“And the other one… what does that mean?” Liu Xiao’s body stiffened, feeling as if the child in her arms had suddenly turned into a stone, weighing down her arms until she couldn’t move.
Liu Rui quickly took the child and placed him on the sofa, looking at Qi Yuqiu. “What do we do now?”
Even though Jia Jia was no longer hysterical, it wasn’t acceptable for him to remain in this dazed state forever!
As Liu Xiao sat on the sofa, Jia Jia immediately crawled over and clung to her. Her body rigid, she said, “Mr. Qi, you can… deal with the remaining one, right?”
Qi Yuqiu nodded. “Of course, but I don’t want to harm it.”
“Why?” Liu Rui took an anxious step forward, his composure slipping. If Qi Yuqiu didn’t want to handle it, what would happen to his son?
Qi Yuqiu looked at Liu Xiao. “Have you been experiencing a lot of bad luck lately, feeling mentally exhausted, and frequently losing things for no reason?”
Liu Xiao was taken aback. Thinking back, she realized she had indeed been unlucky recently—two luxury endorsements had been snatched away, and she had missed out on a major film by a renowned director due to trivial matters. Moreover, she had been feeling extremely tired lately, which was why she had turned down some work to return home and rest for a while.
Qi Yuqiu continued, “Did your mother-in-law give you something to carry with you at all times?”
Liu Xiao thought for a moment and was startled. She reached into her collar and pulled out a pendant—a translucent, emerald-green Buddha statue made of what appeared to be top-grade jadeite. “She gave it to me a month ago for my birthday, saying it would bring good fortune and that I should carry it with me.”
As soon as she said this, Liu Xiao realized that her streak of bad luck had started a month ago. It seemed this pendant was definitely involved.
“What is this?” Liu Xiao pulled off the pendant and handed it to Qi Yuqiu.
Qi Yuqiu took the pendant and pinched it in the middle with his fingers, breaking it in two. Only then did Liu Xiao and Liu Rui notice that the pendant was hollow, containing a tiny green insect. The insect was the same color as the jadeite, its body translucent and nearly invisible unless examined closely.
“Your mother-in-law probably thought the luck from a child alone wasn’t enough, so she targeted you as well.” Qi Yuqiu took out a talisman, lit it, and burned the small insect to ashes.
Liu Xiao couldn’t help but grit her teeth. She had always believed in family harmony and had done her utmost for Liu Rui’s mother, bringing her gifts every time she returned from a trip. It seemed the woman’s heart was truly made of stone.
“But what does this have to do with Jia Jia?” Liu Rui asked, now completely numb to anything related to his mother.
Qi Yuqiu glanced at the child, who was giggling and burrowing into Liu Xiao’s arms, and said to her, “Without him, you wouldn’t have lived past ten days.”
Liu Xiao understood his meaning and looked down at Jia Jia. “Why did you save me?”
Jia Jia grinned, reaching out to touch her face, his eyes sparkling.
“Probably because he loves you very much,” Qi Yuqiu said.
“Loves me?” Liu Xiao was puzzled. Many people claimed to love her, but who would love her to this extent?
Qi Yuqiu sat beside the child and ruffled his hair. “He loves you very much, and he also loves his younger brother. That’s why, when someone tried to harm his brother, he took over his brother’s body to shield him from the disaster. And that’s why he wanted you to stay away from his grandmother and not drink the soup she made.”
“…Younger brother?”
“Yes, he is Jia Jia’s older brother, a child who passed away before he could even be born.” Qi Yuqiu looked into Liu Xiao’s eyes. “Even so, he still wants to protect his mother and younger brother.”
Liu Xiao released her arms from around Jia Jia. Gazing at Jia Jia’s face, which wore a foolish smile, she remembered the child she had been forced to abort for the sake of her career.
Three years ago, she had just started dating Liu Rui. Their relationship wasn’t public yet, and she had just landed a very important role. There was simply no environment suitable for having a child, so she had no choice but to painfully give up the child who had come at the wrong time.
Liu Rui knelt in front of the sofa, his hands trembling as he gently touched the child’s face. The little boy nuzzled affectionately against his palm, looking up at him with a giggle, mouth opening as if trying to say something, but no words came out.
Liu Xiao covered her face and began to cry. She had wronged this child—the one she hadn’t been able to give life to, the one she hadn’t been able to love even for a single day.
“What should we do?” Liu Xiao sobbed. Both were her children. She had carried Jia Jia for ten months, pouring all her love into him. The other child, whom she had harmed, still guarded them. She simply couldn’t bring herself to ask Qi Yuqiu to take him away.
Liu Rui held his son’s chubby little hand and whispered, “We’ve wronged him. If there’s any way to make amends, we’ll do whatever it takes.”
Qi Yuqiu shook his head. “There’s no chance anymore. It’s not that I don’t want to save Jia Jia—it’s just unnecessary. This child has lingered for too long. To save you, he has lost any chance of reincarnation. He might completely vanish in just a few days.”
“So, don’t worry about Jia Jia. He’ll return to normal soon.”
Liu Xiao hadn’t expected this outcome. She hugged Jia Jia tightly and choked out, “Mom is so sorry!”
Qi Yuqiu shook his head again. Too many things in life—by the time regret sets in, it’s already too late.
He didn’t stay any longer. After bidding farewell to the couple, he called Liu Hao to come pick him up.
Liu Rui saw him to the door. After Qi Yuqiu left, Liu Rui watched the car drive away, then tightened his grip on something in his hand and went back inside.
Every cause has its effect, every action its consequence. As long as one is willing to pay a sufficient price, some things still leave room for regret.
On the way back, Qi Yuqiu received a bank transfer notification. He paid it no mind, instead taking out a carefully wrapped yellow talisman. The other day, when he had returned home to pack his things, he had encountered Cheng Qi, who wanted to Borrow Luck from Min Yu. After beating him up, Qi Yuqiu had used Cheng Qi’s hair to cast this talisman.
This talisman could sense anyone who came into close contact with Cheng Qi. If someone in contact with him showed any abnormalities, the yellow talisman in Qi Yuqiu’s hand would react, allowing him to track down the mastermind behind it all.
Unfortunately, after all this time, there had been no reaction at all. Although the method Liu Rui’s mother used to Borrow Luck was much gentler and completely different from Cheng Qi’s approach, Qi Yuqiu knew it had to be the work of the same person.
That Cheng Qi was probably lying in a hospital bed by now. He would surely seek out that mage in the coming days. Qi Yuqiu tucked the talisman into an inner pocket, his eyes darkening.
By the time he returned home, the sky had completely darkened, and a light drizzle had begun outside. As Qi Yuqiu entered the courtyard, he saw a figure holding an umbrella, standing before the fountain in the center.
“You’re back?” The figure turned around—it was Min Yu. His hair was damp and plastered to his forehead, and in the misty haze, his eyes seemed even more profound.
Qi Yuqiu ducked under his umbrella and looked up at him. “What were you doing standing outside?”
They were standing extremely close. Qi Yuqiu could even see a tiny, tiny mole on Min Yu’s earlobe. Out of habit, he leaned in for a closer look, but his chin bumped against Min Yu’s shoulder.
Min Yu chuckled softly, his breath brushing against Qi Yuqiu’s ear. Qi Yuqiu quickly steadied himself by holding onto Min Yu’s arm.
“It’s raining—aren’t you afraid of getting soaked standing outside?” Qi Yuqiu grabbed Min Yu’s arm and realized his shirt was completely drenched.
Min Yu tilted the umbrella forward, shielding Qi Yuqiu completely. “It’s fine. Let’s go inside.”
Once inside, Uncle Liu was waiting anxiously with a large bath towel. Seeing Min Yu enter, he immediately draped the towel over him. “Go take a hot shower right away. I’ve asked the kitchen to prepare ginger brown sugar water. Drink a bowl after you’re done to avoid catching a cold.”
Min Yu glanced at Qi Yuqiu. “Bring him a bowl first. I’ll be down soon.”
“Alright, alright. Hurry up and go.” Uncle Liu waved him upstairs.
Qi Yuqiu was led by Uncle Liu to the small dining room. Soon after, Auntie brought over a bowl of soup that emitted a strange smell.
Uncle Liu touched the edge of the porcelain bowl and looked at him kindly. “Xiao Qi, drink it while it’s hot. You can’t afford to catch a cold now. This ginger brown sugar water is good for your health.”
As he spoke, Uncle Liu firmly placed the spoon in his hand.
Qi Yuqiu stared at the ginger brown sugar water in horror. He was hardly a picky eater—sweet, salty, sour, or spicy, he could handle it all. But the one thing he couldn’t stand was the taste of ginger brown sugar water. In the past, he’d rather drink bitter medicine when he fell ill than touch this stuff.
It really smelled awful!
“Hurry up and drink it. It’s most effective when it’s hot.” Uncle Liu stood beside him, urging him earnestly.
Qi Yuqiu scooped a spoonful, pinched his nose, and poured it into his mouth. He grimaced as he swallowed, then took a deep breath and looked pitifully at Uncle Liu. “I drank it.”
Uncle Liu smiled. “You silly child, you have to finish it for it to work.”
“One sip is enough, really. My body is very strong.” Qi Yuqiu made a last-ditch effort—he truly couldn’t stand the taste.
Just then, a piece of candy was suddenly placed in his mouth. Qi Yuqiu savored it—so sweet!
He turned around to see Min Yu standing behind him in a bathrobe. Though his face was expressionless, his eyes held a hint of amusement. “Sweet?”
Qi Yuqiu nodded, mumbling, “Pretty sweet.”
Then he quickly stood up and pulled Min Yu to a chair. “You were just out in the rain. Hurry up and drink a bowl of ginger brown sugar water to warm up. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Min Yu looked at the brown sugar water on the table, gave him a half-smile, picked up the bowl, and downed the ginger brown sugar water in one go. Seeing not a drop left in the bowl, Qi Yuqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Uncle Liu took the bowl to the kitchen and asked the housekeeper to serve dinner.
After dinner, Min Yu went to the study, while Qi Yuqiu stayed in the living room with Uncle Liu to watch TV.
Qi Yuqiu asked Uncle Liu, “What was Min Yu doing outside earlier?”
Uncle Liu looked at him, hesitating to speak. Finally, he sighed and said, “He’s in a bad mood on rainy days. Keep him company more. Xiao Yu doesn’t like to talk much, but it’s clear he’s quite fond of you.”
Qi Yuqiu didn’t know where Uncle Liu could tell that Min Yu liked him, but he still went to the study to find Min Yu as Uncle Liu had said.
He stood in front of the study door, knocked, and a deep voice came from inside: “Come in.”
Pushing the door open, he saw that the room was not lit, pitch black. A flash of lightning outside the window illuminated the figure sitting at the desk.
Qi Yuqiu fumbled to turn on the light. When he looked up again, Min Yu had already opened his computer, calmly looking at the screen, seemingly genuinely focused on handling work.
Uncle Liu lied to him, Qi Yuqiu thought to himself.