Mr. He was amused, "My temper is so good, I've never offended anyone."
Xixi was unfazed, "As long as you exist, as long as you interact with humans, you can't avoid offending someone. Even if you think you've done impeccably, others might still resent you for some reason related to their own interests."
Despite his young age, the little fellow spoke with perfect coherence.
Mr. He, while surprised, knew the child made a lot of sense, "Who taught you this?"
"Does this need to be taught? I know it myself."
Xixi tilted his small head, a proud expression on his face.
Mr. He put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands with a tissue, and then ruffled his hair, "Then you are truly brilliant."
Xixi dodged slightly to the side.
Mr. He paused but didn't take it to heart, assuming the child was just shy. "Even if what you say is true, if it's you who came, then I accept it."
"Why?" Xixi didn't understand.
"No reason, I just feel we have a connection. Although you are young, I already consider you a friend beyond age."
Mr. He said it sincerely.
Xixi found it utterly unbelievable, thinking this person was truly crazy. "I'm done eating. I'm a little sleepy. I'm going back to my room for a nap."
After finishing his meal and putting down his chopsticks, he slid off the chair and, with his short legs, ran upstairs.
Mr. He glanced at his bowl, which was empty of food. He didn't stop the child, but seeing him run so quickly, he couldn't help but call out, "Slow down, don't fall."
After returning to his room, Xixi didn't come out for the rest of the afternoon. He felt deeply uneasy, not understanding what was going on with this Mr. He.
Did he have no sense of caution at all?
It wasn't until dinner that Mr. He personally knocked on his door. Xixi had no choice but to go downstairs and eat with him.
However, the atmosphere at the dinner table was very peculiar. Mr. He remained solicitous, but Xixi was listless. He answered questions when asked but didn't proactively initiate conversations with his usual wit.
Mr. He noticed the child's lack of enthusiasm but didn't inquire why he was unhappy. He waited until after dinner, and the child returned to his room.
Mr. He sat at the dining table, motionless for a long time.
The butler asked, "The child seemed in low spirits today. Did something happen in his room?"
Mr. He was also unsure and concerned, "Tonight, you keep a closer watch. If anything happens, come and get me."
The butler nodded.
"Alright."
Back in his room, Xixi repeatedly thought about Mr. He's gentle demeanor at the dinner table that evening. Such an unwary person deserved to suffer!
Xixi rolled over, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. As he opened his door, he heard the noisy commotion of hurried footsteps in the hallway.
He peeked through the crack in the door.
He saw a group of housekeepers, accompanied by a man in a white coat, appear in the hallway. Then the two of them entered Mr. He's room together.
Xixi hesitated for a moment before going to investigate.
Not wanting to be discovered, he hid in the corner diagonally opposite Mr. He's room.
The housekeepers had entered and exited in too much haste, and the door was not fully closed, leaving a small gap. The sounds from inside could be clearly heard.
"Sir's rash is so severe, accompanied by itching and swelling. It's an allergic reaction. Did you eat peanuts today?"
Mr. He didn't speak.
The butler, however, asked anxiously, "We did eat one peanut at dinner tonight. Just one, and it could cause such a severe allergic reaction?"
The doctor disagreed, "Sir's constitution is inherently very sensitive to allergies. Never mind eating one, even licking it would trigger an allergic reaction. Furthermore, have you been taking any medication recently for bowel regulation?"
"No." The butler shook his head, carefully recalling what medicine Mr. He had taken recently. "He's only been a little anemic and has only been taking the tonics you prescribed. He hasn't taken any other medication."
"Then let me put it another way, has Sir been frequenting the restroom recently?"
"Yes."
The doctor said, "Then that's it. Sir's body has already sustained damage. When it hasn't fully recovered and then develops an allergic reaction, the illness naturally becomes fierce and urgent."
"Prescribe the medicine."
The butler was about to say something more, but Mr. He preempted him, urging the doctor.
The butler could only swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
After the doctor prescribed the medicine and some tonics, he left. The butler turned off the lights in the hallway, leaving only a faint glow emanating from Mr. He's room.
Xixi tiptoed to the door and pressed his ear against it. The walls and doors of this villa had good soundproofing, but this door was not fully closed, leaving a tiny gap.
As he moved closer, he could hear clearly.
"Sir, this is the first and last time. No more." The butler said sternly.
Mr. He raised his hand and rubbed his forehead.
Seeing that he hadn't taken the words to heart, the butler couldn't help but say, "Sir, I objected to you eating that peanut at dinner tonight. Why did you insist on eating it?"
Mr. He lowered his gaze, looking at the red rash on the back of his hand. "I just didn't want to disappoint him."
"But if you had clearly stated your peanut allergy, I believe the child wouldn't have minded."
The butler found it preposterous.
In all these years, apart from that woman, he had never seen Mr. He be so patient and accommodating to anyone.
Mr. He looked up at him and said indifferently, "This child resembles her."
The butler froze, "How is that possible?"
But after saying it, he himself paused. He had only met that woman a few times, no more than three meetings.
Now, so many years later, he had almost forgotten what that woman looked like.
He truly couldn't see any resemblance between this child and that woman.
Mr. He gazed forward, a hint of bewilderment and reminiscence in his eyes. "Perhaps it's my delusion. For a moment, I saw her shadow in this child. Whether what I saw was real or not, for that fleeting glimpse, I am willing to treat him better."
The butler pursed his lips, feeling a sigh for his master. "You think so? So many years have passed. Perhaps you should forget. She is gone, and thinking more will only bring you more sorrow."
Mr. He did not reply, merely smiling gently.
The butler pursed his lips and said again, "Sir, please don't think I'm being nosy. I implore you, letting her go is also letting yourself go."
He truly couldn't bear to watch. Ever since meeting that woman, Mr. He had never been free. His heart was constantly preoccupied with her.
When that woman left, his heart left with her.