Chapter 131 (Arc End)

The last spotlight turned toward He Dongling, and the cameras followed. Her face appeared on the large screen on stage.

She had prepared herself for this moment before coming, but when the results were actually announced, her mind went completely blank with joy.

At first, all she wanted was to have scripts to act in and to chase her dream. But as she took on more and more roles, her ambition grew.

She began to long for her name to appear at major award ceremonies, hoping that her hard work would lead to something meaningful.

Award nominations, trophies, better scripts—these became the goals she strove for.

On the big screen, He Dongling could be seen tearing up with emotion, while beside her, An An clapped his hands happily. From the shape of his mouth, it looked like he was saying, “Oh yeah!”

The awards ceremony had a large online audience. Many still remembered Xiao An’an’s adorable antics from a past variety show.

Since that show ended, An An had rarely appeared in the public eye.

As He Dongling once admitted in an interview, she brought her son on the show because she had no scripts to take at the time. She hoped the exposure would bring more opportunities.

Later, as she gained a firm footing in the industry through her own efforts, she became more mindful of protecting her son’s privacy.

Now, seeing An An appear again during a livestream was a rare treat. Fans who adored him flooded the screen with excited comments.

Zhou Jingkai held An An in his arms to keep him from bouncing around too much. He wasn’t a three-year-old anymore, but when he got excited, he still became a ball of energy.

He Dongling was invited on stage. She accepted the trophy and microphone from the host and delivered the acceptance speech she had long prepared.

The ceremony was being broadcast live, and the director backstage even gave An An some extra screen time.

The little guy was so happy he squirmed like a wiggly caterpillar, clinging to Zhou Jingkai with a face full of helpless delight.

【Ahhh, He Dongling finally got this trophy! I was so disappointed when she only received a nomination before because of the subject matter of her role.】

【Xiao An’an is still as adorable as ever. I wonder when we’ll get to see him on another show.】

【Zhou Jingkai must be the most down-to-earth rich second-gen I’ve ever seen. He’s been He Dongling’s assistant for years now. Why hasn’t he won the beauty’s heart yet?】

【Has An An gained a little weight recently? It looks like Zhou Jingkai is struggling to hold him.】

【An An: Who’s out there saying I got chubby, huh?】

After finishing her speech, He Dongling returned to her seat. She gently rubbed the trophy with her fingertips, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy.

An An leaned over, wanting to touch it too. But first, he noticed the gold sequins on his mother’s gown. He carefully picked one off and held it in his palm, staring at it curiously.

“Wow~”

He blew on it softly, sending the sequin flying. Then he reached out and gently touched the trophy’s handle, squinting his eyes with a bright smile.

“Mommy, you’re amazing~”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

He Dongling held back her emotions, not wanting to lose composure in front of her son.

Elsewhere, Lu Mingzhe sat watching her, unable to tear his eyes away.

Back then, he had thought that after divorcing him, He Dongling’s life would fall apart. He believed she’d never recover from that relationship.

Like a flower cut off from its nutrients, she would wither quickly.

But reality had turned out quite differently. After leaving him, she had reentered the entertainment industry with unstoppable momentum and now stood at a height he could never reach.

Li Lulu, sitting beside him, noticed his gaze. She jabbed him hard with her elbow, a mocking smile on her lips.

“What’s wrong? Regretting it now? Too late for that.”

It wasn’t just Lu Mingzhe who regretted it—Li Lulu did too. If she hadn’t foolishly believed that Lu Mingzhe would divorce and be with her, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.

She used to be a rising star backed by her agency. Her acting wasn’t bad either. With some polishing, she could’ve at least made it to B-list.

Now, all she could do was cling to the fading popularity of a few decent past roles, showing up at streamer events to scrape together a living.

Once the nostalgia ran out and fans stopped caring, she didn’t even know what else she could do.

“Shut up.”

Lu Mingzhe’s face darkened as he glared at Li Lulu.

“If it weren’t for you, would I be like this now?”

He used to be one of the most popular young actors in the industry. If it hadn’t been for that scandal that ruined his reputation, he would’ve been one of the brightest stars.

Li Lulu took a few sips of the wine provided by the organizers, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

“Even without me, there would’ve been a Zhang Lulu or Wang Lulu. Don’t I know what kind of person you are? You brought this on yourself!”

“And me too. If it wasn’t you, it would’ve been someone else.”

After murmuring those words, Li Lulu looked toward the stage, at the dazzling woman standing under the spotlight.

Maybe the stage lights were just too bright, because her eyes stung with tears.

She had no one to blame. Everything was her own doing.

The awards ceremony had just ended. On the way home, He Dongling posted on Weibo, uploading the pre-written content.

She had originally planned to include a photo of herself holding the trophy, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw An An fast asleep in Zhou Jingkai’s arms, still clutching the trophy.

His chubby little face was squished against the trophy’s raised design, leaving a mark. It was both funny and adorable, like a little bear hugging a honey jar.

She picked up her phone and snapped a photo of An An, using it as the post’s image.

Most of the comments were fans congratulating her. Her performance in the film had been widely praised, and winning this award was well deserved.

【Congratulations!! Ahhh, she finally got it. My dream has come true.】

【Next stop: Best Actress!】

【Is An An asleep hugging the trophy? And the one holding him—is that Zhou Jingkai?】

【Who else could it be but Zhou Jingkai?】

【Exactly. With An An’s personality, it’s hard to imagine anyone else.】

【Anyone remember that interview? When another staff member held An An, he looked so uncomfortable. It was adorable.】

He Dongling replied to several congratulatory comments from industry friends. Just as she finished, they arrived home. An An was carried inside by the nanny, who was still awake.

This was a high-end villa district. Paparazzi couldn’t get in, so there was no need to worry about being secretly photographed.

Under the streetlights, Zhou Jingkai looked at He Dongling in her elegant gown and flawless makeup. But in his mind, he saw her in a school uniform, cheeks full of baby fat, sitting on the back of his bicycle.

“You looked beautiful tonight. Congratulations.”

He Dongling nodded lightly. She wasn’t oblivious to Zhou Jingkai’s feelings.

But the broken engagement between them had always stood in the way, and she never quite knew how to handle it.

She had been avoiding it, putting it off again and again. Before she knew it, so much time had passed.

Even her parents had called to urge her, saying that if she had no intention of pursuing anything, she shouldn’t keep leading him on.

“There’s something I don’t know how to deal with.”

“What is it?”

Zhou Jingkai was more than willing to help her solve any problem. Though officially her assistant, he had taken on many responsibilities that should’ve fallen to a manager.

He Dongling’s smooth journey in the industry wasn’t just due to her friendship with Zhu Yinghou. The Zhou family’s support played a big part too.

Big Brother Zhou didn’t dare withhold his help. He knew the He family’s elders were kind and decent people.

By giving He Dongling more resources and helping her when she ran into trouble, it would make it much easier for his younger brother to pursue her.

With the Zhou family as her backing, He Dongling’s success had come swiftly and steadily.

“An An keeps asking for a dad.”

That sentence made Zhou Jingkai fall silent for a rare moment. He didn’t know what role he was supposed to play in this conversation.

No matter what he said, it felt wrong, like he had an ulterior motive.

Even though he did, he still didn’t want He Dongling to notice.

“So I was wondering… would you be willing to help him stop asking?”

After she said that, He Dongling vaguely heard a child calling for his mother from the balcony. She instinctively turned toward the sound.

A jacket, still warm from someone’s body, fell gently over her shoulders, shielding her from the chill of the night.

On the second floor, An An was leaning out and waving at them, as if urging his mother to hurry back and tell him a bedtime story.

He Dongling didn’t hesitate any longer and left right away.

Zhou Jingkai stood there in a daze, still not fully processing what had just happened. His thoughts were a tangled mess, like his brain cells were throwing a wild party.

Back home, He Dongling changed into her loungewear, removed her makeup in front of the mirror, and picked out a storybook before heading to An An’s room.

An An, already in his pajamas, was sitting up in bed under his little quilt, waiting for her.

Halfway through the story, He Dongling suddenly remembered something she needed to bring up in advance.

“An An, if… Mommy were thinking about getting remarried, how would you feel about that?”

“Huh?”

An An, who had been on the verge of sleep, suddenly sat bolt upright. His eyes went wide as he stared at his mother for a long time.

He Dongling’s grip on the book tightened slightly. Her heart tensed as she watched him closely.

Under her gaze, An An’s eyes turned red, and then, with a loud wail, he burst into tears. He turned around and buried his face in the pillow, crying his heart out.

The sudden outburst left He Dongling stunned. No matter how she tried to comfort him, it didn’t help.

Eventually, An An cried himself out and paused to catch his breath. Sniffling, he tried to speak.

“I… I…”

He choked on the first word and couldn’t get the second one out.

He Dongling pulled him into her arms and gently patted his back. Once his sobs began to calm, she asked softly, “Can you tell Mommy why you’re so upset?”

It might have been better not to ask. The moment she did, An An’s sadness flared up again.

He liked Uncle Zhou. He had even secretly urged him to hurry up, because he wanted Uncle Zhou to be his dad.

But who would’ve thought that just by attending kindergarten for a little while, someone else would swoop in and try to take over?

No matter who it was, An An didn’t think anyone could compare to Uncle Zhou.

“Mommy, don’t like him, okay? Just like An An.”

He knew it was probably impossible, but he still wanted to try and hold on.

His childish plea made He Dongling smile helplessly. She rubbed his head and said gently, “Mommy really loves An An. But there are many kinds of love in this world, not just one.”

“Mommy, who is he?”

No matter how hard An An racked his little brain, he couldn’t figure out who she meant.

Mommy was always working hard to earn money for his formula. She barely had time to meet anyone. So where did this so-called dad come from?

“Didn’t An An really like Uncle Zhou before?”

He Dongling had noticed how fond her son was of Zhou Jingkai. That was part of the reason she had made her decision.

But judging by how heartbroken An An had just been, maybe it wasn’t so simple.

“I do like him.”

His voice trembled with leftover tears, and his eyes began to well up again.

“You like Uncle Zhou, but you hope he stays an uncle, not a dad, right?”

He Dongling loved her son dearly. If she had to rank her priorities, Zhou Jingkai would always come after An An.

If An An’s resistance was truly as intense as it seemed, then she would have to reconsider everything.

“Huh?”

With tears still clinging to his lashes, An An suddenly realized something was off. He sat up, eyes wide.

“Mommy, who were you thinking of as my dad?”

“Your Uncle Zhou.”

Zhou Jingkai had been by her side for years as her assistant. She had never faced any trouble in the entertainment industry, and it wasn’t hard to guess why.

Having been divorced once, He Dongling was no longer naive. Being good to her and An An was a must, and Zhou Jingkai met all the other criteria as well.

She had thought it through from every angle before finally making up her mind.

“Uncle Zhou?”

An An wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, furrowed his brows, and put his hands on his hips.

“Mommy, why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“Hm?”

“I cried for nothing, boohoo. Tomorrow, Daddy has to bring me a giant lollipop!”

He Dongling still didn’t quite understand her son’s logic, but she agreed to the request. She then asked the nanny to come in and change the sheets and pillow that had been soaked with An An’s tears.

Holding An An in her arms, she glanced at the clock on the wall and said softly, “It’s already late. No more fussing. You have to sleep properly now.”

“Okay, Mommy. My lollipop.”

“Your Uncle Zhou said yes.”

When it came to buying things for this little rascal, Zhou Jingkai never hesitated. A giant lollipop was nothing.

An An, already drowsy, was tucked back into bed. Even so, he reached out to pull the blanket down a little and muttered in protest.

“No, Daddy said yes.”

Even half-asleep, An An insisted on correcting her. It was clear he had no real objections to the idea.

The System saw the smile tugging at Zai Zai’s lips and finally relaxed for a moment.

Zai Zai had a unique constitution. In certain worlds, he could sense whether someone was a destined match—but this ability only worked on his mission targets.

Even Zai Zai himself didn’t know he had this gift. He just instinctively felt that Zhou Jingkai would be good to his mother, so he wanted to bring them together.

…

After the award ceremony, Lu Mingzhe and Li Lulu took a cab back to their shared rental apartment.

There was no love left between them. After countless fights, they had practically torn each other’s faces off.

The only reason they were still living together was because they couldn’t afford rent on their own.

Back at the apartment, Lu Mingzhe thought about how glamorous He Dongling looked now, and the more he thought about it, the more bitter he felt. He pulled out his phone and opened a livestream app.

He titled the stream 【My Love Story with He Dongling】. After the divorce, even Lu Mingzhe wasn’t sure why he had kept some of their old things.

Now that he wanted to make money from livestreaming, those items came in handy.

But just three minutes after he started, before the stream even gained any traction, his account was permanently banned by the platform.

He had chosen a popular domestic streaming app without realizing that its largest shareholder was Zhou Jingkai.

When Lu Mingzhe saw the ban notice, he was furious. He smashed his phone and stormed downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes.

The neighborhood he lived in had terrible security. The streetlights had been broken for who knows how long, and no one had come to fix them.

On his way back, he passed a narrow, dark alley, and a few burly men stepped out.

“What do you want? I don’t have any money.”

As soon as he said that, the leader gave a signal to the others.

“Get him. Beat him good!”

Several men in black swarmed him. Lu Mingzhe was beaten so badly he curled up like a boiled shrimp, his whole body aching.

Just then, it started to rain. The leader stood over him with a black umbrella, looking down at him and said coldly:

“If you still want to stay in this city, stop trying to ride on someone else’s fame.”

That one sentence made it crystal clear to Lu Mingzhe why he had been attacked that night.

Rain pelted his face. In the darkness, his expression twisted with rage.

He returned home soaked and soon came down with a high fever. Li Lulu didn’t have money to take him to a hospital, so she just bought him some medicine.

The fever fried his brain. When Li Lulu found out, she quickly packed her things and left, abandoning him to his fate.

…

The next day, Zhou Jingkai showed up with two big bags of lollipops. To surprise An An, he scattered them all over the little boy’s blanket.

The rustling woke An An. He rubbed his eyes and, out of habit, tried to burrow back under the covers—only to find that the blanket felt unusually heavy.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the bed covered in lollipops of every flavor. He stared in shock for a few seconds.

“What’s all this?”

“It’s the lollipops you said you wanted last night.”

When Zhou Jingkai said this, he was expecting to see An An’s delighted and touched expression. To his surprise, the little guy’s face was full of mixed emotions.

An An seriously suspected that the dad he had picked out might not be all there mentally.

He just wanted a lollipop to satisfy a craving, not to ruin his pretty teeth.

Xiao Yangyu had such a sweet tooth that the last time she went to the dentist, she cried her eyes out from the pain.

Her mom even had to take Haha to stay with her for a while, and they still hadn’t brought him back!

When He Dongling returned from her workout and saw the scene, then looked at Zhou Jingkai’s expression—clearly waiting for praise—her face mirrored An An’s in its complexity.

An An got out of bed, lifted the blanket, and found a box to pack all the candy into.

He planned to send them along the next time Grandma visited the orphanage to see the kids.

While An An was busy with that, Zhou Jingkai brought something up.

“I couldn’t hold it in and told my parents about us. They said they’d like both families to meet and settle things between us.”

Back in the day, their two families had a good relationship, but because of that incident, they hadn’t been in contact for years.

If this could be a chance to mend that relationship, He Dongling’s mother would probably be very pleased.

At first, Zhou Jingkai’s parents were strongly against him being with He Dongling. When the engagement was called off, they had to endure plenty of fake concern and veiled mockery from others.

But they couldn’t ignore the fact that Zhou Jingkai wasn’t getting any younger. All these years, he hadn’t dated anyone, and he’d been living abroad for a long time.

With Zhou Jingkai’s unwavering stance, unless parents want to completely cut ties with their child, they’re usually the ones who end up compromising.

He Dongling also told her parents the news. Grandma He personally prepared a gift for her to bring when visiting Zhou Jingkai’s family.

Meet the parents first, then pick a date to make it official. No skipping steps.

When An An, carrying a box, was led into the villa by Zhou Jingkai, his legs were shaking from nerves.

Even after sitting on the sofa, he was still trembling. Zhou Jingkai noticed and asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“Daddy, I… I’m a little nervous.”

Before Zhou Jingkai could respond, Father Zhou and Mother Zhou, who had just come downstairs, couldn’t help but chuckle.

They had only seen An An on TV before and thought he was an adorable little guy. Now that they were finally meeting him in person, he was indeed very cute.

Mother Zhou’s own grandchildren were already quite grown, so she was especially fond of children An An’s age. After sitting down, she waved him over.

An An jumped off the sofa and sat beside her, greeting her in his soft, childish voice:

“Hello, Grandma~”

“Don’t worry, Grandma. An An isn’t a little burden. An An can earn his own formula money.”

After saying that, he stared nervously at Mother Zhou. His words stunned her for a moment before she burst out laughing and reached out to ruffle his fluffy little head.

“Who told you you’re a burden? You’re not at all.”

Mother Zhou wasn’t the type to say one thing and think another. Since she had already agreed to let He Dongling into their home, she had accepted her in her heart.

From the beginning, they knew He Dongling had a very cute child with her ex-husband. Accepting He Dongling naturally meant accepting An An too.

“Wow, Grandma is so nice. An An likes Grandma.”

An An wrapped his arms around her arm and rubbed his cheek against it, his little face glowing with joy at having gained the upper hand.

At first, Mother Zhou had treated them kindly in hopes of maintaining peace in her younger son’s household.

But after spending some time with An An, she finally understood why so many people liked him.

An An also seemed to realize that Grandma was the one with the most authority in this house. No matter where she went, he followed her around like a little shadow, trotting after her happily.

When it was time for He Dongling to leave after dinner, An An was still clinging to Grandma’s arm, reading a picture book.

“An An.”

He Dongling called out, trying to remind him it was time to go. But An An, not quite processing it yet, looked up in confusion and waved at her.

“Bye-bye, Mommy~”

“What about you?”

“I’m staying with Grandma.”

Mother Zhou was thoroughly amused by An An’s matter-of-fact tone. The little guy was easy to care for, well-behaved, and not shy at all. Honestly, she was a bit reluctant to see him go too.

“Why don’t we let An An stay with me for a few days? If he doesn’t adjust well at night and wants to go home, I’ll have the driver take him.”

“Okay!”

Before He Dongling could even respond, An An eagerly agreed.

He had always known how to be the kind of child everyone liked, and he got along with Grandma splendidly.

Mother Zhou had a strong personality and had always been a career woman. After retiring, she took up hobbies like shopping, buying things, and flower arranging.

Unfortunately, neither her husband, son, nor daughter-in-law had the patience to accompany her.

But now, she had An An—so full of energy that even Haha had to bow down to him.

When she took him shopping, he never once complained about being tired. In fact, he’d give serious little suggestions.

During flower arranging, An An would help sort the materials and hand them to her. When she finished, he’d shower her with praise.

His big eyes sparkled with awe, and every word sounded heartfelt, making Mother Zhou beam with delight.

…

He Dongling’s public image didn’t require her to hide her relationship or marriage. So after she and Zhou Jingkai got their marriage certificate, she announced the happy news on Weibo.

Compared to her simple announcement, Zhou Jingkai was clearly much more excited. He held a giveaway on Weibo, splitting 200,000 yuan among fans and even promised to send out wedding candy to lucky winners.

He Dongling wasn’t exactly old, especially by entertainment industry or wealthy family standards. Many women her age were still having children.

During media interviews, she was inevitably asked about this.

She didn’t shy away from the topic and publicly stated that she wouldn’t consider having a second child. Her husband felt the same way.

Even though she had responded clearly, there were still people who loved to stir the pot. Some even went to ask other members of the Zhou family, curious if Mother Zhou was unhappy about it.

When the eldest daughter-in-law brought up the issue, Mother Zhou was baking cookies for An An while he took his afternoon nap.

“A second child? Let’s not.”

First, it would affect He Dongling’s career. Second, Mother Zhou honestly didn’t want another grandson like her younger son.

Raising her younger son had been a nightmare. She and her husband had ended up in the hospital multiple times from the stress. He had never given them a moment’s peace growing up.

In contrast, An An was like a little angel. He had completely satisfied her desire to dote on a grandchild.

The relationship between the Zhou family’s eldest daughter-in-law and He Dongling wasn’t particularly close, but not hostile either. They were family, at least in name.

“Mom, if you don’t want her to have another child, maybe clarify that next time. A lot of people are just waiting to watch the drama.”

“Alright, I’ll say something when An An wakes up. But look at these cookies—why did they burn again?”

Mother Zhou pulled the cookies out of the oven and frowned at the slightly scorched edges.

Before his nap, Xiao An’an had praised her as the best grandma in the world. How could the best grandma in the world bake burnt cookies?

“Mom, let me take a look.”

When An An woke up, he was still in his dinosaur onesie, dragging the tail behind him as he rubbed his eyes and came downstairs.

“Grandma, Grandma.”

“Here.”

Hearing that familiar little voice, Mother Zhou quickly opened the kitchen door, holding a tray of beautifully baked cookies.

She still couldn’t figure out why some always ended up burnt. So she just picked out the perfect ones for An An.

“Wow! Is there a grandma in the world better than mine? Cookies, wow~”

An An gasped in amazement, tiptoeing to grab a cookie from the tray.

After taking a bite, his eyes widened even more.

“So yummy! Grandma really is the best grandma in the whole world!”

Mother Zhou was overjoyed by his praise and ruffled his hair, pretending to be modest.

Meanwhile, the Zhou family’s eldest daughter-in-law packed the burnt cookies into a bag in the kitchen, planning to share them with her husband and younger brother-in-law when they got home.

After Zhou Jingkai and He Dongling got married, An An’s surname was changed to Zhou. To Zhou’s mother, he was now no different from her own grandson.

The two families became in-laws once again, and the relationship between Grandma He and Zhou’s mother returned to what it used to be.

The two women often made plans to travel together, always bringing An An along.

He Dongling continued her career in the entertainment industry, while Zhou Jingkai handed over his company to his older brother and devoted himself to being a personal assistant, taking care of He Dongling’s daily needs.

He Dongling’s rise to success came a bit later than others, but the better her career got, the more scripts she was offered. She spent nearly three hundred days a year on set.

Zhou Jingkai knew that if he chose a different profession, they would have far less time together.

So he simply stuck to his assistant role and never left, and the two became known as a model couple in the industry.

At the age of fifty-two, He Dongling won the Best Actress award once again. During the award ceremony, she announced her retirement from the industry, planning to enjoy life with her beloved.

Countless fans were saddened by the news, but fortunately, her son remained in the entertainment world.

Having grown up surrounded by the industry, An An naturally developed a longing for it.

He got into the same university his mother once attended, and even before graduating, he landed several roles thanks to the connections she left behind.

Many fans had watched him grow up, and that natural filter of affection gave him a strong public appeal. Coupled with a clean reputation, his career progressed smoothly.

He Dongling was very pleased with An An choosing the same path as hers. To her, it was a kind of legacy being passed down.

At first, Grandpa and Grandma He were hesitant, but seeing how much their little grandson loved it, they gradually let go of their biases.

They were getting old and couldn’t stay by An An’s side forever. Children grow up and eventually soar toward a broader sky.

The mission was complete. An An spent his life surrounded by the love of his fans. Even in his later years, he would occasionally make cameo appearances in productions, living a joyful life.

After returning to the System space, the System ran a check on An An’s body.

Not long ago, a fellow System had come by and, upon learning that its Host had to erase all memories and emotions after each mission, commented that its Host seemed rather pitiful.

The System had once thought the same and even wondered if it was selfish to do so without Zai Zai’s consent.

But as it carried out more and more missions, the System’s perspective began to change.

A human body and mind overloaded with memories and emotions was not a good thing.

Most of the people Zai Zai replaced could only live to a hundred. If this could be seen as a cycle of reincarnation, then perhaps it was better this way. In every world, Zai Zai lived a happy life.

When one life ended, a new journey would begin.

A crisp “ding” sounded. The System instinctively looked toward the round chamber. Zai Zai had returned to his original form. When he opened his eyes, they were as pure as a newborn’s.

“Where is this place?”

The System used its familiar lines to gloss over the question, and under Zai Zai’s urging, took him to a new world.

This time, as soon as An An opened his eyes, he saw several pairs of eyes staring back at him, and he shrank back in fright.

“What are you all doing? Why are you crowding around like this? Can’t you see you’ve scared my little grandson? Get out of here, all of you!”

A slightly aged female voice rang out. An An instinctively turned toward the source of the voice.

Yang Laonainai saw her precious grandson looking at her and immediately broke into a smile, her face wrinkling with joy. She reached out and picked An An up.

“Oh my, my darling little grandson woke up today without crying.”

“You must be hungry, Yao Zu. Grandma will take you to eat.”

Right then, his stomach let out a loud growl, as if responding to her words.

Hearing it himself, An An felt a bit embarrassed. A blush crept over his fair cheeks as he leaned into Yang Laonainai’s arms, trying to hide himself.

Yang Laonainai was dressed in a dark bluish-green robe of fine material. Leaning against her felt very comfortable.

“Oh my, Grandma’s little darling is even shy now.”

After carrying him out the door, Yang Laonainai glanced at a thin woman standing nearby, and her expression instantly turned cold.

Already aged, her skin like old tree bark, the stern look on her face made her appear even more intimidating.

“Didn’t you hear the young master’s stomach growling? Why haven’t you gone to get food yet?”

“Yes, Mother.”

An An was startled by Yang Laonainai’s sharp tone and instinctively tightened his grip around her neck. Feeling his little arms cling to her, Yang Laonainai’s face softened again with a smile.

“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. Grandma’s not scolding our Yao Zu, she’s scolding your mother.”

That sentence made An An frown instinctively. Yang Laonainai quickly reached out to smooth the crease between his brows.

“Why are you frowning? Are you hungry? Just wait, I’ll teach that wretched woman a lesson!”

An An’s smile had completely vanished. Taking advantage of the moment, he looked around at the furnishings and layout of the place.

They were in a courtyard. It was clear the house had been around for many years. The beams and some of the furniture inside were painted a deep red.

It had just rained, and the damp air carried a musty smell.

Yang Laonainai had her hair neatly coiled and wore her jewelry with precision. She looked like a very strict old lady.

But every time An An looked at her, she would immediately put on a smile, her eyes turning kind and gentle.

The woman from earlier returned, carrying a deep red tray with a steaming bowl of egg custard. She set it down, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to An An’s mouth.

Starving, An An opened his mouth instinctively before realizing, and the hot custard burned him. He gasped and spat it all out on the floor.

Seeing this, the white-haired old maid behind Yang Laonainai slammed her hand on the red table and shouted harshly:

“How are you taking care of the young master? Kneel, now!”

The woman immediately dropped to her knees and kowtowed toward Yang Laonainai and An An. After just three knocks, her forehead was already red and swollen, clearly from the force she used.

“It’s my fault. I didn’t take good care of the young master.”

The harsh old maid, the woman kneeling and begging, and the scent of decay in the air—all of it made An An feel deeply uncomfortable.

“Go kneel in the ancestral hall. You’re not allowed to come out until tomorrow.”

“Yes, thank you, Madam.”

Tears welled in the kneeling woman’s eyes, but her face showed relief.

Yang Laonainai carried An An out, stepping over the high threshold into another room. A different maid brought in more food.

This maid was clearly more experienced. The temperature of the custard was just right as it entered An An’s mouth.

After finishing the bowl, An An wriggled out of Yang Laonainai’s arms, wanting to explore the courtyard on his own.

Yang Laonainai instructed the maids to follow and take good care of the young master.

As soon as An An stepped into the courtyard, the old maid who had stayed behind returned and said to Yang Laonainai:

“The young madam has been sent to the ancestral hall.”

Yang Laonainai dabbed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and gave a soft hum in response.

Sitting there, she looked like a decaying painting from a bygone era.

Only when she lifted her gaze toward the direction her grandson had gone did a flicker of emotion appear in her eyes, making her seem a little more alive.

The courtyard was full of blooming flowers, all in their prime, competing in beauty. But An An had no interest in them. He kept running forward.

When he reached a large gate, he paused at the high threshold, hesitated for a moment, then prepared to climb over it.

He didn’t know how many corridors he had run through or how many thresholds he had crossed, but finally, up ahead, he saw light streaming in through the main gate.

An An stood there, staring blankly at that beam of light. Just as he reached out to touch it, Ya Huan came running up behind him.

———Arc End———