Zhang Nan knew the rules in Port City: in a big family, a man’s legal wife was considered the legitimate mother of all the children.
Even a biological mother who wanted to personally care for her child had to get the consent of the legal mother.
Li Mocheng’s words made her face pale. Flustered, she shook her head, then quickly nodded again, realizing something was off.
“Of course, Madam is Wanwan’s mother. I’m just worried about troubling her.”
Li Mocheng’s expression softened, understanding that she was the child’s real mother and that her concern was natural.
He reassured her, “Fifth Mother, don’t worry. All the brothers in the family grew up under her care. She will treat Wanwan as her own as well.”
With that, Li Mocheng carried little Wanwan and left.
Although Wanwan felt a bit reluctant to leave her mother, her grandmother had already explained the rules:
Young children in the house, before they grow up, must listen to the eldest mother. And the eldest mother was Big Brother’s mother, so she also had to listen to Big Brother.
Once her mother’s figure disappeared, Wanwan quietly rested her head on Li Mocheng’s shoulder.
Li Mocheng felt her small body gradually soften and slowed his pace. He glanced down: the little one had closed her eyes, curling up into a ball, her tiny hands under her chin as a pillow. Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered slightly with her breath, looking just like a chubby little kitten. Her innocent, sweet sleeping pose melted his heart.
He adjusted his hold, placing his arm as a pillow so she could sleep more comfortably.
Soon, he returned to his courtyard with Wanwan. Originally, he had planned to take her to his mother, but thinking of their day together, he felt reluctant.
He reasoned that since his younger brothers had stayed here as children, it would be fine for Wanwan to stay a night.
So Li Mocheng decisively took his little sister to his own room.
…
The sun rose in the east. When Li Mocheng opened his eyes, he saw that Wanwan was already awake. Even without anyone to care for her, she hadn’t cried or fussed and had dressed herself.
While combing her hair, she struggled with the two small pigtails on top of her head, turning red-faced, pausing for a breath, and then continuing her fight with the stubborn hair.
Li Mocheng was almost overwhelmed by her cuteness and asked, “Do you want me to help you?”
“Good morning, Big Brother,” Wanwan said with a small smile.
Li Mocheng smelled the sweet milky scent and instinctively kissed her forehead.
“Good morning, Wanwan,” he said.
He naturally took the comb from her hand, first removing the small elastics, gently smoothing her messy hair. He thought it would be simple, but it turned out quite difficult.
However, Li Mocheng wasn’t one to be defeated by difficulty. After a few tries, he finally managed to secure her pigtails.
Though still not as neat as Grandma would do, he could improve next time.
“All done,” he said, picking up a mirror for Wanwan to check.
Seeing her nod in satisfaction, he felt a huge sense of accomplishment.
…
After breakfast, Li Mocheng took Wanwan for a walk around his courtyard to help digest.
Seeing that it was nearly time for work, his assistant came to hurry him, but Li Mocheng still felt uneasy about yesterday’s accident.
He squatted down and called, “Wanwan.”
The little girl immediately ran to him, full of the sweet milky scent, and jumped into his arms.
“Big Brother, Wanwan’s here!”
Li Mocheng stroked her hair and asked gently, “Wanwan, Big Brother has to go to work soon, is that okay?”
Wanwan looked into Big Brother’s handsome eyes, remembering that he had bought her many fun and tasty things yesterday, along with lots of pretty dresses, feeling a bit reluctant to let him go.
Yet she understood that Big Brother was busy and couldn’t stay with her every day.
So she nodded obediently and said in her baby voice, “Big Brother go ahead, Wanwan will wait at home.”
Meaning he could go to work and return safely at night.
With her consent, Li Mocheng ruffled her pigtails. Just then, a servant from the Old Madam’s courtyard arrived, and he handed Wanwan over.
Before leaving, he sternly instructed, “Take good care of the little miss.”
“Yes,” the servant replied.
…
After Li Mocheng left, Wanwan was taken to the Old Madam’s courtyard.
The Old Madam frowned when she saw the crooked, wind-tousled pigtails on her head.
“Ah Zhen really hasn’t raised a girl before. She doesn’t even know how to comb Wanwan’s hair!”
Song Zhenzhen, usually kind to servants, allowed them to speak up in her favor.
“Madam, little miss stayed in Young Master’s room last night. This hair must have been done by him.”
“Did you say Mocheng?” The Old Madam’s frown deepened.
“That clumsy boy… you expect him to take good care of Wanwan? Oh, my little treasure suffered at Big Brother’s place, didn’t she?”
The Old Madam tenderly held Wanwan on her lap and instructed a servant to fetch a comb.
After tidying the two pigtails, she ordered, “Go get the gold hairpins from my dowry chest.”
“Yes.”
Soon, the servant returned with the gold pins, and the Old Madam carefully combed Wanwan’s hair again, attaching the pins.
Looking at her well-dressed little granddaughter, she smiled proudly.
“Look at our Wanwan, so pretty now.”
“Grandma, my head hurts,” Wanwan complained, frowning and scratching, causing her scalp to redden slightly.
The Old Madam, concerned, removed the pins and scolded the servant, “See? You should have been gentler. You made my granddaughter’s head hurt!”
The servant, embarrassed, said, “Yes, I’ll get lighter ones for her.”
After a busy morning, the Old Madam finally found suitable hairpins: two small golden bells, perfectly decorating Wanwan’s pigtails, making her look like a little fairy, lively and cute.
Taking advantage of the cool morning, the Old Madam instructed a servant to take Wanwan to the garden to play so she wouldn’t get restless indoors.
The servant brought Wanwan under a large tree, set out some toys, and gave her plenty of space to play while staying cool.
Just as she was enjoying herself, a handsome man in a pink shirt with a gentle smile appeared behind her.
Li Mobiang (Second Brother) lightly cleared his throat to avoid startling the little girl.
Wanwan turned her head, first seeing a pair of long legs. Thinking it was Big Brother, she was about to call out. Following the legs upward, she saw a fair, handsome face.
She immediately recognized him and chirped, “Second Brother?”
“Oh, little one, you still remember me?” The usual fake smile on Li Mobiang’s face softened into genuine warmth.
Wanwan’s eyes were pure and bright, reflecting him as if seeing something wonderful.
“I remember because Second Brother is the prettiest!”
Li Mobiang coughed awkwardly. He had always disliked being called “pretty,” feeling it was a slight against his masculinity.
Yet hearing it from the little one gave him an unexpected boost of confidence.
He instinctively stretched out his hands and asked, “Can Second Brother hug you?”