It was not Bai Congming's first time sleeping outside.
But even his not-yet-fully-developed mind understood that this time was completely different from before.
There were no people walking back and forth here, no need to worry about being chased away at any moment, and no bugs crawling everywhere.
Oh, no... there were bugs.
Bai Congming's gaze shifted to Bai Fang's arm, exposed outside the blanket. There was a little black dot on it.
Bad bugs burrowed into the skin, making a great big bump swell up, then hid away and took tiny bites of the flesh underneath.
It itched and hurt.
Bai Congming had been bitten before. He knew how awful it felt, and he did not want Bai Fang to feel that way too.
The hammock was like a great net, and Bai Congming was a fish trapped inside. He struggled to push his upper body out, only for the hammock's center of gravity to shift. It swung him halfway around in midair, then mercilessly flung him down.
Thud-
The impact sounded like someone slapping a rotten watermelon. Bai Fang opened her eyes to find Bai Congming clutching his head, looking utterly bewildered.
After quite a while, as though the pain had finally reached his brain, Bai Congming opened his mouth and burst into tears.
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Bai Fang got up, gathered the child from the ground into her arms, and soothed him softly.
"What happened? Didn't I tell you to call me if you needed the bathroom?"
It might have been better if she had not tried to soothe him. The gentler Bai Fang's voice became, the louder Bai Congming cried.
It was late and quiet. Afraid of disturbing the neighbors, Bai Fang wiped his tears and carried him inside.
The normally silent