.”
“Right, I forgot to tell you.” No. 5 tilted his head and looked at her. “You have to string the beads through three times.”
“Three times?” Shi Bao’er felt like she was about to go mad. “Then won’t I take donkey years to finish it?”
“You don’t have to wait for donkey years. As long as you stay focused and patient, you’ll be able to finish it today. I’ve calculated the time for you. You can begin now.”
“Got it.” Shi Bao’er lowered her head and started to string the beads slowly. Just so that she could finish her mission earlier, she did not dare to delay her progress.
No. 5 watched her from the side as she started to string the beads seriously.
However, her seriousness lasted for only a while before she lost her patience. No. 5 could only continue to stimulate her, and she proceeded to continue and stop repeatedly. Shi Bao’er’s hands were aching, and she could only bear it in and continue to string the beads for the whole afternoon until An Xiaoning came.
With a cap on her, An Xiaoning came striding in.
“How many times has she done it?”
“Twice. She just needs to do it one more time.”
“Okay.” An Xiaoning turned to Shi Bao’er and said, “When you’re done stringing the beads for the final time, it means that you’ve accomplished the two things you promised Auntie. Tonight, you’ll be able to sleep on the bed.”
Shi Bao’er asked excitedly, “Auntie, are you serious about that?”
“I am.” Seeing her lit up with happiness, An Xiaoning’s lips curled into a smile as she remarked, “I didn’t think you would actually string the beads obediently. Are you sure you’re this compassionate?”
“That’s because I showed her…” No. 5 was about to speak when Shi Bao’er stood up from the bed and placed her hand over his mouth. “Uncle No. 5, don’t say a word further. Aren’t I almost done with this already?”
No. 5 darted her a glance and removed her hand from his mouth. “Your hand is full of germs and you actually placed it over my mouth…”
Shi Bao’er sat down again and replied, “Then, you should stop talking. Auntie, I’ll finish stringing these beads. Don’t worry.”
“Alright. No. 5, come out with me for a moment.”
“Okay.”
Shi Bao’er watched as the two went out, and she discreetly crept to the side of the window to hear what they were saying, but their voices were too soft for her to hear anything.
When No. 5 casually turned his head and spotted her eavesdropping on them, she panicked and hurriedly scuttered off.
When No. 5 came back into the room, An Xiaoning had already left. As for Henry, who had come here together with her, he had stayed in the car throughout the whole time.
“My Auntie’s gone?”
“Yes, she’s gone.” No. 5 went on, “If you finish stringing these beads, you’ll get to sleep on this bed tonight.”
“Then, does that mean that you’ll keeping watch over me?”
“No, tonight, it’ll be your Uncle No. 8 on duty.”
Shi Bao’er’s face fell and she looked rather upset. “Our teacher told us that a boy and a girl cannot sleep together in the same room.”
No. 5 did not know whether to get angry or laugh at her comment. “Your Uncle No. 8 and I aren’t boys, we’re men. That’s not counted. We’re almost 30 years old, is that the same?”
“Uncle No. 5, do you have a partner?”
“What are you asking so many questions for?”
“From the looks of it, you’re almost 30 and still don’t have a girlfriend. You can’t even compare to my father. My father has already been with plenty of women. You’re much worse than him.”
No. 5 was infuriated. “Why are you comparing me to your scumbag father? You really have a way of saying things with evil intentions. Let Uncle tell you, when girls like you grow up, boys won’t like you. You won’t be able to get married because you’re not only not adorable at all, you even have a bad temper and character.”
“Can’t you tell that I was mocking my Daddy?” Shi Bao’er said with her head lowered, “If only he were like you, Uncle No. 5. That way, my Daddy and Mommy won’t have gotten divorced.”
No. 5 suddenly understood what she meant and his anger dissipated completely. “You can’t choose the kind of father you have. Since it’s like that, why are you looking up to your Daddy? Shouldn’t you try to prove that you’re not like him at all? That way, when people talk about you, they’ll say that Shi Shaochuan’s daughter is much better than her father. Instead of that, they’re now saying that an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’m sure you understand what I mean. Although you’re young now and can do anything if you want to, have you thought of the consequences of everything you do? If your mother isn’t Jin Qingyue and your uncle isn’t Jin Qingyan, starting a fire to burn others would have led to extremely dire consequences instead of just having your Auntie discipline you now.”
Shi Bao’er looked at him and did not utter a word.