Lin Hao followed A’Xing and arrived at a spot beneath a bridge.

At this time of year, the riverbed was somewhat dried up. In the crevice between the bridge arch and the riverbank was piled some tattered cotton wadding, with a crude curtain woven haphazardly from straw hanging there.

A male child of five or six lay in that pile of blackish-yellow tattered cotton, motionless.

Lin Hao glanced once and her heart clenched.

“Little Moon!” A’Xing ran over and touched the boy’s face, saying gently, “Big brother’s back.”

The boy’s eyelids moved. He opened his eyes with difficulty. “Big brother, I’m hungry…”

A’Xing wiped his eyes and pulled something from his chest. The handkerchief wrapping it was so worn its color could no longer be identified, yet Little Moon’s eyes brightened upon seeing it.

“Eat quickly.” A’Xing opened the cloth to reveal a rock-hard steamed bun.

The sickly boy suddenly gained strength and reached out to grab the bun.

“He can’t eat that.” Lin Hao stopped him.

Little Moon was clearly very hungry. Deaf to Lin Hao’s words, he grabbed the bun and stuffed it toward his mouth.

A fair hand reached out and gently gripped the boy’s thin, weak wrist.

Little Moon froze but didn’t cry. Like a wary little animal, he clutched the bun even tighter.

“What are you doing!” A’Xing’s face darkened, anger surging in his eyes.

Lin Hao pulled an oil-paper package from the bag draped over Lin Xiaohua’s back and handed it to A’Xing. “Open it.”

A’Xing accepted it suspiciously. Opening the oil paper, inside were pastries as fine and white as snow.

A’Xing’s hand trembled. With tremendous willpower, he restrained the urge to stuff the fragrant pastries into his mouth. Looking at Lin Hao, his eyes held expectation.

He wasn’t stupid. For her to produce pastries at this moment, surely it couldn’t be purely to torment him.

“Little Moon, if you put down the bun, you can eat a piece of pastry.” Lin Hao said gently.

Before Little Moon could react, A’Xing snatched away the bun hard as stone from his hand and thrust the pastry over.

Little Moon couldn’t spare time for words and grabbed the pastry, stuffing it into his mouth.

“Eat slowly, don’t choke.” Lin Hao admonished, then looked at A’Xing. “You eat the rest.”

A’Xing swallowed and shook his head.

Lin Hao understood his meaning—he wanted to save all the pastries for his younger brother.

“The pastries contain glutinous rice. Little Moon is sick right now and can’t eat too much.”

A’Xing glanced at his younger brother wolfing down the food and still shook his head.

However hard to digest, it was still better than cold, hard buns.

Lin Hao glared at him. “When I tell you to eat, you eat. Once you’ve eaten your fill and have strength, then you can carry Little Moon to a medical clinic.”

Seeing A’Xing’s surprised expression, Lin Hao frowned. “Don’t tell me you want me to carry him?”

“You’ll take my brother to a medical clinic?” A’Xing still didn’t dare believe it.

Lin Hao lifted her chin. “Isn’t the money purse already in your hands?”

A’Xing’s face flushed red as he grabbed the pastry and ate in large bites.

Little Moon had already finished eating and watched his brother with eager eyes.

Lin Hao rubbed his head. “After you’ve seen the physician and taken medicine, I’ll make you porridge. Soft, thick rice porridge with an egg beaten in, a little salt, and finely chopped vegetables—would you like that?”

Little Moon swallowed his saliva and nodded vigorously.

Lin Hao’s heart felt heavy as she showed a gentle smile. “Once your stomach has been nourished a bit, you can eat meat porridge and chicken noodle soup.”

Listening to this, A’Xing couldn’t help but swallow too.

She was going to take his brother to see a physician, and also cook porridge and make chicken noodle soup for his brother. What, what was her purpose?

A’Xing didn’t believe there were people in this world who expected nothing in return.

When their parents died of illness, their uncles couldn’t wait to seize the house and drive him and his brother out.

Even family members were like this—why would a complete stranger with no connection be good to them?

Especially someone whose money he’d stolen.

“A’Xing.”

The young lady’s call pulled A’Xing back to his senses.

“What are you standing there for? Pick up Little Moon.”

Though A’Xing couldn’t believe such good fortune existed, he still complied.

At worst, she’d report him to the authorities and have him arrested. But he couldn’t escape this girl’s grasp anyway—if she really reported him to the authorities, there was nothing to be done.

Little Moon was thin as a stick and was lifted up lightly by his brother.

Lin Hao saw this and felt very uncomfortable.

There were too many people in the world worse off than her—like the A’Xing brothers, who had to use all their strength just to eat their fill and stay alive in an ordinary way.

Seeing them, she felt that no matter how difficult the road ahead, it was nothing.

A’Xing had said that this year’s winter was too cold and had frozen many beggar children to death.

Lin Hao’s heart stirred as a thought arose: she wanted to do something to help more beggar children like Little Moon survive.

“A’Xing, you know where there’s a medical clinic nearby, right?” Lin Hao wasn’t familiar with this area.

“I know.” A’Xing, carrying his brother, walked forward with his head down.

Of course he knew.

Ever since his brother fell ill, he’d lingered countless times outside the clinic, imagining what it would be like to have consultation fees and walk into the clinic with his brother.

He’d been too worried and anxious. Today, encountering this girl whose purse was bulging and who seemed completely unguarded, he couldn’t help but reach out his hand.

He’d never imagined she was a female demon.

A’Xing’s steps paused, feeling vaguely ashamed: if she had no other purpose, then she was a kindhearted female demon…

“What’s wrong?” Seeing A’Xing stop, Lin Hao asked.

A’Xing averted his gaze. “Nothing. Look, that’s the medical clinic right there.”

The clinic was very close to where the A’Xing brothers sheltered.

A’Xing had just approached carrying Little Moon when he was blocked by the clinic’s assistant. “Stay away, stay away. This isn’t a place for begging.”

“I’m here to see a physician!” A’Xing said angrily.

“A’Xing.” The young lady’s soft voice sounded. “Let’s go to a different clinic.”

A’Xing looked at Lin Hao.

Lin Hao explained coolly, “They drive people away without even asking questions. I don’t trust that the physicians here have compassionate hearts.”

A’Xing nodded and turned to leave.

Two people who had been walking toward the clinic heard Lin Hao’s words, hesitated, and also left.

A’Xing looked back at the assistant who was jumping with anger and cursing, and suddenly felt extremely satisfied.

The three arrived at another medical clinic and had Little Moon examined.

Little Moon didn’t have any difficult-to-treat illness. It was just that he’d been unable to eat his fill or dress warmly for a long time. Once the weather turned cold, his body couldn’t withstand it. Combined with having no money for treatment, his condition never improved.

After obtaining medicine, A’Xing carried Little Moon outside.

“The bridge arch isn’t suitable for living. Why don’t you come home with me instead?”

A’Xing stopped abruptly, suspicion completely unhidden in his eyes. “What exactly is your purpose?”

Lin Hao truly couldn’t restrain herself and rolled her eyes. “Purpose, purpose—look at yourself. Is there anything about you worth coveting?”

Trying to repay a debt of gratitude was quite difficult.

“Then why do you—”

“Can’t it be because I suddenly had a surge of kindness?” Lin Hao pointed at Little Moon. “Do you have money to stay at an inn or rent a room? You’re not planning to take your brother back to live under the bridge, are you? Then wouldn’t today’s medicine be wasted?”

A barrage of questions came down. A’Xing had no choice but to nod, saying gruffly, “I’ll go with you.”

As long as his brother could be well, it wouldn’t matter even if he was sold.

Standing before the General’s Mansion gates, A’Xing stared blankly at Lin Hao.

This was her home?

A servant from the General’s Mansion ran to report to the Old Madam: “Second Miss has brought two beggar children home.”