I Like You Just the Way You Are, My Little Fool

When Dr. Wu brought Jack and Jill Evans back to the treehouse, everyone was already awake.

By this time, daylight had fully broken, and the rain outside had stopped.

Since clean water was precious, everyone just dipped a cloth in water to wipe their faces and tidied up a bit. The rest was saved for drinking.

"Jack, Jill, come over to Auntie," Margaret Evans called out, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the rosy-cheeked twins, inviting them to warm themselves by the fire.

The twins’ clothes were soaked through, and they shivered as they huddled together.

Dr. Wu and the others had brought herbs to ward off the cold. Lily Evans brewed them and gave the children a dose first. Once their clothes were dried by the fire, the little ones finally regained some color in their cheeks.

"You must be hungry. Have some food," someone said as everyone sat around the stove, cooking a pot of meat porridge. Lily handed two bowls to the twins.

The little ones' stomachs growled, but they politely accepted the bowls and thanked Sister Lily before wolfing down their food.

With food in their bellies, Lily helped Margaret Evans settle the twins down for a nap. After last night’s ordeal, the children fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. The others left the treehouse to stretch their legs, leaving Lily and Lucky inside.

"Eat more, dear." Lucky offered his bowl of meat porridge to Lily, licking his lips.

"You should eat too, Lucky. Aren't you hungry? Why are you giving me your meat porridge?" Lily Evans heard Lucky's stomach rumbling.

Lucky scratched his head. "Honey, you definitely didn't eat enough just now. I checked—we only have a little bit of food left, and who knows when the floodwaters will recede? I'm strong, I can go hungry for a few days. Better save the rations for you. I'm a man, I can't let my wife go hungry."

Lily felt a warmth in her heart. People say that when disaster strikes, couples often look out for themselves. But looking at Lucky, Lily suddenly realized that though he might be simple-minded, he was truly a good husband.

"Let's eat together." Lily grinned, coaxing him. "We're in the mountains, so we won't go hungry. If we run out of food, we can hunt with Mark Hunter, or pick mushrooms after the rain. We'll be just fine."

Lucky blushed and scratched his head. "I'm just a bit slow, can't think things through. You're so clever, honey. You don't think I'm silly, do you?"

"I just like you, my little fool," Lily whispered softly in Lucky's ear, her gentle breath making Lucky freeze, his face turning as red as a boiled shrimp.

"Let's eat together," Lily said with a smile, scooping up a spoonful of fragrant meat porridge and holding it to Lucky's lips. "Be good, open wide."

"Ah." Lucky happily opened his mouth and took a bite. The two of them sat together in the corner of the treehouse, sharing the bowl of meat porridge, their hearts full of tender affection.

"Oh my! You two!" Just then, Cynthia Wu happened to come into the treehouse. Seeing the sweet couple, her face turned bright red as she covered her cheeks and exclaimed, "I didn't see anything!"

She turned to leave, only to bump her head right into Mark Hunter's solid chest.

"Mark, I-I didn't mean to!" Cynthia Wu looked up and saw Mark Hunter's face so close, her cheeks burning even hotter. She covered her face and hurried away: "I'm going to dig up some wild vegetables!"

Mark Hunter stared blankly after Cynthia Wu, touching the spot where she'd bumped him, his heart pounding.

"Mark Hunter!" Lily poked her head out the window, grinning mischievously. "There are wild beasts in these mountains, it's dangerous for Cynthia to dig for vegetables alone. What if she runs into a wild animal?"

Mark Hunter's expression changed instantly. He grabbed the sickle beside him and dashed off after her.