Facing Li Si’s anger, the butler, who was once again spectating the scene, tactfully retreated a few steps back, without making a single sound.
Li Si was fuming so badly that even when she returned to her room, her little face was still stiff.
Just after finishing a break, Li Wang, who had only turned his computer back on not long ago, saw her puffed up with anger and glanced at her a couple more times.
“What are you looking at me for?”
Li Si, right now unable to breathe smoothly from anger, even snapped at her own elder brother: “Did you come home just to look at your computer? Since you only want to look at your computer, then why not just stay in your dorm?”
Li Wang directly ignored Li Si’s retort.
Although the siblings didn’t have any tender moments between them, they also couldn’t really quarrel and turn against each other.
The reason behind this was greatly connected to Li Wang’s way of not responding to Li Si’s jabs.
After venting her temper a little, Li Si went to a small box and took out a little emerald-green snake, coiling it in her hands.
The little snake’s body was cool to the touch.
Li Si stroked the snake. As she stroked and stroked, her heart finally calmed down somewhat.
Inside the house, Li Si was playing with a snake, while Li Wang was playing on the computer.
Meanwhile outside, Feng Yuan was earnestly reading a book.
He sat cross-legged, his chubby little legs folded up, perched on the car seat.
The book held in his hands was precisely the one taken out from Li Sheng’s bedroom.
To be precise, this book was found by Li Heng.
The book had been placed inside the drawer of the bedside table. In that bedside table, Li Heng had also recognized some adult safety items.
As an elder, discovering such things was, after all, somewhat awkward.
But fortunately, at that time, there was no one else in the room.
Feng Yuan also had his back to him, groping under the mattress.
He quickly took the book away and handed it to Feng Yuan.
Feng Yuan flipped through two pages, though it was unclear whether he understood them or not.
In any case, with his little chubby face serious, he stuffed the book into his schoolbag.
At this moment, while Feng Yuan was reading the book, Li Heng was beside him tidying his schoolbag.
As long as Feng Yuan brought his schoolbag home, there would always be an adult to clean it up for him.
Yet even so, the books in his schoolbag still had dog-eared corners, crumpled and wrinkled, looking like worn-out scraps.
Patiently and carefully, Li Heng smoothed out the folded parts of his book and put them back properly.
“Yuan Yuan, put your books more neatly next time. That way, the books won’t get ruined so easily.”
While tidying, Li Heng casually reminded him.
His reminder was useless.
This kind of reminder, Feng Yuan always lets in one ear and out the other.
The moment he heard the school bell, he was always in such a rush.
The books on the desk—whether textbooks or not—he would just grab them and stuff them straight into his schoolbag, without doing any organizing at all.
After Li Heng finished tidying his schoolbag, he then checked again the other bag he had packed for him, which contained some small clothes and daily necessities.
If, tonight, Frida was willing to let Feng Yuan stay over, then this bag with the daily necessities could be put to use.
While Li Heng was beside him organizing and checking things, Feng Yuan buried his little head down, reading a book this seriously for the very first time.
He read for quite a while. At last, his chubby little face lifted from the pages.
“Grandpa!”
The little fellow’s expression was extremely solemn.
Li Heng thought he had made some new discovery. His own face grew serious as well: “What is it? Is there some problem with this book?”
Just earlier, Li Heng had looked along with him.
But he had seen that, right at the beginning, there was a note stating that this book was only for the reading of phoenixes.
For any other race, even if they read it, it would be useless.
After reading for a long time, the little one’s face was tightly tensed up.
Pinching the corner of the book under his grandfather’s gaze, after quite a while, in a soft childish voice, he forced out one sentence—
“What does it say here? Yuan Yuan doesn’t recognize any of it.”
Though Feng Yuan was already attending school, he was still only at the stage of learning to count and read the very basics.
Aside from his father’s name, he could only recognize some simple characters.
For example: ren (person), da (big), tai (too much), and so on.
But naturally, this book could not possibly contain only such simple characters.
This book was mainly composed of illustrations, with the words beside the pictures serving as annotations—not many, but very important.
Feng Yuan read for quite a while, yet in the end it was all for nothing.
Thinking of how seriously he had just been reading, Li Heng gave a light cough.
“Grandpa will read it for you.”
Li Heng lifted the little fellow onto his lap, his large hand holding the book. He began to read it out for Feng Yuan, word by word.
Li Heng’s voice was deep and mellow, his enunciation clear.
Just from hearing his voice alone, one could never guess his age.
Li Heng read along the way. Feng Yuan obediently listened all the way.
The little one sat in the car. For the very first time, without falling asleep, he was able to remain this well-behaved.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Just as Feng Yuan’s little ears were still perked up, listening attentively, the driver stopped the car.
“Sir, young master, we’ve arrived. Any further ahead and we can’t go in.”
They had arrived at the villa, which was known as the garden God had left behind in the human world.
This villa covered an enormous area, with many houses built within it.
The owner of the mountain villa was Frida’s late grandfather.
Now, it had already been inherited by Frida.
She was recuperating in one courtyard, while the rest of the place she used for renting out.
She had always been a person with a keen business mind.
When Li Heng and Frida separated, both made an agreement that neither would rashly disturb the other.
Of course, this agreement only bound Li Heng.
Because after Li Heng saw this agreement, he gave Frida his promise: “No matter the time, as long as you want to see me, I will appear before you.”
Frida had no particular reaction at the time.
She left very decisively.
After she left, Li Heng drove here many times.
But in the end, he only parked his car at the same spot where it was parked now.
He abided by the agreement and never went to disturb Frida.
“Grandpa!”
While Li Heng was lost in thought, Feng Yuan had already climbed off his lap.
The little one strapped on a schoolbag, then dragged along another bag filled with clothes and daily necessities: “Yuan Yuan is leaving now! Grandpa, you should go home, too.”
On the way here, Feng Yuan had already heard from Grandpa.
He was to come alone to see Grandma and stay with her at night.
Grandpa wasn’t coming.
When the little fellow heard Grandpa say this, his small head automatically understood.
Grandpa and Grandma still hadn’t made up.
This time coming over, besides seeing Grandma, he also had to help Grandpa and Grandma reconcile.
Feeling his responsibility was enormous, the little fellow didn’t want to waste even a second.
Dragging his bag along, he followed the navigation Grandpa had set up for him and walked straight ahead.
“Yuan Yuan, that bag with your clothes, you don’t have to hurry to bring it over…”
Seeing his grandson stomping heavily forward, Li Heng called from behind: “You might not necessarily be able to stay overnight when you go to see Grandma.”
Feng Yuan: “?”
Feng Yuan’s steps halted. His chubby face turned back.
“Yuan Yuan can stay overnight!”
Feng Yuan was very confident in himself. He proudly lifted his round little chin, his milky voice full of certainty: “Grandma will like Yuan Yuan.”
Feng Yuan had already asked around about Grandma long ago.
From the news he’d gathered, Grandma was someone who loved her family very much.
Li Heng looked at his confident little expression, wanting to say something but stopping short.
“Alright then. Yuan Yuan won’t talk to you anymore. Yuan Yuan has to hurry on the road.”
According to the navigation, there was still quite a long distance left.
Feng Yuan was carrying one bag on his back and dragging another in his hand. For him, such a long stretch was no small challenge.
Seeing him start walking forward again, Li Heng could only raise his voice from behind to remind him: “Yuan Yuan, if you meet people on the way, don’t talk to them.”
“And don’t go with anyone else.”
“Grandpa is watching over you right here. If you run into trouble, call immediately.”
“Got it!”
Feng Yuan’s milky little voice drifted farther and farther away with his steps.
In the end, Li Heng’s eyes could no longer catch sight of his small figure at all.
Walking alone, Feng Yuan moved forward, stopping now and then.
When he passed the villa’s main gate, he handed the guard a card.
The guard swiped it, made a registration for him, and then let him through.
The scenery of the villa was beautiful.
Feng Yuan also heard the pleasant, crisp chirping of birds.
The scents he smelled here were all brimming with the fragrance of nature.
This scent was something Feng Yuan really liked.
Walking alone was a bit boring, so Feng Yuan even dialed Qin Xun’s number.
He was wearing a smartwatch. Although he was making a video call, he didn’t have a free hand to hold up the watch and look at Qin Xun.
“Qin Xun, I’m walking.”
“I can see that. Just walk properly, I’ll talk with you.”
Whenever Feng Yuan called, Qin Xun would always pick up immediately.
The two little ones just chatted like that.
While chatting, Feng Yuan suddenly blurted out a line.
“Qin Xun, do you miss me?”
Qin Xun almost didn’t hesitate: “I do.”
He hadn’t seen Feng Yuan for some time already. Just seeing Feng Yuan through video no longer satisfied him.
“Mm, then when I finish up the things here, next week I’ll go see you.”
“No need.”
Qin Xun had already made plans to go see him, so there was no need for him to compromise just to meet.
“Yuan Yuan, it’s fine as long as you’re doing well over there. Don’t worry about me.”
“But I miss you.”
Feng Yuan’s request to go back and visit him was rejected. Feng Yuan’s milky little voice carried some grievance: “So only you’re allowed to miss me?”
“I didn’t say that. I didn’t mean you’re not allowed to miss me.”
Because of Feng Yuan’s simple words—I miss you—Qin Xun felt an inexplicable happiness inside.
Though his heart was happy, he still hurried to coax the little one.
It was a long stretch of road.
After finishing the “do you miss me” talk with Qin Xun, Feng Yuan went on to tell him about the things that had happened today.
Even though the two of them hadn’t met in person, everything Feng Yuan experienced on his side, Qin Xun didn’t miss a thing.
He knew it all.
“Yuan Yuan worked hard today.”
After listening to his day’s schedule, Qin Xun realized he hadn’t even had a nap this afternoon.
“Later, when you find Grandma, rest early.”
“Mm!”
Feng Yuan responded while stopping to raise his little hand and wipe his own sweat.
Just from walking, he was already sweating.
“Ah, so tired.”
Wiping his sweat, Feng Yuan stood beside a stone, calling out how tired he was.
The scenery here was still beautiful, but Feng Yuan was too worn out to enjoy it.
He stood where he was, panting, planning to rest a bit before setting off again.
He hadn’t even stopped for a full minute when a bicycle came riding up from the roadside.
The rider was a young woman.
In the basket of her bike was a large bouquet. Her face was lit with a warm, friendly smile.
“Hi, hello there, little one.”
“Where are you going? I can give you a ride.”
Feng Yuan remembered what Grandpa had told him—not to go with strangers.
So, he shook his head and refused the offer.
“I’m going to find my grandma. I won’t ride your bike.”
“Who’s your grandma? Tell me, maybe I know her.”
“My grandma’s name is Frida.”
Feng Yuan gave his grandma’s name, then lowered his head to glance at the navigation: “If I walk half the distance more, I’ll be there.”
“Hahaha, I know your grandma. She’s a very beautiful lady.”
The woman, Irene, said this with a smile as she patted the back seat of her bicycle.
“Half the distance is still too long for a little one. Come, sit on my bike. I promise I’ll get you there safely.”
Feng Yuan: “Thank you.”
Feng Yuan: “But there’s no need. I still want to walk by myself.”
The obedient little one was very strict in carrying out the rule of not going with strangers.
Seeing that he insisted on not riding her bike, Irene looked a little helpless.
So she simply got off the seat and switched to pushing the bicycle instead.
“Alright then, stubborn little one, I’ll walk with you.”
Irene was a very talkative girl.
She chatted with Feng Yuan about Frida. At first, Feng Yuan listened very attentively.
But as he listened, his little face gradually changed expression.
Because Irene, smiling, told him—
Frida was very satisfied with her life as it was now.
Frida didn’t want to face the Li family anymore.
“Even though she doesn’t want to be disturbed, I think if such a cute little one like you went to see her, she would probably still welcome you.”
“It’s just, if she doesn’t wish to open the door for you, I hope you won’t be sad.”
“These past years, she has endured a lot of pressure.”
“Many, many people said that the children she gave birth to were not healthy.”
“Her children weren’t close to her either. That was a huge blow to her.”
Irene’s words were clearly meant mostly to comfort Feng Yuan.
But for some reason, the more Feng Yuan listened, the more uncomfortable he felt.
“Yuan Yuan, don’t listen to her.”
The call with Qin Xun hadn’t ended, so he had heard everything Irene said.
He spoke coldly: “This person is deliberately trying to sow discord between you and your grandma.”
“From now on, don’t believe a single word she says.”
The things Qin Xun told Feng Yuan, Irene could hear as well.
Because the whole call between the two little ones had been on speaker.
Irene shrugged and said: “I’m not trying to sow discord between you two. Forget it, little one. I wish you good luck.”
Just a moment ago, Irene had said she would accompany Feng Yuan to find Frida. But after saying this, she got on her bike and left him behind.
After riding quite far, Irene looked back and saw that Feng Yuan hadn’t followed.
Balancing her bicycle with one foot on the ground, she made a call.
“I tried, but this little fellow still stubbornly insists on meeting his grandma.”
“I don’t think Frida will want to see him. Even if he comes, it’ll be for nothing.”
“What? Don’t let him get in front of Frida? That I can’t do.”
“He’s too little. I can’t bring myself to do anything to a child.”
Irene exchanged several more words with the person on the other end before hanging up.
She was helping someone who was pursuing Frida.
That person didn’t want Frida to have any further connection with the Li family.
This, she could understand.
But she also couldn’t stop a little child who was determined to come see his grandma.
Irene had no way to do anything more.
She got back on her bike again and returned to her own place.
Time passed bit by bit.
Nearly an hour later, Feng Yuan finally arrived at the gate of Grandma’s courtyard.
In one chubby little hand, he clutched flowers he had picked along the way, and in the other, he dragged the bag with his luggage.
On his back, he also carried a blue dinosaur backpack.
The little fellow, dusty from travel, stood on tiptoe and knocked heavily on the door.
“Grandma! Open the door, Yuan Yuan is here!”
“Yuan Yuan is your grandson!”
At the doorway, Feng Yuan knocked as he shouted that he was Yuan Yuan.
He called out for quite a while before finally someone came.
It wasn’t Frida, but the person who looked after her.
She stood behind the door and said, “I’m sorry, Madam is ill and not fit to meet anyone.”
“Please come again another day.”
It was a clear dismissal. If it had been someone with a stronger sense of pride, they would probably have turned around and left.
But Feng Yuan was just a little child. His small head didn’t think in the same way as adults.
His focus was only on the words Grandma is ill.
“Grandma is sick. Yuan Yuan wants to see Grandma!”
At the door, the little fellow banged on it even louder.
As if he couldn’t understand rejection, his milky voice stubbornly insisted: “Hurry and let Yuan Yuan in!”
The one blocking him hadn’t expected him to make such a fuss.
Separated by a door.
The people on either side of it seemed locked in a kind of stalemate.
After quite a while, that stalemate was finally broken by Feng Yuan’s crying.
He had been pounding on the door and accidentally knocked his hand against the iron knocker.
It hurt.
The little fellow’s cries rang out. Within seconds, footsteps sounded again behind the door.
This time.
The door that had remained tightly shut in front of Feng Yuan was opened.
Frida, standing there, looked indifferently at the little one who had come to her doorstep.
Even though this little one was undeniably cute, she still held no expectations for him.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152