Soon, the merging stopped. The other room solidified completely, and the two houses merged into one, room for room, forming a symmetrical, doubled-sized room.
However, the styles on both sides were drastically different. One side had a bed, while the other had a straw mat tatami. Through the gaps in the opposite wooden house, Xia Tian saw the sun from another time and space.
Xia Tian twitched the corner of his mouth, "System, you are awesome."
"Does 'pack it in' mean that you also pack the other person's house and live together?"
He glanced over the gap and looked at the opposite room.
The first thing that caught his eye was a young girl with a thin dress, her hair tied with a bow, and her big eyes staring at him in a cute and naive way.
When Xia Tian saw Bei Changtan, he was stunned.
His first reaction was: "Who's this little girl? She's so cute! "
Cute to the point of breaking the rules. It was like a cute character from an anime.
His second reaction: "This dress is so familiar. Is it Bei Changtan?"
Finally, he realized: "No, this is the helper I hired. How is she still a child laborer? I said that a 30,000 Dan salary wouldn't be enough to attract anyone, System, you're so damn dead.
Her big blue eyes, with a hint of eyeliner, were filled with bewilderment as she looked around.
It was clear that the little girl was also surprised by the situation before her.
Xia Tian looked at Little Bei Changtan, and Little Bei Changtan also looked at Xia Tian.
"Little sister, hello! Are you the helper I hired?"
Little Bei Changtan was still a little confused, but when she heard Xia Tian's words, she realized and curiously asked: "Brother, are you the boss?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Tian's heart almost melted.
Not only was she adorable, but her voice was also sweet and innocent, and her cuteness was simply overwhelming.
If the country ever gave out daughters, he would definitely want one like her.
Xia Tian walked in front of Little Bei Changtan. He wanted to reach out and touch her head, but fearing that he might scare her, he gently spoke in a soft voice: "Yes, I'm Xia Tian, your older brother. Are you Bei Changtan?"
"Yes, yes, brother, don't worry. I can do a lot of things. Just give me any work," Little Bei Changtan nodded seriously, her small arms gesturing with forceful movements.
Her sensible demeanor turned Xia Tian's eyes red.
He wanted to slap himself. "I should have just hired someone. Why did I offer such a low salary?"
"Well, Xiao Tan, work hasn't started yet. You haven't had breakfast, have you? Come over here and sit down. I'll make some food for you in a while."
Xia Tian left the bedroom and went to the kitchen.
It was still early enough for them to eat breakfast and then go out.
Remembering that Little Bei Changtan liked to eat rice, and it was morning, Xia Tian decided on the dish.
"Let's make some preserved egg and pork congee."
Cooking pork congee was simple. Dice the egg, marinate the pork with cornstarch, and set aside. Once the congee is cooked, add the pork and preserved egg and simmer for 10 minutes. Finally, add seasonings.
Little Bei Changtan followed Xia Tian as he walked from his room to the villa.
Little Bei Changtan curiously looked at the villa's rooms, then looked at her own small wooden house. She tilted her head, her face full of worry: "Brother, how did the house become like this?"
"It's nothing. We agreed on meals and lodging. This will be our shared home from now on. I'll cut some pork. Can you help me wash a cup of rice? The rice is in the first cabinet."
Xia Tian intentionally asked Little Bei Changtan to do something, giving her a sense of participation so she wouldn't be so nervous.
Little Bei Changtan nodded, and with her short legs, she trotted off to work.
The rice bag wasn't tall. It was even slightly shorter than her, but 50 kilograms of rice was the most rice she had ever seen in her life.
Carefully, she took some rice out of the bag and placed it in the rice cooker's inner pot, washing it. There was a small problem, she was too short to reach the sink.
But this didn't bother her. She had a small wooden stool made by her grandmother.
She carefully carried the stool over, and Little Bei Changtan skillfully started washing the rice.
Before her grandmother left, she taught her everything, from lighting a fire to cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and finding a job. Despite her age, she was capable.
"Brother, the rice is washed."
"Okay, brother will show you how to use the rice cooker. Just press this button."
"Okay, brother, I know how to do this."
"Okay, then leave the rest to brother. You can wipe down the small table, and we'll eat breakfast together."
"Okay!"
Little Bei Changtan obediently did as she was told, even though her small table was already very clean. She wiped it down every day, more than once.
Soon, the pork congee was ready, and he also fried two poached eggs. He then opened a pack of home-style Fuling preserved vegetables. That was it.
Carrying the rice cooker, he passed by the bedroom and walked into Little Bei Changtan's home, entering her world.
Although her small wooden house was old and dilapidated, it had a bedroom, a living room, and a kitchen.
There wasn't much furniture, and it was practically bare, but Little Bei Changtan had kept everything tidy.
"Xiao Tan, it's time to eat."
Looking at the breakfast on the table, Little Bei Changtan felt like it wasn't real. It was too plentiful.
Most importantly,
there were two bowls, two pairs of chopsticks, and two people. This scene hadn't appeared in her memory for a very, very long time.
"Brother~ is this~ for me~~" Little Bei Changtan asked tentatively.
Xia Tian nodded with a smile, "We agreed on meals and lodging. Three meals a day, not a single one can be missed. Come and sit down and eat. The pork congee will get cold."
The little girl's eyes were filled with a sense of confusion again. It had been a long, long time since someone had appeared in the small wooden house and talked to her, and no one had cooked or eaten with her.
For a very, very long time, she had been alone.
"Eat, here with brother, we're a family. Don't be so stiff with brother, Xiao Tan!"
"Thank you, brother."
Little Bei Changtan nodded, then clasped her hands together, prayed, and shouted in a choked voice: "I'm starting to eat~~"
She picked up her worn-out wooden bowl and took a bite. A contented smile spread across her face.
Her smile was heartwarming, but it also made him feel sad.
Little Bei Changtan had been saving food, and her last meal was from yesterday morning.
She was truly hungry. She buried her face in the bowl.
"Okay, I'm starting to eat too!"
Xia Tian responded and also picked up his rice bowl.
As he ate, he noticed something was wrong.
Why had Bei Changtan stopped eating? Was it too hot? Were her eyes red because they were burning? Was she crying?
"Xiao Tan, are you burned? Come, brother will blow on it and it won't hurt anymore."
Hearing Xia Tian's caring words, Little Bei Changtan couldn't hold back her tears anymore. They flowed down her cheeks.
"Brother, it's so delicious!"
Tears mixed with the porridge. The little girl ate large mouthfuls, trying to give Xia Tian a happy smile, but her tears couldn't be stopped.
After her grandmother left, the little girl had always lived alone. Although her life was difficult, she worked very hard.
Her life requirements were simple. She just wanted to eat enough and have someone to keep her company.
On this morning, both of those requirements had been fulfilled, even if it was only temporary. The little girl couldn't help but cry.
Xia Tian put down his rice bowl, stroked Little Bei Changtan's hair with a feeling of heartache, and gently hugged her in his arms.
"Xiao Tan, we won't cry! From now on, every breakfast, no, every meal, brother will be with you, okay."
Hearing Xia Tian's words, Little Bei Changtan cried even harder.
She hadn't cried when she lost the bread the boss had rewarded her with.
She hadn't cried when she fell from the canopy of the skybus and scraped her knee.
She hadn't cried when she was hungry and only drank water.
She hadn't cried when it rained and she couldn't find a job.
But listening to Xia Tian's words of concern, all the grievances she had bottled up couldn't be held back anymore and turned into tears.
Lonely people are most afraid of, yet most desire, someone who cares for them.
Xia Tian patted Little Bei Changtan's back with heartache.
Even though he hadn't done anything wrong, he still wanted to slap himself. "I'm so damn dead."