Uncle

Early the next morning, daylight spilled through the window lattice onto the two people sleeping in each other's arms.

Cui Wan woke first.

She blinked and found herself nestled in Chu Moqi's arms, her face against his chest. She could hear his steady heartbeat, but the corner of her own mouth felt wet...

Cui Wan looked down. A small patch of drool had soaked into the front of Chu Moqi's clothes.

Her face flared red, and she looked timidly up at him.

His brows were relaxed, and the faintest curve lingered at the corners of his mouth. He was sleeping more deeply than usual.

After watching him for a while, Cui Wan sighed in relief, reached out, and gently touched his face.

Chu Moqi's lashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes. For an instant, his gaze was still hazy when he saw her, but it gradually cleared, and the curve of his lips deepened.

"Awake?"

His voice was low and husky from sleep, yet very pleasant.

Cui Wan nodded, her face reddening again.

"Mm..."

They gazed at each other like that for a while. Neither spoke, but sweetness filled the air.

After a while, Cui Wan sat up and said softly, "Let me help you get up, A-Qi."

Chu Moqi nodded and instinctively pulled back the covers. In an instant, everything was exposed.

His legs lay limply on the bed, wrapped in wrinkled undertrousers and twisted into a strange, ugly position. And down there... the diaper formed an obvious bulge.

Chu Moqi's hand froze in midair, his mind completely blank.

Wanwan saw?!!!

Cui Wan had indeed seen. Her gaze landed on his lower body, on that bulge, and she froze.

Chu Moqi's face burned. The heat spread from his cheeks to his ears, then from his ears down his neck.

"Wanwan, this... this is..."

He couldn't go on.

How could he explain?

Say it was a diaper? Let her know he was a useless cripple who needed to wear something like that?

Say it wasn't a diaper? What if Wanwan misunderstood... misunderstood and thought he was having that sort of reaction?

Chu Moqi opened his mouth, but not a single word came out. Humiliation and anger surged over him like a tide. He yanked the covers over himself, covering every inch.

"Get out!" Chu Moqi's voice was harsh, trembling beyond his control.

Cui Wan jumped at his sudden fierceness. Looking at his flushed face, his evasive eyes, and his hand clutching the corner of the covers, she couldn't say anything.

"Then, then I'll..." Cui Wan stood, at a complete loss. "I'll get Yan Qin to help you..."

Cui Wan hurried to open the door. As soon as it opened-

Two identical people nearly tumbled inside, wearing equally identical looks of embarrassment.

Cui Wan stared blankly at them.

Yan Huai scratched his head and explained with an awkward smile, "Madam, well... it was my brother. He dragged me here to watch... We were just... concerned about the young master..."

Before Cui Wan could react, a voice chilled to the bone sounded behind her:

"You two... get the hell in here!"

Chu Moqi sat on the bed, wrapped tightly in the covers, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

Yan Qin and Yan Huai exchanged a glance, then shuffled inside with miserable expressions.

Yan Qin lowered his voice until only Yan Huai could hear. "I don't know whether the young master has it in him. All I know is... you're done for!"

Chu Moqi leaned against the headboard, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Change it!" His voice was harsh. "Hurry!"

Yan Qin and Yan Huai exchanged a glance and obediently approached. They deftly lifted the covers, undid his undertrousers, and changed his diaper-they had followed this routine for four years and could do it blindfolded without a mistake.

As he worked, Yan Huai couldn't resist running his mouth. "Young master, what are you so embarrassed about? It's not as though Madam hasn't seen it before..."

A buzz went through Chu Moqi's head, alarm bells blaring. He jerked his head up and fixed his eyes on Yan Huai. "What?"

Yan Huai's hands paused.

He looked up, meeting Chu Moqi's suddenly sharp eyes, and his expression froze.

It's over. I let it slip...

"N-nothing..." Yan Huai smiled awkwardly, his hands moving even faster. "I didn't say anything. You misheard, young master..."

"Yan Huai!" Chu Moqi's voice sank, carrying a pressure that brooked no defiance. "Talk!"

Yan Huai shrank back and looked to Yan Qin for help. Yan Qin turned his head away expressionlessly, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

Despairing, Yan Huai swallowed and began to stammer:

"It... it was that time before... when you played in the snow with Madam, young master, and then came down with a high fever..."

Chu Moqi's brows drew even tighter.

"You were delirious with fever that night..." Yan Huai's voice grew quieter and quieter. "Then you... kept demanding Madam... demanding that she change your diaper..."

A boom went through Chu Moqi's head, leaving it utterly blank.

"Madam... she changed it." Yan Huai rushed through the words, then lowered his head, not daring to look at him.

Wanwan had changed his diaper...

He hadn't known anything. He had even thought it was a dream...

Chu Moqi's face went from deathly white to crimson, then from crimson to livid.

He yanked the covers over himself, hiding from head to toe.

"You..." His muffled voice came from beneath the covers, trembling with despair. "Didn't even stop her!"

Yan Qin and Yan Huai exchanged a glance without speaking.

Stop her?

How?

Madam herself had wanted to change him. Would they dare stop her?

The covers trembled slightly.

So humiliating... so! Utterly! Humiliating!

Wanwan... Wanwan had known all along. She had known all along what he used, what sort of person he was.

Yet she had said nothing. Every day, she still called him A-Qi in that soft voice, burrowed into his arms, and warmed his feet with her own...

Chu Moqi buried his face even deeper.

As Yan Huai helped Chu Moqi remove his diaper, his diaper, something suddenly caught the corner of his eye. He paused and took a closer look. Then he nudged Yan Qin and gestured with his lips.

Yan Qin followed his gaze-

Inside the diaper... it looked... how should he put it? Quite lively...

The two exchanged a glance and nearly failed to hold back their laughter.

"Young master," Yan Huai said, struggling so hard not to laugh that his voice sounded a little unsteady, "well... we'll leave you to it."

There was no response from beneath the covers.

They retreated to the door, but Yan Huai suddenly poked his head back in and said quickly, "Keep up the good work, young master!"

Then he slammed the door shut with a bang.

The door had barely closed before an uncontrollable burst of laughter came from outside.

"I can't, I can't... hahahahaha-"

"Shh-keep it down!"

"One look at the young master and you can tell he's more than capable..."

"As if you needed to tell me!"

Chu Moqi's face had been dark since morning. His whole being radiated an air of "keep away," and even Yan Huai didn't dare crack any more jokes.

That afternoon, after finishing a set of body lifts, he leaned back in his wheelchair, panting.

His arm strength really had improved considerably lately, and he could hold himself up longer than before, but he wasn't in the mood to be happy about it.

Where was Wanwan?

He wheeled himself around the courtyard once. She wasn't there.

He made another circuit. Still nothing.

His brows drew tighter and tighter.

Could it be... could she have seen him like that this morning and found him... found him disgusting? Or thought he was too ugly and didn't want to see him?

Or... was she avoiding him?

The more Chu Moqi thought, the more irritated he became. He pushed his wheelchair farther afield.

In a corner of Orchid Courtyard, Cui Wan was crouched beside a flower bed with a rosy little girl in her arms.

The little girl looked about three or four, with her hair tied in two little tufts. Her chubby little hand was stuffing something into her mouth-candy! Candy Cui Wan had given her!

Cui Wan was smiling as she watched the little girl eat her candy, her eyes full of tenderness.

Chu Moqi's face darkened further.

She had the leisure to coax a child here, but wouldn't come find him?

He wheeled himself over, his voice harsh. "What are you doing! Where did this child come from!"

Cui Wan looked up, and her eyes lit when she saw him.

"A-Qi!" She smiled and pointed to the little girl in her arms. "She should be a child from nearby. She said her name is Nannan. She crawled in through that little hole just now and said she thought the estate was beautiful, so she came in for a look."

With candy stuffed in her mouth and her cheeks bulging, Nannan stared curiously at Chu Moqi.

At his wheelchair.

Chu Moqi's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Wanwan was even this nice to a little girl...

"Why are you bringing just anyone into the estate again!" His voice grew fiercer.

Nannan trembled in fright at his shout, nearly dropping the candy from her mouth. She looked at Chu Moqi's dark face, then at the strange thing beneath him-

"Waaah-!"

She burst into tears. "Big sister! Uncle's bad! Scared!"

She huddled in Cui Wan's arms, crying loud enough to shake heaven and earth.

Cui Wan hurriedly held her close and gently patted her back. "Don't be scared, don't be scared. Uncle isn't a bad man. Don't cry, Nannan. Big sister will give you candy."

She took another piece of candy from her sleeve, unwrapped it, and slipped it into Nannan's mouth.

With the candy in her mouth, Nannan's cries gradually quieted, but she still sniffled, occasionally stealing a glance at Chu Moqi before quickly burying her face in Cui Wan's arms again.

Cui Wan looked up at Chu Moqi, a little helpless. "A-Qi, I'll take her home first, so her family won't worry."

Chu Moqi said nothing.

Cui Wan stood with Nannan in her arms and headed out. At the entrance, she even turned back and smiled at him.

Chu Moqi remained where he was, utterly motionless.

A quarter of an hour later, Cui Wan returned.

Chu Moqi was still sitting in the same place, his face dark as a raincloud.

Cui Wan walked over, crouched beside his wheelchair, and tilted her face up to look at him.

"A-Qi," she said softly, "I've taken her home. Don't be angry anymore, all right? Being angry gives you wrinkles."

It would have been better if she hadn't spoken. Her words made Chu Moqi's face darken further.

"Why did she call you big sister and me uncle!" His voice was harsh, filled with irrepressible displeasure. "And! Am I that frightening!"

Cui Wan froze at his words, then the corners of her mouth couldn't help lifting.

Was A-Qi... jealous? Jealous of a little girl?

She struggled to hold back her laughter and looked at him earnestly. "A-Qi isn't frightening. But you were being fierce, and children get scared. Maybe she thought your stern face made you an uncle. Perhaps if you smiled and were gentler, you'd be a big brother!"

Chu Moqi snorted. "Do you think I'm old and paralyzed too?"

"How could I!" Cui Wan grew anxious, her eyes going round. "A-Qi is young and handsome!"

Looking into her earnest, shining eyes, Chu Moqi suddenly felt his face warm.

"You-!"

Unable to speak, he simply turned his wheelchair and hurried back. The wheels spun rapidly, as though he were fleeing.

Cui Wan paused, then hurried after him. "What's wrong, A-Qi? Are you still unhappy?"

Chu Moqi kept pushing forward. "Why didn't you keep me company this afternoon?"

Cui Wan jogged alongside him. "Then shall I keep you company now?"

"No!" He wheeled himself even faster.

Watching his sulky retreating figure, Cui Wan suddenly covered her mouth.

Was A-Qi... embarrassed? Or... embarrassed and angry?

As she watched that rapidly retreating figure, she couldn't help laughing aloud.

The next day, remembering Chu Moqi's words yesterday-"Why didn't you come keep me company this afternoon?"-Cui Wan still couldn't help smiling.

A-Qi... wanted her company.

Sweetness filled her heart, and she thought she would go find him in the study.

The study door stood ajar. Cui Wan gently pushed it open and was just about to call out "A-Qi" when the words caught in her throat.

She froze.

A thick carpet covered the open space in the middle of the study. Chu Moqi was standing in front of his wheelchair, supporting himself on two crutches, his stance trembling and unsteady.

Standing! He was standing!

A buzz went through Cui Wan's head, leaving it utterly blank.

She simply stared at him, at those legs that had originally had no sensation at all, now barely touching the floor. His arms were shaking, and tiny beads of sweat seeped from his temples, yet he stood there, stood there.

Cui Wan's eyes reddened at once.

"A-Qi..."

Her voice trembled, carrying disbelieving joy and an ache for him that threatened to overflow her chest.

Chu Moqi jerked his head up.

He saw her standing in the doorway, saw her reddened eyes. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, and then his arms gave way, and he toppled straight forward.

"A-Qi!" Terrified, Cui Wan rushed forward without thinking, spreading her arms to catch him.

But how could she possibly catch him?

Chu Moqi's weight came down on her, sending her falling backward with him.

I can't fall on Wanwan...

That was the only thought left in Chu Moqi's mind. With all his strength, he leaned backward and twisted onto his side, shielding Cui Wan in his arms.

Thud-

A dull impact sounded.

Even with the carpet cushioning him, his head still struck the edge of the wheelchair, and pain briefly blackened his vision.

Cui Wan lay in his arms, still shaken. She froze for a moment, then scrambled to her feet, knelt beside him, and tried to help him up.

"A-Qi! A-Qi, where did you hurt yourself?" Her voice trembled with tears as her hands frantically searched his body. "Did you hit your head? Does it hurt? Where does it hurt?"

Chu Moqi lay on the floor, breathing heavily. "I'm fine..."

His voice was low. He turned his face away, refusing to look at her. "Who told you to come in..."

Cui Wan's hands stilled. Looking at his averted profile and his faintly reddened ears, she suddenly felt a little hurt.

"What's wrong with me taking a look!" There was a stubborn edge to her voice. "A-Qi, you... you stood up just now!"

She paused, her eyes reddening again.

"I told you! You're going to get better, aren't you!"

Chu Moqi lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling beams, his voice muffled. "No... I only pushed my body up with my arms. My legs have no feeling, and they can't support me."

So that was it...

Cui Wan froze for a moment. The wild joy that had just risen in her heart felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over it. Still, she smiled and slowly helped Chu Moqi sit up, letting him lean against her. "That's all right. At least you've already made so much progress, A-Qi! Maybe you'll be able to walk someday."

She leaned closer, her eyes bright. "Besides, you looked so tall when you stood up just now, A-Qi."

Embarrassed by her gaze, Chu Moqi turned his face away again.

He used to be quite tall.

But that was all in the past.

A cripple, and such a pathetic mess at that. Wanwan always knew how to coax him...

Just then, a creaking sound rang out.

It came from his legs.

Cui Wan lowered her head and looked at his legs. They seemed to be moving something, producing that strange sound.

"A-Qi," she said, her brows drawing together, "let me see."

A flicker of panic crossed Chu Moqi's eyes. "It's ugly. Don't."

Cui Wan ignored him and reached out to lift his lower garment. Chu Moqi tried to stop her, but he couldn't. She lifted it, exposing what lay beneath.

Cui Wan froze.

Long, thin wooden slats were strapped to his legs, all the way from his ankles to his thighs. Cloth strips were tightly wound around the slats, holding his limp legs straight so they would not buckle when he pushed himself up.

Because of his fall just now, both legs were spasming, making the wooden slats creak as though they might burst apart at any moment.

It must be so uncomfortable.

Cui Wan raised her head and looked at Chu Moqi.

Chu Moqi was watching her, his eyes holding a trace of wary, almost ingratiating unease.

He thought he had frightened her.

"It's ugly," he said quietly. "Don't look anymore, all right?"

Cui Wan felt a sting in her nose.

"You can't tie them this tightly," she said, her voice aching for him. "It's uncomfortable!"

She lowered her head and began carefully undoing the cloth strips. Catching sight of the black boots he had pulled on crookedly, she continued, "Practicing in black boots is uncomfortable too. A-Qi, give me a day or two, and I'll sew you a pair of cloth shoes..."

I can't feel anything anyway. What difference does it make what shoes I wear? It's not as though I'm really walking...

Chu Moqi said nothing. He only watched the crown of her head, her intent profile, and her fingers undoing those bindings bit by bit.

The cloth strips came undone, and the wooden slats fell to the floor. Without their support, his legs immediately began spasming, twisting and twitching, again and again, beyond his control.

At the same time, an unpleasant smell slowly began to spread.

Chu Moqi's face went white.

He knew what it was.

He was all too familiar with that smell. His face burned fiercely, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Wanwan," Chu Moqi pleaded, "please don't look anymore, all right?"

Cui Wan showed no disgust, nor did she draw away. She only looked at him, at his spasming legs, his flushed face, and his evasive eyes.

Her heart felt as though someone had seized it in a crushing grip.

"It's cold sitting on the floor, too," Cui Wan said softly. "I'll get Yan Qin and Yan Huai to help you back into your wheelchair, then give you a massage, all right?"

Chu Moqi nodded. "Mm."

Cui Wan stood and ran out to fetch them.

She's finally gone...

Alone, Chu Moqi stared blankly at the ceiling beams. His legs were still twitching, and that smell was still spreading.

He was still like this.

A cripple, unable to do anything, a pathetic mess. That little bit of pride he had felt at "standing up" had already been smashed to pieces by his fall.

Wanwan had seen it.

She had seen his legs strapped with wooden slats, seen the ugliness of his spasms, seen what a pathetic mess he was, and smelled that sickening odor.

What would she think?

Would she find him disgusting?

Would she think he was useless?

Would she... reject him?

Chu Moqi closed his eyes and stopped himself from thinking...