He cupped his hands over his mouth, blew out a breath of white steam, and then rubbed his palms together before he blankly raised his head to gaze into the boundless night sky. The night was like a black silk satin, adorned with glittering and bright cold stars that made the winter night seem even colder and more lonely. Yue Ning liked to watch the stars. He remembered the time his mother abandoned him in town; he was too young to recognize the roads or know where his home was. Hungry, bullied by beggars, and shunned by passersby for his filth. When he was most ravenous, he even stuffed mud into his mouth, and one night, his belly burned fiercely, a pain so intense. But he had no choice; he had to endure the pain. Later, he discovered a little trick: If he didn’t focus on his stomach and thought about something else instead, it would lessen the pain a bit. That day, he curled up on the cold street, clutching his stomach, and watched the stars all night until, finally, he didn’t know if it was the pain or the cold that overpowered him, but he drifted into a hazy sleep. Later, he was taken back home and became sick after eating mud. His mother found him troublesome, but he no longer cared. Whenever his mother glared at him, he would find solace alone by the riverbank, on the small hillside, on the rooftop, or anywhere else, gazing at the stars. As long as he watched, his heart would calm down. This time was no different. His anxious heart gradually soothed, becoming tranquil. He just stared blankly until the sky was filled with the light of dawn. He found the water tank in the kitchen was empty, so he began hauling water, and later, his elder brothers woke up too. Baobao woke up especially early today, chatting and laughing with Yixuan, and later even pulled fourth brother aside for a whispered conversation. He felt dejected and lowered his eyes. Afterward, his gaze stuck to Dong Huiying. It seemed Dong Huiying noticed and turned around, catching him in the act. He felt very uneasy inside, and panicky too, and in his panic, he couldn’t control his expression, putting on a fierce face of a villain and growling a sentence out loud. Dong Huiying was taken aback, and he instantly regretted what he’d said. It had been a long time since he’d yelled at her. He wanted to be kind to her, but he was too flustered. He harbored secrets, and these past days, his brothers always hovered around her, which left him feeling uneasy and struggling to control his emotions. Dong Huiying turned her head back. He was fraught with anxiety. After breakfast, Dong Huiying went to the pharmacy. Xihui Courtyard was large with many rooms, and Dong Huiying had a special room designated for concocting various medicines, like the Fragrant balms and ointments brought to Balibao by the Third Brother on a carriage, or the Scar Removal Ointment, all of which originated from this small pharmacy. Yixuan was thoughtful and had skilled hands, while Little Brother Sannian was also adept at creating fragrances. Yue Ning spotted Yun Ge and thought, why does this Miss Yun always cling to Baobao? He felt a sourness in his heart, as if he had drunk a cellar’s worth of vinegar, his brooding eyes darting glances toward Yun Ge, who seemed not to care and was chatting about everyday life standing with Dong Huiying. Ever since Shujun started preparing to open a shop, the household had become busy. During the day, Dong Huiying, Yun Ge, Yixuan, and Little Brother Sannian – these four were always huddled together. Yue Ning thought sadly how he envied Yixuan. Even though Yixuan was the younger brother, he was handy, while he himself was clumsy. He couldn’t be of any help; if he insisted on helping, he would only cause trouble...