CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 179: MEMORIES

"Daddy, you can go back first, I’m okay." Tian Sisi’s voice came from behind the door.

Hearing his daughter’s voice, He Xuewen calmed down. His mind rapidly processed whether Ah Nan could be in danger. After a thorough analysis, he somewhat reassured himself. Luo Datou probably found Ah Nan amusing and decided to keep her, so she likely wasn’t in any danger.

"Brother He, you go back first. I assure you, not a hair on your precious daughter will be harmed."

"Then I’ll be going back now, and I’ll visit again tomorrow. Please, General Luo, take good care of Ah Nan for me." After speaking, He Xuewen bid farewell and left.

It isn’t right for Ah Nan to stay at the Yun Mansion; how could someone like Luo Datou, a brute, know how to care for a young girl? Knowing that knocking was useless, Mr. He didn’t bother and instead rode his bicycle back to discuss with the Yang Family how to handle the situation.

Luo Datou burst into laughter, dragging Tian Sisi along inside. Tian Sisi, who was struggling for breath, shouted loudly, "Put me down, I can walk by myself."

With a "thump," Luo Datou suddenly let go, and Tian Sisi fell onto the floor with a "ouch." With tears in her eyes, she glared at Luo Datou and furiously rubbed her bottom.

Luo Datou watched the pitiable little girl with a rare twinge of guilt in his heart and let out a chuckle. This little girl just had delicate skin; unlike his grandsons, whom he would toss around without a fuss.

Tian Sisi followed behind Luo Datou in silence, not feeling afraid but rather empty. Since her arrival in this world, she had never been alone. Now, left in a strange place by herself, she felt somewhat apprehensive and wondered why General Luo was keeping her here.

He Xuewen hurried back to the Yang Family and explained the situation to Mr. Yang. Tian Xinhua was immediately alarmed, his face paled as he got up to leave, but he was held back by He Xuewen.

"Xinhua, don’t act impulsively. I believe Luo Datou found Ah Nan interesting and wanted to keep her for a few days. Ah Nan should be safe. Trust Uncle He; I’m more worried about Ah Nan than you are."

Tian Xinhua looked at He Xuewen. He knew He Xuewen’s status and didn’t doubt his words. Otherwise, given He Xuewen’s solo return today, he would have beaten He Xuewen down already. However, even with He Xuewen’s assurance that Ah Nan was safe, he was still worried.

"I’ll make a call and ask. I feel like it was Luo Datou doing this on his own. Old Mr. Yun, though he has a quirky temper, wouldn’t trouble a child."

After saying this, Mr. Yang called the Yun Mansion. The call was answered by Luo Datou. "Luo Datou, our Ah Nan is timid and can’t withstand being tormented by you. Don’t scare her into illness."

"Hahaha, I think she’s quite brave. Right now, she’s having a grand time with Mr. Yun. Little girl, come here and speak to your family so they won’t think I’ve done anything to you!"

Then, a tender voice came through, "Grandpa Yang, Granny Xiang, Daddy, Brother Xin Hua, Brother He, I’m fine here. Grandpa Yun, General Luo, and Granny Niu have been treating me really well. I’ll stay for a few days and then come back, so you don’t need to worry."

Hearing Tian Sisi sound like she was alright, Tian Xinhua finally felt relieved, but his heart still hung in suspense. Without seeing Ah Nan in person, he couldn’t truly be at ease.

Yun Mansion

Mr. Yun was indeed interested in Tian Sisi, but he had no intention of keeping someone else’s child. Who would have thought that Datou, the brute, would come up with such a foolish idea? He thought he could just decide to keep her as if she were a doll.

Thinking this, Mr. Yun couldn’t help but give Luo Datou a displeased look. Luo Datou wasn’t bothered; his skin was thick, and a few glares from his master wouldn’t make him lose any flesh. Besides, he did it for his master’s well-being. It had been years since his master took interest in something, and naturally, he had to make his master happy. In the end, Luo Datou treated Tian Sisi as nothing but a toy.

In just these few minutes, Tian Sisi had thought a lot. Judging by Mr. Yun’s demeanor, he seemed to like her since she felt no ill intent from him. With no malice, she had nothing to fear.

The little girl stared at Mr. Yun with her pitch-black, round eyes, her bangs puffily curled in front of her, looking exactly like a doll. Exactly like one! Mr. Yun’s expression became trance-like again as he remembered his younger sister who used to look just like this.

"Brother, from now on, don’t smile at outsiders. If you smile, only smile at me, okay?!"

"Why can’t I smile at outsiders?"

"Because when Brother smiles, you look just like a vixen, definitely capable of stealing people’s souls away, haha!"

...

"Grandpa Yun, Grandpa Yun, what’s wrong?" Tian Sisi noticed Mr. Yun zoning out just like before and hurriedly spoke.

Mr. Yun came to his senses, saw a pair of concerned dark pupils in front of him, and smiled gently, shaking his head slightly. It seems he really was getting old, always thinking of the past and people who were no longer there.

"Are you not afraid?" Mr. Yun deliberately tested her.

"I’m not afraid, Grandpa Yun is a good person, and Grandpa Luo..." Tian Sisi couldn’t bring herself to say in good conscience that Luo Datou was also a good person. Seeing her pause, Luo Datou coughed heavily a few times. Tian Sisi shivered and quickly said: "Grandpa Luo is not a bad person."

Upon hearing this, Luo Datou laughed contentedly, showing his shiny gold teeth. The little girl had some discernment, knowing that he, Luo Datou, was not a bad person. Luo Datou always considered himself the best of the good people in the world, with no one better than him, except for the teacher, of course.

Mr. Yun couldn’t help but laugh out loud; this little girl was sly and crafty, just like his sister, cunning as a little fox.

"Ah Nan, is it? I heard your Daddy call you that." Mr. Yun said warmly, and Tian Sisi nodded her head.

At this moment, a middle-aged woman who had been preparing tea brought over a plate of steaming pastries — square, date-colored treats emanating a sweet and moist date aroma.

"Mr. Yun, Ah Nan, come try some red dates cake. They’ve just been steamed. Eat them while they’re hot." Luo Datou’s wife, Niu Erniu, called out with a smile.

Mr. Yun said with a smile: "Ah Nan, eat more. Your Granny Niu’s cooking skills have been passed down through the family. They used to be made for the princes and princesses."

Hearing this, Tian Sisi hurriedly picked up a piece and started eating. She had been hungry for a while now. Ever since she had been vaccinated, she would get hungry quickly and needed to eat several meals a day.

"It’s delicious!"

Tian Sisi took a bite of the hot cake, savoring the fresh fragrance that melted in her mouth. Indeed worthy of a royal pastry chef — the craftsmanship was truly exceptional, making an ordinary red dates cake taste better than any other cake she had tried in her past life.

"If it’s delicious, eat more. We don’t have much, but there’s plenty of cakes," Niu Erniu said, grinning widely. At this moment, she really bore a resemblance to Luo Datou as a couple.

Mr. Yun also ate a few pieces of red dates cake. Because his body was constantly cold, Niu Erniu often made red dates cake for him as snacks, although it had little effect. But now he was feeling much better, at least to the extent that he could experience the intense summers of Beijing.

Speaking of which, he ought to thank the father of this little girl in front of him. Thinking of this, Mr. Yun’s gaze softened even more, with a gentle smile as he watched Tian Sisi enjoying the cake.