It seems that the villain is targeting me.

She had searched for medicine at home for a long time but couldn't find any supplies, so she had to go out and buy some common medicines.

She came to the sofa and checked the boy's ankle.

There was bruising at the sprained site, but the swelling was not serious. However, Xiao Niao knew very well that this was only a superficial phenomenon.

If this type of sprain is not treated properly, the ankle will be so swollen that you won’t be able to wear socks the next day. Even if it heals well, it may become a habitual sprain.

In fact, in addition to the sprain, there are also some scratches on the knees and calves, which were accidentally scratched by the boy when he was running away.

But these are easy to deal with. Just clean them with hydrogen peroxide and apply some ointment.

Place

After treating his knee, Xiao Niao gently pressed the bruised ankle and asked Chen Xiaoya, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Chen Xiaoya shook his head: "No, it doesn't hurt."

Xiao Niao uttered an "oh" and unscrewed the cap of the safflower oil bottle: "Don't scream for a while."

Chen Xiaoya: “…”

The cool medicinal oil was applied to the palm of his hand. After rubbing it slightly to warm it up, his palm was placed on the injured ankle.

Chen Xiaoya shuddered.

In order to make it easier to apply the medicine, Xiao Niao squatted in front of her. For the same reason, his sprained right foot was placed on the other's knee.

From this angle, she could look down at the bird's face and clearly see how those slender hands were holding her ankles.

The medicated oil was cold, but the other person's palm was very hot, and even Chen Xiaoya's head swelled up.

And then...and then nothing more.

Applying safflower oil is extremely painful. In order to stimulate the medicinal properties, you have to rub it vigorously until the sprained area becomes hot and red.

Xiao Niao ruthlessly applied medicine to her twice, using his tiger's mouth to apply force, carefully clearing the blood stasis and allowing the medicinal oil to seep into the skin.

If she were an ordinary girl, she would have been screaming in pain by now.

...But maybe it was because the bird mentioned it earlier, but Chen Xiaoya actually held back and didn't scream.

Even so, she maintained a mask of pain throughout the entire process, her fingers tightly gripping the sofa cushion, and a little sweat appearing on the tip of her nose.

Xiao Niao felt a little soft-hearted, but still insisted on completing all the steps.

This is a serious experience: if the injury is handled properly, it will heal quickly and will not easily leave sequelae in the future.

She still feels scared when she thinks about the experience in her previous life when her wings were in so much pain that they almost broke.

"Okay, that should be about right."

Xiao Niao looked at her ankle, which had been rubbed red by him, and slowly let go of her hand.

"Don't get it wet, just let it dry for a while," she warned. "Walk carefully for the next two days and be careful not to sprain it again."

Chen Xiaoya was in so much pain that he didn't want to speak. He nodded at her with tears in his eyes.

"Please sit for a while," Xiao Niao looked at the tearful child with a bit of guilt, "I'll go wash my hands first..."

Chen Xiaoya hummed in a weak voice, then whispered, "Thank you."

Xiao Niao smiled at her and said, "It's okay, but remember, if you get hurt in the future, you must tell me in time."

Chen Xiaoya opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

Xiao Niao seemed to be able to guess what was in the child's mind, and spoke again before the boy could say anything.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "I promised your mother that I would take good care of you."

This person can now tell lies very fluently without even blushing.

Chen Xiaoya was so frightened by the bird's words that he nodded and said yes obediently.

Xiao Niao was satisfied and went into the bathroom to wash his hands. It took him two washes of soap to get rid of the feeling of safflower oil on his hands.

She returned to the living room and found that the child was still sitting motionless on the sofa in the same position.

The child seemed a little reserved and only dared to glance at Xiaoniao's house secretly.

The house is actually not big, but it is very clean. It can be seen that the owner is the type who pays attention to the quality of life. Although the furniture is not luxurious, it gives people a comfortable first impression.

Chen Xiaoya, wearing old clothes that had been altered to fit in, felt like a gray stone, totally out of place in this beautiful place.

But she didn't say this out loud.

She chose to remain quiet.

"I bought some daily necessities for you," Xiao Niao picked up the bag on the table, "a toothbrush, a cup, a face towel... Is there anything you're missing?"

Chen Xiaoya said, "These will be enough."

"I've made a bed for you in the study. You can sleep there for now," Xiao Niao patted her head. "I'll take you shopping for new clothes tomorrow."

Chen Xiaoya glanced at the bird hesitantly and murmured softly, "I have clothes... I can just go back and get them..."

"I have to buy two new ones," Xiao Niao smiled at her, "just as a reward for getting into high school."

Chen Xiaoya nodded and did not refuse.

[This kid... isn't easy to deal with,] the system muttered to the bird in its head, [He's too precocious.]

Tongzi and Xiaoniao had stayed in the previous world for more than 20 years, and his career as prime minister lasted for more than ten years. He had met countless people of all kinds.

This person easily saw the deeper meaning of the boy's behavior: this was a special psychological state that only occurs when one is living under someone else's roof.

It is normal for Chen Xiaoya to have such a mentality.

The experience of being beaten and doing odd jobs since childhood made her learn to read the adults' faces early on.

Even without anyone reminding her, the child was keenly aware that Xiao Niao did not like her saying such rejecting words.

She then instinctively began to follow the bird's thoughts.

Although it was not his intention, Chen Xiaoya had begun to unconsciously pay attention to Xiaoniao's emotions and tried carefully to please her.

Of course, judging from the external performance, this will only make Chen Xiaoya

Seems a bit nervous.

But she is still young after all. Even if she has some scheming in her heart, she is definitely not able to do it silently.

If the adults were more careless, they might ignore these abnormalities and simply treat her as a quiet and strange child.

[I feel like Chen Xiaoya still has doubts about you.]

The system said, "But you did have ill intentions towards her... I mean, you had ulterior motives."

"Is there a nice word you can use when saying this?" Xiao Niao was angry.

"So what do you say?" the system said dryly. "Hmm... ulterior motives? A purpose?"

Xiao Niao always felt like he was being scolded. He wondered who had given Tong Zian the four-character idiom module.

"...In short, Tongzi, building trust is a long process and cannot be rushed."

"Her behavior is a manifestation of her subconscious lack of security," Xiao Niao said patiently. "The fact that Xiaoya became so extreme in the original plot is closely related to her insecure childhood."

Simply put, as long as daily life remains safe, this situation will be reversed.

I will try my best to make her feel safe, Xiaoniao thought.

Chapter 25: What evil intentions can a kitten have? [Please refresh]

A long time later, when Chen Xiaoya recalled what happened that day, he still felt it was extremely incredible.

She actually trusted a stranger whom she had only met twice so easily, and even followed him afterwards as if it were a natural thing.

Fifteen-year-old Chen Xiaoya has encountered many bad people, so she is very cautious and unlikely to trust others easily.

Other teenagers at this age may still be naive and easy to be deceived, but Chen Xiaoya has no capital to back her up, and the consequences of her credulity are undoubtedly devastating to her.

But she just followed the bird at that time.

Even when the neighbor lady saw them, Chen Xiaoya took the initiative to cooperate with Xiaoniao and dispel her doubts.

Is it because Xiao Niao’s story convinced her?

No, if you think about it calmly, Xiao Niao's words actually have many loopholes.

Just like at the beginning, the bird did not recognize itself.

There was no way. When her mother left, Chen Xiaoya was still too young. The memory of her mother in her mind was so thin that it could not support any trust.

So what is the reason?

Chen Xiaoya asked himself this question many times, and finally realized that the reason he followed the bird away was probably because of the humble desire in his heart.

She had been thrown around like garbage since she was born. Her mother didn't want her, and Chen Zhengkang almost beat her to death with his own hands.

The feeling of being abandoned and abused soaks into the soul and can never be shaken off.

Because of this, after Xiao Niao made up that lie, the hard shell covering her body began to crack.

In a sense, this was a blessing in disguise. That radical and clumsy lie inadvertently broke through the child's psychological defenses.

In short, she just stayed at Xiaoniao's house.

At the beginning, Chen Xiaoya behaved quite reservedly, even more taciturn than when he first met Xiaoniao. He was quiet and obedient, always carefully trying to reduce his presence, as if he was afraid that saying too much would annoy people.

Xiao Niao soon discovered that the floor of her house had become unusually clean, and the hot water in the thermos was always full. As for chores like washing dishes and clothes, which she herself was too lazy to do, Chen Xiaoya also did them silently and consciously.

One day she came home a little late, and the child rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen to prepare three dishes and a soup... but they were not very tasty.

After a brief moment of immersion, Xiao Niao suddenly realized: "Wait, who is taking care of whom?!"

"It's obvious, Bird," the system said in a sad tone, "You're being taken care of by a kid who hasn't even started high school yet—look at how you're asking for everything!"

Xiao Niao took a look at the clothes hanging on the balcony and fluttering in the wind. He felt that what the system said made so much sense and he seemed unable to refute it.

In theory, there is no harm in letting children do more housework. Xiao Niao has been asked to participate in housework since he was a child: for example, he has to wash the dishes after meals, and help with the general cleaning when he is free on weekends.

However, her family members are quite honest and never say anything formal like training children's hands-on ability and cultivating independence.

They always explain to the bird in a pragmatic way: dishwashers are expensive, but you are free.

It’s no wonder that this person hated washing dishes when he grew up... In fact, one of the reasons why Xiao Niao is such a good cook is that the person who cooks at home doesn’t have to wash dishes.

But Chen Xiaoya obviously does not fall into this category.

She always cleaned silently and seemed to have no expression, but Xiaoniao could see that she felt uneasy and at a loss.

Xiao Niao would not beat her, provided her with a safe and warm home, would not let her go hungry, and even did not order her to do much work - this man was really too nice, and it made Chen Xiaoya feel frightened.

Perhaps it was because of this that even though the sprained foot had not fully healed, it was difficult for Chen Xiaoya to stay at home and rest peacefully.

This afternoon, she tentatively discussed with Xiaoniao whether she could do some odd jobs nearby.

"I

You can find it yourself, no need to be picked up or dropped off," Chen Xiaoya lowered his head obediently, "I won't delay your business."

Xiao Niao felt mixed emotions.

Even if you add up her two lifetimes, this is her first time raising a child, and she is really inexperienced in this area.

She had no experience, but instinctively felt that something was not right, so she could only comfort the child temporarily, then picked up cat number four and brought it back to the bedroom, and together with Tongzi, she held an internal meeting.

Xiao Niao spoke first: "I think this child might have a bit of a people-pleasing personality..."

Number Four expressed a different opinion: "Is it possible that Chen Xiaoya wants pocket money?"

Xiao Niao thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, that makes sense... Then I'll give her ten dollars a week as pocket money?"

Prices were still very cheap at that time. You could have a bowl of noodle soup for 80 cents, and for another 30 cents you could upgrade to stir-fried noodles topped with shredded pork.

Ten yuan is more than enough for a middle school student as pocket money.

The system was somewhat speechless: [No, it's obvious this isn't about pocket money. Chen Xiaoya clearly has some psychological issues...]

[Although you did make up an excuse before, saying her mother gave you a large sum of money... she obviously couldn't accept it, or perhaps she had other concerns in her mind.]

"Of course I know that Xiaoya has some psychological problems," Xiaoniao sighed, "I'm just worried that she'll start to have wild thoughts. After all... her mother is 'passed away.'"

For Chen Xiaoya, it would be better for his biological father to be dead than alive, even if he died suddenly.

It seems that she doesn't have any relatives in this world.

It's quite strange. For some reason, after following Xiaoniao to his home, Chen Xiaoya never asked about his mother in detail.