Chapter 2: Uncle? Bah! A Kidnapper!
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Clutching a small stool in her hands, Nan Yuanman’s sharply contrasting black-and-white eyes suddenly brightened. Her dusty little face was full of excitement.
Customers have arrived!
She hurriedly put down the small stool and, taking quick little steps, ran toward the door. Just as she was about to open it, she caught sight of her grimy little hands.
Yuanman paused, recalling how grandpa always kept himself very clean when receiving guests. She realized that being so dirty probably wouldn’t leave a good impression on the visitors.
No, she needed to freshen up.
She turned swiftly and dashed into her little room. From the small wardrobe her grandfather had made for her, she pulled out the red padded jacket she only wore during the New Year and struggled to change out of her dusty clothes.
Once dressed, Nan Yuanman turned to look at the paper doll resting in the corner of her room. The doll had two small braids and a painted face with rosy cheeks. Her gaze slowly settled on the doll’s bright red face.
She blinked a few times and walked over to the doll, wiping its face with her hand before rubbing her own face vigorously with the back of her hand…
Meanwhile, outside the door—
Zheng Feiyu, after knocking for a long time without any response, let out a low laugh and tried to soothe the somewhat irritated Jiang Lixuan: “Maybe I was too quiet just now, she didn’t hear me. I’ll knock again.”
Jiang Lixuan hummed in acknowledgment, and Zheng Feiyu knocked more firmly this time: “Is anyone there? Grandpa Nan, are you home?”
After waiting another three minutes, the door remained firmly shut.
This was the first time Jiang Lixuan had ever waited for someone like this. Frustrated, he clicked his tongue and turned to leave: “Forget it, I’ve been here anyway. If the old man asks, just tell him…”
Before he could finish, his phone rang in his pocket.
Jiang Lixuan took out his phone and, upon seeing the caller, his irritated expression softened instantly. His eyes filled with warmth as he answered gently: “Xinxin, why are you calling your uncle all of a sudden?”
Hearing Jiang Lixuan’s slightly hoarse voice, Zheng Feiyu knew the caller was the little princess of the Jiang family—Jiang Xinxin.
She was the daughter of Jiang Yueyao, the heiress of the Jiang family.
Zheng Feiyu blinked, recalling the Jiang family had two daughters. Besides Jiang Yueyao, what was the other daughter’s name again?
While Zheng Feiyu was lost in thought, Jiang Lixuan stepped aside to answer the call. On the other end, the little girl’s voice was soft and childish as she asked: “Uncle, did you find sister? How is she? Is she angry?”
She paused for a moment, then whispered: “Uncle, if there are other older sisters at home, will you still love me?”
Jiang Lixuan’s heart melted hearing this. He replied tenderly: “Of course I love you. Uncle loves Xinxin the most.”
“Xinxin, where’s your mother?”
Suddenly, a noisy sound came through the phone, as if someone had taken it. A gentle voice followed: “Young man, have you seen sister Wenyin? How is she doing?”
Her tone faltered, tinged with guilt: “Young man, if you see Wenyin, please don’t argue with her. What happened back then… she didn’t mean it, she was very wronged.”
“It’s been so long, I’ve long forgiven her. Dad and Mom miss her very much. Please bring her back soon.”
Jiang Lixuan listened to Jiang Yueyao’s words, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. He said bitterly: “What wrongs? If she hadn’t been so willful back then, would you have gotten hurt?”
“So many years have passed, yet she hasn’t learned her lesson. Still selfish, leaving her own daughter in this godforsaken place while she gallivants around. Truly… incorrigible!”
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As for what Aunt Zheng said about dying in childbirth, Jiang Lixuan didn’t believe a word.
When Bai Wenyin left the Jiang family, she was incredibly strong—she could even smash porcelain jars on Yao Yao’s head. He refused to believe she died giving birth.
He preferred to believe she had the child and then ran off to live freely.
After all, she had a history!
Jiang Yueyao’s brow slightly raised. Didn’t see Bai Wenyin? Just as she was about to press for more information, a sharp scream suddenly came from the other end.
Startled, Jiang Lixuan immediately turned around to look, and saw that the old, dilapidated courtyard gate had somehow been opened.
At the gate stood a little girl wearing red, her wild pigtails sticking out in all directions. Her face was pale, but both cheekbones were painted a bright red, creating an eerie contrast.
Zheng Feiyu accidentally met Yuanman’s gaze and was instantly terrified, his eyes wide with horror.
Jiang Lixuan nearly screamed in fright, his hand trembling as he abruptly hung up the phone.
Yuanman blinked her large, clear eyes and forced a smile. She pulled out a small coffin she carried with her: “Are you two big brothers here to order a coffin—oh no, a burial casket?”
A little girl dressed in red, smiling eerily, then pulling out a coffin—what a sinister scene.
Zheng Feiyu fought the urge to turn and run, staring at her incredulously as his voice trembled: “Y-Yuanman?”
Nan Yuanman nodded: “Mm-hmm!”
Seeing her nod, Zheng Feiyu’s weak legs regained some strength, but his expression was complicated: “Why are you dressed like this?”
He had thought he was seeing a ghost!
Jiang Lixuan also regained his composure. Seeing Nan Yuanman’s appearance, his earlier panic turned into furious anger. He ground his teeth and spat: “Nan—Yuanman!”
Raising his voice, he strode forward angrily and snatched the little coffin from her hands, dropping it to the ground: “Did your mother teach you to dress like this to scare me? Some habits never change—she’s as terrible as ever! And what’s that unlucky thing you’re holding? Throw it away right now!”
“My little burial casket!” Nan Yuanman cried out, instinctively lunging to grab the coffin from the ground.
That little coffin was carved painstakingly by her grandfather!
It was meant to accompany her when she was buried!
Jiang Lixuan roughly grabbed the back of Yuanman’s clothes, lifting her into the air: “What burial casket? It’s just an unlucky trinket! Why are you holding onto it?”
He put on a stern face: “Listen carefully, I’m your uncle. I’ve come to take you back to the Jiang family today.”
“Go wash all that messy stuff off your face! Don’t scare anyone at home!”
Nan Yuanman nearly choked, sticking out her tongue and fiercely scratching the back of his hand.
Jiang Lixuan gasped and instinctively loosened his grip.
Yuanman rolled on the floor, her once-clean clothes instantly covered in dust. She clutched the little coffin to her chest and turned to glare at Jiang Lixuan warily: “Don’t talk nonsense! I don’t have an uncle! I only have grandpa!”
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“You’re some kidnapper who snuck out of nowhere! Get lost! Or I’ll call grandpa to come beat you up!”
“Kidnapper?” Jiang Lixuan sneered bitterly: “Have you ever seen a kidnapper as handsome as me?”
“Yes, I have,” Yuanman said, pointing at him. “That’s exactly what you are.”
Jiang Lixuan choked on his words, unable to respond. Not a great talker to begin with, he scowled and stepped forward to grab her: “Believe it or not, I’m your uncle. You have to come home with me today!”
Nan Yuanman took quick little steps and ran: “I’m not going with you!”
Small and agile, she cleverly darted around Zheng Feiyu. Jiang Lixuan couldn’t catch her for the time being.
Seeing Jiang Lixuan’s increasingly dark and unpleasant expression, Zheng Feiyu quickly shielded Yuanman behind him and spoke gently to Jiang Lixuan: “Xuan, calm down. This is indeed sudden for Yuanman.”
“How about we let it go today? When Yuanman’s calmed down, I’ll have my eldest aunt come over tomorrow to discuss Yuanman’s future with Grandpa Nan?”
Nan Yuanman clung to Zheng Feiyu’s pant leg, hiding behind his thigh, only one eye peeking out cautiously at Jiang Lixuan.
This caught Jiang Lixuan completely off guard. He had expected that when the Jiang family came for her, Bai Wenyin and her daughter would be grateful and willingly return with him.
But now…
Jiang Lixuan pinched his brow irritably and, with a darkened face, pointed at Nan Yuanman: “Fine, I’ll give you one night to think it over. If you don’t come back with me to the Jiang family tomorrow, then don’t come back at all.”
“From now on, the Jiang family will act as if you never existed!”
Having said this, Jiang Lixuan turned away with a cold expression.
Nan Yuanman stuck out her tongue at his retreating figure, then met Zheng Feiyu’s helpless gaze. He squatted before her and said kindly: “Xuan’s just hot-tempered. Don’t blame him.”
Nan Yuanman frowned in confusion: “Hot-tempered? Grandpa usually calls that ‘rude.’”
Zheng Feiyu was momentarily speechless.
He looked around the dilapidated courtyard, littered with wood shavings, and then asked her: “Where’s Grandpa Nan?”
“In bed, sleeping.”
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