Chapter 17: Crying Together

Lingwei dreamed that she had been seized by a colossal monster. It held her in a grip so tight that no matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free. In the end, she had no choice but to surrender, drifting off into a deep slumber.

The young man’s bright eyes shone in the darkness like lanterns. Listening to the little one’s shallow breathing and inhaling the distinct, milky scent that clung to her, he gradually succumbed to his own weariness, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Under the moonlight, the handsome youth held the sleeping little one tightly in his arms. Both were resting peacefully, their lips curved into identical arcs, a scene of extraordinary warmth.

Warm sunlight replaced the cold moonlight as it streamed through the windowsill. With two cuckoo calls, the youth opened his eyes. It had been a long time since he had slept so comfortably, resting soundly until dawn. Gazing at Lingwei, who was still lost in her dreams, he planted a soft kiss on her rosy cheek. The cuckoo called twice more, and the youth glared at the window in annoyance. He lingered for a while longer, reluctantly nuzzling the little one’s round face before rising to leave.

The little one opened her eyes and looked in confusion at her quilt, which remained perfectly smooth without a single wrinkle. She touched her face with her chubby hand. *Hm?* Since when was she so well-behaved while sleeping?

Shaking the thought away, she sprang up with a nimble leap. She stretched out her two round, fair, and tender hands, covered her small pink mouth, and let out a huge yawn. *Thump*—the little meatball flopped back down onto the daybed.

Little Taro entered the room carrying an exquisite little basin. Seeing the little one feigning sleep, she said helplessly, "Young Miss, it is time to get up. The sun has climbed high and is shining right on your little bottom."

The little one rolled around while clutching her quilt. "Little Taro, can I not get up? I'm so sleepy. *Hah.*" To prove her exhaustion, she covered her mouth and yawned again.

Little Taro set down the basin and giggled. "Young Miss, you use that trick every time. It’s outdated." Every time she wanted to sleep in, she used the same excuse; the Young Miss really was fond of taking the easy way out.

The little one shook her head in dissatisfaction and began to act out. She flipped over and rolled across the daybed—*roll, roll, roll*—until she lost her momentum and tumbled off the edge, landing with her quilt on the thick carpet below.

"Ouch, it hurts! Little Taro, come quickly! My head is broken!" The little one shouted, fearing the world wasn't chaotic enough.

A tall figure rushed in from the doorway, darting across the room in a few strides to scoop the little one from the floor and cradle her securely. "Little Mistress, where are you hurt? Here? Here? Or here?"

Zhao Meng’s voice rose sharply, his tone harsh and frantic, which terrified the little one. Lingwei pouted and burst into loud sobs.

Hearing the crying from afar, Mother Wang hurried over and took the little one from Zhao Meng’s arms. She glared at the doorway and barked at Zhao Meng, "Zhao Meng, get out!"

Zhao Meng’s face flushed red as he looked at Mother Wang, who stared back at him in silence, then glanced at the little one, who was still wailing in Mother Wang’s embrace. He walked out, looking back every few steps.

"Little Mistress, it’s alright, it’s alright. Your Uncle Zhao was just too worried. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid." Mother Wang cradled the little one, coaxing her for a long time, but the little one continued to cry incessantly.

Seeing this, Little Taro began to wail as well, crying even more sorrowfully and loudly than the little one. Hearing Little Taro’s cries, the little one stopped her own. She looked at Little Taro in confusion, wondering why she was crying too.

With teardrops still clinging to her long eyelashes, the little one asked anxiously, "Little Taro, why are you crying?"

Little Taro sobbed as she replied, "Seeing you cry, Young Miss, made me want to cry too. *Wuwu*, Young Miss, please don't cry. It makes me sad to see you like this."

As Little Taro spoke, she wept even louder, tears streaming down her face. No matter how much she wiped them away, more kept coming until her entire face was covered in tears.

The little one struggled down from Mother Wang’s arms and wrapped her tiny hands around Little Taro’s waist. "Little Taro, I’ve stopped crying. Look, really. You stop crying too. If you keep crying, I’m going to start again."