People in Qin Dynasty: Opening the treasure chest, I took off!

Chapter 14 Warmth

The next morning.

Jingni sat on the edge of the bed, holding the baby, somewhat lost in thought.

Yan Ri was killed last night, and Luo Wang will certainly not let it go.

She felt somewhat uneasy.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

"May I come in?"

It was a gentle female voice.

Jingni was startled and quickly got up to open the door.

A woman stood outside the door. She looked to be around thirty years old, with a gentle appearance, fair skin, and a dignified and elegant demeanor.

She was wearing a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her long hair was tied up in a bun, and she had a smile on her lips.

"Who are you……"

"I am Xia Bing's mother, Xia Yufang," the woman said with a smile. "It was too late last night, so I didn't come to greet you. You must be Miss Jingni?"

Jing Ni was stunned.

She knew Xia Bing had a mother, but she never expected...

She looks too young.

She looks like a woman in her early twenties.

"You...you are Young Master Xia's mother?"

Xia Yufang smiled and said, "I know I look young, and I have Bing'er to thank for that."

Jingni was even more puzzled, but she didn't press the matter.

"Come in and sit down," Xia Yufang said. "It's tiring to stand while holding a child."

Jingni nodded and stepped aside.

Xia Yufang entered the room, her gaze falling on the baby in her arms, and her eyes immediately lit up.

"What an adorable child."

She approached Jingni, reached out, and gently touched the baby's cheek.

The baby was asleep, his little face was wrinkled, but he looked very peaceful.

"Is it a girl?"

"Yes." Jing Ni nodded.

"What's your name?"

"Haven't picked it up yet."

Xia Yufang glanced at Jing Ni, somewhat surprised.

"Hasn't it been named yet?"

"I...I don't know what to name the child," Jingni whispered. "The child's father...is gone."

Xia Yufang remained silent for a moment, a hint of heartache in her eyes.

She reached out and took the baby, gently rocking him.

"Let me help you take care of it. You just gave birth and need to rest."

Jing Ni was taken aback: "This...no need, I can—"

"Don't mention it," Xia Yufang interrupted her, smiling slightly. "I really like children. I raised Bing'er single-handedly when he was little. Now that he's grown up and I don't have to worry about him anymore, I'm actually a little unaccustomed to it."

As she spoke, she looked down at the baby in her arms, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"This little guy is just what I need to have some fun with."

Jingni looked at her, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

From childhood to adulthood, she had never felt the warmth of her mother.

Within the snare, she was merely a tool; no one cared about her, no one looked after her.

But Xia Yufang...

"Thank you," Jingni whispered.

Xia Yufang smiled, picked up the baby, and walked out of the room.

"You get some rest, I'll take care of the child."

……

morning.

Xia Bing returned from outside and saw her mother sitting in the yard holding a baby, humming a little tune.

He froze for a moment.

"Mother, what's wrong...?"

"Oh, Bing'er's back." Xia Yufang looked up at him, a smile in her eyes. "Jingni just gave birth and needs to rest, so I'm helping her take care of the baby."

Xia Bing walked over and glanced at the baby in her mother's arms.

The baby is looking around with its eyes open, full of curiosity.

"This child... is quite well-behaved."

"Yes, she's very well-behaved and doesn't cry much." Xia Yufang looked down at the baby, her eyes full of tenderness. "Bing'er, you were just as well-behaved when you were little."

Xia Bing smiled and sat down next to her mother.

"Mother, how are you feeling?"

"Very well," Xia Yufang said. "I've already broken through to the seventh level of the Bright Jade Divine Skill, and the cold ailment has been suppressed. In fact, I feel even better than before."

"That's good."

Xia Yufang glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Who is this Jingni girl?"

Xia Bing remained silent for a moment.

He couldn't tell his mother that Jing Ni was an assassin from the Luo Wang organization; that would only make her worry.

"She's... a friend who ran into some trouble, and I'm helping her out."

Xia Yufang was somewhat puzzled: "Friend? What trouble?"

"Some things that happen in the underworld," Xia Bing said. "Her husband passed away, and she's raising her child alone; it's not easy."

Xia Yufang nodded and sighed.

"She's so pitiful. Take good care of her and make sure no one bullies her."

"I know."

Xia Yufang looked down at the baby in her arms, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"This little guy is so cute, he doesn't even have a name yet."

Xia Bing glanced at the baby.

"Let Jingni take it herself."

"Okay." Xia Yufang nodded. "Let's wait until she's thought it through."

……

noon.

Jingni walked out of the room and into the courtyard.

She had rested all morning and had recovered considerably.

In the courtyard, Xia Yufang was holding the baby and gently rocking it.

Jingni was somewhat moved when she saw this scene.

She walked over and said softly, "Aunt Xia, why don't you rest for a bit? I'll take care of the child."

"Just call me Aunt Xia." Xia Yufang looked up and smiled. "No need to rush, I'll take care of it. You just gave birth, you need to rest more."

Jing Ni hesitated.

"Wouldn't this... be too much trouble for you?"

"No trouble at all," Xia Yufang said. "I've always loved children when I was young, but now that Bing'er is all grown up and I don't have to worry about her anymore, I've actually been feeling a bit lonely. This little guy is here to keep me company."

She looked down at the baby in her arms, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Jingni, from now on, treat this place as your own home. If you need anything, just let me know."

Jingni looked at her, her eyes slightly moist.

She grew up without a mother and had never experienced this kind of warmth.

"Thank you... Aunt Xia."

Xia Yufang smiled and patted her hand.

"Silly child, don't be so polite."

……

evening.

Xia Bing returned from outside, carrying a roast chicken and some pastries.

"Mother, Jingni, dinner's ready."

The three of them sat around the table, eating dinner.

Xia Yufang held the baby, eating and playing with the child at the same time.

Jingni sat to the side, somewhat reserved.

She wasn't used to this warm and cozy atmosphere.

In the net, eating is merely for survival; no one gathers together, and no one speaks.

"Jingni, try this pastry." Xia Yufang placed a piece of pastry in her bowl. "This is Bing'er's favorite since she was little."

Jingni glanced at Xia Bing, lowered her head, and took a small bite.

Very sweet.

"Is it delicious?" Xia Yufang asked.

"Yes." Jing Ni nodded.

Xia Yufang smiled and continued, "If there's anything you want to eat in the future, just tell Bing'er and he'll go buy it. That child may not be good at much else, but he's quite diligent when it comes to buying things."

Xia Bing said helplessly, "Mother..."

"I'm telling the truth." Xia Yufang rolled her eyes at him. "When you were little, you were always clamoring to eat this and that, I practically wore my legs out."

Jing Ni couldn't help but laugh.

Xia Bing felt a little embarrassed.

"Mother, please stop..."

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore." Xia Yufang shook her head with a smile, looking down at the baby in her arms. "Little one, you can't be like your uncle, causing everyone so much worry every day."

uncle?

Jing Ni was stunned for a moment.

Is Xia Yufang treating her child as a junior?

"Aunt Xia, this..."

"What's wrong?" Xia Yufang looked up at her. "Bing'er is younger than you. Isn't it natural for the child to call him uncle?"

Jing Ni glanced at Xia Bing, then lowered her head and remained silent.

Xia Bing was also speechless.

He didn't know what to say, so he just lowered his head and ate.

……

After dinner, Xia Yufang carried the baby back to her room to rest.

Xia Bing and Jing Ni stood in the courtyard.

"My mother likes your daughter very much," Xia Bing said.

"Aunt Xia is a very kind person," Jing Ni whispered. "I... have never felt this kind of warmth before."

Xia Bing glanced at her but didn't say anything.

He knew Jingni's background—an orphan raised by the Luo Wang organization, who had no relatives since childhood.

"It will come in the future," he said.

Jingni raised her head and looked at him.

Under the moonlight, Xia Bing's face was somewhat blurred, but his eyes were very clear.

Warm and peaceful.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome."

Jing Ni was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Why...why are you so good to me?"

Xia Bing thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because I think you deserve it."

Jingni was startled.

She lowered her head and gently bit her lip.

"I...I'm just an ordinary woman, I don't deserve this from you..."

"You deserve it," Xia Bing interrupted her. "You saved the child, you protected her, you are a good mother."

Jingni raised her head and looked at him.

"You... really think that way?"

"Um."

Jing Ni was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Would you... be willing to let me stay?"

Xia Bing looked at her and nodded.

"willing."

Jingni's eyes welled up with tears, and she lowered her head, trying hard to hold them back.

"Thank you... thank you."

Xia Bing shook her head and turned to walk towards her room.

"Get some rest, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Jingni stood there, watching his back, feeling a strange sensation in her heart.

This young man gave her a warmth she had never experienced before.

She...didn't want to leave.