The Old Madam couldn’t help but laugh at little Wanwan’s innocent words, gently pressing her face against hers.
“Of course! My Wanwan is so adorable—how could they not like her?”
Soon, the servants brought over her meal. The Old Madam instinctively picked up the spoon to feed her personally.
Unexpectedly, the little girl shook her head like a tiny adult: “Mommy says Wanwan is a good girl. Good girls eat by themselves.”
“Oh? Wanwan wants to eat by herself?” The Old Madam handed her the spoon.
Wanwan carefully held it in her small hand, scooping up a bite of rice. Her movements were slow, but not a single grain fell. She ate everything neatly.
The Old Madam thought of the mischievous boys at home—always demanding, always fussing—compared to this little girl, who was far easier to manage.
Her heart softened immediately; she decided to spoil Wanwan more in the future. After all, girls should be raised with care.
After Wanwan finished eating, the Old Madam called two servants from the courtyard, selecting two gentle and attentive ones to take care of the little girl’s daily needs.
One was surnamed Wang, the other Liu, both around forty. Wanwan called them Wang Ma and Liu Ma.
“All right. I’m going to rest for a bit. You two take Wanwan outside to play. Be careful, don’t let her get hurt,” the Old Madam instructed.
“Yes!” they answered excitedly, like protectors of a treasure, following Wanwan closely.
Li Moying, however, did not leave the courtyard. He stood with his arms folded under the old elm tree, the shadows dappled across his handsome face. The young man’s cold gaze, like a solitary nightingale in the dark, fixed on the little girl in the pink dress.
Wanwan had brought some grains from Wang Ma to feed the birds by the tree. Today, the tree was quiet, except for a nest of baby sparrows, softly calling for their mother.
“Third Brother!” Wanwan spotted Li Moying under the tree, her little mouth curved into a smile as she ran toward him.
“Little Miss, slow down! Don’t fall!” The two attentive servants followed closely, protective.
Seeing the “ancestor” Li Moying under the tree, they knew his quirks—his cleanliness, his stubborn temper, and violent tendencies—and rushed to block her path like startled deer.
“Little Miss, let’s just play here. Don’t bother Third Young Master!”
Wanwan’s face was puzzled, blinking innocently.
“But I want to play with Third Brother.”
The two servants, tense as if facing a disaster, tried to pull her back.
Li Moying glanced at her tiny legs, his disdain evident.
“Fine, I’ll carry you—it’ll be faster.”
Wanwan, realizing negotiation was futile, obediently rested on his shoulder, her small hands thoughtfully wiping his sweat.
As she moved, he caught a whiff of the sweet baby scent again. A strange feeling came over him.
Even just holding her, the weight seemed to suppress the terrifying energy inside him.
It seemed his guess was correct—this little girl could give him proper rest.
Li Moying quickened his pace, arriving at the abandoned flower garden of the old mansion. Rarely visited, he had converted it into a secret base, known only to him and Li Mobiang.
Entering, little Wanwan’s eyes lit up instantly. “Wow!” she exclaimed.
Almost all the toys from Li Moying and Li Mobiang’s childhood were stored here. A green swing was set up with climbing vines; in summer, the lush lawn made the garden vibrant.
The garden also had a basketball hoop, a billiard table, and all sorts of sports equipment. In the center was a large swimming pond. Calling this the boys’ paradise wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Li Moying set Wanwan down, letting her play freely while he rested briefly on the swing frame.
The relaxed feeling faded, leaving only fatigue—no sleepiness remained.
“Third Brother, look at the big ball!”
Wanwan clumsily picked up a large round ball from the frame, struggling to carry it toward Li Moying.
But after a few steps, the ball slipped and rolled away.
She hurried after it, panting. Just as she caught up, it slipped again.
Determined, she chased after it repeatedly.
Watching the tiny bundle chase the ball further and further, Li Moying’s rare expression of exasperation appeared.
Rising, he blocked the ball with his long legs.
In the next moment, Wanwan, eager to catch the ball, tripped on a stone and fell!
Her previously clean little face was now smudged with black dirt, making Li Moying’s temples throb—his cleanliness truly tested.
“Silly little one, you’ve really beaten me!”
“Little Miss, Third Young Master doesn’t like noise. We’ll play with you—be good and listen,” the servants coaxed.
“Stop right there.”
At that moment, the boy’s deep voice echoed from under the tree.
The two servants broke into a cold sweat, having already tried to pull her away. Could this “ancestor” really be causing trouble?
“Come here,” Li Moying commanded softly.
The servants looked at each other; neither dared to step forward.
Little Wanwan, however, wriggled free and dashed to Li Moying.
“Third Brother!”
She reached him and hugged his leg tightly.
The servants’ eyes nearly popped out in shock!
“Little Miss…”
They had braced themselves for her to be pushed away or hurt.
But nothing of the sort happened.
Li Moying’s expression remained cool, his gaze icy like a rakshasa, yet he simply looked at her, not avoiding her touch.
“What do you want to play?” he asked.
Wanwan held out her chubby little hand, filled with grains she had asked the servants for.
“I want to feed the birds in the tree, but they’ve all flown away!”
Li Moying’s brows nearly pinched a fly. His cleanliness made him hate anything furry or feathery. Naturally, his aura of intimidation left no living creature around him.
“I’ll play something else with you.”
He lifted Wanwan from the ground, his cold gaze falling on the servants behind her. A warning: “You’re not coming along.”
“But… the Old Madam told us to take care of Little Miss,” Wang Ma said reluctantly.
Li Moying replied: “No need.”
Turning, he carried Wanwan away, aloof and unyielding.
The two servants, worried sick, dared not disobey.
…
Little Wanwan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, for Third Brother had brought her to an unfamiliar place.
She didn’t know where it was, only that they had walked far, the sun setting, sweat running down his forehead, trailing to his chin.
Seeing him so exhausted, she adorably suggested:
“Third Brother, can Wanwan…?”