Chapter 24: I Want to Steal This Little Bundle Home!

Amid the breathtaking sea of flowers, a boy of about five or six sat quietly, as if sent by the heavens. He looked like a little angel innocent, adorable, and utterly captivating.

“Shu Er, is that little boy a celestial child? He’s so beautiful!” Song Yan Ran exclaimed, tugging at her cousin’s sleeve, unable to take her eyes off the boy for fear he might vanish the next moment.

“He’s probably a child who wandered into the flower field. Sister Yan Ran, should we go check on him?” Mu Rong Shu finally snapped out of her daze. She had been so entranced earlier that she hadn’t heard her cousin calling her.

“Yes, let’s see if he’s lost. If he got separated from his family, we can help him find them. A child this young alone out here is too dangerous,” Song Yan Ran agreed.

As they got closer, they noticed the little boy’s eyelashes were still glistening with tears. It seemed he had just been crying.

Mu Rong Shu, who had a soft spot for all things lovely, crouched down and gently asked, “Little one, why are you here all by yourself? Did you get separated from your family?”

Hearing her voice, the boy lifted his head. His eyes were red from crying, and he replied in a pitiful voice, “I live here. I just miss my mother so much. She hasn’t come to see me in a long time.”

His response tugged at Mu Rong Shu’s heartstrings. She squatted down further and scooped the boy into her arms. “How about I keep you company for now? Maybe your mother got delayed. There are many visitors today, she might be here looking for you.”

“Really, pretty sister?” The boy’s face lit up with a smile, his tears forgotten. Mu Rong Shu pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face.

“Thank you, sister. You’re so warm. I don’t feel cold anymore,” the little boy said as he snuggled closer to Mu Rong Shu.

Song Yan Ran watched the interaction in amazement. “They’ve just met, yet they look like a family. How does this even make sense?”

“You must have been missing your mother too much, but your clothes are too light, Yu Er,” Mu Rong Shu said softly, calling him Yu Er after hearing him use the name himself.

“No, pretty sister, every month I feel so cold and hurt so much. Even the doctors couldn’t help me. That’s why I was sent here,” the boy explained with a touch of sadness in his voice.

“Have you been living here all along?” Song Yan Ran asked curiously.

“I came here last year. My mother hoped that the wise master could heal me, but it doesn’t seem to be working.” His small face fell as he spoke.

“But when the pretty sister holds me, I don’t feel bad at all,” the boy added cheerfully. Mu Rong Shu and Song Yan Ran assumed he was trying to make them happy and laughed.

“You don’t believe me, do you? But it’s true! My third uncle says children mustn’t lie, or their noses will grow long!” Yu Er said earnestly, invoking his third uncle’s authority as proof.

“Then I’ll hold you a little longer, okay?” Mu Rong Shu teased, smiling at him.

“If Shu Er gets tired, I can hold Yu Er,” Song Yan Ran offered, worried her cousin might get exhausted.

“I’m not tired. Let me hold him. Besides, Yu Er isn’t heavy,” Mu Rong Shu said as she gently pinched the boy’s chubby cheek. The soft, plush feeling made her want to pinch it again, but she refrained, afraid of hurting his delicate skin.

“I’m not heavy at all, sister! If you get tired, you can put me down and hold my hand instead,” Yu Er said hurriedly, worried that Song Yan Ran might end up holding him.

His words made Mu Rong Shu burst out laughing, but Song Yan Ran felt a little defeated. “Does he have to be so obvious? We both just met him, why does Shu Er get all the affection?”

“Hmph! I won’t hold you then. I’m mad now, and I’m not easy to appease!” Song Yan Ran pretended to sulk and turned away.

“Pretty sister, don’t be mad. Yu Er likes you too. My third uncle says girls get prettier when they don’t get angry. You’re so pretty, you can’t be mad!” Yu Er coaxed sweetly in his soft voice.

Song Yan Ran wasn’t truly upset, and his words melted her heart. She ruffled his hair a few times before letting him off the hook.

Yu Er, afraid she might really get mad, didn’t dare resist, but his eyes clearly conveyed his reluctance, which made Song Yan Ran laugh. She teased him, “Didn’t you just say you like me too? Why are you unhappy now that I’ve only patted your head a couple of times?”

“Third Uncle says kids shouldn’t have their heads touched, it’ll stunt their growth,” the little boy declared with confident seriousness.

“Everything is ‘your Third Uncle says this’ and ‘your Third Uncle says that.’ Your Third Uncle isn’t a saint, he could be wrong too!” Song Yan Ran muttered, now full of complaints about this mysterious Third Uncle. “What kind of old-fashioned stickler is he? So many rules! Worse than my father!”

“He’s not wrong! Third Uncle is the best!” The boy immediately sprang to defend his Third Uncle, puffing up with pride.

“Fine, fine, your Third Uncle is the most amazing person in the world. Happy now?” Song Yan Ran relented, worried that if she pressed further, the boy might cry.

“He is the best,” the boy replied with a smug expression that made Mu Rong Shu unable to resist pinching his cheeks again. “What kind of parents can have such an adorable child?” she wondered. “I really want to steal him home!”

Mu Rong Shu and Song Yan Ran led the little boy toward the spot where they had arranged to meet Mu Si Shu. The boy was so delighted that he forgot all about missing his mother.

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At the Zen Room of the Wise Master

Wen Jing had been waiting for some time. The Wise Master once again examined his face and was astonished to discover a subtle yet profound change. The death calamity that had previously loomed over him had quietly shifted.

“Benefactor Wen, have you experienced anything extraordinary lately?”

Organizing his thoughts, Wen Jing spoke softly, “I met a young lady, and the bell you gave me rang. You once said the bell would signal the breaking of the Wen family’s curse. Now…?”

“Congratulations, Benefactor. At long last, she has arrived. The Wen family curse can be broken. However, this young lady is not destined to be an ordinary wife confined to the household. Should she one day act in defiance of tradition, can you accept it?”

The Wise Master expressed his concerns, warning Wen Jing of potential future conflicts that might lead to mutual suffering.

“Master, rest assured. Since she is my destined one, no matter who she is or what she does, I will love and respect her. I will never bind her to the confines of the household,” Wen Jing declared, his determination unwavering. From the very first day he met Mu Rong Shu, he had already resolved to hold such a mindset.

“Fate is written in the stars. Benefactor, be at ease and patient,” the Wise Master advised.

“Thank you, Master. I will keep your words in mind,” Wen Jing said with a bow.

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As Wen Jing left the Wise Master’s chamber, he was immediately met by his elder brother, Wen Zhi, waiting anxiously at the door.

“Third Brother! Have you seen Yu Er? He’s gone missing!” Wen Zhi exclaimed in worry.