Chapter 34

Upon arriving in the new world, An An couldn’t open his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, his vision remained blurry, making him so frustrated that he clenched his fists and started communicating with the system in his mind.

“Am I blind?”

“You’re not blind. It’s just that you’re too young right now. Newborn babies can’t see anything.”

The system patiently comforted An An. In this world, he had arrived far too early—he was only one day old.

Fortunately, even though his body was tiny, his thinking ability hadn’t been affected at all. So, the system calmly explained the story of this world to him.

In this world, An An’s mother was named Hu Shuli. Her father was the chairman of the Hu family in the capital, making them one of the four great noble families.

She was the only daughter of the Hu family. When she came of age, her father publicly announced her as his successor. She had been raised like a precious pearl in the palm of his hand—a true favored daughter of heaven.

Unfortunately, in the year she was admitted to university, she fell in love with a poor young man while volunteering as a rural teacher in a remote village.

She even willingly stayed there to bear his children, cutting off all contact with her father. Due to poor medical conditions, she suffered complications during childbirth and was told she would never be able to conceive again.

When the system recounted this part, its normally emotionless voice carried an undertone of something An An couldn’t quite understand.

Unfortunately, Hu Shuli’s husband never appreciated her sacrifices. Instead, he resented her for her so-called pampered upbringing, believing she couldn’t take care of herself and had a strained relationship with his mother.

Even the only child she gave birth to was despised in every possible way.

Hu Shuli didn’t give birth at full term. Instead, she was forced by her mother-in-law to work in the fields and ended up falling, which led to a premature delivery.

The medical conditions in that place were extremely poor. There wasn’t even an incubator for premature babies, so the original host (An An’s past self in this world) naturally grew up weak and sickly.

Raised by his grandmother, he constantly heard her badmouthing his mother. Over time, he was deeply influenced by these words. Coupled with his poor health, he developed intense resentment toward his mother.

He blamed her for not giving him a healthy body and resented her for being the reason his father disliked him.

No matter how much Hu Shuli tried to make up for it later, she could never mend the bond with her son.

As the original host grew up, his father—despite living in modern society—had multiple women at the same time. These women all came from prominent families and were willing to share their husband.

The original host’s father had many children. Among them, the original host was neither the smartest nor the most outstanding, not to mention his weak health.

When it came time to compete for the position of heir, the original host, despite being the firstborn, was viewed as an obstacle by his siblings.

Someone orchestrated an accident, resulting in a car crash that left the original host permanently paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Soon after, his father abandoned him completely.

In his father’s words, a useless person like him wasn’t even worthy of being called his child.

In the end, the only person willing to take him in was the mother he had resented his entire life. She took him abroad for treatment, patiently helped him cope with his emotions, and pulled him out of his depression.

But the lingering effects of that car accident eventually led to his premature death.

“Host, your mission is to help Hu Shuli escape from this place.”

The system’s missions gradually increased in difficulty. In the first two worlds, An An barely needed to do anything to complete his tasks perfectly.

The task targets were simply there to be taken care of, without being entangled in any larger plot. They only needed to live their lives peacefully.

But this time, it was different. In this mission, An An’s mother was actually one of the male lead’s harem members.

Many illogical aspects of the story existed solely due to the overpowering force of the plot. For instance, Hu Shuli—someone with her background—ended up alone in a remote village as a volunteer teacher, just so she could meet the male lead, Song Yutian.

A girl who had received an elite education, cherished by her parents, inexplicably chose to stay in hardship, taking care of the male lead and his mother.

Song Yutian was the son of Heaven’s Will in this world, with the entire world’s fortune concentrated on him.

This was an early mission world with unreasonable settings. The mission-taker’s side task was to restore the world to normal. However, considering An’an was still very young, the side task could be completed selectively.

Just as the system finished explaining what it wanted to say, it saw that An’an had already fallen asleep. Before drifting off, his little hand had clenched into a fist in anger.

Hu Shuli was sent back to this ordinary ward after her surgery. She glanced at her sleeping son beside her, a faint smile appearing on her pale face.

When she reached out to touch him, she realized his body temperature felt off. At this moment, there was no one around to help, so she could only call for a nurse in a hoarse voice.

Fortunately, a nurse was just making her rounds and happened to pass by the door. Upon hearing Hu Shuli’s voice, she immediately pushed the door open and walked in.

“Is he running a fever?”

Hu Shuli felt miserable all over, but in her eyes, all she could see was her son.

After a brief examination, the nurse called for the doctor. Though this place was called a hospital, it was actually quite rudimentary, lacking even the most basic medical equipment. Fortunately, the doctor’s skills were decent. Holding the child in his arms, the doctor gave his recommendation.

“Transfer him to a hospital in a big city. This child was born prematurely, and the labor process was too long. He needs a thorough checkup in a proper hospital.”

“…Alright.”

Hu Shuli had just agreed when a man and a middle-aged woman walked in. The middle-aged woman had overheard Hu Shuli’s words at the door, and her face immediately darkened.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Staying home all day without going out to earn money—do you have any idea how hard it is to make a living? You think you can just go to a big hospital whenever you want? So spoiled! Back in our day, women would give birth while working in the fields and then get right back to work.”

“Girls these days are just too delicate. This hospital is just trying to scam you out of your money!”

The doctor, still holding the baby, listened to her rant and felt the veins on his forehead twitch in anger. However, given her age, he refrained from saying anything harsh.

If the child’s condition weren’t serious, he wouldn’t even bother getting involved.

“I can’t give you a definite answer, but I can guarantee that if you don’t transfer him to a proper hospital, this child’s health will be much worse than that of an average child.”

The middle-aged woman became even more agitated upon hearing this. She marched over and snatched the child from the doctor’s arms.

“So what if he’s a bit weaker? Don’t worry, I know how to raise kids. I’ll take him with me to work in the fields. No matter how weak he is, I’ll toughen him up!”

“I told you that natural births make children smarter, but you wouldn’t listen. Who knows how much money this C-section is going to cost us?”

Hu Shuli, still in pain from the surgery, watched her mother-in-law’s rough handling and tears welled up in her eyes.

She no longer hoped for her mother-in-law’s understanding. Instead, she turned to her husband, hoping he would at least say something fair—after all, this was their child too.

Song Yutian awkwardly avoided her gaze, walked over to the bedside, and tried to comfort her.

“Wife, you know we don’t have much money right now. And like Mom said, maybe it’s not that serious. Let’s take the baby home first, and if things really don’t get better, we’ll reconsider. Okay?”

At that moment, An’an, who was being held in his grandmother’s arms, suddenly burst into tears. The improper way she was holding him made him uncomfortable, and he started wailing loudly.

Yet, the middle-aged woman didn’t realize her mistake at all. Instead, she held the crying baby closer to Hu Shuli with a grin.

“Look how strong his cries are! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. How can a weak baby cry like this?”

She tried to use his cries as proof that he was fine. But all Hu Shuli saw was her son’s furrowed brows. Holding back her tears, she took a deep breath, her mind clearer than ever before.

Her child’s heart-wrenching cries struck Hu Shuli like a hammer.

“…Alright, we’ll do as Mom says.”

Since a C-section required a two-day hospital stay, Hu Shuli wasn’t too worried that her mother-in-law would take her home immediately. Even if she wanted to, the hospital wouldn’t allow it.

“Mom, I remember that Yutian’s medicinal herbs need tending around this time. You and Yutian should go back. I can take care of the baby myself.”

The middle-aged woman had never intended to stay and take care of her daughter-in-law’s postpartum recovery. Hearing this, she couldn’t have been happier. She grabbed her son and dragged him toward the door.

“Fine, if you need anything, just call out when the meals arrive. I left you 200 yuan.”

“Alright, thank you, Mom.”

The doctor sighed helplessly. He had seen similar situations many times before—daughter-in-laws who had no say in the household. Even if they were unhappy, they had to grit their teeth and endure it for the sake of a more stable future.

He placed the baby on the bed beside Hu Shuli. Once her husband and mother-in-law had left, he said,

“If you need any help, just let me know. I still think you should take this child to a big hospital.”

Even though he was a doctor at this hospital, he was well aware of its poor conditions.

“Thank you. Could I trouble you to check on my son again tonight?”

“Yes, of course.”

After the doctor left, Hu Shuli wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She knew there were many things she couldn’t change right now, but she had no desire for her husband to stay.

Things she hadn’t understood before suddenly became clear in her mind.

She gazed at her child on the bed with tear-blurred eyes. His tiny hands waved gently in the air, and the moment his father and grandmother left, he stopped crying.

Even though she couldn’t see him clearly, Hu Shuli felt that her child was incredibly well-behaved.

The system was surprised by what it saw. It hadn’t told An’an that there was a hidden mission this time—to help Hu Shuli break free from the plot’s predetermined path.

After all, An’an was far too young. Even if the system explained everything, he might not fully understand—he still had months before he could even start speaking.

Yet, An’an had done nothing except wave his little hands, struggling to look at his mother.

And just like that, Hu Shuli had already broken away from 30% of the original plotline, and her favorability toward the male lead, Song Yutian, had dropped to 60%.

As the evening approached, the doctor thought about the new mother he had seen earlier. Since her husband’s family had left, she likely had nothing to eat. So, he asked his wife to make some soup and brought it over.

“Are you feeling any better?”

As a male doctor, there were many things he couldn’t help with after a C-section, so he waited outside. His wife, a warm and kind-hearted woman, immediately noticed Hu Shuli’s difficult situation.

After hearing about her ordeal from her husband before coming, she felt sympathy for her.

Looking at Hu Shuli’s delicate features, it was clear that she had once been a cherished daughter, pampered by her parents. Who would have thought that after getting married, she would end up like this?

“Here, let me help you.”

The doctor’s wife had also brought some other hygiene products and helped Hu Shuli to the restroom.

As they passed by the bed, Hu Shuli glanced at her son. The tiny figure lay there sleeping, his curled eyelashes long and delicate, making his fair little face look especially gentle.

This was her child, a child bound to her by blood. Thinking of this, Hu Shuli became even more determined about what she was about to do.

There were many things she might not have had the resolve to face if it were just for herself.

But when it was for someone she cared about, an endless strength could emerge from within.

After freshening up, Hu Shuli borrowed the doctor’s wife’s phone and dialed a number she knew all too well.

“Hello? Who is this?”

A familiar voice came through the receiver, and once again, tears blurred Hu Shuli’s vision.

Hu Shuli tried to suppress her sobs, but the grievances she had held in her heart for so many years surged up all at once when she heard her father’s familiar voice.

Mr. Hu had just returned home after a busy day at his company. Though he was only forty-two, his hair was already entirely white, and he looked aged and weary.

Losing contact with his daughter had been a heavy blow to him. Already at an age where aging came easily, the hardships he had endured made his decline even more pronounced.

When his private number rang, he answered without hesitation. Very few people knew this number—only a handful of close ones.

The call was coming from a place he had never been to before. Just as he was wondering about it, he suddenly heard suppressed sobbing from the other end of the line. His body tensed, and he immediately stood up, asking in a trembling voice:

“Li Li? Is that you, Li Li?”

Hu Shuli softly responded, “Mm.” The voice on the other end instantly became much more emotional.

“Li Li, where are you now? Do you have enough money? Whatever you want to do, Dad will support you. Just come home, okay?”

Tears welled up in Mr. Hu’s eyes. Over the years, he had suffered the loneliness of losing his daughter, worrying day and night about whether his precious girl—whom he had spoiled since childhood—was suffering out in the world.

“Dad, I’m in a hospital in Xiaohe Township, Ling County, Haishi. Can you come pick me up? I know I was wrong, Dad. I want to go home.”

“Wait for me, I’ll be right there.”

“I borrowed this phone, Dad. I’m so scared.”

Hu Shuli, who had forced herself to stay strong to get everything done, finally allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of her father. After all, she was still just a young woman in her early twenties.

“Don’t be afraid, Daddy is here. Daddy is here, Li Li. I’ll be there soon.”

Hu Shuli was on the verge of breaking down. The doctor’s wife, who had lent her the phone, handed her a tissue and reminded her gently:

“You shouldn’t cry during postpartum recovery. It’s bad for your health in the long run.”

“Mm… Mm…”

From the cradle, little An An seemed to sense his mother’s distress and let out a few uneasy wails. The doctor’s wife picked him up and couldn’t help but exclaim:

“In all my years, I’ve never seen a newborn as fair and clean as this one.”

At some point, the call had ended. But knowing that her father was coming, Hu Shuli’s heart finally settled. She wiped away her tears and forced a small smile.

“He’s very well-behaved.”

“He really is. My husband told me the baby was premature? Premature babies need even more careful care. You mustn’t make any reckless decisions.”

The doctor’s wife could see that Hu Shuli had a timid personality. Thinking of what her husband had told her earlier and recalling the phone call just now, she used the baby as an anchor to try and persuade her.

People need something to hold onto to keep going, especially in her current situation.

If Hu Shuli were alone, the doctor’s wife had no doubt she might have harbored thoughts of ending things. Dying wasn’t the hard part—living well was.

“Thank you, sis. I understand. I really do.”

The doctor’s wife still felt uneasy about leaving her, but she had her own children to care for at home and couldn’t stay. So, she simply left her phone with Hu Shuli, telling her to call if anything happened.

At Hu Shuli’s request, the baby was placed beside her. When she was finally alone in the hospital room, she reached out with one finger to gently touch the baby’s tiny hand. An An instinctively tried to grasp her finger.

Feeling his small strength, a faint, tender smile curved Hu Shuli’s lips.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side, Mr. Hu couldn’t sit still after receiving his daughter’s call. He immediately called his assistant to trace the number’s location and ordered his driver to prepare for departure.

He had never even heard of this place before, and judging by its location, it didn’t seem economically developed.

During the call, he had overheard someone mentioning a baby, which made him even more anxious.

By this time, the sky was completely dark. The car got onto the highway, and though Mr. Hu was no longer young, he felt no trace of drowsiness. He stared out at the scenery rushing past, deep in thought.

Back at the hospital, Hu Shuli couldn’t sleep all night. Having undergone a C-section without proper postnatal care, the pain and discomfort tormented her repeatedly.

One moment, she would look at the moon outside the window, and the next, she would gaze at the sleeping baby beside her.

She couldn’t help but wonder—what had possessed her to stay in that remote, backward village, doing farm work, taking care of Song Yutian’s mother, and even giving birth to a child?

Other than his decent looks, Song Yutian had no redeeming qualities. He spent his days dreaming of overnight riches, growing medicinal herbs on the mountain, and losing all of his family’s savings.

Even the money Hu Shuli had painstakingly saved had been taken by him.

In the second half of the night, exhaustion finally overtook her, and she fell asleep.

Early the next morning, the hospital room door was pushed open from the outside.

Song Yutian walked in, carrying a thermos, with his mother following behind.

Hu Shuli, who had barely slept, was woken up by the noise. Still in pain, she instinctively frowned.

“Oh? Don’t want to see us, huh? And here we went through all this trouble to bring you breakfast. Yutian, just look at the wife you married!”

Hearing his mother’s words, Song Yutian frowned slightly, but he knew better than to argue with her. If he spoke up now, this would never end.

His father had passed away early, and his mother had raised him alone, developing a fiery and difficult personality.

From the moment he brought Hu Shuli home, his mother had looked down on the pampered city girl.

But Hu Shuli was different—she was gentle and easygoing. He figured he could just sweet-talk her later to smooth things over.

Song Yutian wasn’t unaware of right and wrong—he just wanted to avoid trouble.

“Shuli, Mom killed a chicken early this morning to make you some noodle soup. Don’t pull a face.”

He opened the thermos, picked up some chopsticks, and passed them to her. Raising the bed slightly, he glanced at the baby.

At the very least, this was his biological child. And with such fair skin and delicate features, he actually found himself liking him.

By now, the noodles had sat for too long and had clumped together. A thick layer of grease floated on top of the chicken broth. Even though she hadn’t eaten anything since morning, Hu Shuli felt no hunger—only nausea at the smell of the broth.

The few scattered pieces of chicken inside were either bony neck pieces or dry, tough breast meat, making her lose her appetite entirely.

“I woke up early to kill that chicken. Yutian, does your wife not appreciate my cooking? Oh, I’m so old already—it’s only natural for Shuli to think I don’t make food clean enough.”

Hearing his mother’s words, Song Yutian felt a headache coming on. He snapped,

“Shuli! Don’t be ungrateful!”

Just then, footsteps echoed from outside, and the half-open hospital room door was gently pushed open.

Leading the way was an older man with graying hair.

The moment Mr. Hu saw Hu Shuli lying in bed, his eyes turned red.

The daughter he had cherished in the palm of his hand—how had she ended up looking so worn and weary?

“Li Li.”

“Dad.”

Before father and daughter could exchange a second sentence, Song Yutian’s mother quickly assessed the situation and immediately put on a warm, eager smile as she stepped forward to greet him.

Before the father and daughter could exchange a second sentence, Song Yutian’s mother, who had been standing to the side, quickly caught on to the situation. With an enthusiastic smile on her face, she stepped forward to greet him.

“Oh my, you must be my in-law! When Shuli married my son, why didn’t you attend the wedding? But it’s not too late now that she’s had a child.”

The reason Song Yutian’s mother had dared to bully Hu Shuli so blatantly before was that she knew Hu Shuli had no one to rely on, and her son was on her side. She needed to make Shuli suffer the hardships she herself had endured to feel balanced in her heart.

But now, looking at Mr. Hu’s attire and the bodyguards following behind him, it was clear that this was no ordinary family background.

If he was willing to lend Yutian a helping hand, Yutian wouldn’t have to go up the mountains every day to gather medicinal herbs, enduring the wind and sun just to earn a hard living.

Mr. Hu took a small step back, and immediately, a bodyguard stepped forward to block her approach, making Song Yutian’s mother’s smile freeze.

Mr. Hu couldn’t even be bothered to look at her. He walked straight to his daughter’s bedside, reaching out to touch her face, his hand trembling slightly with heartache.

His wife had passed away not long after giving birth, leaving him to raise their child alone. Although he had been busy with work, he had never missed a moment of his daughter’s growth.

He still remembered that when Lili was little, she had always been a girl who loved to look pretty. But now, her face was rough, her hair was dry and frizzy, and the dark circles under her eyes were heavy.

Hu Shuli had never looked so disheveled before, especially in front of the father who had raised her. She was showing him her most pitiful state.

Forcing herself not to let her tears fall, she sniffled and said, “Dad, I want to go home.”

Song Yutian’s mother quickly approached at this moment, tucking in her blanket with an overly kind smile.

“Shuli, what are you saying? Isn’t Yutian’s home your home too?”

“In-law, if you want to come along and have a look, you’re welcome to.”

The discomfort in her body, the joy of seeing her father, and the shame of letting him witness her miserable state overwhelmed Hu Shuli, making her unable to say anything more. She could only repeat herself.

“Dad, I want to go home.”

“Alright, alright, Dad will take you home. We’re going home.”

On the way here, Mr. Hu had thought many times that when he saw Lili, he would scold her severely—how could she have the heart to disappear for years without a single word?

But now that they were face to face, his heartache won out, and he couldn’t bring himself to say a single word of reproach.

“Dad, take your grandson too. Take him home with us.”

As soon as she said this, Song Yutian’s mother immediately dropped her pretense, snatching the child into her arms.

“This is our Song family’s eldest grandson! You’re not taking him anywhere!”

The moment Mr. Hu entered the room, he had already noticed that his daughter’s lips were dry and chapped from dehydration, yet there wasn’t even a cup in the ward. The food in the insulated container looked entirely unappetizing.

Looking at how his daughter had been tormented into such a state, everything pointed to one conclusion—this family had treated Lili terribly.

If she hadn’t truly suffered unbearable hardships, with her stubborn personality, she would never have made that call for help, admitting weakness and asking to be taken home.

Mr. Hu didn’t waste words. He simply signaled to the bodyguards. The men he brought were all retired special forces soldiers, physically strong and highly capable.

As the bodyguards stepped forward, Song Yutian, who had remained silent until now, hurriedly tried to block them, only to be effortlessly pushed aside.

One of the bodyguards clumsily held the baby in his arms while the two female assistants Mr. Hu had brought started packing up Hu Shuli’s belongings. They put a coat on her and a hat, wrapping her up warmly.

The doctor who had told his wife to look after Hu Shuli the day before heard the commotion and came out of his office. Seeing the new mother being supported by a man of obvious status, he stepped forward to remind them:

“The baby was born prematurely. You should transfer him to a larger hospital for a thorough check-up. And the mother needs proper care—how could a C-section mother be left without her husband or mother-in-law by her side?”

The doctor’s words completely stripped Song Yushu’s mother of her dignity, trampling her reputation underfoot. Her face changed repeatedly, but she still swallowed back the harsh words she wanted to say, managing only a weak excuse.

“Well… the family was busy, and we couldn’t step away…”

Mr. Hu was much more polite to the doctor. He gave a slight nod, showing that he was listening.

“Thank you for the reminder.”

Hu Shuli suddenly remembered that his wife had left her phone with her, so she quickly asked the assistant to return it to the doctor.

“Dad, if it weren’t for his wife lending me her phone yesterday, I wouldn’t have been able to call.”

Hearing this, Mr. Hu bowed deeply to the doctor.

“Thank you.”

“No need. It’s what I should do.”

The doctor watched them leave, feeling relieved for the new mother.

He knew he was just an ordinary person, but he hoped that through his small efforts, he could help more people escape their suffering.

He had only acted on his conscience, unwilling to turn a blind eye, never expecting that his small act of kindness would bring him significant career opportunities in the future.

With several strong bodyguards protecting Hu Shuli, even if Song Yushu usually acted tough, he didn’t dare to stop them. He could only watch helplessly as his wife took their child and got into that luxurious car.

Before this, he had only known that his wife’s family was probably quite wealthy. His plan had been to wait until she gave birth, securing their bond, before subtly suggesting they visit her home.

But he never expected her father to appear so suddenly, catching him completely off guard.

With such a commotion, it was impossible for An’an not to wake up. He was curiously looking around. Though his vision was still blurry and he couldn’t see clearly, his curiosity remained unaffected.

Mr. Hu had no interest in the child. His mind was entirely occupied by the suffering his daughter had endured. Once they got into the car, he immediately contacted his assistant to make arrangements at a private hospital.

When Hu Shuli was taken in for a full medical check-up, Mr. Hu finally had time to look at the baby.

An’an was wrapped in a small blanket, already asleep from exhaustion. Mr. Hu still remembered what his daughter had looked like as a newborn, and this child bore a striking resemblance to Lili as a baby.

Not long after, the assistant came back to inform him that a pediatric specialist had been scheduled, and they could take the young master for his check-up now.

Mr. Hu handed An’an over and continued to wait for his daughter’s results.

The private hospital had excellent conditions, with professional caregivers attending to patients. Once Hu Shuli’s condition improved, she was transferred to a postpartum care center. With the help of maternity nurses, her complexion finally started to recover.

Back in that remote mountain village, she had struggled with malnutrition even during pregnancy, leaving her with little milk supply. On the maternity nurse’s advice, she started feeding the baby formula.

After she recovered, Mr. Hu came to ask about her plans for the child.

In his eyes, his daughter had practically been trafficked to that place.

When he learned from her that the first time she had relations with that man, she had been forced, he knew that her feelings toward the child must be incredibly complicated.

Even Mr. Hu’s feelings changed upon learning this. When he looked at An’an now, it was no longer just affection—there were other emotions mixed in.

At that moment, Hu Shuli was holding An’an in her arms, feeding him with a bottle.

Since she wasn’t breastfeeding, the maternity nurse advised her to hold the baby during feedings to help develop their bond.

Every time she fed him, An’an acted like he was afraid she’d get too tired, practically trying to hold the bottle himself.

This time was no exception. His small hands kept touching the bottle as he gulped down the milk.

“Dad… this is my child.”

Hu Shuli didn’t give a direct answer, but this statement was enough to tell her father about her decision.

“Lili, you are also my child.”

Mr. Hu couldn’t bear the thought of his daughter living in inner conflict. Most people, without even realizing it, begin to misplace their resentment.

For instance, if his daughter grew tired of that man, she might also grow tired of this child. Yet, as a mother, she would still feel bound to love him.

“If you don’t want to raise this child, we can find a family to adopt him while he’s still young. I’ll make sure the family takes excellent care of him and treats him as their own.”

“This child was born premature, so he may be a little weaker, but overall, he is still a healthy baby. Many families who can’t have children of their own would be willing to adopt him.”

In Mr. Hu’s eyes, this was the best arrangement—cutting off all ties between his daughter and that place.

He didn’t want any attachments left behind. To the outside world, he could still claim that his daughter had merely been traveling abroad for the past few years.

He had the power to erase this shameful past completely.

An’an understood what his grandfather was saying. Even though he was the one about to be abandoned, he was quite content, babbling in baby talk.

The baby’s coos interrupted Hu Shuli’s thoughts. The weight of the child in her arms, the way his eyes squinted happily whenever she held him—how could she bear to let him go?

“Dad, I want to raise him.”

“A child has no say in whether they are born, but I can decide whether to be a mother. Since I brought him into this world, I have to take responsibility.”

There were some things Hu Shuli couldn’t say to her father. Throughout her pregnancy, she had worked tirelessly, constantly reassuring herself that once the child was born, Song Yutian would treat her better.

Ever since their first time together, everything had felt wrong.

Looking back now, the memories seemed so unfamiliar that even she found them frightening.

“Besides, look—he’s such a good baby.”

“Yiya~”

Mr. Hu had only been making a suggestion. Seeing his daughter’s stubborn expression, he sighed and reminded her:

“If you meet someone you like in the future, what if they don’t want to be with a woman who has a child?”

His daughter was only in her twenties; she still had many possibilities ahead.

“I wouldn’t like someone like that.”

Hu Shuli gently held An’an’s tiny hand. Seeing him grin, his pink gums showing, she couldn’t help but smile herself.

“Well, that’s good.”

Since his daughter had made her decision, Mr. Hu didn’t press the issue further. He knew her stubbornness better than anyone.

The nanny responsible for caring for the child occasionally chatted with Hu Shuli, and their conversations were mostly about the baby.

“Miss Hu, your child is the easiest one I’ve ever taken care of.”

The nanny held little An’an in her arms. After finishing a bottle of milk, he needed to be burped.

Being in an unfamiliar embrace made An’an unhappy. His delicate little brows furrowed, and after letting out an indignant burp, he was quickly handed back to his mother.

As soon as he caught the familiar scent of his mother, An’an grinned, reaching out to grab her clothes.

Once he grasped a corner of her clothing, he nuzzled his head against her gently, his small expression of satisfaction utterly adorable.

Every time she saw this healthy baby, Hu Shuli felt grateful that she had left that place.

The farther she got from Song Yutian, the more rational and clear-headed she became. She couldn’t understand why she had ever liked a man who was completely useless aside from his looks.

If it had only been about his appearance, with her status and wealth, there were plenty of handsome, considerate male models eager to please her.

Thinking too much gave Hu Shuli a headache. Fortunately, at that moment, the baby tugged at her clothes, successfully pulling her attention back to him.

It had been some time since Mr. Hu had brought his daughter home. Before that, she had mostly been recovering. During her confinement period, she was advised not to think too much, so she hadn’t given many matters much thought.

As soon as Mr. Hu learned of his daughter’s decision, he immediately arranged for the baby’s household registration.

Since his daughter wanted to keep the child, then the child could only belong to the Hu family—he would have nothing to do with that man.

That evening, after work, Mr. Hu went straight to the postpartum care center. He asked his daughter about the baby’s name, wanting to finalize the registration so he could put his mind at ease.

“Dad, you can pick.”

Hu Shuli was playing with her son, letting him grip her index finger tightly. Feeling his small strength was amusing to her.

“Alright, how about ‘Shi’an’?”

Mr. Hu had already considered this name but wanted to hear his daughter’s thoughts first. Now that she had given him the choice, he suggested it.

“A lifetime of peace… Dad, I like it.”

“Yiya, yaya~”

An’an enthusiastically approved of his new name. Seeing this, Hu Shuli immediately held him up and showed him to her father.

“Dad, look! He seems to really like it.”

Seeing that his daughter held no resentment toward the child, the last bit of worry in Mr. Hu’s heart disappeared. He leaned in and looked at the baby’s dark, grape-like eyes, pretending to be serious as he said:

“He’s just a baby—how could he understand what he likes or doesn’t like?”

An’an, who had just been grinning, suddenly heard this and saw his grandfather’s stern face. His little mouth immediately pouted, and he buried his head in his mother’s arms.

Stinky Grandpa! I don’t want to talk to him anymore.

Mr. Hu was momentarily stunned by An’an’s reaction, then realized what had happened.

“He’s sulking at me? Come, let Grandpa hold you.”

Before, whenever Mr. Hu held the little one, there had never been a problem. But today, as soon as he picked An’an up, the baby’s lips quivered, looking as if he might burst into tears at any second. Alarmed, Mr. Hu quickly handed him back to his mother.

“For someone so tiny, he sure knows how to hold a grudge!”

Hu Shuli didn’t take her father’s words to heart. Just as he had said, a baby who wasn’t even a month old wouldn’t understand such things.

Under the careful care of the postpartum center and all the nourishing soups, Hu Shuli gradually regained her strength.

Following the recommendation of the center’s director, Mr. Hu arranged for his daughter to stay for an extended recovery period.

Childbirth had taken a toll on her body, and regaining her health was the most important thing.

Mr. Hu didn’t hold a grand celebration for the baby’s one-month milestone. Instead, he simply brought a small cake to the center that day for his daughter.

Poor little An’an, who was already beginning to understand things, sat to the side, staring longingly at the lit cake. He drooled quietly, and since he was still so young, the drool actually dripped down.

Mr. Hu frowned and wiped the baby’s mouth clean. Seeing the little glutton’s eager expression, he sighed helplessly.

“When you’re older and can eat it, I’ll make sure to get you your own. You won’t miss out.”

An’an swallowed his saliva with a little difficulty. Just then, the nanny arrived with his formula. An’an grabbed the bottle and gulped it down while still staring at the small cake, making Hu Shuli feel a bit pressured.

After eating and drinking to his heart’s content, An An yawned and dozed off in a daze while being burped.

Even after falling asleep, his cheeks were still puffed up, as if he was very unhappy about not getting to eat cake.

Hu Shuli finally left the postpartum care center and returned home after completing her two-month confinement period. Over the years, Old Master Hu had changed many things, but he never considered moving to a different place, fearing that if his daughter ever wanted to come back, she wouldn’t be able to find him.

Hu Shuli had grown up in this very villa. Seeing the familiar trees and grass in front of her, then looking at her father, whose hair had started to turn gray, she suddenly felt a wave of emotion rise in her heart.

She still remembered that her father hadn’t been this old before. Even as he aged, he had still been a refined and elegant gentleman.

Old Master Hu noticed his daughter’s thoughts and smiled as he reassured her, “Don’t overthink it. Focus on recovering your health—that’s more important than anything else.”

He simply couldn’t imagine what kind of environment had led to his perfectly healthy daughter becoming malnourished! Just thinking about it made him furious.

“Dad, I know.”

Hu Shuli had always been conscious of health and wellness ever since she was old enough to understand it. She cared a lot about her well-being.

Back when she was with Song Yutian, even getting a proper meal was difficult, so she had no extra energy to think about anything else.

But now that she was back with her father, everything was different. She no longer had to worry about anything—there were even professional childcare experts taking care of An An.

At this moment, An An was in Old Master Hu’s arms. Even though he wouldn’t admit it outright, he clearly liked the child. An An was adorable, well-behaved, rarely cried, and even resembled his daughter—though he did have a bit of a petty streak and held grudges.

“An An, this is our home. Do you know that?”

“Yiya~”

The weather was quite warm now, and with An An nearing three months old, he was no longer as fragile as before. Dressed in light clothing, his fair little hands waved in the air, his eyes squinting happily as if he were responding to Old Master Hu’s words.

An An had inherited Hu Shuli’s fair skin, and against the backdrop of his pale yellow outfit, he looked like a freshly washed lotus root.

“An An, do you like it here?”

“Ya, yiya~”

An An’s big, clear eyes were filled with curiosity as he looked around, taking in his surroundings. After finishing his observations, he nodded lightly in a serious manner, seeming quite satisfied with his new home.

Old Master Hu still held onto his belief that a child this young couldn’t possibly understand much, but that didn’t stop him from finding it amusing to see how clever and cute An An was.

Hu Shuli’s old bedroom had been regularly cleaned by housekeepers all these years. Even after so much time had passed, it still looked almost the same as when she had left.

The flowers she had planted on the balcony had grown significantly and were now budding.

While Hu Shuli and An An had been staying at the postpartum care center, Old Master Hu had asked the butler to turn one of the guest rooms into a nursery, conveniently located near Hu Shuli’s room so she could check on the baby whenever she wanted.

Now that early summer had arrived, the air was warm and slightly humid. An An, full of curiosity about the world, loved being carried around to explore. Everything he saw felt new and fascinating.

Their villa’s garden had many beautiful flowers, well-maintained by gardeners over the years in memory of Hu Shuli’s late mother, who had loved flowers.

The first time Hu Shuli took An An to see the garden, he had been so enchanted that he never wanted to leave.

…

Lately, Old Master Hu had been in a great mood. Seeing his daughter gradually regain her energy and spirit under his care, looking more and more like her old self, filled him with satisfaction.

And then there was the little troublemaker, An An. Though he sometimes gave him a headache, most of the time, Old Master Hu was pleased to have him around.

That day, as Old Master Hu returned home from work, he saw the nanny sitting on the living room sofa, bottle-feeding An An.

By now, An An could hold the bottle on his own. Every time he drank, he would puff up his cheeks before taking big gulps, looking just like a little glutton.

After taking off his coat, Old Master Hu asked about his daughter. The butler informed him that Hu Shuli was practicing yoga on the third floor. He then turned to An An, waited for him to finish drinking, and picked him up.

Somehow, he had developed a habit—every day after work, the first thing he wanted to do was hold his grandson for a while.

An An didn’t fuss when switching to a different embrace. As long as no one tried to take him from his mother’s arms, he didn’t particularly mind who was holding him.

“An An, have you been a good boy at home today?”

“Did you drink your milk properly? Did you cry?”

Feeling satisfied after eating, An An lazily yawned. He wasn’t particularly interested in answering his grandfather’s daily questions. After some thought, he gave a token response—”Yiya.”

“Shall Grandpa take you to see the flowers?”

Old Master Hu noticed that An An didn’t seem too excited about the suggestion and wasn’t paying him much attention. So he casually mentioned it, but the moment he did, An An’s half-closed eyes immediately widened. His long, curled eyelashes fluttered.

“Ya, yiya wa~”

His little hands waved excitedly in the air, his big, bright eyes filled with obvious anticipation.

“Alright, let’s go. Grandpa will take you to see them.”

Having raised Hu Shuli himself, Old Master Hu was an expert at holding babies. An An felt perfectly comfortable in his arms, so much so that he even lifted his feet in excitement.

The flowers in the back garden were in full bloom, vibrant and colorful. An An was mesmerized, his eyes darting from one flower to another. There were too many for him to take in all at once, and eventually, he simply covered his eyes with his hands to take a break.

Although An An had been born prematurely, he had been well taken care of after coming home. He was no longer as frail as in the original storyline.

Seeing how much An An truly loved the flowers, Old Master Hu brought him closer so he could smell them.

At this age, An An was eager to explore everything. If he didn’t get to touch something, his hands would itch with curiosity. The moment he smelled the flowers, he instinctively reached out to grab them.

Before Old Master Hu could react, An An had already plucked a petal and clenched it in his tiny fist, looking as though he was about to put it in his mouth.

Old Master Hu quickly grabbed his little wrist, seeing the innocent and clueless expression on his face. He wanted to scold him but realized the baby wouldn’t understand anyway.

Instead, he carried An An closer to a rose bush, guiding his hand forward.

An An’s sharp eyes spotted the thorns on the stem and immediately pulled his tiny hand back, tucking it protectively against his chest. He gave his grandfather a wary look.

His bright, expressive eyes conveyed his emotions perfectly.

At that moment, Old Master Hu could clearly see what An An was thinking—he was judging him, probably calling him a wicked old man in his little mind!

“An An, didn’t you like touching things? Try touching this one—it’s nice to touch!”

Old Master Hu deliberately teased him, guiding his hand toward the thorns.

Yesterday, there had been an unpeeled durian on the coffee table. While drinking his formula on the sofa, An An had reached out to grab it, giving Old Master Hu quite the scare.

An An’s palms were still soft pink, delicate beyond words. No matter what he touched, it would definitely hurt for a long time.

As the setting sun cast a warm glow on the little one’s face, Old Master Hu couldn’t resist leaning in and planting a kiss on his chubby cheek.

An’an’s little face instantly scrunched up into a wrinkled mess, and he vigorously wiped it with the back of his hand.

Just then, Hu Shuli happened to come downstairs. As soon as he saw his mom, the little one let out a loud “wah” and burst into tears.