Her eyes went fuzzy and her heartbeat quickened as she stared at the string of zeros.

Her eyes widened as she held her breath, slowly reaching out her trembling finger to count the digits, whispering under her breath, “Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands…”

Just then, her phone buzzed in her palm, cheerful music blaring from the ringtone.

The caller ID showed a local number, one she didn’t recognize.

Already on edge from the shock of the bank transfer, Yan An jumped. The phone slipped from her hands and tumbled into the grass.

Thankfully, the lawn was thick and soft. The phone was fine, but still ringing.

Yan An let out a shaky breath, sat right down on the grass, and picked it up. She stared at the unknown number, her throat feeling dry.

A recent news broadcast story flashed through her mind.

A woman had received a mysterious deposit of ten million yuan, and not long after, a stranger called, claimed it was a mistake, and demanded the money back.

Was this one of those situations?

Honestly… it would make sense. The money wasn’t hers. If someone had transferred that kind of amount by accident, she needed to find out. And if it was a mistake, of course she’d return it.

Heart pounding, Yan An answered the call and held the phone to her ear, waiting for the person on the other end to speak.

But all she heard was silence. Just faint breathing and a bit of background noise.

She blinked, then spoke softly. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Yan An, it’s me,” came Qi Yan’s voice.

In the meeting room, heads instinctively turned at the sound of his voice. But seeing his calm expression, everyone quickly turned back and resumed their discussion.

Yan An’s eyes went wide. She glanced at the screen in disbelief before raising the phone back to her ear. “Mr. Qi?”

“Mm. You got the money, right?”

She froze for a moment. Then it sank in.

The long string of zeroes… was from Qi Yan?!

“Y-You sent it?” she stammered. “Isn’t that a bit… too much?”

She wasn’t the kind of person to accept money she hadn’t earned. During their divorce, the thirty million she received was compensation. Qi Yan needed to maintain the image of a single male celebrity. That payment had been part of the cost of that clean break.

But now, they were just exes. He didn’t owe her a single cent. And she had no reason to take it.

Even if it was for the kids, she hadn’t even planned on telling him about them, so it wasn’t like he had to contribute.

A person should have principles. Even if she was just a Copper Coin Grass spirit, the rules still applied.

That’s what the elders in her clan always taught her.

Even though she really, really wanted to keep the money… she couldn’t.

…Unless he insisted.

Yan An plucked at the grass and silently cursed herself.

Birds die for food, plants die for wealth… 

Back in the meeting room, the discussion was heating up. Qi Yan glanced around, then quietly stood and stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

The noise dulled. His voice came through clearer now.

“It’s not a gift. It’s a loan.”

Yan An froze mid-pluck. “A loan?”

“Mm. You’re tight on money, aren’t you?” Qi Yan stood by the stairwell window, gazing out.

She had mentioned it in passing… and he’d wired ten million just like that?

Yan An’s chest tightened. “But I can’t pay you back anytime soon.”

“Take your time.” He paused. “By the way, are you seriously thinking about joining the entertainment industry?”

Yan An nodded, her tone firm. “Yes.” It was the fastest way to make money. And truthfully, even ten million wouldn’t last long. Raising six kids wasn’t cheap. This was the only path she saw forward.

“Have you signed with a management agency?”

“Not yet,” she said, shaking her head. She’d only just started filming a variety show. No name, no acting experience. No agency would want her right now.

Plus, there was no rush. Liang Baiyu had suggested waiting until the show aired, if she gained popularity, she could get a better deal.

“Then sign with my studio,” Qi Yan said.

Just then, Yang Shen appeared nearby, looking for him. Qi Yan gave a small shake of his head and motioned for him to go back. He’d return to the meeting soon.

Yang Shen nodded and quietly left.

Qi Yan turned back to the call. “That way, everything you earn can go toward repaying the loan. Sounds fair?”

Yan An blinked. “Your studio?”

“Mm. Don’t worry about resources,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “My studio operates under Kangheng Entertainment. I hold shares in the company, so resources come to me first. If you sign with my team, you’ll be our top priority. And I promise, the contract will be in your favor.”

Yan An tried to hold back her excitement. “R-Really?”

Qi Yan chuckled. “When have I ever lied to you?”

She tilted her head, thinking back.

From the day they met to their marriage, even their divorce, he’d always been upfront. He never hid anything. Always discussed things with her first.

Even after three years, he was still looking out for her. He had arranged for the production team to pay her early and transferred ten million without a second thought.

Moreover, Kangheng Entertainment was one of the top agencies in the industry, many dreamed of joining but never got the chance. She had once dreamed of it too, but it had always seemed out of reach.

Now, though, the opportunity was right in front of her.

Could she really let it slip away?

Of course not.

Yan An nodded, her voice trembling with excitement. “Then… I’ll sign!”

Qi Yan smiled, satisfied. “I’ll have Yang Shen get in touch with you later with the contract, alright?”

Yan An nodded like a bobblehead. “Okay, okay!”

“I’ve got a meeting to attend, everyone’s waiting. I’ll hang up now.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Qi!”

“Mm. Bye.”

As soon as the call ended, Yan An put her phone away.

She let out a long breath and tilted her head back to gaze at the sky.

It was noon. The sunlight, filtered through the barrier surrounding her space, was warm yet gentle, just perfect. It draped over her like a soft blanket, cozy enough to make her want to take a nap.

Above, the sky stretched endlessly, a flawless, pure blue.

See? Today really was a good day. Even the weather was perfect. A perfect day for planting seeds, a true example of divine timing, favorable conditions, and the right people.

Grinning from ear to ear, Yan An ran toward the lake, where her two children and a chicken were sunbathing.

“Mengmeng! Kuku! Mommy has money now! Real money! Quick, let’s get ready and pick a little brother or sister to sprout!”

Her small spiritual domain was nestled at the foot of Changqing Mountain^[1]Changqing Mountain is the name of the area she lives in., complete with a lake, a grassy field, and a vegetable patch. With the mountains at her back and water at her side, it was as picturesque as could be.

Unfortunately, her vegetable patch had no vegetables, just four dirt mounds. She’d dug them three years ago, right after giving birth to six seed babies and planting them here.

Now, the three of them squatted in front of the mounds, deep in discussion over which seed to sprout next.

After all, each seed produced something completely different. Her first two sons were proof enough of that.

With her fists clenched in determination, Yan An declared, “This time, I’m picking a girl!”

Yan Mengmeng nodded enthusiastically, mimicking her pose and squeaking, “I want a little sister too!”

Yan Kuku tilted his head slightly, a small frown on his face as he muttered gloomily, “I’m fine with whatever.”

Yan An gave a thoughtful nod, then pointed at the four mounds in front of them. “But… which one’s a girl?”

She had tried to choose a daughter the first time too. She spent forever selecting just the right seed.

And what did she get? Her lemon son.

Back then, she’d still had ten million yuan to spare, so in a fit of frustration, she picked a second seed.

And got another son.

This time? She refused to believe she’d strike out again!

Closing her eyes, Yan An muttered a quiet prayer. Then she stretched out her hand and slowly traced her finger over each of the four dirt mounds, chanting in her mind: Whoever I land on, let it be a girl! Please be a girl!

Her finger stopped on the first mound from the left, right as she finished saying “girl.”

Yan An opened her eyes and declared, “You’re the one!”

She exhaled and sat down cross-legged in front of the chosen mound. Closing her eyes again, she began channeling her spiritual energy.

The ten million yuan she’d received had automatically transferred into her internal spirit field, like a virtual account. There, the money was converted into pure spiritual energy, which surged through her core before flowing into the soil in front of her.

Modern society had no natural spiritual energy anymore, that was why the seeds had remained dormant until now.

But now that it was being fed ten million’s worth of spirit power, something finally began to change.

First, a pale green sprout poked through the dirt, still wearing its seed skin. The tender leaves shimmered with hints of yellow, and a thin stalk slowly pushed upward, curling slightly as it climbed.

The seedling rose higher and higher, shaking its leafy head as if waking from a long nap. Then, with a soft pop, the bulge at the top of the mound split open, revealing two delicate leaves.

Yan An, phone in hand, captured the entire sprouting process on video.

Through the lens, the twin leaves gleamed a vivid jade green, their fine veins etched in perfect detail.

A rooster suddenly let out a loud squawk and lunged forward to peck at the leaves.

Yan Mengmeng quickly grabbed it by the wings and hugged it tight. “No pecking! That’s our little sister!”

The rooster tilted its head, eyeing the seedling from side to side. After a brief struggle, it gave up and settled into Yan Mengmeng’s arms with a soft cluck.

Meanwhile, the seedling kept growing. A third leaf unfurled, then a fourth. Slender branches began to stretch outward, the stem thickening by the second.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, it had grown into a full tree. Eight meters tall!

It had taken only two hours for the seed to go from sprouting to full maturity, compressing what should have been three years of growth into a single afternoon.

Yan An and her two children, who had started off crouching over the soil, were now staring up at the towering tree in awed silence.

The new baby… was this tall?

There was nothing else this large in the entire barrier, just the lake, some grass, and a few wildflowers.

Occasionally, Yan Mengmeng would transform into a lemon tree, but even then, she was barely over a meter tall.

Yan Kuku was even smaller. Just a vine, he either coiled on the ground or wrapped around Yan Mengmeng’s trunk.

So this new tree? Definitely the tallest thing around.

Eight meters! That was eight Yan Mengmengs stacked on top of each other!

Yan An stared with her mouth agape, utterly baffled.

How was it possible that she, a humble Copper Coin Grass spirit who lived in lakes, could give birth to something this massive?

Qi Yan was only a little over 1.8 meters tall…

But this new baby? Already eight meters.

That raised another question… what exactly was this new child?

Yan An rubbed her face, stood on tiptoe, and tried to see if the tree had grown any fruit.

In their plant-spirit world, the first fruit a plant produced became the child’s true form. 

Everything else, such as leaves, stems, branches… were more like hair and skin. They could grow back, as long as the original fruit stayed intact.

Just like Mengmeng and Kuku, who had both started as fruits, lemon and bitter gourd. 

Eventually, they’d produce more fruit, which could be gifted or even eaten. But they were still only three years old, so they hadn’t borne a second one yet.

If a plant couldn’t bear fruit, then its first leaf was considered its true body.

Take Yan An for example, so long as her original Copper Coin Grass leaf stayed intact, it didn’t matter if the rest were plucked. They’d grow back eventually.

That’s why she was especially curious now: would this new child produce fruit? Because if not, and she had to identify it by its leaves alone… she honestly had no idea what kind of plant it might be.

The tree’s leaves were completely ordinary, deep green and oval-shaped, nothing special. Plenty of plants had leaves like that. Nothing that sets it apart.

Yan An had always been a little “leaf-blind.” She could recognize fruits just fine, but leaves? 

Not a chance.

To make matters worse, this tree was tall. At 1.66 meters, even on tiptoe, she couldn’t get a good look at the top.

Her two little ones? They barely reached her thighs. Completely useless for leaf inspection.

Was it possible this tree didn’t bear fruit at all? If that were true, it should’ve already developed sentience and transformed into a human child. Probably around three years old, with big, innocent eyes blinking up at her in confusion.

That’s how it had been with Yan Mengmeng and Yan Kuku.

But this one? Nothing. Not a peep.

Could the fruit just not be ripe yet? That didn’t make sense either. This seed had been buried for three years, and she’d just infused it with ten million worth of spirit energy. If anything was going to trigger its transformation, that should’ve done it.

Gnawing on her finger, Yan An stepped up to the tree and reached out to touch its trunk.

But just as her hand approached, the tree whooshed backward, dodging her touch entirely.

She froze, her hand hanging awkwardly in the air.

What was going on? If it was sentient, why hadn’t it transformed yet? Was her baby… a little defective?

It happened sometimes in the cultivation world, children would reach the edge of transformation but fail to cross it. In those cases, parents had to step in with spiritual medicine and patient care to help them finish the process.

Maybe that’s what this was?

Worried, Yan An gently lowered her hand and looked up at the tree, speaking in the softest voice she could manage.

 “Hello? I’m your mom… Yan An.”

Behind her, though they didn’t really understand what was happening, her two children immediately followed suit.

Yan Mengmeng beamed. “Hi! I’m your big brother, Yan Mengmeng!”

Yan Kuku gave a solemn little nod. “I’m the second brother, Yan Kuku.”

The rooster flapped its wings enthusiastically. “Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

There was no wind in the spiritual barrier, yet the tree’s leaves gave a faint rustle in response.

Then silence.

Three people, one tree, one chicken, standing still for a solid ten seconds.

This had never happened before. When Mengmeng was born, he rushed into her arms the second she said she was his mom.

Even the gloomy little Kuku had called her “Mom” all on his own.

But this one? Still hadn’t moved. Still hadn’t transformed.

Maybe something really was off…

Yan An bit her lip. Not wanting to embarrass her child, she softened her voice even further.

“Sweetheart… are you having trouble talking?”

The leaves gave another soft rustle.

Her heart clenched, but she kept smiling.

“That’s okay, baby…”

But before she could finish, the tree vanished.

In its place stood a small boy, around three years old, dressed in a skirt made of leaves.

He was clearly a child, but already half a head taller than Mengmeng and Kuku. His features were striking; bold brows, bright eyes, more handsome than either of his brothers. While they still had round, babyish faces and twinkling eyes, this one looked like a little warrior.

He looked just like Qi Yan.

The boy scanned the group, three people and a chicken, then fixed his gaze on Yan An. After a long moment, he finally spoke.

“I can talk.”

His voice was still soft and childish, but the tone was calm and serious, just like a tiny adult.

Yan An blinked, then instinctively looked up.

Sitting atop his head was a small, glossy purple fruit, swaying gently as he moved.

So this was his true form.

Her third child wasn’t just a little boy, he was a mangosteen!

Mengmeng and Kuku stared in stunned silence.

Mengmeng whispered, “It’s a little brother…”

Kuku kept staring, then turned to his big brother as if following some ancient plant instinct. 

“I like this little brother,” he said.

Mengmeng nodded solemnly. “Me too.”

Sure, he wasn’t a little sister, but he was still pretty great.

When Yan An had seen that towering eight-meter tree, she’d already guessed it was a boy. Now that it was confirmed, she wasn’t the least bit disappointed.

She still had three seeds left. Surely one of them would be a girl.

And besides, she was thrilled with this one.

A mangosteen! Sweet, juicy, tender mangosteen!

So different from her sour lemon son and bitter gourd son, this one was her sweet boy.

Though… he did seem a little less approachable than the other two.

Still, family was family. Their roots ran deep.

She crouched to meet his eyes, her voice gentle and warm.

“Mangosteen baby, would you like to pick a name for yourself?”

The little mangosteen stepped back slightly, pressed his lips together, and replied softly. “Anything’s fine.”

“Oh…” Yan An chuckled. This kid really was like his dad, same look, same attitude.

“Then how about Yan Zhuzhu?”

The boy gave a small nod, accepting the name.

Yan An looked at his leafy outfit, then rushed over to grab the set of clothes she’d prepared. Holding them out, she said, “Zhuzhu, Mommy got these ready just for you. Want to change into them now? Do you know how, or do you need help?”

Zhuzhu frowned slightly, took the clothes, and said, “I can do it myself.”

His eyes scanned the barrier, then quickly landed on a curtained-off corner.

Yan Mengmeng saw where he was looking and quickly said, “That’s where we usually change clothes.”

Zhuzhu gave him a glance, nodded, and walked off toward the corner, his little mangosteen fruit gently bobbing with every step.

The three of them watched as he walked away. Then Yan Mengmeng tugged Yan Kuku over and squeezed in beside Yan An, whispering, “Mommy, Zhuzhu doesn’t talk much. Do you think… he doesn’t like us?”

“How could that be?” Yan An replied patiently. “Your third brother definitely likes us. He’s just newly sprouted and unfamiliar with his surroundings. And maybe… he’s simply not the talkative type.”

Yan Mengmeng nodded thoughtfully. After a moment, he whispered again, “But I really like him.”

Yan Kuku leaned in too, his little bitter-melon face unusually serious. “I really like him too.”

Yan An cleared her throat, thinking… how could they not?

One’s sour, the other’s bitter. Of course they both love sweet things.

And mangosteen is sweet!

Back in the day, her mangosteen friend used to pick fresh fruit and share it with them.

So now… once these kids learn how to bear fruit, won’t she have a buffet of delicious treats? She couldn’t eat lemons, they were far too sour. And bitter gourd? Way too bitter.

Inside the dressing area, little Yan Zhuzhu, who had been buttoning his clothes, suddenly paused. His brows furrowed slightly, as though a heavy thought had crossed his mind.