SES Chapter 240

Chapter 240

After returning to the inn, Mu Dai felt vaguely uneasy. Yan Hongsha and the others were nowhere to be seen. She sent a message asking where they were, and the reply came back: “Out having fun.”

Honestly, once they got to the old city, they all scattered like hawks let loose. Still, Mu Dai wasn’t worried. Ever since the matter of the ominous slip had been resolved, it felt as if nothing in this world was left worth fretting over.

She took Yue Xiaofeng to the inn’s bar to play, then pulled out a travel guidebook to teach him how to read maps. Flipping through it absentmindedly, she came across a page about Hangu Pass. The page featured an illustration in an ancient style: the white-haired, immortal-looking Laozi departing through the pass. The artist must have worried Laozi would look lonely, because beside him was added a rosy-cheeked little immortal boy leading an ox.

It was too familiar. Mu Dai’s eyes suddenly stung. She pointed it out to Yue Xiaofeng. “Look, this is Hangu Pass. Auntie’s been there.”

But Yue Xiaofeng was gripping the edge of the table, standing on tiptoe with his little chin raised high. “Mama, Mama.”

Mu Dai was puzzled for a while before realizing he was calling out to a photo hanging on the wall.

She carried him over to look. The photo had been taken in northern Tibet. Everything was stark white: snow-covered peaks in the distance, a snowy field in the foreground. Behind a parked SUV, two deep tire tracks stretched far into the distance, gradually fading.

By the front of the vehicle stood two people. One was a middle-aged man in a red robe—probably a lama. The other was a long-haired woman, gentle and serene, her gaze calm and undisturbed.

Mu Dai said softly, “That’s your mom.”

She lifted Yue Xiaofeng high. The little boy beamed, stretching out his arms as if to hug the picture. Then he pressed himself against the wall and planted a loud kiss right over where his mother stood in the photo, leaving behind a damp little lip print on the glass.

Mu Dai almost felt envious. Just moments ago, he had complained that his mother no longer wanted him. Yet at the sight of her picture, he was overjoyed, and it was impossible to pull away. She thought, If only one day there were a little one like this, so attached to me.

At dinner, the others still hadn’t returned. Mu Dai ate with Brother Mao and his wife. She tied a small bib around Yue Xiaofeng and carefully fed him spoonful by spoonful.

Sister-in-law Mao praised her. “You’ll definitely be a good mother someday. You’re so attentive.”

Yue Xiaofeng corrected her solemnly. “She’s Auntie. Pocket Auntie. Not Mama.”

Brother Mao had been watching Mu Dai and suddenly asked, “The fortune-teller said you’re very skilled—part of a proper martial arts lineage?”

Mu Dai nodded. “My master was skilled. Her name was Plum Blossom Ninth Lady. She was quite famous back in the day.”

As she said it, she couldn’t help feeling regret. She had asked Wan Fenghuo to look into her master’s past, but there had been no definite news so far. Once, growing anxious, she’d said to him, “How can there be nothing? My master should’ve been well-known.”

Back in those chaotic times, Plum Blossom, the Ninth Lady, must have been a heroine who helped those in need. Perhaps stories about her had even circulated among the common folk.

Wan Fenghuo had sighed. “Young lady, do you know what those years were like? Turbulent times produce heroes—there were figures everywhere. Plenty of people recorded in books ended up without a trace.”

The unspoken meaning: let alone someone like your master, who hadn’t even been written about.

Brother Mao asked again, “So who’s stronger—you or Luo Ren?”

Mu Dai answered honestly, “Probably Luo Xiaodao.”

Brother Mao shook his head. “I don’t think so. The fortune-teller said Luo Ren had mercenary training, but you’ve put in over a decade of solid practice, plus guidance from a famous master. I’ve always believed Chinese martial arts can wipe the floor with any foreign style.”

Mu Dai laughed. “What’s the point of comparing?”

Her laughter left Brother Mao oddly speechless.

Just as they were finishing dinner, two messages came in. One was from the fortune-teller, saying tomorrow was an auspicious day—good for weddings, travel, haircuts, setting up beds. Perfect for getting married.

Mu Dai didn’t really care. Luo Ren had said this was fulfilling a wish, not the real big day. As long as it was an auspicious date and everyone was happy, that was enough.

The other message was from Zheng Mingshan, saying he’d received the notice and would arrive before tomorrow evening.

That left Mu Dai conflicted for quite a while. How was she supposed to explain to Senior Brother that this wedding was just a playful rehearsal? The real ceremony, hosted by Aunt Hong in the future, would definitely require his presence. Would Senior Brother scold her? A wedding rehearsal? What, trying to collect extra red envelopes?

After dinner, Yue Xiaofeng began yawning. After a full day of excitement, the little guy was finally tired. Sister-in-law Mao tried to take him back to their room, but he refused, clinging to Mu Dai’s arm. “I want to stay with Auntie.”

“That won’t do,” Sister-in-law Mao said. “You’re a boy, and Auntie’s a girl. You can’t sleep together.”

Yue Xiaofeng sat on a small stool, silent. After a while, he dragged the stool into a corner of the kitchen and sat facing the wall.

Brother Mao chuckled. “The little rascal knows how to sulk.”

But Mu Dai sensed it wasn’t that simple. After a moment, she quietly went over to check. Sure enough, Yue Xiaofeng was wiping away tears as he faced the wall.

When they tried to comfort him, he grew even more upset. This time, he didn’t even want Mu Dai—he only wanted his dad and mom.

Kids who’ve never been apart from their parents are like that. No matter how happily they play with you during the day, once night falls and loneliness creeps in, Mom and Dad are the ones closest to you.

The more they tried to soothe him, the more chaotic it became. Finally, Brother Mao called Yue Feng.

Mu Dai stood nearby watching Yue Xiaofeng hold the phone, sniffling and speaking in broken sentences.

“Daddy, when are you coming back?”

“Daddy, don’t you miss me?”

“I almost got sold by bad people today.”

Then the voice on the other end seemed to switch to Ji Tangtang. When Yue Xiaofeng spoke to his mother, his tone immediately lifted.

“Mommy!”

“Mommy, do you miss me?”

“Mommy, I want to sleep with Pocket Auntie, but Aunt Mao won’t let me.”

After talking for a while, he suddenly looked up at Sister-in-law Mao. “Mommy said it’s okay!”

Sister-in-law Mao pinched his nose. “Shame on you. What if Pocket Auntie doesn’t want to sleep with you?”

Mu Dai quickly said, “It’s fine, really.”

Sister-in-law Mao took the phone and chatted with Ji Tangtang for a bit, then handed it to Mu Dai.

Talk to me? Mu Dai didn’t know what to say and took the phone nervously.

Ji Tangtang thanked her and said, “He’s a good boy. Just make sure he uses the bathroom before bed—then he won’t wake up at night. He sleeps deeply and quietly till morning.”

“He might fuss a bit before falling asleep—probably missing me. Sister-in-law Mao can help you.”

Mu Dai responded repeatedly, hardly remembering what she said. When she hung up, she realized that speaking to Yue Xiaofeng’s mother had left her feeling unexpectedly warm inside.

Mu Dai and Yue Xiaofeng stayed in the Feng Tang room. She wasn’t sleepy yet, so she sat on the bed playing with him—little tiger-head hats, small balls, toy trains. Some of the toys had once belonged to Mao’s child. Sister-in-law Mao really was practical and thrifty.

Was this the “very lucky” room the fortune-teller had mentioned? Where was the luck?

She looked around curiously. It was just an ordinary room. If anything was different, it was that this room was downstairs, unlike the guest rooms upstairs.

Luo Ren returned very late and came to see Mu Dai first.

“Was there something off about that old man?” she asked.

Judging from his expression, she knew her earlier worries hadn’t been imagined. She felt annoyed—she didn’t know what trick Ge Er had used. Her perception and reflexes weren’t bad; if Ge Er had made any major move, she would’ve kicked him over.

Luo Ren smiled faintly. “It’s nothing.”

Then he added, “You’re bound to run into a few rotten people in the corridor. Can’t blame you.”

“Was it troublesome to handle?”

“Not too bad. Taught him a lesson. Cleaned up his messy hideout. That’s about it.”

Yue Xiaofeng sat on the bed, angrily patting the blanket. “I’m not playing with Uncle Xiaodao!”

Luo Ren laughed and walked over, sitting beside him. “Do you like Uncle Xiaodao?”

“No.”

The answer was firm.

Luo Ren said, “Is that so? But I like you. What should we do then?”

Perhaps because he’d just confronted Ge Er for the child’s sake, Yue Xiaofeng no longer seemed like an annoying brat to him. He was someone Luo Ren had protected—suddenly different in his eyes.

Yue Xiaofeng froze, clearly unprepared for such complicated adult logic. If I don’t like you, but you still like me, what do we do?

But children are simple—being liked is rarely unwelcome. He muttered, “Who told you to like me?”

His voice softened. He stopped chasing Luo Ren away and pretended to focus on his toy train.

Luo Ren said quietly, “The kid’s parents probably aren’t simple people.”

Mu Dai was curious. “Why?”

“Sometimes you measure a person by the weight of their opponent. Ge Er isn’t decent, but he does have real skill.”

He patted Yue Xiaofeng’s head. “He said he had old grievances with the boy’s mother. I won’t judge old matters. But if you’re tough, you settle it adult to adult—find the mother. Targeting a child? That I can’t stand.”

Then he suddenly asked Mu Dai, “Did you get the fortune-teller’s message?”

She nodded, then smiled faintly. “It feels strange—suddenly saying we’re getting married tomorrow.”

“What’s strange about it?”

“It’s just… I don’t really feel anything.”

“Oh. Don’t feel anything.”

He repeated it quietly, almost to himself. Then he looked at Yue Xiaofeng. “Can you count?”

“Yes! Up to fifty!”

Yue Xiaofeng held up both hands to show fifty.

“That’s fifty.”

“Uncle Xiaodao will play a fun game with you. Hide-and-seek.”

Luo Ren explained, “You cover your eyes and count to fifty. While you’re counting, Uncle Xiaodao will hide. When you finish, you come find me, okay?”

It sounded fun. Yue Xiaofeng blinked eagerly.

“Good, let’s start.”

Luo Ren grabbed a pillowcase and slipped it over Yue Xiaofeng’s head, tying a knot at the corners. The child sat on the bed, looking like he had a paper bag over his head, the knotted corners sticking up like little horns.

Mu Dai burst out laughing. “That’s not how you blindfold someone…”

Yue Xiaofeng began counting seriously in a muffled voice. “One, two, three…”

Mu Dai nudged Luo Ren. “Aren’t you going to hide? There’s nowhere good to hide in this room.”

She genuinely began scanning for hiding spots.

The wardrobe? Too small. Behind the desk? Too obvious.

Just as she was thinking, she stumbled forward. Luo Ren pulled her into his arms, wrapping an arm around her waist and leaning close to her ear.

“You didn’t really think I wanted to play hide-and-seek with him, did you? I’m not three years old.”

Mu Dai looked up at him and saw something different in his eyes.

Suddenly flustered, she whispered, “He’s right here.”

Yes, right there—like a proper little counting machine. “Eleven, twelve, thirteen…”

Luo Ren smiled. “So what? Am I afraid of him?”

He tightened his arm and leaned down to kiss her cheek. His other hand slid upward along her waist. Mu Dai’s breathing quickened. Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but his hand stopped at her chest, gripping hard over her clothes.

She gasped at the sharp sting, her mind going blank, ears buzzing as she heard Yue Xiaofeng’s childish voice counting, “Twenty-seven, twenty-eight…”

When he said “two,” it sounded oddly like “hungry.”

She looked into Luo Ren’s eyes. They seemed darker than ever. Her lips felt dry; she bit them uneasily, trembling slightly against him.

Luo Ren leaned close to her ear and murmured, “After the little guy falls asleep tonight, come find me.”

What did that mean?

Mu Dai’s breathing grew uneven. She felt like she understood—and yet didn’t.

He probably wasn’t asking her over to chat.

Luo Ren smiled faintly and released her. Mu Dai lowered her head, heart pounding, barely noticing when he left the room.

“Forty-nine, fifty!”

Yue Xiaofeng excitedly yanked off the pillowcase.

Mu Dai’s cheeks were still burning. She slowly sat down on the bed, hands twisting together.

Go—or not go?

Beside her came Yue Xiaofeng’s disappointed shout—

“Uncle Xiaodao is a liar!”

“Bad guy! Mommy will scratch you to death!”