Mianmian threw off her blanket, climbed out of bed, and dashed out barefoot, with Xiao Hong running after her, holding her shoes.
“Miss Mianmian… slow down! Put on your shoes first!”
But Mianmian ignored the shoes. She searched the house everywhere for Qin Yunchuan, but there was no sign of him.
She stopped and checked her kid’s smartwatch. Qin Yunchuan’s phone was unreachable.
Panic filled her little heart.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Miss, it’s so cold—how can you be barefoot? Hurry, put on shoes and socks!”
The butler and Xiao Hong chased after her.
Mianmian flung herself into the butler’s arms. “Grandpa Butler… where’s my big brother? Why can’t I reach him? He never ignores my calls… did something happen to big brother?”
Holding Mianmian, the maid helped her put on socks and shoes. The butler smiled and said, “The young master went to discuss a cooperation. He’ll be back once he’s done. Miss, why don’t we stay home and wait for him?”
Is that really true?
Mianmian felt uncertain. Xiao Hong carried her back to the living room.
Breakfast was ready.
The butler and Xiao Hong exchanged glances—they only needed to take good care of Miss Mianmian.
Nothing else should be revealed.
“Grandpa Butler, I want to see big brother. After breakfast, will you take me to him?”
She couldn’t rest without seeing him.
The butler hesitated. Mianmian didn’t notice.
“Miss, the young master is very busy today. He’ll be back tomorrow. Before leaving, he specifically told me to make sure you stay at home and wait. He’ll bring you a gift when he returns.”
The butler made up another reason, sweating under the pressure of lying to this innocent, fully trusting little miss.
Mianmian pouted.
“Fine… I’ll wait at home for big brother to come back.”
Xiao Hong and the butler exchanged relieved glances—thankfully, she didn’t press further.
Mianmian was still worried about Qin Yunchuan—had he been poisoned? But no, it was just work.
She could relax a little. Now she had to quickly find the rare medicinal herbs!
[Silly child, they’re lying. Qin Yunchuan isn’t at work.]
Mianmian ate hurriedly, then jumped down from her chair and ran to a tall cabinet. She looked up and asked, “Sister Narcissus, please tell me—where did big brother go?”
[Plum Garden. In the past three years, your brother went there three times. Every time he came back injured. Mianmian, I’m sorry, that’s all I know.]
Mianmian shook her head. “You’ve helped me a lot, Sister Narcissus. Thank you.”
She whispered to the flower pot. The butler and Xiao Hong frowned.
Was this some pre-breakfast ritual?
“Miss… miss…” the butler called softly, bringing her back to the table.
Her bright eyes scanned the room, noticing how the two adults were hiding the truth. Qin Yunchuan’s phone being unreachable clearly meant they didn’t want her to know.
After breakfast, she said, “Grandpa Butler, I want to take Kitty to see Dr. Gu Xu to exchange medicine.”
“Alright. Xiao Hong will accompany you, Miss!”
“No. Kitty and Dr. Gu will play together. I don’t want anyone else.”
Thinking it would be troublesome with more people, the butler agreed and arranged a driver to take Mianmian.
Mianmian hugged the little tabby into the car. Waving goodbye, she said in her high-pitched voice, “Driver, I want to go to Plum Garden.”
“Ah? Miss… the butler said to take you to Dr. Gu’s clinic.”
“No! I want to go to Plum Garden to find big brother first! Thank you, driver. I’ll give you a raise!”
“You flatter me, Miss. I’ll turn the car around.” The driver was new, but in this household, the master’s command was law. Listening to Miss Mianmian was never wrong.
Mianmian felt anxious. Something might happen. She didn’t even know what Plum Garden was—this was the first time she’d heard of it!
When they arrived, Mianmian got out. Before her was a traditional Chinese estate, nestled by mountains and water, quiet and serene.
Clutching the little tabby, she pushed open the heavy “General’s Gate.” The estate was enormous, with pavilions, towers, corridors, and layered courtyards—intricate and easy to get lost in for someone unfamiliar.
Even in winter, its beauty shone.
“Why are there no plum trees here?” Mianmian looked around curiously, expecting a whole garden of plum blossoms.
[No plums in a wife cake either.]
“小 kitty is so clever.”
The little tabby remained silent, exasperated. Mianmian looked at it expectantly.
Seeking praise, she blinked, then blinked again. The cat sighed in cat language.
Her little master, if it won’t spoil her, who will?
[Mianmian praises me? I’m so happy! So happy!] The tabby rolled on its back, showing off.
Satisfied, Mianmian hugged the cat’s head and stepped forward.
Passing by, she noticed someone approaching. She quickly hid by a corner.
“The master’s meal, I’ll deliver it myself.”
One carried the meal; the other went elsewhere.
Suspicion filled Mianmian’s eyes.
The master?
The estate’s owner?
Could he be the one bullying big brother? Mianmian hurried, carefully following.
She wanted to see who dared to mistreat her big brother!
Her short legs slowed her down, but she didn’t get lost. She waited until the person delivering food left, then crept inside.
It was a Buddhist Hall. A golden Buddha statue stood inside. One person knelt straight before it.
Mianmian stepped into the hall. A cold, commanding voice said, “Out!”
She shivered. So stern… she wondered if she shouldn’t have come.
[Mianmian, you’re scared.]
“I’m not scared! Not scared!”
The man turned sharply. A striking, mature, heroic face came into view.
“Uncle… so handsome!”
[Mianmian, when will you stop being a fangirl? Now’s not the time.]
She had never seen anyone so handsome—but… why did his face seem familiar?
She couldn’t place it.
“Whose child, are you? Who let you in?” The man’s face was dark, eyes cold.
Mianmian, oblivious to danger, replied innocently, “Uncle, your door was open. I just pushed it, and I came in.”
“….” His brows furrowed. Coldly, he said, “Get out immediately. This is not a place to play.”
“No! No!”
She came here to find big brother—how could she leave? She spun her little brain wildly as the man’s impatience grew.