Li Mocheng brought little Wanwan into his courtyard and immediately took out some chocolates, feeding her two pieces.
These chocolates had been brought back by a friend from overseas; a box only contained ten pieces. Previously, when the fourth and sixth brothers asked for some, Li Mocheng hadn’t given them a single piece.
If they knew that Wanwan had eaten two at once, they would have drooled for sure.
Li Mocheng sat down by the bed, watching her small, puffed-up mouth as she ate, like a tiny hamster hiding food, feeling relaxed and amused. Unconsciously, he fiddled with the two small pigtails on her head.
Noticing his presence, Wanwan’s eyes curved into crescents, and in her baby voice, she invited him to play blocks together.
“Big Brother, here, build with Wanwan!”
Li Mocheng looked at the blocks set in front of them—these were toys he had kept from his childhood as mementos, never expecting they would be used today.
Still, he felt that these boyish toys might not suit Wanwan; girls might prefer dolls or similar toys.
“Wanwan, how about Big Brother takes you for a stroll?”
“What’s a stroll?” Sometimes Wanwan didn’t understand adult words, and a few strands of confusion appeared in her wide eyes.
Li Mocheng smiled and explained, “It means taking you out to the street. There’s lots of delicious food and fun things.”
As a three-year-old, Wanwan immediately dropped the blocks and agreed once she heard there would be food and fun.
“Yay! Wanwan wants to stroll with Big Brother!”
Li Mocheng laughed and picked her up. Considering the street might not be safe, he brought two teams of bodyguards to ensure her safety before leaving.
…
The streets of Port City in 1985 were a blend of old and new, bustling with everyday life.
High-rise buildings were tightly packed. Neon signs of tea restaurants and media shops overlapped, red, yellow, and green lights reflecting off the wet asphalt.
Li Mocheng, dressed in a sharp suit, stepped out of the car first. His cold, proud aura drew the attention of passersby, many stopping to look.
Born as a favored child of fate, Li Mocheng was used to being the center of attention. But today, with little Wanwan with him, he waited for the bodyguards to clear the crowd before reaching out a hand from the car.
“Come, Wanwan, slow down.”
Wanwan stepped in her little shoes, waddling to the seat, grabbed Li Mocheng’s large hand, and was lifted out by him.
Instantly, the bright pink of her dress stood out against his black suit, making him even more noticeable.
“You must remain vigilant at all times and ensure the little miss’s safety,” Li Mocheng ordered the bodyguards.
“All right!” they responded in unison.
“Big Brother, what’s that?” Wanwan raised her little hand, pointing forward.
Li Mocheng followed her gaze to a small metal stall where an elderly woman was skewering fish balls with bamboo sticks. They sizzled in a small pot of oil, the white mist carrying the aroma of curry.
“That’s fish balls. Do you want some, Wanwan?”
Wanwan’s eyes lit up, nodding rapidly like a chick pecking at grain. “Wanwan wants delicious food!”
“All right, little foodie, Big Brother will have someone get it for you,” Li Mocheng said, fondly pinching her small cheeks. The feel of her was so soft he couldn’t get enough.
He sent a bodyguard to buy fish balls while taking her into a toy store.
“Wow, Big Brother, look! So many fun things!” Wanwan danced excitedly in the store, unable to stay still in his arms.
Li Mocheng set her down and called over a sales assistant. “Anything my little sister likes, wrap it up.”
“Yes, sir.” The assistant was surprised at the large age difference, never expecting them to be siblings. Seeing their proper attire and bodyguards, it was clear they were wealthy from Port City, so he hurried to attend to them.
Wanwan stopped in front of a wooden shelf reaching from floor to ceiling. The bottom row had metal frogs that could jump half a meter when wound up. The middle rows displayed neatly arranged plastic figures, including a few dolls in red dresses and some imported mecha figures from country R.
Li Mocheng lifted her to see the upper shelves, having the sales assistant explain each doll and asking, “Wanwan, do you like it?”
Every time, Wanwan nodded with a simple smile, excitedly saying, “Wanwan likes it!”
Li Mocheng signaled the assistant to record it.
Soon, they finished shopping in the toy store. The assistant rushed to wrap up the toys while Li Mocheng left one bodyguard behind to wait, then checked out and left with Wanwan.
“Young Master, the fish balls are ready, as you instructed,” the bodyguard said.
Li Mocheng took the skewers, feeding Wanwan little bites at a time.
She eagerly ate each piece, quickly filling her small mouth, her round eyes squinting in happiness, her little nose twitching as she sniffed his hand, like a greedy little foodie, making Li Mocheng laugh.
“Take your time, don’t choke.”
“Big Brother, the fish balls are yummy! Big Brother eat too!” Wanwan pushed the remaining skewers toward him.
Li Mocheng shook his head, looking at her oily little mouth, and had a bodyguard take a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe it clean.
…
Li Mocheng played with Wanwan until nightfall before returning home.
Zhang Nan had been waiting anxiously and hurried out upon hearing the noise.
Then she saw—
Dozens of bodyguards carrying either toy boxes or shopping bags from the main gate, filing in.
“Fifth Madam, these are all gifts from the Young Master for the little miss. Where should we put them?”
Zhang Nan was bewildered. Li Mocheng had said he was just taking Wanwan to his courtyard, yet they returned with so many things. She had seen these brands while strolling with the First Madam and knew they were expensive, not to be placed carelessly.
“Then put them in Wanwan’s room.”
Before coming to Port City, Li Lixuan had prepared a room in the courtyard for his stepdaughter. But Wanwan had been staying with the Old Madam and had never used the new room.
As the bodyguards placed the items inside, Li Mocheng, carrying Wanwan, arrived and, seeing the state of the room, held her hand back that he had been about to return to Zhang Nan.
“The little sister can’t stay here yet. Once it’s ready, I’ll send her over.”
“Then will she stay with the Old Madam tonight?” Zhang Nan asked, concerned, since Wanwan was her daughter.
Li Mocheng was about to nod, then reconsidered and shook his head.
“Grandpa and Grandma are likely already resting. Tonight she’ll stay in my courtyard with my mother.”
“This… I’m her mother, shouldn’t she stay with me?” Zhang Nan hesitated, unfamiliar with the First Madam, and didn’t want to cause trouble, so she suggested keeping Wanwan.
Li Mocheng noticed the ambiguity and turned his head, his tone low and serious: “Fifth Mother, are you implying my mother is not Wanwan’s mother?”