Chapter Eleven: Shopping for Clothes

Jiang Hu overslept for the first time in his life. His face was grim as he bundled his clothes into a ball and threw them into the basin, scrubbing them furiously as if venting his anger.

How could he harbor such thoughts about that malicious woman?

Was he out of his mind?

What exactly was he thinking?

Jiang Hu found himself unsettled. The moment he had a free moment, images from last night’s dream would instantly resurface in his mind—dreamy and alluring.

He kept telling himself that Mo Nianian was only toying with him, that she would surely have even more cunning tricks waiting for him later. Yet he couldn't help but be intoxicated by the way she treated him now.

She was truly good to him.

“What are you doing?” Mo Nianian had just woken up, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she leaned against the doorframe. When she raised her arm, her top slid up slightly, revealing her slender waist—more captivating than she’d appeared in his dreams.

Jiang Hu’s heart gave a violent jolt, nearly stopping altogether.

He bowed his head, scrubbing his trousers with even more force. “My clothes are dirty. I’m… washing them.”

His throat felt parched, as though something was trying to break through the surface.

Mo Nianian, still drowsy, gave a few offhand instructions: “It’s cold today. Remember to use the washing machine next time. And later, come with me to pick out a couple of new outfits for you. When breakfast is ready, call me.”

She finished her rambling and wandered back into her room like a sleepwalker, unaware of the pair of pitch-black eyes fixed on her back, gaze growing ever more intense—like a beast eyeing its prey.

Jiang Hu had grown so quickly that his clothes were always in need of replacement. He had originally planned to buy clothes a size too large so he could wear them longer.

But Mo Nianian could not stand the sight of the child in shabby, ill-fitting clothes. She always insisted on buying him clothes that fit just right.

As a result, they had to buy new clothes for him every so often.

In the past, Jiang Hu had never felt any guilt about this, even picking the most expensive and best clothes out of spite.

Now that he knew what Mo Nianian did for work, he felt a little reluctant.

He came up with two excuses, both of which Mo Nianian dismissed without hesitation. In the end, she simply lost patience and dragged him along.

Mo Nianian was a regular at this store, always coming by to help Jiang Hu pick out clothes; all the shop assistants recognized them.

One greeted them warmly, “Miss Mo, here again with your little brother to pick out some clothes?”

Mo Nianian nodded absently, weaving through the racks.

Jiang Hu followed behind, somewhat displeased by the shop assistant’s words.

He was dissatisfied with the current relationship between himself and Mo Nianian, but had no idea how to change it.

Mo Nianian was the lazy type—if she managed to take Jiang Hu shopping herself, it was only thanks to her dogged maternal spirit.

Once inside the store, she handed Jiang Hu over to a shop assistant and all but collapsed onto a sofa.

The shop assistant bowed politely. “This way, please.”

Jiang Hu glanced at Mo Nianian, the light in his eyes shifting between bright and dark. He walked over to her side, tugging at her sleeve. “Sister, I want you to help me pick.”

His eyes were wide and dark, gazing up at her with the imploring look of a kitten still nursing. When she’d found that little stray before, hadn’t it looked just like this?

Mo Nianian was briefly dazed.

Jiang Hu’s voice grew even more plaintive. “Sister, I want you to help me choose. Please, won’t you?”

His deep voice softened at the end, as if he were whining, holding onto her sleeve.

Honestly, who could say no to such an adorable child?

Mo Nianian had watched Jiang Hu grow up, and her heart immediately melted. What was picking out clothes, anyway? She’d do anything for him.

With great gusto, she led Jiang Hu through the racks. True to her philosophy of living in the moment, she never cared about how much money she had; it was always spent within three months.

She showed no hesitation when buying things and quickly picked out a huge pile of clothes.

Handing them to Jiang Hu, she pushed him into a fitting room.

The shop assistant looked on with open envy. “You’re so good to your little brother.”

So good, in fact, that they seemed more like a couple than siblings.

But the assistant knew better than to say that aloud.

Mo Nianian didn’t know what others thought; she only knew that being praised for raising her “cub” was more exciting than being praised herself.

She happily chatted with the assistant.

The soundproofing was good, so Jiang Hu could only faintly hear Mo Nianian’s voice outside.

His expression darkened, the shadows in his eyes growing deeper. He called out, “Sister!”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

His voice was small and weak. “Sister, can you come in for a moment?”

He sounded off, and, worried, Mo Nianian hurriedly opened the door and stepped inside.

Jiang Hu stood in the middle, half-dressed, clothes scattered messily on the floor, struggling to put on a new outfit.

A faint blush colored his cheeks. “Sister, the zipper’s stuck.”

Mo Nianian had been about to scold him, but seeing how mortified he looked, she simply sighed and helped him with the zipper.

“There, all set.”

She stepped aside, and Jiang Hu flashed her a sweet smile. “Thank you, Sister.”

Turning slightly away, he said casually, “I’ll be ready in a second.”

With that, he changed into another outfit Mo Nianian had chosen.

Standing by, Mo Nianian caught a glimpse of his lean waist and abdomen, the muscles smooth and well-defined, with twin dimples at the small of his back.

Who would’ve thought? He seemed so thin but was actually in great shape.

She wondered which girl—no, maybe even a boy—would end up benefitting from this in the future.

Her precious piglet was almost ready to leave the pen and root around in someone else’s cabbage patch. For a moment, a rare sense of melancholy washed over her.

After all these years, she’d watched him grow from a tiny bundle into the young man before her. It was only natural to feel something.

Jiang Hu moved with a curious, deliberate slowness. Mo Nianian couldn’t help but steal glances—this was a fine figure indeed, just as she’d hoped for when she raised him.

When he finished dressing, he turned to her. “Sister, does it look good?”

Mo Nianian came back to herself, coughed, and gave him a careful once-over.

Jiang Hu was built perfectly—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. He could’ve made anything look good.

“Not bad at all.”

Jiang Hu’s eyes crinkled with delight. “If Sister likes it, then I like it too.”

Who could resist such an adorable puppy?

And today, he was being even more considerate than usual. Mo Nianian, with the heart of a proud mother, felt deeply gratified.

“Sister, wait a moment. I’ll try on the rest.”

With that, Jiang Hu began undressing again. This time, Mo Nianian got an even better look and couldn’t help but marvel—this child really was blessed with a good body.

She ended up watching several impromptu strip shows—what could she say? It was kind of impressive how fast he’d grown up.

After Jiang Hu had tried on all the clothes, and Mo Nianian was satisfied with each one, she made a grand gesture and bought them all.

She swiped her card, and Jiang Hu clung to her arm, all smiles and sweet words.

Mo Nianian failed to notice the increasingly peculiar looks some of the shop assistants were giving them as they left.