At first light, Jiang Jingxing climbed out of bed.
He looked toward Yinian Hall, longing written plainly across his face—yet he did not dare go over. His sister had cried the entire night yesterday. She might have been frightened by him.
Thinking of Madam Sun’s fury, he instinctively hunched his shoulders and shivered.
These days, his grandmother had grown more irritable with each passing day.
Youxi came in carrying a food box and called him to eat.
Youxi had been assigned to him by his father. He had been by Jiang Jingxing’s side for as long as he could remember. Though only ten years old, he was already stronger than most adults—and accordingly, his appetite far exceeded that of a grown man.
Every time Madam Sun saw him eating, she would scold, “A starving ghost reborn.”
Jiang Jingxing had little appetite. He picked at the bland morning meal, taking a bite here and there.
Suddenly, his ears twitched.
“Did you hear that?” he asked.
Youxi lifted his head from his bowl and listened for a moment. “Sounds like a peddler.”
A street peddler, carrying his goods on a shoulder pole, called out as he walked through the lanes. His voice was clear and ringing—this trade depended entirely on a good voice, one that could draw out young girls, married women, and mischievous boys alike.
Jiang Jingxing fished copper coins out of his pouch, pushed open the back door, and ran into the alley.
Youxi froze for a moment, then hurried after him with his bowl still in hand.
The alley behind the official residence was shaded by lush trees, wide enough for three people to walk abreast. It lay beyond the county yamen’s auxiliary buildings; at the end of the lane was the main street.
The peddler was crouched by his box, searching for goods. Around him clustered a ring of children—eight or nine at least.
Most were about Jiang Jingxing’s age.
A slightly older boy—seven or eight—was distributing the sweets they had just bought.
One of them spotted Jiang Jingxing and pointed. All the children turned to look.
The oldest boy waved. “Jiang Jingxing, over here!”
Jiang Jingxing hesitated.
It wasn’t that he didn’t recognize them.
The official residence lay east of the county yamen. It was not Jiang Yan’s private home, but the working and living quarters of subordinate officials. The children here were all sons of officials.
The oldest boy was Zhang Kang, son of the Registrar and Jiang Jingxing’s neighbor.
But in the past, this group—led by Zhang Kang—had almost never associated with him. When Jiang Jingxing first moved here, he had tried to approach them, only to be rejected.
This was the first time Zhang Kang had spoken to him voluntarily—without adults present.
Jiang Jingxing glanced at Youxi.
Youxi’s cheeks were puffed out, his bowl of bean rice—once piled high—already reduced to less than half. Diligent at every meal, strong, and solidly built, he looked fourteen or fifteen rather than ten.
With Youxi beside him, Jiang Jingxing did not fear being taken advantage of.
He stepped forward.
Zhang Kang handed him a piece of candy. “Here.”
Jiang Jingxing didn’t take it. He eyed him suspiciously.
“We’re not even friends. Why are you giving me candy?”
Zhang Kang didn’t bother answering. He tore off the wrapper and shoved it straight into Jiang Jingxing’s mouth.
Sweetness spread across his tongue.
By the time he reacted, Zhang Kang already had an arm slung over his shoulder.
“We weren’t before. Now we are. You’ve eaten my candy.”
He grinned.
“Take us to your house to play. I don’t have lessons today—perfect time to go see your little sister.”
A month ago, Zhang Kang had seen Miss Player once during the Third Day Bath Rite.
Like everyone present, he hadn’t recovered his voice until she was carried away.
Since then, he had told everyone he met how beautiful the Jiang family’s baby girl was.
None of them believed him.
“She’s my sister,” Jiang Jingxing snapped.
He wasn’t stupid.
He wouldn’t casually bring people to see her.
More importantly—
He no longer had the right to see her himself, let alone bring others along.
“Newborn babies are all ugly,” one child said. “My big sister, second sister, and little brother all looked like monkeys when they were born. I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a good-looking baby.”
Another chimed in agreement.
Not everyone had attended the Jiang family banquet.
Jiang Jingxing stamped his foot in anger.
“My sister is beautiful!”
The first boy looked him up and down.
“You look pretty average. How beautiful could your sister be?”
Jiang Jingxing flushed with rage.
“Just you wait—I’ll prove it! My sister is the most beautiful baby in the world!”
Without even buying candy, he shot back toward Yinian Hall like a cannonball.
He peeked inside.
The door was wide open. No maids were in sight.
On the canopy bed, Madam Sun lay asleep, snoring softly.
The cradle swayed gently.
Inside lay Miss Player—adorably perfect.
Joy surged through him.
He yanked the bowl from Youxi’s hands and set it on the ground.
“Still eating? Stop! Let’s go in quietly. You carry the cradle.”
Youxi swallowed his mouthful of rice and nodded.
Jiang Jingxing hesitated, then added seriously, “Hold it steady. Don’t let go.”
When Miss Player woke—
Before she even opened her eyes, she felt something wrong with her breathing.
What is Madam Sun doing?
Did she pull the blanket over my face?
She opened her eyes—
And saw faces.
A crowd of faces, filling her entire field of vision.
“Look!”
“She opened her eyes!”
“Her eyes are so round!”
“Can I touch her?”
Jiang Jingxing, who had been standing proudly with his hands on his hips, glared.
“Your hands are filthy. Don’t touch my sister.”
The boy looked down at his hands.
They were indeed dirty.
He didn’t dare touch her—but his eyes were glued to her.
“She’s not even crying. So well-behaved.”
A chubby boy leaned in, his voice unconsciously softening.
Miss Player let out a silent scoff.
Ladies’ tears are a precious weapon.
Wasting them on a bunch of brats would be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
She quickly assessed the situation.
Jiang Jingxing had stolen her out to show off.
It reminded her of a news story—
A primary school student selling his one-month-old sister at a flea market.
Highly illegal.
“Wow—she smiled at me!”
“She smiled at me!”
The children started arguing.
Miss Player scanned their faces, matching them to future memories.
The Principal Clerk’s illegitimate son. The tutor’s nephew. The constable’s younger brother.
Mostly R-tier characters.
She had seen them often in her previous run.
Let them finish looking and return me quickly, she thought.
Zhang Kang, at least, retained some sense.
“You took your sister out like this—won’t your family beat you?”
Jiang Jingxing had never been beaten in his life.
“Youxi, take the cradle to the crossroads. Hide there—it’ll be harder to find us.”
Zhang Kang: “……”
He had thought Jiang Jingxing had informed his family.
Youxi carried the cradle to the intersection.
Beyond it lay the bustling street.
A towering banyan tree cast deep shade, enveloping the children clustered around the cradle, their eyes fixed on Miss Player.
Even Jiang Jingxing, who saw her every day, could not resist her charm.
No one noticed—
A pair of eyes watching them from the shadows.
By all logic, this street—so close to the county yamen, in broad daylight—should have been safe.
Even if criminals lurked, they would not dare act here.
Several attendants were present. Including Youxi, there were effectively four near-adult servants—enough to deter ill intent.
But the moment the man glimpsed Miss Player—
His heart began pounding.
Such a beautiful child could fetch a fortune.
Sell just one—and he could retire for life.
He was a trafficker.
He specialized in abducting children of wealthy families. He rarely targeted officials’ children—but not never.
He had never failed.
And today—
He had two accomplices with him.
What else could this be, if not a windfall from heaven?
“Has your sister been named?” Zhang Kang asked.
“No formal name yet. Her nickname is Youyou.”
“Youyou… like the call of a deer. That’s beautiful…”
A voice interrupted them.
“Excuse me, young gentlemen—could you tell me how to get to Anju Eatery?”
Zhang Kang looked up, annoyed.
A kindly-looking old woman approached, leaning on a cane. Beside her was a girl of about ten, dull-eyed, slack-jawed, drool hanging from her lips—clearly slow-witted.
They looked pitiful.
“Go straight ahead,” Zhang Kang said. “After two streets, ask again.”
The old woman thanked him and began to leave—
Then suddenly—
She cried out and collapsed.
“Help! My chest—take me to a physician!”
The children rushed forward.
“Quick—help her!”
Two attendants hurried over, lifting her up and taking her toward the nearest clinic.
The children followed in a swarm.
Left behind at the crossroads were—
Jiang Jingxing, Zhang Kang, Zhang Kang’s servant, Youxi—
And Miss Player.
Jiang Jingxing frowned at the drooling girl.
“Why did you leave her here?”
Zhang Kang said to his servant, “Go home and bring a maid.”
The girl clearly couldn’t understand instructions.
It would be improper for men to handle her.
The servant left.
Miss Player watched coldly.
Half their people had just been removed.
Too fast.
Too deliberate.
She could only babble—she had no way to warn them.
And then—
She recognized the old woman.
In her previous run, at age ten, she had stumbled upon a trafficking case.
The mastermind—
Had been that same “old woman.”
A master of disguise from a martial sect.
Known as Hundred Face Fourth.
Not a real old woman.
And now—
He had set his sights on her.
The “foolish” girl beside them—
Was no fool.
Right on cue—
The girl attacked.
Her movements were swift as wind.
She grabbed the cradle, pulling it toward herself—
But it did not move.
Youxi held it firmly.
“What are you doing?!” Jiang Jingxing shouted.
Zhang Kang rushed forward—but was kicked away, flying several meters before collapsing unconscious.
Jiang Jingxing opened his mouth to scream—
A large hand clamped over it.
Behind him stood a tall man—one he had never even noticed approaching.
“Thud—”
The dagger plunged into Youxi’s abdomen.
He clenched his teeth.
He did not let go.
The girl panicked.
“Help me!”
The tall man dragged Jiang Jingxing forward, locking his arm around Youxi’s neck.
Within seconds, Youxi’s eyes bulged with blood, his consciousness fading—
Yet he still thought of his young master.
With sheer willpower, he forced his weakening body to move—his elbow slamming into the man behind him.
The man grunted in pain.
Jiang Jingxing broke free—
And ran.
“Help! They’re stealing a child!”
Miss Player sighed inwardly.
My Morality really is that low…
I get carried out of the house by a brat—and end up in a street kidnapping.
She had no intention of dying beautifully in this run.
She looked at the girl holding the cradle—
And smiled.
The girl froze.
So did her accomplice.
For a split second—
They forgot to chase.
By the time they snapped back—
Jiang Jingxing had already drawn the attention of two passing villagers carrying goods.
One set down his load and stepped forward with a shoulder pole.
The other began shouting—
“Help! Someone help!”