CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: HOW COULD OTHERS BE THE SAME AS YOU

Xiao Bai’s eyes reddened, but the surrounding people thought she was crying out of grievance, and they became at a loss.

"Are you hurt too?" Gu You squeezed out these words after holding back for a long time, startling the children’s faces to change.

Xiao Bai shook her head, "I’m not hurt, I’m just worried about Ah Jie..."

Just then, Eldest Aunt Gu came out looking for her, hearing her words mixed with sobs, her heart melted into a puddle. She squatted down, embraced her, patted her back gently, and said softly, "Good child, you were frightened today as well. It’s quite chaotic here; let Eldest Aunt take you to your room to sleep for a while, okay?"

Xiao Bai hurriedly shook her head again, "No! I’m not leaving!"

In truth, she wasn’t so worried about Tang Jiaojiao. Tang Jiaojiao was already safe now; the danger was to her little ancestor.

What if she left and the Gu Family took their anger out on the servants who went out today?

Eldest Aunt Gu, unaware of the truth, was touched and praised her several times as a "good child," before leading her into the house.

Inside, Tang Jiaojiao had already been moved to the embrace of the Eldest Princess Ji, listening with reddened eyes to Doctor Feng’s words.

"...Some injury... no harm, just need to..."

No harm, that’s good.

Xiao Bai let out a sigh of relief.

Miss Tang is beautiful and sweet-voiced, and she’d be reluctant for her to be hurt anywhere.

The mood of the Eldest Princess Ji also stabilized a bit, patting the girl in her arms while gritting her teeth and saying, "That Zhao brat, I will definitely not let him go!"

Tang Jiaojiao replied with a "hm," and after searching the crowd for a moment, fixed her eyes on Xiao Bai and waved, "Xiao Bai, come here!" Her voice was still hoarse, uncertain if from injury or crying.

Xiao Bai silently stepped forward, looking at the deep red marks around her snow-white neck, and called, "Ah Jie."

Tang Jiaojiao extended her hand to her, palm open.

The delicate palm was full of marks, left from when she clenched it tightly.

"Look! It’s all from your grabbing!" Miss Tang spoke to her with the usual exasperation, "Why grab? Don’t you know to run when encountering bad people?"

Xiao Bai pursed her lips, looking at her, her eyes starting to well up again.

Miss Tang glared at her once, then turned to the Gu Family, saying, "The few who went out today, I left them at the alley entrance, not letting them follow, although not observant, they don’t need to be sold off, just dock a few months’ wages!"

The Gu Family looked with tearful eyes at Xiao Bai and whispered, "Okay..."

...

Li Mu stood outside Vermilion Pavilion; what Tang Jiaojiao was saying in her room he couldn’t hear much, only a few uncontrolled shouts.

Including that one phrase from Lady Yan of the Gu Family to Miss Tang.

He squeezed his palm, suppressing his inner turmoil.

Recalling how this little girl, clearly younger than him, always pacified him, he thought to comfort her kindly when she came out.

She liked him so much; hearing him should make her feel better...

After a good while, he finally saw the tired-looking Miss Tang walk out of Vermilion Pavilion.

Li Mu was about to speak when Ah Yuan beside him greeted first, with a concerned tone, "Second Miss—"

Today’s ordeal really wore Xiao Bai out.

But seeing Ah Yuan approach with concern, she still gave him a smile.

Ah Yuan spoke earnestly, "Second Miss was unflinching today, wise and courageous, Ah Yuan finds you very impressive."

Xiao Bai blushed with embarrassment from the praise, "What could you see outside the alley? You’re just flattering me!"

Ah Yuan said awkwardly, "Second Miss didn’t do anything wrong; Second Miss is a good child... a good person!"

Xiao Bai felt his comfort, couldn’t help but smile gently, "Thank you, Ah Yuan."

Ah Yuan immediately seemed electrified, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her.

He’s a cute child himself!

"Everyone’s tired today, you go back first—" Xiao Bai was saying with a smile when her eyes met Qin Xiao’s, and she hesitated.

Her little ancestor’s face was frosty, handsome eyes icy, lips tightly pursed.

Who made him unhappy again?

Xiao Bai thought for a bit, figuring she wasn’t in the mood to pacify him either, and continued, "You all go rest; come to the bamboo grove by the hour for studies."

Studies are still very important.

After she finished speaking, Ah Yuan obediently agreed, while the little ancestor kept his lips pursed without uttering a word.

Xiao Bai raised her eyebrows at him.

If he doesn’t speak, she’ll leave!

"I have something to report." The little ancestor finally spoke up.

Being the ancestor she had found herself, Xiao Bai still gave him some face—

...

"What is it?" Back at Bright Moon Building, Xiao Bai left Ah Xiao alone.

He hesitated for a long while, then dryly asked, "Are you okay?"

Xiao Bai was taken aback, "I’m fine... weren’t you the one who had something to say?"

Li Mu choked again.

He originally heard how she got scolded by Lady Yan and assumed she’d be upset, planning comforting words in his mind for quite a while.

But who would’ve thought Ah Yuan jumped in and said it all before him.

He’s not that good with words either; suddenly, he didn’t know what to say.

Watching someone else struggle can be a bit amusing.

Xiao Bai stood by observing for a while, just as she was about to find a place to sit and continue watching, the hesitant young lad moved.

He lifted his hand, awkwardly reached out and lightly patted the top of her head.

Just once.

Then he withdrew his hand.

Afraid he hadn’t hidden enough, he tucked his hand behind him, eyes shifty, pale handsome face flushing suspiciously red.

Xiao Bai blinked, pursing her lips to stifle a laugh, but joy so filled her heart it still brimmed from her brows, eyes, and lips.

Li Mu felt somewhat embarrassed, "What are you laughing at?"

The little girl laughed till her eyes almost disappeared, "Ah Xiao comforting me makes me happy!"

Li Mu kept a straight face, "Didn’t Second Miss already get cheered up by Ah Yuan just now?"

She burst out laughing, "But now I’m even happier!"

Li Mu looked at her for a while, finally couldn’t help but curl up the corners of his mouth.

She slid in closer with a beaming expression, asking, "Doesn’t Ah Xiao have something to say to comfort me?"

Mentally touching on that, Li Mu wasn’t very happy, "Didn’t Second Miss hear it all from Ah Yuan?" He had never comforted anyone before, and those were all he could think of.

"What someone else says and what Ah Xiao says aren’t the same?" The little girl tugged at his sleeve with a smile, "I want to hear Ah Xiao say it!"

Li Mu felt half his body became numb from her tugging.

He had always interacted with people much older than him, and Tang was the first little girl he’d encountered.

Always so soft and warm; even such a simple sentence, when coming from her, seemed honeyed, making it impossible to refuse.

Say it then.

He cleared his throat lightly, "Second Miss today... very good." Not wanting to repeat Ah Yuan’s words, he squeezed out just these.

Upon finishing, seeing that the little girl was still looking at him eagerly, as if urging him to continue.

Li Mu stiffened, "That’s all!"

"Hahahahaha..." The little girl burst into laughter, sliding down his sleeve.

Li Mu raised his hand to support her, and the swaying little girl bumped into his arms.