She had originally wanted to hold it in until she got home. Yan Qiu wanted to let the little one grow a bit more, so that when she brought him back plump and fair, Old Qi and the others would surely adore him. But seeing the changes in her son over the past few days, she truly could not hold back any longer!
Without waiting for Old Qi to speak, she said on her own, "Old Qi, it's really a pity you didn't come. You have no idea—our son had a breakthrough the moment he got here!"
Huaihua Village had been chosen as a filming location because of its beautiful scenery.
One glance and you would see green mountains and clear waters, birdsong and fragrant flowers—simply a paradise on earth. With some embellishment from the production crew, it would become breathtakingly beautiful! Yan Qiu had initially selected it based on photographs and had not come in person.
After coming in person, she decided that during the early filming stages, she would capture more of the rural landscape and farming life. It would be a shame not to film such beautiful scenery—who knew, perhaps in the future it could even be invested in as a tourist attraction.
Being at their level.
Everything they did was on the basis of securing benefits.
But no matter how much they calculated, they never calculated that their son could have a breakthrough in a place like this. "He saved a little girl and treats her with special care. I said a few words, and he immediately became protective. Don't you think this fate is wonderful!"
Qi Heng laughed indulgently. "What's the little girl's family situation like?"
Yan Qiu sighed mournfully. "Apparently her parents both ran off, and no one knows if they're alive or dead. She's been raised in her aunt's home all these years, and the aunt doesn't treat her well—not enough food, not enough warm clothes. When I saw her, her little face was so sallow, she didn't even look like a five-year-old child."
Her brows and eyes were tinged with pity.
Qi Heng knew her thoughts and followed along. "Then let's adopt her."
"That's exactly what I was thinking! We really are kindred spirits!" Yan Qiu faintly heard some murmuring in the background and knew he was in a meeting, so she hurriedly said, "Oh, how many times have I told you—if you're busy, don't pick up my calls."
"You're more important." Qi Heng poured sweet words into her ear.
Yan Qiu's little face flushed red. "So annoying~"
"Alright, alright, I won't disturb you anymore. When you're not busy, I'll show you properly. Even though her little face is sallow, this little girl is truly a beauty. Bring her home and raise her well, and she'll definitely be gorgeous!"
"Okay." Qi Heng chuckled softly.
His voice was full of doting.
Yan Qiu could not help but miss him.
"Ah—"
A scream drew Yan Qiu's attention. She quickly walked over a few steps and found that Jiang Xiaowei had been bitten by a snake! Two small holes oozing blood gave off a chilling coldness. Yan Qiu furrowed her brows. "What happened here!"
"Quick! Where's the private doctor!"
"The private doctor went into town to buy things and isn't here right now!" The assistant director was anxious. "What do we do? Is the snake venomous? How did it get in here? We did a thorough cleanup and surrounded the perimeter with a ring of sulfur!"
Jiang Xiaowei sat slumped on the ground, her little face deathly pale.
Enduring the pain, she explained, "We're in a remote area. There are often small green snakes hiding in the soil that you can't see. I probably accidentally stepped on it when I was walking, which is why it bit me…"
Jiang Xiaowei's body trembled. She had heard that if a snake bites you, even the gods can't save you. Her face was streaked with tears. "Auntie, will I die? Wuwuwu!"
Yan Qiu was frantic with worry. "No, you won't, you won't."
While comforting her, she examined the snakebite and instructed, "Quick, quick, bring the private doctor's medical kit! Find some anti-inflammatory medicine in there!"
"Okay, okay." The assistant director rushed off to get it.
A crowd had gathered around, their hearts filled with worry.
Jiang Xiaowei clutched her dirtied dress. "Auntie, could you help me stand up? My… my dress is dirty again."
"It's fine, it's fine! It's just a dress—if it's dirty, we'll change it!" Yan Qiu had no mind for such trivialities. If Jiang Qingmei found out, there would surely be another confrontation.
If it wasn't venomous, that was fine. But what if it was? What would they do then?
None of them had actually seen whether it was a small green snake!
And the private doctor wasn't here. This was truly a difficult situation.
Jiang Xiaoxiao quietly tugged at Yan Qiu. "Pretty auntie, there are no venomous snakes around here." She was a free-range child—there wasn't a mountain stream or river she hadn't explored.
She knew exactly what was out there.
Last time, she'd been so focused on the radish, trying to fish it out, when the handsome brother pulled her up before she could reach it. She'd thought it was River Uncle and lost her focus, which caused her to choke on the water.
Otherwise, she never would have gotten into trouble.
Jiang Xiaowei wailed heart-wrenchingly, "How do you know it's not a venomous snake? Jiang Xiaoxiao, are you jealous of me? Did you put that snake there on purpose?"
Another bucket of dirty water was thrown her way.
Jiang Xiaoxiao pouted in grievance. "Of course I know. This area is grazing land for cattle and sheep. If there were venomous snakes, there wouldn't be any livestock left by now. I dig for earthworms and catch fish here all the time, and I often pull out little green snakes."
"I've been bitten before too, and nothing ever happened!" Jiang Xiaoxiao spoke with reason and evidence. Jiang Xiaowei naturally knew there couldn't be venomous snakes either.
She just wanted to sling mud at Jiang Xiaoxiao and speak ill of her in front of Qi Jinchen.
That way, Qi Jinchen would come to like her more and more.
She rubbed her eyes with her little hands. "It's you, it's you! You're always doing bad things like this. Every time you do something, you pretend to be innocent and say you don't know anything. The kids in the village can all vouch for it! Wah wah wah…" Jiang Xiaowei embellished wildly, heaping all sorts of fabricated accusations onto Jiang Xiaoxiao.
She waited for Jiang Xiaoxiao to be despised.
But unexpectedly, Qi Jinchen wasn't having it. "I believe what Xiaoxiao says. Jiang Xiaowei, until things are made clear, I hope you won't throw dirt on my Xiaoxiao."
Hearing the words "my Xiaoxiao," Yan Qiu's heart raced with excitement.
She didn't even spare Jiang Xiaowei a glance, staring at Qi Jinchen with burning eyes and nodding. "Achen is right!"
Faced with his own mother's fervent enthusiasm, Qi Jinchen couldn't handle it. He held Little Pudding close. "Come on, let's go rest over there. Don't get mixed up in this, or you'll end up with mud slung on you too."
He loved holding the little one.
Such a tiny bundle, not heavy at all.
Jiang Xiaowei was five, and Jiang Xiaoxiao was five too, but Jiang Xiaoxiao was clearly more petite. He rummaged through his things and found some tasty snacks. "Here, eat more so you can put on some meat."
Her body was skinny and frail—she didn't look healthy.
He'd have to nourish her well in the future, make her plump and fair, soft and chubby. It would feel so nice to hold her!
With that thought, Qi Jinchen was already imagining in his mind how he would raise this little darling. Jiang Xiaowei saw that Qi Jinchen not only didn't despise Jiang Xiaoxiao, but was even carrying her away.
Her heart grew even more aggrieved.
She was the one who got hurt—why did the "culprit" Jiang Xiaoxiao get off scot-free?
The private doctor arrived quickly.
Upon examination, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't worry, it's just a bite from an ordinary little green snake. There's no venom at all. Just a bit of anti-inflammatory to prevent infection, and it'll be fine. It's not a big deal—she can still walk."
Jiang Xiaowei bit her lower lip.
She felt that the gazes cast by the others all carried mockery and disdain.
Her resentment toward Jiang Xiaoxiao for meddling in her affairs only grew stronger!