CHAPTER 399: 0341 UNCLE OR BROTHER_1

"Creak."

Accompanied by the grating sound of rusty door hinges, the small gate at the corner of the wall was slowly pushed open. A tall, beautiful woman with fair skin and soft features slightly bent down to pass through the doorway, stepping into the now semi-abandoned garden.

Though it was already in a semi-abandoned state, this incredibly vast garden still exuded an elegant aura. Numerous plain stones engraved with peony motifs encircled the dried-up marble fountain at the garden’s center, forming several petal-shaped secluded paths.

These pebble-laden and leaf-strewn paths, clearly neglected at first glance, crisscrossed and wound outward. They passed fallen stone pillars, abandoned sculptures, a delicate greenhouse with shattered glass, courtyard walls with peeling paint, and extended to the garden’s farthest corner next to the only place still maintained—a small wooden hut.

"Ellie."

After walking all the way down the path to the door of the small hut, Emma, carrying a large bag of items, gently knocked on the door with the back of her hand, which hadn’t turned jade-colored, and softly called,

"I’m back. Are you home?"

"..."

As soon as Emma finished speaking, the door of the small hut was pulled open. A little girl with two light chestnut braids, each tied with a ribbon, darted out like a butterfly, landing gently in Emma’s arms.

"I’m sorry to have worried you again."

Gently stroking her daughter’s head, Emma said softly with a tender gaze,

"Don’t worry. No matter what, Mommy won’t die. As long as you’re at home waiting for me, even if I really do die one day, I’ll come back little by little. I will never leave you alone again."

"..."

The ribbon-wearing little girl still said nothing, only gently nodding. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she released her arms from around Emma’s waist and brought her slightly clenched right hand in front of Emma’s eyes.

"Hmm? What do you want to show me?"

After placing the items she was holding on the cabinet by the door, Emma crouched down, smiling as she reached out to the little girl. The adorably cute little girl then earnestly placed her right hand onto Emma’s palm, gently opening it...

"Did you catch this in the garden?"

Glancing at the tiny pink-and-blue butterfly flapping its wings in her palm, Emma couldn’t help but smile with delight, but then asked, her eyes showing a trace of guilt,

"It’s so beautiful... Ellie, thank you for the gift. Mommy loves it. But, what about you... Have you been okay these few days? Was it a bit lonely being at home alone?"

"..."

Hearing Emma’s words, the little girl with twin braids first nodded slightly, then shook her head vigorously, giving her a big smile.

*It might have been a little lonely, but now that you’re back, Mommy, I’m not lonely anymore.*

Understanding her daughter’s nodding and shaking meant, Emma bit her lip slightly and was about to say something when she noticed the tiny butterfly suddenly took flight. The little girl had released the gentle grip on the butterfly and instead grasped Emma’s bandaged right hand.

"?"

Seeing the hint of green peeking through the bandage, the little girl’s clear black-and-white eyes blinked twice. Then, full of worry, she raised her hand and pointed to Emma’s right hand.

"It’s nothing, just a little scratch."

After lovingly kissing the little girl’s forehead, Emma explained with a smile,

"Mom did encounter some trouble this time out, but it’s all been resolved now. The little injuries will heal in just over a week. Don’t worry!"

"..."

Hearing Emma’s assurance, the look of worry on the little girl’s face slowly faded, and she regained her happiness.

She released Emma’s hand, quickly ran back to the room with the pink sign, and brought out a slightly crumpled drawing of two colorful little figures, presenting it proudly to Emma, who was changing shoes.

*Is this a drawing from last year’s birthday?*

Emma unfolded the slightly wrinkled drawing, recognizing that the big and small colorful figures sat around the table, clapping happily.

Looking at the round shape on the table likely representing a cake, and the small crown on the little figure’s head in the center, Emma hesitated slightly. She then squatted down with the drawing, earnestly asking,

"Ellie... do you remember when Mommy told you that on the day after tomorrow, on your birthday, a big... uncle would come?"

"?"

After listening to Emma’s question, the little girl blinked her eyes in surprise.

*Uncle? Isn’t it a big brother?*

"There’s actually quite a bit of age difference between you two, and since he’s Mommy’s colleague, it’s better if you call him uncle."

Understanding the confusion in her daughter’s eyes, Emma blushed slightly as she explained, then secretly clenched her fists. Her ears burned a little as she quietly asked,

"Ellie, would you like to have... well, do you like a lively atmosphere at home?"

Feeling slightly embarrassed by her daughter’s seemingly understanding eyes, Emma hurriedly changed the subject:

"I meant to say, on your birthday the day after tomorrow, besides Uncle Leon, his sister and two friends around your age are coming too. They’ll all celebrate your birthday with you. Are you happy?"

"Frie...friends?"

"Yes, friends!"

Seeing her daughter’s surprise mixed with anticipation, yet a slight hint of apprehension, Emma knew that she longed for friends who could talk but was worried about getting along. So, she embraced the little girl, softly comforting her,

"Don’t worry. I looked into it ahead of time. Although they are lively, they’re all really good kids. You will surely have fun playing with them."

Hearing Emma’s assurance, the little girl couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief, her delicate little face displaying an adorable expression of excitement and anticipation.

"Th...that’s good then..."

Although her voice, like a wind chime under the eaves, was crystal clear and beautiful, the little girl seemed to rarely communicate with others, resulting in her speech being somewhat slow and her pronunciation a bit unclear.

But with friends of her age coming to celebrate her birthday, the usually quiet girl still blinked with anticipation and tried her best to speak with hope,

"Do they...like flowers? I grew some in the small greenhouse...and butterflies...small birds..."

"..."

Recalling the flocks of crows throwing droppings onto the windowsill in Leon’s memory, Emma couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

Rather than cute little birds, Leon’s unusually lively younger siblings probably preferred climbing trees to snatch eggs... Hmm...better keep an eye on them so they don’t take Ellie’s favorite little birds’ nests.

"Those two kids...should still like birds, right?"

Telling a white lie, Emma changed into loose indoor shoes, took the little girl’s hand, and walked inside. Just as she was about to ask what happened in the past two days, she saw a large cleared area behind the garden from the small hut’s window.

*In the past two days...has someone been here?!*

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