The night was hazy, shrouded in silence.
Feng Yuan lay on his grandfather’s large bed, curled on his side with chubby hands and feet tucked in. From behind, he looked just like a plump little gas cylinder.
He hadn’t bathed.
Li Heng sat nearby, with no intention of waking him for a bath.
There was a three-hour time difference here compared to back home. It was deep into the night in the country, but here it was already nearing dawn.
It was too late. It was unsuitable to rouse the little one again.
When Li Heng had stayed at Li Sheng’s villa, though he hadn’t personally cared for Feng Yuan, he had still seen how the child was looked after.
His gaze lingered on Feng Yuan’s plump little body for a few seconds before his fingers once more fiddled with his phone.
The number of his first contact lit up on the screen. He tapped it lightly, but in the end, he did not press to call.
After a long time.
He set the phone down, went to wash up, and then returned to bed.
On the bed, Feng Yuan had already shifted from his earlier little gas cylinder posture into a new one.
He stuck out his chubby little bottom, his dough-like face pressed into the pillow, squeezing out plump, tender baby fat.
Li Heng raised his hand and pinched his cheek.
After that, grandfather and grandson both drifted off to sleep.
Only two hours passed before light appeared outside the window.
Li Heng opened his eyes and checked the time.
He had originally meant to get up, but somehow, Feng Yuan’s chubby little body had wriggled into his arms.
Li Heng was held tightly by him.
With Feng Yuan clinging like this, it wasn’t easy for Li Heng to get out of bed.
So, with eyes half-closed, he stayed and rested a little longer.
After about another two hours.
Feng Yuan rolled out of Li Heng’s arms and snuggled against the wall to sleep on his own.
At last, Li Heng could get up.
After getting up, washing, and dressing, he went to the dining room for breakfast.
Li An stayed by his side and asked, “Sir, about the young master’s training…”
“We’ll talk about it tonight.”
Li Heng’s tone was calm. After finishing breakfast, he went out.
Though he was already getting on in years, there was still quite a lot of business he had to handle.
His children had not fully taken over his enterprises, nor were they willing to take them all on.
So, he still had work to do.
Feng Yuan was left at home.
Before leaving, Li Heng handed Li Cheng a list.
Li Cheng was Li An’s son and now the butler of the Li family. As for Li An, the old butler, he should have already retired.
But he couldn’t set his mind at ease about Li Heng, so he continued to follow closely at his side.
After Li Heng and Li An left, the younger butler, Li Cheng, holding the list, first headed to the kitchen.
“Take note of the recipes that young master Yuan Yuan likes.”
Aside from the arrangements in the kitchen, Li Cheng also had to set up other things.
For example, Feng Yuan’s new room, new clothes, and playroom.
These were things that every Li family child had.
In the old residence, everything concerning Feng Yuan’s food, clothing, living, and daily needs was being arranged in full detail.
Meanwhile, the little cub Feng Yuan slept straight through until after nine, nearly ten, before finally sitting up in bed.
“Dad!”
Just waking up, the cub was a little dazed. Half-asleep, he called out for his dad.
When there was no response, it took him a few moments to remember. He had come home with Grandpa.
So, rubbing his eyes, he called again: “Grandpa!”
But Grandpa didn’t answer him either.
Just as the cub, unable to find anyone, was about to climb out of bed, Li Cheng entered, dressed in a suit with a gentle, gentlemanly air, leading a few servants inside.
“Good morning, young master.”
The servants greeted Feng Yuan, then stepped forward to attend to him.
They brought his clothes and shoes, intending to help him get dressed.
But Feng Yuan didn’t let them.
“Where’s my grandpa?”
“Young master, the master has gone out. Before he left, he instructed us to take good care of you.”
Hearing that Grandpa had left, Feng Yuan puffed up his chubby cheeks, looking a little unhappy.
He sat cross-legged on the bed with his plump little legs, refusing to get down.
He used his smartwatch to call Grandpa. The call rang only once before it was picked up.
At that moment.
Li Heng, sitting in a conference room, gestured for a pause to the crowd.
Seated at the head, under the nearly breathless gazes of everyone present, he answered the call.
On the other end of the line, a soft, milky little voice was calling out for Grandpa.
His face, usually cold and severe, seemed to ease somewhat upon hearing that tender voice.
In a low tone, he asked, “Awake? Hungry?”
Feng Yuan had, in fact, woken up from hunger.
“So hungry, Grandpa! Where did you go? Why didn’t you take Yuan Yuan with you!”
“I’m at work. I’ll be back tonight.”
Li Heng explained his schedule, then added, “I’ll come back a little earlier this evening.”
Feng Yuan went quiet.
It was still morning. There was a long time to wait until evening!
Thinking about how long it would be before he could see Grandpa again, Feng Yuan sniffled. “Yuan Yuan’s all alone at home. I’m scared.”
Li Heng: “…”
Li Heng’s face tightened.
He suppressed the urge to rush back immediately and soothed the little cub on the phone: “Don’t be afraid, that’s your home.”
“At home, you can do whatever you want. Oh, and there are pets in the back garden. After you’ve eaten, you can have Li Cheng take you to see them.”
“What kind of pets?”
“You’ll know once you go look.”
Li Heng didn’t tell him directly. Instead, he left him with a bit of suspense.
The call went on for over ten minutes.
After Feng Yuan finished pitifully complaining about Grandpa not being at home, his lively little head quickly shifted topics, chattering about other things to Grandpa.
And to everything he said, Li Heng responded one by one.
When the call finally ended.
Feng Yuan was in better spirits. He climbed down from the bed.
“Yuan Yuan will dress himself. No need for you to do it.”
Feng Yuan only liked letting family help him dress.
He didn’t want to be waited on by these servants in front of him.
Feng Yuan picked up his own little clothes and dressed himself carefully.
He didn’t notice how, ever since he started that phone call, the people before him had been utterly stunned.
Who in the Li household didn’t know that the old master was strict and cold? Aside from the old madam and the old butler, everyone in the family, young and old alike, was fearful of him.
Yet this little cub here could actually talk to the old master like that.
Over the phone, he had openly complained that Grandpa wasn’t at home, didn’t take him out to play, didn’t eat with him, didn’t change his clothes for him…
The things Feng Yuan had just said to Grandpa were truly beyond anything Li Cheng and the servants had ever expected.
“Yuan Yuan’s all dressed!”
After putting on his clothes, Feng Yuan tilted his little face up, asking sweetly and politely, “Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?”
“There’s one in the master bedroom.”
Li Cheng pointed in the direction of the bathroom. After pointing, he personally led Feng Yuan over.
The bathroom here wasn’t like the one in Li Sheng’s villa, where everything had been remodeled. Feng Yuan was too small. He couldn’t reach the sink, nor could he use the adult toilet.
Li Cheng picked him up and helped him finish both his potty business and washing up.
“Thank you!”
With his little face flushed red, Feng Yuan thanked Li Cheng after being helped.
With Li Cheng’s assistance and company, Feng Yuan grew a bit closer to him.
And after learning that Li Cheng was the new butler, the youngest son of Grandpa Butler, Feng Yuan completely regarded him as one of his own.
The Li family’s old residence was vast.
Feng Yuan had originally wanted to walk around and explore, but Li Cheng stopped him from wandering on foot.
“Young master, there are cars at home. We can ride one to tour around.”
Li Cheng had someone bring over a cartoon sightseeing car. It was practically brand new, hardly used.
The moment Feng Yuan saw the car, his eyes lit up.
“Yuan Yuan wants to ride it!”
Feng Yuan loved riding this kind of car. He had ridden sightseeing cars in malls several times.
But in the mall, a ride costs 30 yuan and only lasts a few minutes.
Now, Grandpa’s house actually had its very own sightseeing car!
Feng Yuan decided that this time, even if his butt got sore from sitting, he wasn’t getting off!
Li Cheng didn’t yet know what he was thinking. Smiling, he simply carried him into the car, then personally drove, taking him on a tour around the old estate.
It was only after going far that Feng Yuan realized the home he lived in was actually this huge.
The endless stretches of greenery and the palace-like buildings made Feng Yuan’s eyes go wide.
Back home, land was as precious as gold.
Even the properties Li Sheng owned were worth an impressive fortune.
But compared to the Li family’s old estate, with its deeper heritage, what Li Sheng had purchased back home was still a step below.
“It’s so big. Is all of this Yuan Yuan’s home?”
Feng Yuan tilted his head, asking Li Cheng.
Li Cheng nodded. “Yes, young master, this is all part of the Li family estate.”
As he drove the sightseeing car, Li Cheng began telling Feng Yuan about the people in the old residence.
“The master and Third Miss—your aunt—are currently living at home.”
“The eldest young master, your uncle, isn’t here. His son, Li Wang, is seven this year. He’s in closed training and hasn’t come out yet. His daughter, Li Si, is staying at her maternal grandfather’s house. Li Wang and Li Si are twins.”
“Your aunt isn’t in good health, so for now, you don’t need to meet her.”
“Mm… what about Grandma?”
“The old madam is in another place, recuperating.”
After Li Cheng finished explaining the situation of everyone at home, Feng Yuan furrowed his brows tightly.
So when you added it all up, in such a big house, it was only him and Grandpa moving about!
But Grandpa had to work and couldn’t stay with him.
Then… then there was no one left for him to play with.
Feng Yuan, who couldn’t bear loneliness the most, turned his eyes, his little head already whirring, making quick little calculations.
“Young master, would you like to see the pets? We’re just about to pass the animal park.”
Feng Yuan: “Yes!”
Feng Yuan really did enjoy looking at animals.
Back when he was scavenging on Huasheng Street, the little brothers he had taken in later on, he and Qin Xun had found adoptive homes for them.
Even Hei Hei, whom Qin Xun had very much wanted to adopt, was taken away by a young lady who cried and begged to keep him.
The young lady said Hei Hei looked exactly like her dog that had died.
She firmly believed Hei Hei was her dog.
At first, Feng Yuan and Qin Xun hadn’t wanted to give Hei Hei to her, seeing how she was treating him as a replacement.
But when Hei Hei saw the young lady crying so hard, he walked over on his own and nuzzled against her.
Hei Hei didn’t want Qin Xun to raise him.
He had chosen this young lady himself.
He barked at Feng Yuan, telling him that Qin Xun didn’t need his companionship—but this young lady did.
With Hei Hei’s insistence, Feng Yuan and Qin Xun could only respect his choice.
But the young lady also promised Feng Yuan that she would often send him videos of Hei Hei in the future.
She even agreed to let him visit.
Thinking about his little brothers, Feng Yuan proudly lifted his round chin, already planning to go and take in a few more.
Soon.
The gates of the animal park opened.
Feng Yuan saw the “pets” being kept inside.
Each and every one of these pets was bigger than him!
He looked up at the giant python coiled on a tree. His little face turned pale.
Turning his head, in the cage next door, a lion was roaring.
Feng Yuan: “…”
The little cub was completely dumbfounded.
He looked at one “pet” scarier than the next, his milky little voice even stammering a bit: “Th-this… this is a pet?”
“Yes. They belong to Young Miss Si’er. She loves them very much.”
“This time, she went to her grandfather Robert’s house just to bring back a lizard.”
Feng Yuan: “!”
At the word lizard, his milky voice trembled: “B-big sister… when is big sister coming back?”
“I’m not sure. Likely soon. She still has to return for classes. This trip was only because Mr. Robert made repeated calls inviting her.”
Feng Yuan: “…”
Feng Yuan didn’t want to see any more pets.
He tugged at Li Cheng’s sleeve, having completely lost interest.
“Let’s go. Don’t want to look anymore.”
No longer watching the pets, he sat in the car and continued touring the old residence.
Only after a full two hours did Li Cheng finally drive the car back.
By this time, it was noon. It was time for lunch.
Li Cheng got out of the car first. After stepping down, he looked at Feng Yuan with a smile. “Come, young master, let me carry you down.”
Feng Yuan clutched the sightseeing car’s seat belt and shook his head.
Li Cheng: “?”
Feng Yuan still hadn’t had enough of riding the car. He didn’t want to get off.
“Yuan Yuan doesn’t want to eat. Yuan Yuan wants to ride the car.”
Li Cheng’s smile turned a bit strained. “Young master, we can ride again after eating. You can’t go hungry.”
But Feng Yuan wasn’t very hungry.
He sat firmly in the car seat, refusing to budge, no matter how Li Cheng coaxed him.
In the end, Li Cheng had to report the situation to Li Heng.
Only when the old master personally called did Feng Yuan finally agree to get down.
He had sat in the car for quite a while. His little bottom was sore, but he didn’t tell anyone.
The dining area of the estate was built with elegant refinement.
While eating, Feng Yuan noticed a few servants carrying trays of food, passing behind him as they headed out.
“Where are they going?”
His curiosity brimming, Feng Yuan asked Li Cheng.
Li Cheng hesitated for a moment before replying, “They’re bringing meals to the young miss.”
Feng Yuan knew the “young miss” Li Cheng spoke of was his aunt.
Blinking, he asked in confusion, “Aunt doesn’t even come out to eat?”
Li Cheng vaguely answered, “She doesn’t. Young master, how do you find today’s dishes?”
He deliberately steered the conversation away.
Feng Yuan withdrew his gaze from the servants walking off.
Taking two big bites of rice, he declared, “Delicious!”
The meals at Grandpa’s house were really tasty!
After the meal, Li Cheng accompanied Feng Yuan for a little walk to help digest, then prepared to send him for a nap.
On the surface, Feng Yuan obediently agreed.
But once they returned to the bedroom and Li Cheng left, he secretly slipped out.
He ran off with a clear direction and purpose—
He was going to find his aunt.
At the same time, over at her maternal grandfather’s house, Young Miss of the Li family, Li Si, also received a phone call.
On the other end, she was told that a new little cub had arrived at home.
Holding a lizard in her arms, Li Si’s pair of azure eyes showed not the slightest hint of welcome or kindness upon hearing this news.
She was of mixed blood. Her features bore traces of the Li family, yet her contours were more defined.
She was beautiful, far more so than the delicate dolls displayed in shop windows.
At that moment, the pretty little girl holding the lizard rested her chin against it, and with a mocking tone said: “Ah, another unlucky one has arrived.”
In her and her brother’s training, having one more unlucky little cub to toy with didn’t seem so bad.
Li Si could hardly wait to go back.
Her grandfather’s home was peaceful, but it was also unbearably boring.
He had arranged for her to attend a normal school, hoping she would complete her studies in an ordinary environment.
He had even promised her that, as long as she wished, he would let her stay in that normal school all the way through.
But she wasn’t very willing.
She simply couldn’t fit in with the so-called normal students of that normal school.
Every day, she had to deal with those foolish classmates who relentlessly tried to provoke her. It had already left her weary.
She put down the lizard and went to tell her grandfather about her new plan.
Meanwhile, the little cub who had no idea he had already caught his cousin’s attention had just reached the courtyard where his little aunt lived.
The Li estate was vast, and the place where his little aunt lived alone was also quite large.
Feng Yuan looked at the locked gate and the tall walls. He couldn’t get in at all.
The people who had just brought food had already left.
Feng Yuan walked a circle around the courtyard. He didn’t find anyone, but he did find a hole.
The hole was at the bottom of the wall, hidden under thick, overgrown grass.
He pushed the grass aside, crouched down to test it, and peeked into the hole.
The opening wasn’t very big. Feng Yuan tried squeezing in but got his waist stuck.
Luckily, with a plop, he turned into a little chick and slipped through smoothly.
After passing through as a chick, he turned back again. Since he was going to see his little aunt, he couldn’t go in looking like a chick.
Having successfully entered his aunt’s courtyard, Feng Yuan still felt a little nervous.
He walked forward and saw the meal tray the servants had delivered earlier.
The trays were placed neatly outside, but the food inside hadn’t been touched at all.
Feng Yuan looked at the trays, his chubby little face tightening.
It wasn’t right for Little Aunt to not eat.
He picked up the tray, carrying it with his short little legs, and walked to the door.
Inside the courtyard, there was still a main door.
Only past that main door was the room itself.
Feng Yuan stood at the entrance, pressing his ear against the door to listen carefully.
Maybe the door was too soundproof. He couldn’t hear a thing.
After listening for a while, he gave up.
Both his chubby little hands were holding the meal tray, leaving him no way to knock.
But he had a sturdy little head.
He directly bumped his little head against the door twice.
It hurt a bit.
Sniffling from the pain, Feng Yuan shouted loudly: “Little Aunt, open the door!”
He didn’t want to suddenly expose his identity and catch Little Aunt off guard.
So he quickly added: “I’m a servant!”
Disguised as a little servant, Feng Yuan stood at the door, calling out until his milky voice nearly broke. Finally, footsteps came.
