“Hey, little one, where are your parents?” Bai Ling’s voice was sweet. Shan Shan had already recovered from her brief dizziness only her forehead was still a bit red. Looking at Bai Ling, whose appearance had completely changed, she smiled with crescent-shaped eyes. “Sister Bai Ling is my parent!”
Bai Ling, who had just been favorably impressed by Shan Shan’s good looks: “?”
She immediately became alert. “Little one, you can’t say things like that casually, and you shouldn’t be running around either. Where are your mom and dad? I’ll take you back.”
The child looked about three or four years old an age that was a bit tricky. Logically, at 23, Bai Ling shouldn’t have a child that old… but it wasn’t impossible either.
What if some paparazzi caught this and misunderstood?
The last actor rumored to have an illegitimate child had been shaken by the scandal for quite a while. She definitely didn’t want that kind of gossip. And for female celebrities, getting caught up in this sort of rumor could damage their reputation even more than it would for male celebrities.
“Are you trying to send me away, big sister?” Shan Shan pouted, but she didn’t cry like she had when Yin Kairui rejected her before.
Having experienced rejection once, she wasn’t surprised at all this time.
“…I’m just taking you back. What do you mean ‘sending you away’?” Bai Ling felt a headache coming on.
Shan Shan’s eyes darted around, then she suddenly said, “I bumped into you, and it must’ve hurt, right? Tell me where you live, and I’ll have my brother take me to buy you a gift to apologize!”
Wouldn’t that give her another chance to meet her?
“Your brother brought you out?” Bai Ling was surprised. “Your parents are okay with that?”
“I don’t have parents,” Shan Shan said casually.
But in that instant, Bai Ling’s expression softened with sympathy. Her tone gentled. “You don’t need to apologize. Today was just an accident. What floor does your brother live on? I’ll take you back.”
“Don’t you like me, big sister?” Shan Shan instinctively acted spoiled, tugging at Bai Ling’s clothes, looking dejected. “I can go back by myself. You don’t have to take me.”
Although she had been startled at first, who wouldn’t like a well-behaved, adorable child?
The situation with Yin Kairui had been an exception Shan Shan had been too emotional at the time. Now, Bai Ling didn’t notice the child’s little schemes at all; she only felt that the dejected little girl was pitiful.
She sighed inwardly, unable to resist, and reached out to pinch Shan Shan’s cheek before taking her hand. “Come on, I’ll take you back.”
Shan Shan obediently let herself be led, thoughtfully noticing a faint trace of dark energy above Bai Ling’s head.
Eighth floor.
After Shan Shan ran out, Yin Kairui had almost chased after her, but Qin Hangxuan stopped him.
Standing by the balcony door, Qin Hangxuan said, “You can stay upstairs and keep an eye on whether she leaves. I’ll go out and look for her.”
If they both ran downstairs, it wouldn’t be appropriate.
Suppressing his anxiety, Yin Kairui nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Qin.”
Qin Hangxuan didn’t know where Shan Shan had gone. If she hadn’t left the building and still hadn’t come back, they’d probably have to check the surveillance later. But for now…
He took out three ancient coins, tossed them casually, and caught them, looking slightly surprised yet still followed the divination result.
So when Shan Shan and Bai Ling arrived on the eighth floor and the elevator doors opened, the first person Shan Shan saw was Qin Hangxuan.
“Big brother!” Shan Shan greeted cheerfully, her voice bright and lively.
“So you do know how to come back. Your brother was worried sick,” Qin Hangxuan said helplessly, then nodded politely to Bai Ling. “Thank you for bringing her back. She didn’t cause you any trouble, did she?”
“No,” Bai Ling shook her head, then added with slight dissatisfaction, “She’s still little and likes to wander. You should watch her carefully and teach her properly. It was lucky she ran into me this time what if next time she meets a bad person?”
Qin Hangxuan accepted the scolding good-naturedly. “You’re right. I’ll pay more attention in the future.”
Only then did Bai Ling ask, “Where are you staying? I said I’d take her back.”
“Room 834,” Qin Hangxuan replied.
So Bai Ling walked Shan Shan all the way to the door.
Qin Hangxuan took out the keycard, opened the door, and invited, “Would you like to come in for some water?”
“No, thanks.” Bai Ling was still cautious she wouldn’t enter the room of someone she didn’t know. She nodded politely and said to Shan Shan, “I’ll head back now.”
“Okay, big sister. Get some rest,” Shan Shan waved obediently.
Bai Ling patted her head. “You too.”
Then she nodded to Qin Hangxuan and left.
Before leaving, she vaguely noticed someone sitting on the balcony, but she wasn’t curious enough to dwell on it. She simply hurried back to her own room on the twelfth floor.
After she left, Qin Hangxuan chuckled and asked Shan Shan, “So, were you out there trying to scam someone?”
Shan Shan didn’t understand what that meant. She was more concerned about something else. Tugging at his sleeve, she asked, “Big brother, does Sister Bai Ling have that black curse on her?”
“You think curses are that easy to place?” Qin Hangxuan tapped her forehead, annoyed. “She’s just been having bad luck lately. At most, she’s a bit unlucky there’s no curse.”
“Ohhh.” Shan Shan nodded.
No wonder she had first found Brother Narcissus Sister Bai Ling’s situation was much better than his had been!
But did that mean things here were almost resolved? Then she could start preparing to go help Bai Ling!
She remembered Bai Ling had also been very unlucky and bullied by others.
As Shan Shan was thinking, Qin Hangxuan grew curious. “What are you thinking about?”
“Going to find big sister,” Shan Shan answered honestly.
Qin Hangxuan laughed. “Oh? You’re just going to ignore your brother?”
“Isn’t he better now?” Shan Shan tilted her head, counting on her fingers. “He didn’t get hurt, he won’t be unlucky anymore, and he knows who the bad guys are. But big sister doesn’t! She’ll be bullied!”
Her logic was clear, leaving Qin Hangxuan momentarily stunned. “But Mr. Yin is your guardian, isn’t he?”
“I’m not officially his yet,” Shan Shan said, raising her hand. “Just temporary!”
If it had been before, Yin Kairui would have happily let her go.
But now, hearing that she wanted to leave made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
Listening to her constantly talk about “big sister,” he snorted coldly. “Go if you want. No one’s stopping you.”
Shan Shan immediately sensed his anger. She ran over on her short legs and hugged his leg. “Big brother, don’t be mad. I’ll come back to keep you company!”
Yin Kairui, who had just started to feel a bit better: “…”
His face darkened, and he closed his eyes. “I’m going to rest.”
Shan Shan climbed onto his lap. “I’ll keep you company.”
He instinctively steadied her, though his expression remained cold.
Even with his eyes closed, he still felt irritated.
But then he thought she couldn’t leave unless she had a guardian anyway. Besides, kids were naturally drawn to good-looking people. As an adult, he should be more tolerant of a child’s fleeting affections.
Convincing himself of this, Yin Kairui gradually calmed down.
When he opened his eyes again, he realized Shan Shan had fallen asleep on him.
Her small face rested sideways against his chest, her cheeks soft and slightly plump from eating well, her lips slightly parted. Her tiny body rose and fell with each breath. Sunlight illuminated half her face, highlighting the fine fuzz on her skin, like the most delicate peach.
Almost unconsciously, Yin Kairui reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
Realizing what he’d just done, he felt a flicker of embarrassment.
Luckily, she slept soundly just smacked her lips slightly without waking.
Watching her sleep, Yin Kairui gradually drifted off as well.
They slept for three or four hours. When he woke up, Shan Shan was already in the living room watching cartoons.
After a day in the sun, Yin Kairui felt strength slowly returning to his limbs.
When he checked his pocket, he found the talisman inside had turned into powder again.
“That’s about it for you,” Qin Hangxuan waved his hand. “I’ll leave you a few more talismans. I’m heading out tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Master Qin,” Yin Kairui said politely.
That night, Qin Hangxuan still stayed over. Yin Kairui was still easily drowsy, but he could now help Shan Shan apply medicine and wash up.
Later that night, Xiao Liu returned.
He handed over a card. Yin Kairui passed it to Qin Hangxuan. “This is your payment.”
It wasn’t a small amount five million.
Qin Hangxuan hesitated. “It wasn’t just my effort this time.”
“I know. This is just for you.”
At that, Qin Hangxuan accepted it.
With the matter settled, he prepared to leave and report Shan Shan’s situation not to bring more people to persuade her, but so that others wouldn’t make things difficult for her in the future.
But just as he was about to go, he saw Xiao Liu hand a phone to Shan Shan.
“Shan Shan, Brother Yin had me buy this for you. If you ever want to find him, you can call him.”
Qin Hangxuan’s eyes lit up. He crouched down with a smile. “Shan Shan, let’s exchange phone numbers, okay?”
“Okay!” she agreed immediately.
He used her phone to call himself, saved her number, and stored his own in her phone.
Now her contact list had only four people: Yin Kairui, Xiao Liu, Wen Yiting, and the overly friendly Qin Hangxuan.
Still not reassured, Qin Hangxuan asked, “Do you know which one is my number?”
“That one.” Though she couldn’t read, her memory was excellent.
She pointed it out correctly.
Thinking she could read, Qin Hangxuan praised her, “Shan Shan is amazing.”
Satisfied, he left.
Yin Kairui then beckoned her. “Do you know which one is mine?”
“No,” she shook her head.
“You can’t read?”
Shan Shan actually recognized some characters but they were traditional ones, and not many.
After all, who would teach a mountain spirit child to read?
“I can’t,” she said.
Yin Kairui muttered, “…She really should go to kindergarten.”
“What’s kindergarten?” Shan Shan asked blankly.
Xiao Liu smiled. “It’s a place where lots of kids play together. Do you want to go?”
“No.” She refused instantly.
“Why not?”
“Because I have to find my brothers and sisters.”
“Haven’t you already found them?” Xiao Liu was confused.
She shook her head. “There are still some I haven’t found.”
“Alright, Xiao Liu, teach her our names first,” Yin Kairui interrupted, slightly displeased.
So Xiao Liu began teaching her simple characters.
After one round, he said, “It’s okay if you don’t remember. We’ll practice every day.”
“I remember!” Shan Shan blinked.
She recited every name correctly.
Xiao Liu was stunned.
Was this kind of memory normal for a child?
A prodigy?
Even Yin Kairui was surprised. He handed her a tablet. “Come on, let’s learn more characters.”
“Okay!” she said obediently.
That day, Yin Kairui returned to filming, bringing Shan Shan along.
The moment they arrived on set, Shan Shan spotted Bai Ling. Her eyes lit up, and she let go of Xiao Liu’s hand, running toward her.
“Sister Bai Ling!”