He didn't, not really. He just found the child's features somewhat familiar, a familiarity that seemed to be buried deep within his bones, though he couldn't quite place it.
Because of this, he found himself with an extra measure of patience whenever he was around the child.
"Regardless, he's staying in our home now. We have to be responsible for him. We must absolutely prevent any uncontrollable accidents from happening to the child. We owe it to his parents."
The butler nodded in agreement, but a hint of doubt lingered in his mind. "Sir, is that truly your only reason?"
Mr. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Then tell me, what else could it possibly be?"
The butler cleared his throat softly. "No, it's nothing. I was being too talkative. Please rest well. Call me if you need anything. If you're still feeling unwell, we'll call a doctor."
With that, he found an excuse and turned to leave.
Outside the door, having overheard the entire conversation through the crack, Xixi turned and quickly returned to his room.
He leaned against the door, recalling the words of the two men.
Could it be that Mr. He wasn't faking it?
Or was he aware that Xixi was eavesdropping?
He couldn't figure it out; his mind was a mess. But his mission of revenge hadn't stopped. He would test again to see if the man was genuinely good or feigning kindness.
If it was fake, he was determined to expose the man's true colors!
By noon, Mr. He was feeling much better. The butler had been about to call for a doctor, but suddenly the man's condition improved, and he no longer felt any discomfort.
The butler marveled. "How strange. It seems your body has excellent resistance."
Mr. He offered no comment.
Leaning against the stairs, Xixi pursed his lips. It wasn't his resistance that was good; the medicine itself was harmless. Although the diarrhea earlier had seemed severe, the substance was not only safe but also beneficial to the body.
It aided digestion, cleared the bowels, and detoxified the intestines. It wasn't as if his complexion hadn't improved significantly.
However, this medicine was for people with constipation or an accumulation of natural toxins in their bodies. It had little effect on ordinary individuals. For Mr. He to have such severe symptoms could only mean that he had an excess of toxins in his system.
Who knew what he had done in his youth, eating and drinking indiscriminately. He had certainly consumed his fair share of alcohol.
Just then, Mr. He looked towards him. Xixi's face immediately lit up with a childlike, sunny smile. "Uncle He, your complexion looks much better than it did this morning. Were you really sick this morning?"
The concern on the little boy's face was so sincere that Mr. He felt a warmth in his heart. "I'm alright now."
As if on cue, he received a phone call stating that there was something at the company that required his attention. Mr. He hung up, bid Xixi farewell, and prepared to go upstairs to change.
Upon reaching the bedroom, he discovered Xixi trailing closely behind him.
"What is it?" he asked gently.
Xixi tilted his head. "Uncle, are you going to work?"
Mr. He pondered for a moment. His company was actually managed by his nephew; he rarely went there, only receiving calls when his nephew encountered issues he couldn't handle.
However, it was still his company, so it could be considered going to work.
"Yes, is there something you need?"
"No, Uncle. You go ahead. I'll be good at home, so don't worry about me," Xixi said obediently, walking to the closet and opening the door. "Uncle, what clothes do you want to wear? I'll get them for you."
"Xixi, you're so good. Get me that brown one."
"Okay."
Xixi stood on tiptoe, took down the brown shirt, and handed it to Mr. He. Just then, the butler entered, holding a document.
"This is what you left in the living room earlier."
Mr. He had intended to handle the document in the living room but had forgotten about it after receiving the phone call.
The butler placed the document down and then picked up Xixi, coaxing him. "Little friend, Uncle is going to work. Will you play with Uncle Butler at home?"
Xixi glanced at the shirt and nodded obediently. "Okay."
The two, one large and one small, turned and left. At the doorway, Xixi looked back at Mr. He and waved, a brilliant smile gracing his rosy-cheeked little face.
"Uncle, have a safe trip."
Mr. He nodded, took off his house clothes, and prepared to put on the shirt. Yet, for some reason, he was suddenly reminded of the little boy's earnest gaze as he had held the shirt earlier.
He smiled slightly, folded the shirt, and set it aside. He then retrieved a white one from the closet to change into.
When he arrived at the company, the shareholders were already in a meeting, deliberating on the development of the old city district. Many shareholders disagreed with Mr. He's partnership with Ning Xin.
Mr. He wasn't surprised and proceeded to explain the disadvantages and benefits of the old city redevelopment to them.
The meeting lasted for over two hours. Mr. He felt a tickling sensation in his palm, but in front of everyone, he couldn't constantly scratch it.
However, the itching was different from pain.
The latter could be endured, but the former became more unbearable the longer it persisted, causing Mr. He's complexion to worsen.
The shareholders, unsure of what was happening, saw his somber expression and assumed he was genuinely angered by their resistance. This, in turn, made them somewhat apprehensive.
When the meeting concluded, Mr. He gave a few brief instructions and then strode out.
Without stopping, he left the company, got into his car, and headed home. As soon as he entered the living room, he couldn't resist scratching his palms a few times. In fact, he had been forcing himself to endure it all the way home.
The butler, upon seeing this, inquired, "Sir, what's wrong?"
Mr. He frowned slightly and shook his head. "Nothing. I'll go rest for a bit."
He turned and went upstairs. The butler watched his retreating back, a sense of worry growing in his heart. He happened to see Xixi coming downstairs and coaxed him. "Are you hungry, little friend?"
Xixi's mouth twitched. He wasn't a pig; he couldn't be hungry all the time. He shook his head and asked innocently, "What's wrong with Uncle? His complexion doesn't look good."
"It's nothing. Perhaps he's just tired from work."
The butler didn't know what was happening and didn't want to worry the child further. He picked Xixi up and headed towards the back garden.
"The weather's nice today. I'll take you to play in the back garden for a while."
Xixi didn't respond, but his gaze was fixed on the window of the second floor. He actually didn't want to go; he wanted to see Mr. He suffer from the itching powder.
But this Mr. He was truly capable of enduring. Xixi stayed in the back garden until evening, with the butler by his side.
Mr. He neither called the butler upstairs nor came down himself, nor did he call for a doctor.
He was truly remarkable.
Xixi had tried it before; even the most vicious and patient criminals couldn't withstand the itching powder. Yet, this Mr. He showed no reaction at all.
When it was time for dinner, Xixi sat at the dining table and saw Mr. He come downstairs.
He sat down, greeted Xixi, and picked up his chopsticks to begin eating. It was then that Xixi noticed bandages wrapped around his palms.
"Uncle, what happened to your hands?"
Mr. He looked down at his palms. "Just a few scratches."