Chu'he finished cooking the meal, and Ninth returned with Chongyang, freshly washed.
She placed a piece of meat in Chongyang’s bowl. "Eat more meat so you can grow taller."
Chongyang sat on the chair, picked up his bowl, and shoveled the food into his mouth. Then, his expression froze, his face blank, like a fool.
Chu'he asked him, "Is my cooking not good?"
Chongyang pursed his lips and said, "It’s weird."
Chu'he tasted the meat herself and frowned slightly. Though her cooking wasn’t as good as a chef’s, it shouldn’t be that bad.
She glanced at Ninth.
Ninth had raised his bowl so high it nearly covered his entire face. He didn’t seem to care what he was eating, just shoveling it all in quickly.
Chu'he looked back at Chongyang.
Chongyang only spared a moment to say "weird" before also lifting his bowl and wolfing down his food.
The way these two ate was strikingly similar.
If someone said they weren’t father and son, who would believe it?
Chu'he sighed inwardly, feeling even more guilty toward Song Tieniu.
As dusk fell, Song Tieniu returned—unexpectedly carried on Song Chunming’s back, with Lan Yingying following anxiously beside them.
Song Tieniu was back much earlier than usual.
Ninth leaned against the doorframe, his expression unreadable.
Chu'he asked with concern, "What happened?"
Song Chunming set Song Tieniu down and helped him sit on a chair. "On the mountain, Yingying was almost bitten by a snake. Big Brother shielded her and got bitten on the arm instead."
Chu'he immediately turned to the indifferent young man. "Ninth, check if it’s poisonous!"
Ninth merely glanced at the wound on Song Tieniu’s arm and said flatly, "The situation isn’t great."
Chu'he panicked. "Is it deadly?"
"If we wait any longer, the wound will heal on its own."
Chu'he: "..."
There were indeed two puncture marks from the snakebite on Song Tieniu’s arm, but only a faint trace of blood. He pulled his sleeve down, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"I already said the snake wasn’t venomous. It’s nothing serious. Chunming, you and your wife worry too much."
Song Chunming replied, "Better safe than sorry. You’re my only older brother. If something happened to you, I’d never forgive myself."
Lan Yingying stepped forward, her face full of remorse. "It’s my fault. Big Brother, I’ve caused you trouble."
"What kind of talk is that? We’re family. Protecting you is only natural."
As he spoke, Song Tieniu felt a strange sense of déjà vu—had he heard these words somewhere before?
Chu'he said, "I’ve fully recovered now. The mountains are dangerous—please don’t go gathering herbs anymore."
Chongyang clung to Song Tieniu’s side, tugging at his sleeve. "Dad, don’t go."
Ninth’s eyelid twitched, suddenly feeling like an outsider in his own home.
Chu'he turned to Song Chunming and Lan Yingying. "Thank you for bringing Tieniu back. Let me pour you some tea."
As she turned, the jade pendant at her waist slipped and landed at Song Chunming’s feet.
Song Chunming bent to pick up the fish-shaped pendant, running his thumb over its intricate carvings. His expression grew distant.
"This pendant… it looks familiar."
Lan Yingying’s face paled.
Suddenly, someone snatched the pendant from Song Chunming’s hand.
Ninth handed it back to Chu'he, his tone cold. "This belongs to Ah’he."
So no one else should touch it.
Chu'he blinked, inexplicably feeling like she’d heard those words before.
Lan Yingying suddenly spoke up. "I’m not feeling well. Chunming, I want to go rest."
Song Tieniu said, "Chunming, take your wife home. With Ninth here, I’ll be fine."
Seeing that Lan Yingying did look unwell and Song Tieniu truly wasn’t in danger, Song Chunming didn’t stay for tea. He took his leave with Lan Yingying.
As they walked away, Lan Yingying glanced back at the pendant in Chu'he’s hand before lowering her gaze, hiding the conflict in her eyes.
Song Tieniu’s wound still needed cleaning. Chu'he went to fetch bandages from the room and then headed to the kitchen for a basin of water.
Chongyang stayed by Song Tieniu’s side, staring at him intently.
Song Tieniu patted Chongyang’s head. "Don’t worry, Chongyang. I’m fine."
Then, he turned to the young man beside him with gratitude. "Ninth, thank you for looking after my wife and child while I was away."
"My wife and child"—those words grated on Ninth’s ears.
Ninth forced a smile. "Ah’he is beautiful and kind, Chongyang is innocent and adorable—I’ve grown quite fond of them."
"I’m here to join this family, not break it apart."
"While you were gone, protecting them was only natural."
Song Tieniu wasn’t one to assume the worst of others, but something about Ninth’s words felt… off.
And since when did Ninth call his wife by her name? Was that appropriate?
Chu'he, just returning with the basin, nearly tripped at Ninth’s declaration of "joining the family."
She gave a strained smile. "Ninth, could you take Chongyang outside to play? I’d like to speak with Tieniu alone."
Ninth felt the daggers in Chu'he’s gaze and wisely chose not to argue. He grabbed Chongyang by the collar and marched out.
Once in the courtyard, Ninth let go—thud—Chongyang landed on the ground.
Chongyang scrambled up and glared at him.
Ninth scoffed. "You dare look at me like that? I’m your real father, and you’re calling Song Tieniu ‘Dad’?"
Chongyang had disliked Ninth—his white hair matched Ninth’s, and because of it, people scorned him. He’d come to believe white hair was a curse.
But Ninth had helped him stand up to the village bully and his lackeys. For the first time, Chongyang had "won" in a battle of fathers. Though Ninth acted even more childish than him, Chongyang found him slightly less detestable now.
Ninth demanded, "Tell me—between me and Song Tieniu, who do you pick as your father?"
Chongyang tilted his head, confused. "Why… can’t I… have… two dads?"
A vein throbbed on Ninth’s forehead.
Inside the house, the "married couple" sat in awkward silence.
Chu'he cleaned Song Tieniu’s wound and wrapped it in bandages. She kept opening her mouth to speak but bit back her words each time.
Song Tieniu, too, kept stealing glances at her, hesitating.
"Um—"
They spoke at the same time, paused, then spoke again in unison.
"You go first."
After a long stare, Chu'he blurted, "No, you first!"
Song Tieniu wrestled with his thoughts, then suddenly stood, rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and stormed back.
Chu'he stumbled back in alarm. "Wh-what are you doing?!"
Had he discovered her infidelity? Was he going to chop her down in a fit of rage?!
But then—Song Tieniu pressed the cleaver into her hands.
"It's all my fault—I failed you, our child, and this family," he cried out. "I don't deserve to live. Just end me now!"
