Chapter 8: Yao Yao Got Lost

“You—stay away.”

Before Wei Yuhui could step forward, she was met with a cold rebuke from the young heir.

Xie Yixing stood protectively in front of Yao Yao, glaring at them with clear hostility.

Wei Yuhui’s face went pale.

Under the fading glow of sunset, her fair skin was flushed with a rosy hue. A faint red bloomed across her cheeks, fully expressing her sense of grievance. Her eyes were soft and shimmering like silk:
“Cousin, it’s me—Yu’er.”

Xie Yixing remained unmoved.

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, the old maidservant by Wei Yuhui’s side quickly tried to smooth things over.
“Young Master, don’t you remember the young lady? Not long ago, the two of you were still—”

Before she could finish, she met Xie Yixing’s gaze and instantly fell silent, guilt washing over her.

She was so close to finally rising in favor—she absolutely could not risk offending this little ancestor.

If the young lady wanted to patch things up with the heir, that was her business. She wasn’t getting involved.

Xie Yixing treated Wei Yuhui like air.

If not for his mother’s sake, he would’ve kicked her out on the spot.

That dainty rose? Just looking at her felt fake.

The old maid, sensing the hostility in his gaze, suddenly recalled the rose garden in the back that had been destroyed. She shivered instinctively.

Yao Yao, on the other hand, wasn’t shy at all. She peeked out from behind Xie Yixing and smiled sweetly at Wei Yuhui.
“Pretty sister~”

Hearing her, Wei Yuhui lowered her gaze and finally saw Yao Yao’s face clearly.

Round, chubby cheeks. Delicate features. Sweet and lively eyes full of mischief.

With a hint of testing, she waved gently at Yao Yao.

Yao Yao saw her peach-pink smile. Even though she hadn’t spoken yet, her gentle presence was inviting.

She took a step forward—only to be pulled back into Xie Yixing’s arms.

Wei Yuhui’s expression stiffened, her tone awkward.
“Cousin, I wouldn’t hurt her.”

Xie Yixing didn’t answer out loud, but his eyes made it clear.

He wanted her gone.

Immediately. And fast.

The old maid read the mood and quickly dragged Wei Yuhui away.

As soon as they stepped out the door, Wei Yuhui burst into tears. Grabbing the maid’s sleeve, she asked through sobs,
“Nanny, what did I do wrong? Why does Cousin hate me so much?”

The old maid was speechless.

She hadn’t done anything wrong per se. But the young heir simply wasn’t interested in dealing with her!

In this household, the heir was everything—sky, earth, and law. Even the marquis and his wife had to tread carefully around him. And she just kept throwing herself at him… Who else would he be annoyed with if not her?

Inside the room, once again returned to their world of two, Xie Yixing cradled Yao Yao like a treasure. He held her plump little hand in his, helping her grasp a brush and write her name on paper.

“Yao—Yao—”

Meanwhile, when the maid led Wei Yuhui back to Madam Wei’s quarters, the madam had just asked where she had gone.

Wei Yuhui clutched her handkerchief and started crying without a word.

Madam Wei didn’t need to ask further. She already knew who her daughter had just seen.

How could she!

Last year, she was already brought to tears by Xing’er. And now, forgetting the pain after healing, she went to provoke him again.

Didn’t she know that Xing’er was only getting worse with each passing year?

Last time, it was just hot water that scalded her a little—some ointment and it was fine. But if she kept pestering him this year, she might suffer more than just burns.

Startled by her own harsh thoughts, Madam Wei quickly waved for the maid to take Wei Yuhui away.

Once the maid returned and truthfully relayed everything, she muttered in a low voice,
“Madam, if you ask me, the young master truly treats Miss Yao Yao exceptionally well.”

Madam Wei suddenly smiled, as if a burden was lifted.
“Let’s hope this girl Yao Yao can save our marquis household.”

The maid fell silent.

She wouldn’t dare dampen Madam Wei’s mood. After all, the young master’s condition had been deemed incurable by even the imperial physicians. Not even the marquis had hope anymore. Madam Wei was the only one still stubbornly believing in his recovery.

Still, seeing the young master so patient with someone was a rare and good sign.

As for Wei Yuhui, Madam Wei ordered her to copy scriptures and meditate.
“Stay away from the young master. If you cause a scene, you’ll embarrass both the marquis household and the Wei family.”

She then issued strict instructions: No one was to approach the young master’s courtyard for the next few days.

With no more outsiders disturbing them, Xie Yixing began his mission to “raise” Yao Yao.

Every day, he had the imperial chefs prepare all sorts of new dishes to be sent over.

Yao Yao hadn’t even finished the last batch before a new tray of pastries arrived from the kitchen.

The wet nurse peeked secretly at the little notebook the young heir always carried. She found it was filled with names of dishes.

Two categories:
Yao Yao likes and Yao Yao doesn’t eat.

But from what the wet nurse saw, Yao Yao ate everything!

Then she realized—those listed under “doesn’t eat” were the ones Yao Yao only took three bites of and lost interest.

When Madam Wei saw her son again a few days later, she was overjoyed. He had clearly grown taller and plumper.
“Yao Yao is truly our household’s savior!”

Perhaps she had spoken too loudly—Xie Yixing suddenly frowned.

She immediately lowered her voice, knowing her place.
What kind of mother had to be this careful around her own child?

But he was her son. She had no choice but to endure.

Glancing again at the little girl by his side—today Yao Yao wore a vermilion jacket with gold trim, her hair tied into two round buns with red silk ribbons, and a red dot painted on her forehead.

Turns out it was her son’s idea.

“Persimmon Brother said I look good in bright colors!”

Madam Wei caught a glimpse of pride on her son’s face and was suddenly pulled out of her sorrow. She laughed and agreed,
“Yes, your Persimmon Brother has good taste. Our Yao Yao is beautiful.”

Her little face was as fair and smooth as porcelain—an adorable chubby doll.

She quickly had the maid bring out a prepared gift. Just as she was about to wave Yao Yao over to put it on herself, she caught the cold glint in her son’s eye.

She instantly changed her mind.

“Yixing, my eyes aren’t as sharp anymore—I might mess it up. Why don’t you put it on her for me?”

Xie Yixing looked down at the tray.

It was a dainty set of coral jewelry. The quality was decent, though the design was a bit plain.

When he noticed his son’s lip curling ever so slightly, Madam Wei nervously took a sip of cold tea.

That was an imperial gift! And he still wasn’t satisfied?

Even when Wei Yuhui liked it a few days ago, she hadn’t given it to her—she saved it especially for Yao Yao.

Sigh.
So hard to please.

Madam Wei tried to maintain her dignity, not wanting to appear too weak in front of her son.

Yao Yao happily stretched out her chubby wrist, waiting for Xie Yixing to put it on her.

To his surprise, the bracelet fit perfectly—not too long, not too short.

Yao Yao looked down and fiddled with the coral beads. Suddenly, they looked familiar.

Wait…

It looked just like the bracelet her father gave her for her birthday last year.

Oh no—actually, it was the same one.

She ran her fingers over a tiny scratch on one of the beads, and her memory became clearer.

Her second brother, always clumsy, had accidentally scratched her new bracelet with a tree branch while helping her catch ducklings. It had made her cry.

“Do you like it?”

Madam Wei asked hopefully, stealing a glance at her son’s expression.

When Yao Yao nodded, Xie Yixing finally relaxed his tight lips.

Madam Wei, exhausted, waved them off to rest. She needed to relax in peace.

Xie Yixing noticed Yao Yao kept playing with the coral bracelet and assumed she really liked jewelry like this.

Coincidentally, he had a whole chest of them in his room. He decided he’d turn them all into jewelry for her.

After bidding Madam Wei farewell, just as Xie Yixing was about to take Yao Yao away, someone from the front courtyard intercepted him.

“Young Master, the Marquis requests your presence in the study—urgently.”

Xie Yixing wanted to ignore it, but the man blocked his path directly.

He was just about to scowl when Yao Yao tugged on his sleeve and shook it twice.
“Persimmon Brother, go see Daddy. Yao Yao will go back by herself.”

“Can you manage?”

This marquis residence was like a maze—there was no way she could find her way back alone.

But Yao Yao shook her little pigtails confidently,
“Yao Yao can ask someone for directions~”

The result?

Right after she said that…

She got completely lost in the vast halls of the marquis household.