CHAPTER 526: CHAPTER 526: TWO FAMILIES

Lin Wentao took quite a while to close his mouth, then rushed into the house in a whirlwind.

He ran straight into Duoduo.

"Bo Bo," Duoduo called out happily.

"My name is Taotao," Lin Wentao replied discontentedly.

Then he realized and hurriedly said, "Duoduo, just now... just now a kid next door suddenly disappeared with a swoosh. It seemed like... like she flew up..."

"Like this?"

Duoduo vanished, turning into a gust of Yin Wind, circling around Lin Wentao.

Lin Wentao’s body stiffened, shivering, then he screamed and turned to run.

"Mom and dad, something’s wrong... something’s wrong..."

"Geez~, such a coward."

Duoduo revealed herself with disdain, then swept up a gust again and dashed out to the balcony, heading next door.

Song Qingwei and her daughter-in-law, Huang Jiayan, were busy in the kitchen.

Lin Jianming and his son Lin Libo were sitting on the sofa, the TV on but not watched, quietly chatting.

Upon hearing Lin Wentao’s shouting, Lin Jianming reacted first, sprang up, and went toward the sound.

Lin Wentao bumped straight into his grandpa’s arms as he approached.

"Grandpa, something’s wrong... Aunt... She’s... she’s..."

"Take your time, what’s the matter with Aunt?" Lin Jianming gently patted his back, while Lin Libo also came over.

"She... she suddenly disappeared, and also... also the little girl next door..." Lin Wentao stammered.

Lin Jianming and his wife exchanged glances, understanding roughly what happened.

They had been startled by Duoduo before, so it wasn’t surprising.

But after getting used to it, they only found it magical.

"Duoduo, don’t scare Taotao..." Lin Jianming walked toward the balcony but did not see anyone.

Lin Libo followed, and Lin Wentao cautiously peeked out from behind.

Lin Jianming called out a few more times, but still no sign of Duoduo.

He looked over to the balcony next door and then said to Lin Libo, "She must have gone next door. Don’t mind her; we will visit them later anyway."

Lin Wentao craned his neck toward the neighboring balcony. Though two households on this floor, the balconies were a bit distant. Looking down, Lin Wentao felt weak in the knees. Could his aunt have gone across from here?

"Dad, what kind of person is Aunt?"

Lin Wentao curiously asked Lin Libo.

"Your aunt, she is an immortal. You shouldn’t be afraid of her." Lin Libo patted his son’s head.

"An immortal?"

Lin Wentao was greatly surprised, then seemed to think of something and asked, "Then is the little girl next door also an immortal?"

Lin Libo crouched down to look at his son and said, "Do you know why Grandpa and Grandma, and Dad suddenly became so young?"

Lin Wentao shook his head. Because of this matter, Mom even quarreled with Dad. He naturally had no idea.

But he quickly realized.

"Is it because of the immortal?"

"Yes, it’s because of the immortal. It’s a secret; you mustn’t casually talk about it outside." Lin Libo said sternly.

He knew it wouldn’t be possible to keep this from his son, so it’s better to be upfront, giving him a mental preparation.

Lin Wentao obediently nodded upon hearing this, but still felt incredibly amazed. At his age, filled with wonder, upon hearing, he immediately imagined wildly.

"Can immortals ride the clouds and mist?"

"Can immortals transform like Sun Wukong?"

"Can immortals conjure food directly if they want to eat?"

"Do immortals not have to do homework?"

"Or can they make a pen that writes homework by itself?"

"Can I also become an immortal..."

...

Seeing his son starry-eyed and dazed, Lin Libo lightly tapped his little head.

"Such a silly boy."

Having been through this age, who wouldn’t know what he’s thinking?

He too had fantasized at that age, but could only imagine.

-----------------

Although Dou Dou had left, the topic in the Yuan Family was still centered around Dou Dou.

"That little girl left too hurriedly. We still don’t even know her name."

Deng Huiling was making dinner in the kitchen, assisted by Yuan Hesheng.

In the past, they would usually still be at the store at this time, as it was one of the busiest times of the day. But given what happened, they lost the heart to run the shop.

Yuan Hesheng listened but didn’t answer the question. Instead, he asked, "Do you think ghosts really exist in this world?"

Deng Huiling looked up at him, then replied decisively, "Whether you believe it or not, I certainly do."

Yuan Hesheng didn’t speak but looked around the empty kitchen and then at its entrance.

Having studied medicine, he was a firm atheist; even after accepting the existence of ghosts, there’s still some doubt in his heart.

Nevertheless, after the realization of ghosts, he seemed able to sense his son’s presence; it’s uncertain if it was psychological or genuinely felt.

For instance, he felt his son was now standing at the kitchen door watching them.

"Who do you think is the Potato mentioned by the little girl? Will she come back?" Deng Huiling paused in her actions, furrowing her brows.

Yuan Hesheng replied, "She is friends with Yangyang, probably from the neighborhood? I will inquire tomorrow."

Though saying so, Yuan Hesheng wasn’t sure in his heart.

For their son practically grew up before their eyes, knowing both where his friends lived.

Deng Huiling actually understood this too, but held a hope against hope.

"About the Brother Potato she mentioned, he must be quite powerful, right? She seemed to say she was going to seek his help..."

"What help could that be?" Deng Huiling looked back at Yuan Hesheng.

Yuan Hesheng sighed helplessly and shook his head. This happened in front of them; it’s impossible for him to know more than Deng Huiling.

They couldn’t hear their son Yuan Kaiyang’s words, so during Dou Dou’s exchange with him, they only caught Dou Dou’s side, which led to much missing information.

Yet they could still deduce some. The help that the little girl intended likely concerned their son.

Distracted as they were, they quickly prepared a couple of dishes and served them at the table.

Usually, Yuan Hesheng served the dishes, while Deng Huiling ladled the rice, with Yuan Kaiyang sitting at the table waiting to eat.

Since his passing, naturally Deng Huiling didn’t prepare a bowl for her son while serving rice.

But today, she unexpectedly filled an extra bowl, placing it at her son’s old spot.

Yi Hesheng glanced at it but didn’t say anything. Once seated and with chopsticks in hand, he even placed a chopstick’s worth of food into his son’s bowl.

"Let’s eat," Deng Huiling softly said.

Yuan Hesheng then began to eat, but after a few bites, suddenly recalled something and they both raised their heads, looking at each other.

After thinking for a moment, Yuan Hesheng first spoke, "Today’s dishes are good."

Deng Huiling smiled and said, "The beans were over-salted, a bit too salty."

"It’s okay, considering the heat, a little salty is just right," Yuan Hesheng said, even grabbing more from the plate.

Though awkward, Yuan Hesheng’s comment started things off well, and gradually they talked about family matters, as it once used to be.

Meanwhile, Yuan Kaiyang watched joyfully from beside, lowered his head, and took a deep breath, a faint whiff absorbed into him.

At that moment, a disruptive voice broke the serenity.

"What yummy things are you eating?"

A little head peeked out from the edge of the table, balancing on tiptoe, looking at the table inquisitively.