Chapter 477| Chapter 478| Chapter 479
Chapter 477: Yi Yi’s New Routine
“Xiao Gu! I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.”
“Uncle Hu, Aunt Hu.”
Although they were referred to as the elders, they were actually only in their early fifties, roughly the same age as Mother Gu and her peers.
However, because of the immense suffering they had endured during the years of exile, the old couple had looked closer to their late seventies when they first returned to the Capital. Now, after more than a year of careful rest and recovery, they looked completely radiant. This was especially true for Aunt Hu; as a lifelong dance instructor, she carried herself with an exceptionally refined, elegant grace.
“Xiao Gu, you’re back in the Capital for good?” Uncle Hu asked, surprise written across his face. But remembering that Gu Tingxiao was originally a the Capital native, he quickly realized it was only natural.
“Uncle Hu, Aunt Hu, this is my wife, Sheng Wanyan, and our daughter.”
“Good, good. You two look absolutely wonderful together,” Aunt Hu beamed. She patted Gu Tingxiao’s arm affectionately. “You’re a very lucky young man. Come inside, come sit down.”
The old couple welcomed them into the house with immense enthusiasm. Aunt Hu took Sheng Wanyan by the hand, her eyes scanning her up and down with fond approval.
Since the house was normally occupied by just the two of them, and the painful estrangement from their son had left them feeling cold and lonely, the residence was usually entirely quiet. The arrival of Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan brought an instant wave of comfort to their lonely hearts. This was especially true once they discovered that Sheng Wanyan had been admitted to Peking University to major in foreign languages.
Uncle Hu immediately straightened his posture, clearing his throat and dropping into the role of a stern examiner as he began peppering Sheng Wanyan with questions about foreign languages.
“What on earth are you asking her, you old fool?” Aunt Hu chided with a chuckle. “Yan’er is studying Russian, and you’re a professor of French. Why are you trying to show off your knowledge in front of a real academic?”
“I happen to speak Russian too, for your information! I am proficient in three languages, alright?” Uncle Hu protested instantly, puffing out his chest. He was a university professor selected from a pool of top-tier intellectuals, after all; he had his pride.
“Yes, yes, you are the most capable man in the world,” Aunt Hu teased, rolling her eyes. Turning back to Sheng Wanyan, she sighed playfully. “Look at him. This is a family visit, yet he insists on acting like he’s standing at a podium delivering a lecture.”
She patted Sheng Wanyan’s hand. “But truly, my dear, you possess an impressive foundation of knowledge. When the time comes, you should consider taking up a second language as a minor. What do you think about French? I can have this old man tutor you personally.”
Sheng Wanyan didn’t decline the offer. In truth, she was already fluent in eight languages, but she was more than happy to let the old professor feel useful.
“Thank you, Uncle Hu. Once the semester starts, I’ll evaluate the heavy academic workload first,” she replied smoothly. “If I find I can manage the balance, I will absolutely consider French as my first choice.”
Uncle Hu nodded, mollified by her respectful answer. Upon reflection, he realized she made perfect sense. Learning a foreign language was an arduous task, and it was vital that she mastered Russian thoroughly first.
“That’s a very sensible approach. Take your time to think it over,” he advised warmly. “There are numerous foreign language departments on campus, and you can always go audit their classes. Our country is currently facing a massive shortage of linguistic experts, especially individuals who are proficient in two foreign languages. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs prizes those talents above all else.”
Uncle Hu began sharing stories from his decades of academic experience. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs possessed translators for every individual language, true bilingual or multilingual experts were incredibly rare. If Sheng Wanyan could master two distinct foreign languages, her recruitment into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after graduation would be an absolute certainty.
Securing a position there meant she would be guaranteed to remain in the Capital. After all, under the current state-assigned job system, graduates could be sent anywhere in the country. To secure a permanent residency in the capital after graduation, one had to be scouted and selected in advance by elite central units like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other state organs.
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded, keeping his advice in mind. It was indeed an excellent strategy. If she caught the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs early on, she wouldn’t have to worry about being randomly assigned to a distant province upon graduation. To be safe, she would ensure she was doubly prepared.
“Thank you for the invaluable advice, Uncle Hu. I will definitely dedicate myself to my classes,” she said earnestly.
Uncle Hu beamed, deeply impressed by her quick wit and sharp intuition. “And what about Xiao Gu? I assume you’ll have to head back to Bing City eventually?”
“Yes, Uncle Hu. I’ll have to return to the base for a few months,” Gu Tingxiao answered.
The two elders caught the underlying meaning in his words. It was clear the Gu family had already initiated the necessary arrangements for his permanent transfer back to the capital.
“That’s wonderful news,” Uncle Hu noted, relieved. “But what about the little one? Are you planning to place her in a nursery while her mother is in class?”
“Yes. We’re planning to enroll her in the childcare facility at the Capital University. That way, it will be easy for me to pick her up the moment my classes conclude for the day,” Sheng Wanyan explained.
Hearing this, the old couple’s brows furrowed in unison. A standard nursery was essentially just a place to keep children contained; they wouldn’t learn any real skills there. Furthermore, the facility housed children from all walks of life within the university staff compounds, making the environment incredibly rowdy and chaotic. Toddler squabbles and play-fighting were an everyday occurrence. Little Yi Yi was far too delicate and young; if she went there, she would easily be bullied.
“Do you not plan on having Yi Yi cultivate a specialized skill from an early age?” Aunt Hu asked. Having danced since her own childhood, she firmly believed that a child’s natural talents had to be discovered and nurtured as early as possible.
Sheng Wanyan offered a helpless smile. “I do have that intention, Aunt Hu. It’s just that right now, her only true interests seem to be eating, drinking, and having fun…”
“In that case, why don’t you let me teach her how to dance?” Aunt Hu proposed, her eyes lighting up with sudden excitement. “Have her come along with me to my classes. Even if she chooses not to enter the profession professionally when she grows up, the training will strengthen her physique, correct her posture, and refine her overall elegance.”
Aunt Hu had never been blessed with grandchildren of her own, and the moment she laid eyes on Yi Yi, her maternal instincts had flared. Yi Yi was naturally striking, with beautiful, delicate features. If she trained in classical dance, she would undoubtedly grow into a young woman of extraordinary poise and distinction. A girl’s artistic temperament needed to be cultivated from the cradle.
Sheng Wanyan paused, glancing down at Yi Yi. The proposal was highly appealing. Aunt Hu lived right near Peking University, making the logistics of dropping the little girl off and picking her up after classes incredibly convenient. However, she worried that bringing a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler into a professional environment might place an unfair burden on the elder or disrupt Aunt Hu’s university classes.
“This…” Sheng Wanyan hesitated, torn between her desire to protect her daughter’s comfort and her reluctance to impose on the old couple.
“Yi Yi, would you like to learn how to dance with Great-Aunt?” Aunt Hu asked the little girl directly, bypassing her mother’s hesitation.
Hearing the word “dance,” Yi Yi’s toddler curiosity was instantly piqued, and she nodded her little head eagerly.
“Let the child stay with me for a few days as a trial run,” Aunt Hu insisted, turning back to Sheng Wanyan. “If she truly dislikes it, it won’t be too late to place her in the nursery then. But if she shows an affinity for it, I am prepared to take her on as my final, closed-door disciple.”
The moment the words left Aunt Hu’s mouth, any remaining hesitation in Sheng Wanyan’s heart vanished entirely. Even Gu Tingxiao looked visibly moved. Aunt Hu’s legendary status within the dance world was absolutely irreplaceable. Although she currently taught at the Peking Dance Academy, she had won numerous international accolades abroad during her youth, bringing immense glory to the nation. Countless elite art troupes and influential families had practically begged her to take their children on as apprentices, only to be flatly rejected. She wasn’t merely an instructor; she was a master who guided chosen talents toward greatness.
“Then we will be deeply in your debt, Aunt Hu,” Sheng Wanyan accepted gracefully, bowing her head in gratitude.
Beside her, Yi Yi’s eyes were sparkling with excitement. Sheng Wanyan knew her daughter well; the little girl was genuinely eager to go. Since the child was willing and a world-class mentor was readily available, it would be foolish to let such a rare opportunity slip through their fingers.
“Don’t speak of debt, my dear. Your Uncle Hu and I are usually completely isolated in this quiet house. Having little Yi Yi around to fill the rooms with life is a blessing for us,” Aunt Hu said, her gaze resting on the little girl with deep affection.
Little Yi Yi, of course, had absolutely no conception of how legendary her new mentor truly was. Nor did she realize that this casual afternoon marked the very beginning of a spectacular path that would eventually lead her to stand on the world’s most breathtaking stages, looked up to by millions.
At this exact moment, the little guy’s mind was entirely consumed by a much more pressing matter: what they were going to have for dinner, and how she could secretly manage to consume one more piece of milk candy without invoking her mother’s wrath.
The old couple adamantly insisted that the family stay for dinner. Watching the usually quiet, deserted rooms fill with lively chatter and bustling energy brought a profound, rare sense of fulfillment to Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu’s hearts.
Chapter 478: Grandpa and Grandson Ran Out to Play
By the time they finally returned home, Yi Yi had already fallen asleep against Gu Tingxiao’s shoulder, drooling peacefully.
The courtyard near the Capital University was completely tidied up, and Sheng Wanyan soon received a letter from her mother. It stated that her family was already on their way to the Capital. Reading the letter made her snap into action; she had been so preoccupied that she had almost forgotten to arrange their furniture.
Sheng Wanyan immediately went out to hire a craftsman to make everything they would need. That way, by the time her parents arrived, they would only have to worry about purchasing daily necessities.
The five hundred yuan her parents had left with her was entirely used up. A proper set of pots and pans alone cost a small fortune, not to mention the effort required to exchange all the necessary coupons. When she factored in the custom furniture, the kitchenware, and the coal briquettes and stoves required to heat each room, the final total turned out to be a massive sum.
As the start of the school term drew closer, it wasn’t just Sheng Wanyan who felt the mounting tension; even Grandpa Gu was growing a little anxious. His anxiety had nothing to do with her academic performance, however. He was worrying about little Yi Yi.
When he first learned that Sheng Wanyan and her husband had arranged for the little girl to study classical dance, he felt a sharp prick of jealousy. His third daughter-in-law was sending Yi Yi to spend her days keeping Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu company instead of letting her stay home with him. He hadn’t even finished showing off his precious great-granddaughter to everyone before she was being whisked away.
Grandpa Gu brooded over it, constantly feeling as though outsiders were trying to steal his great-granddaughter from under his nose. But when he considered Yi Yi’s own future, he could only swallow his bitterness. The child genuinely wanted to go, and he couldn’t stand in the way of her education.
Yi Yi seemed to intuitively sense that she would soon be living away from the main family home. During this period, she was exceptionally well-behaved, constantly sticking close to the two elderly grandparents and doing everything she could to make them happy.
“Zeng-Zeng~”
Yi Yi called out in her sweet, baby voice, looking up at Grandpa Gu with her bright, clear eyes. At the sight of her, the old soldier’s hardened heart melted instantly.
“What is it, little one?” he asked softly.
“Go play!”
She pointed a tiny finger toward the front door. Grandpa Gu’s eyes twinkled, and he happily scooped her up to take her out.
Initially, the rest of the family assumed the grandfather and grandson were simply strolling around the compound. Instead, the old man marched right past the gates. The family guards quickly fell into step behind them, keeping a watchful eye on the pair.
Holding his large hand tightly, Yi Yi looked left and right as they walked. Since the conclusion of the Spring Festival, several local vendors had begun setting up small, informal stalls along the winding alleyways. Strolling through the vibrant lanes, Grandpa Gu felt a deep sense of satisfaction watching the lives of ordinary citizens steadily improve. He had spent decades fighting on the battlefield, and so many generations of the Gu family had laid down their lives, precisely so the people could enjoy a peaceful, prosperous era like this.
“Whatever catches your eye, Great-Grandpa will buy it for you,” he promised grandly.
“Thank you, Zeng-Zeng!”
It was Yi Yi’s very first time seeing so many vendors, and she was instantly captivated by the bustling energy of the alleyways. She paused in front of a stall, her eyes darting between a miniature cuju leather ball and a small bronze toy drum—both beautifully handcrafted by local artisans.
“How much for these?” Grandpa Gu asked the vendor.
“We make these ourselves, sir. Just one yuan for the pair.”
Grandpa Gu handed over the money with a smile and struck up a casual conversation with the merchant. “Now that private trading is permitted, life at home must be treating you much better, I take it?”
“Oh, absolutely,” the vendor replied, beaming. “Before this, our family could only afford to eat meat once every month or two. The country’s new policies are a godsend. As long as you have a decent skill and can make something to sell, you can keep everyone’s belly full. It brings in a bit of extra income, too. I’m trying to save up enough for my grandson’s future marriage. Life is much more comfortable now than it used to be.”
The surrounding vendors chimed in, smiles breaking out across their weathered faces. In this day and age, nearly every household possessed some traditional craft, and these small stalls allowed them to supplement their income. This was especially true for the elderly, who possessed decades of experience, turning ordinary wood and bamboo into minor treasures. These handmade goods were a living piece of China’s cultural heritage.
“Your granddaughter is absolutely beautiful, sir,” one of the vendors noted, looking at Yi Yi.
“She’s my great-granddaughter,” Grandpa Gu corrected proudly.
“Ah! You’re already a great-grandfather? I never would have guessed it!” The toy vendor stared at him, genuinely surprised. Given the old man’s upright posture and robust energy, he had assumed he was in his sixties, roughly his own age. “May I ask how old you are, sir? You certainly don’t look it.”
“I am seventy-one.”
“My goodness, elder brother, I never would have known! I truly thought we were the same age.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Grandpa Gu waved a dismissive hand, though his smile widened. “It’s all thanks to the children in the family. They take wonderful care of us and are incredibly filial.”
Grandpa Gu slipped effortlessly into his usual show-off mode. Yi Yi quietly listened to her great-grandfather’s casual bragging, completely unfazed; she was thoroughly accustomed to his antics by now.
“You are a very fortunate man,” the toy vendor sighed structure. “To be in your seventies and look like you’re in your sixties. As for me, I still have to come out to help support the household.”
“Is your son not treating you well?” Grandpa Gu asked, his gossiping instincts instantly flaring. It was bitter cold in the winter and blistering hot in the summer, not to mention the unpredictable wind and rain. How could an elderly body endure working outside if his children were taking care of him?
“Oh, no, he is deeply filial,” the vendor corrected quickly. “He actually bought me this Zhongshan suit just a few days ago. I kept telling him, ‘I’m just an old man, why waste good money on such expensive clothes?’ But he wouldn’t listen.” Although the old merchant spoke with a dismissive wave, his eyes shone with pure paternal pride.
“If he treats you so well, why are you still out here selling things?” Grandpa Gu pressed, genuinely curious.
The vendor glanced around cautiously, then leaned closer to whisper, “I’ll tell you a secret, elder brother. My grandson was recently admitted to university. He has a brilliant future ahead of him! I’m old and largely useless now, and my family has seen its share of hardships. I only have one son, and while he doesn’t possess any extraordinary talents, he has worked himself to the bone to raise a university student.”
He paused, a fierce light in his eyes. “A higher education means a lot of upcoming expenses. By coming out here to sell these toys, I can ease a bit of the financial burden on my son. We can’t have the boy sitting in a university lecture hall constantly worrying about whether his family back home has enough money or supply coupons, right? We spend our entire lives working just to ensure our children have a better future than we did. Now that the government has given us such a wonderful policy, I want to work while my body is still able. I will sell whatever I can to support his studies so he can make great contributions to our country. Knowing my flesh and blood is using his knowledge to serve the nation allows me to face my ancestors with pride when my time comes.”
Grandpa Gu nodded slowly as he listened, his gaze resting intently on the old merchant. For a long moment, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately found no words to match the profound depth of the vendor’s devotion.
“Elder brother, I made this little thing myself. It isn’t worth much, but please let your little great-granddaughter have it to play with,” the vendor said, handing a small, beautifully carved wooden frog toward Yi Yi.
Yi Yi didn’t reach out immediately; instead, she looked up at Grandpa Gu for permission.
“Thank the kind grandfather, Yi Yi. Go ahead and take it,” Grandpa Gu said gently.
With his approval, Yi Yi carefully accepted the toy with both hands, offering a sweet smile. “Thank you, Grandpa!”
“What a precious child,” the vendor beamed.
Grandpa Gu took her hand and continued their walk down the lane. Yi Yi’s eyes darted left and right, occasionally squatting down to peer curiously at an interesting display.
“Come along, little one. Great-Grandpa is going to take you to a truly wonderful place,” Grandpa Gu said, an air of mystery surrounding him.
Hearing that they were heading somewhere exciting, Yi Yi’s toddler enthusiasm instantly ignited, and she skipped along beside him. “Let’s go, let’s go!”
The little girl was bursting with excitement, and Grandpa Gu looked equally energized. Following a short distance behind them, the guard checked their direction and instantly deduced exactly where the old general was heading.
Chapter 479: Yi Yi’s Strange Condition
After all, the old general had always loved sneaking off to that place. Not only did he enjoy it, but several other old men in the compound often frequented it as well.
Grandpa Gu had taken Yi Yi to the antique street. The stalls there were packed with relics, both real and fake, and whether a person could walk away with something valuable depended entirely on their own sharp eyes and knowledge.
The market was bustling with crowds. With so many people around, Grandpa Gu held Yi Yi’s tiny hand firmly, not daring to let her go for a single second. He led her from stall to stall, stopping to inspect the items. Whenever he came across something that failed to meet his standards, he would shake his head in disapproval.
Yi Yi imitated him perfectly. She shook her little head, tucked her hands behind her back, and paced around looking exactly like a miniature old lady.
“Why are you copying me, you little rascal?” Grandpa Gu barked, tapping her lightly on the head. The little brat just shook her head again and let out a heavy sigh.
“Oh, no, no, no.”
She had captured Grandpa Gu’s regretful, critical tone from moments before down to a tee.
“You really are something…” Grandpa Gu sputtered, his beard practically flying up in exasperation. Why hadn’t he noticed before that this girl was so incredibly sly?
Unable to win an argument against a two-and-a-half-year-old child, Grandpa Gu could only redirect his irritation toward her father, Gu Tingxiao, blaming him internally for the girl’s stubbornness. After a bit of playful teasing, Yi Yi quickly grabbed his hand again and tugged him toward the next stall.
She drifted from pile to pile, touching the various trinkets with curiosity. Noticing her interest, Grandpa Gu asked, “Is there anything you like?”
“No~”
Yi Yi sighed. She found these dull ornaments incredibly boring and had zero interest in them. Grandpa Gu hadn’t actually expected her to care for them anyway; he had just asked out of casual curiosity.
He picked up a stone qilin ornament, turning it over to examine it carefully. While he was occupied, Yi Yi peered around and reached into a neglected pile of ornaments in the corner, pulling out a dusty, gray necklace. The necklace was made of beaded stones, but they were so caked in dirt that only their faint, general shape was visible.
Yet the moment she held it in her hand, a wave of profound comfort washed over her, causing her little body to feel slightly light and dizzy.
“Zeng-Zeng~ I want this.”
Yi Yi loved the sensation so much that she immediately held the necklace up to show Grandpa Gu.
When Grandpa Gu looked over and saw that she had taken a fancy to a dingy, gray piece of junk, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was something wrong with his great-granddaughter’s eyesight. What on earth was so good about this dusty old thing? But he simply couldn’t resist the pleading look in Yi Yi’s watery eyes, so he ultimately bought it for her anyway.
Grandpa Gu also purchased the qilin ornament he had taken a liking to. Yet as Yi Yi looked at the qilin clutched in his hands, that strange, dizzying sensation hit her little body all over again.
She had been quite happy at first, but as the peculiar feeling persisted and intensified, a wave of fear began to creep into her heart. After all, she was barely two and a half years old; facing an unknown, inexplicable sensation would naturally frighten a child.
As they continued through the market, Yi Yi became noticeably absent-minded. Every time Grandpa Gu held up an ornament and asked if it looked good, she would simply nod subconsciously. Strangely enough, she kept nodding at items that triggered that same wave of inner comfort.
Seeing that she supposedly liked his choices, Grandpa Gu grew even more enthusiastic. He was an elder who had seen much of the world. While he wasn’t a professional appraiser, he was highly knowledgeable; back in his days of fighting bandits and warlords, he had handled a vast amount of genuine treasure, giving him an innate knack for picking out authentic relics.
The grandfather and grandson spent the entire afternoon selecting items together, sharing a flawless, silent understanding.
Back at the house, no one had any idea where the pair had run off to. They had been missing all day, leaving Grandma Gu fuming at home, her temper flaring with every passing hour.
By the time the two finally walked through the front gate, Yi Yi’s tiny hands were piled high with small purchases. The moment she crossed the threshold, she bypassed everyone and went straight to find Sheng Wanyan.
“You stubborn old man!” Grandma Gu barked, marching over to Grandpa Gu. “You’re ancient, yet you still insist on sneaking the child out of the compound without saying a single word to anyone! You didn’t leave a message, and I’ve been worried sick looking for you all day! Your grandmother’s legs!”
Grandma Gu pinched Grandpa Gu’s ear, scolding him thoroughly. Watching the display, the younger generations wisely kept their mouths shut and didn’t dare to intervene. After all, Grandma Gu had been a formidable force in her youth. Later, when she worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she had frequently traveled to war-torn nations to fiercely safeguard the country’s interests. Someone who had survived on the razor-edge of life and death naturally possessed an unyielding spirit.
Even Grandpa Gu, a founding general of the nation, didn’t dare pull rank or put on airs in front of his wife. He knew perfectly well that if the old lady was unhappy, he would be the one suffering the consequences in the end.
“Ouch, ouch! Gentle, old lady, have some mercy,” Grandpa Gu whined, wincing under her grip.
Sheng Wanyan, meanwhile, noticed that Yi Yi looked incredibly listless. A wave of confusion hit her as she studied her daughter’s unusually quiet demeanor.
Yi Yi held up the dusty necklace she had chosen. “For Mommy.”
Sheng Wanyan took it, turning the gray beads over in her palm. “Did you pick this out yourself, Yi Yi?”
“Yeah~ Give it to Mommy.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Sheng Wanyan didn’t care in the slightest that the necklace looked like a string of dirty pebbles; even if her daughter had handed her a literal piece of trash, she would have cherished it as a masterpiece. “Come, Mom will take you upstairs to change your clothes.”
As Sheng Wanyan led the little girl up the stairs, leaving the mother and daughter some quiet time alone, Gu Tingxiao watched them go, his brows knitting into a deep frown. Parents are always the most attuned to their children’s anomalies, and it was incredibly rare to see the usually energetic Yi Yi looking this drained and subdued.
The rest of the family simply assumed the little girl was exhausted from a long day of walking and playing, but Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao knew their daughter better than anyone. No matter how tired Yi Yi got from an outing, she would never look this unsettled or carry a trace of latent fear in her eyes.
Gu Tingxiao remained downstairs. His wife hadn’t requested his presence, which meant she likely wanted to evaluate the situation privately first, and he trusted her judgment implicitly.
Once inside their bedroom, Sheng Wanyan guided Yi Yi to sit on the edge of the bed and carefully changed her into a fresh, clean set of clothes.
“Mommy…” Yi Yi murmured, her voice sounding small and defeated.
Sheng Wanyan immediately pulled her into a warm, soothing embrace. “Mommy’s here, baby.”
Yi Yi curled her small body tightly into her mother’s arms, trying her best to put her strange physical sensations into words. “Yi Yi feels… weird. Uncomfortable.” She paused, her little face scrunching up in confusion. “No… it feels really comfortable.”
She lacked the vocabulary to describe the exact nature of the phenomenon, struggling to find the right words to explain what was happening inside her.
“Sweetheart, take a deep breath and tell Mom exactly where it feels uncomfortable,” Sheng Wanyan coaxed softly.
Yi Yi shook her little head anxiously, trying to clarify. It wasn’t an ache or a sickness. Instead, it was an overwhelming wave of comfort that left her feeling light-headed, almost as if she were floating. “Comfortable… very comfortable~”
Sheng Wanyan’s brows drew together, a flicker of deep concern flashing in her eyes. She worried that Yi Yi might be inadvertently misinterpreting a dangerous physical symptom, so she patiently and meticulously probed further. “Very comfortable?”
“Mmh~” Yi Yi reached out and patted the gray necklace she had brought back. “This makes me feel warm and comfortable.”
Sheng Wanyan’s pupils constricted sharply. She immediately lifted the dirty string of beads, inspecting it with newfound intensity. “Yi Yi… are you saying that just looking at or touching this necklace makes your body feel this way?”
“Yeah~ and the things Zeng-Zeng brought back too. They all feel very warm and comfortable~”
Sheng Wanyan’s heart raced as she hastily checked the little girl’s pulse and physical reflexes, terrified that an underlying illness was taking root.
In her past life, she had encountered individuals who possessed extraordinary, anomalous constitutions—some shared an uncanny, spiritual bond with animals, while others possessed an innate, hyper-sensitive intuition regarding wealth and hidden currency. But she had never witnessed something like this in her own daughter, and she herself lacked any such sensitivity toward ancient relics.
She looked into her daughter’s wide, fearful eyes, keeping her voice completely calm and reassuring. “Tell Mom, baby… what exactly does your body feel right now?”
