Yao Zuizui opened her eyes once again.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, the faint glow of the morning sun filtering through the white curtains, struggling to spill onto the bed.
Yao Zuizui had been awakened by the cries of her baby.
Hmm… Suhei.
If the baby grew up and thought his name sounded like a dog’s, who could he blame?
His ghostly father?
Yao Zuizui felt a pang of sympathy for the child as she dutifully picked him up and began feeding him.
So, last night had just been a dream.
Yet the sensations from the dream had felt so real.
Thinking back to her wedding night, a faint blush of embarrassment and irritation crept onto Yao Zuizui’s fair, delicate face.
He only knew how to bully her—she’d definitely get her revenge someday!
After finishing his milk, the baby obediently smacked his lips and fell asleep.
But Yao Zuizui was left pondering what to do next.
She needed to work to support her child and her family, but her savings were nearly gone, her maternity leave was almost over, and she worried about leaving the baby with someone else during the day.
Only now did Yao Zuizui realize how much a mother’s heart could ache.
What caught her even more off guard was that after leaving the postpartum care center, she found she couldn’t handle taking care of a baby alone.
She had no experience—feeding the baby, changing his clothes—everything took forever.
Just when she finally got a moment to rest, the baby would have a new demand.
Worse still, the baby got hungry easily at night.
He’d wake up crying in the middle of the night, needing milk.
Exhausted and barely able to keep her eyes open, she’d groggily feed him, utterly drained.
After just two days, Yao Zuizui looked visibly haggard.
Whenever she felt miserable, she’d curse Suhei in her heart.
Irresponsible, only caring about his own pleasure.
Having a baby and then washing his hands of everything.
Heartless, abandoning her and their child.
Without realizing it, Yao Zuizui had fully embraced her role as Suhei’s mother and Suhei as Suhei’s father.
Maybe Suhei had somehow sensed her resentment.
Yao Zuizui had only muttered complaints under her breath during the day, too afraid to say anything at night.
But when she woke up the next morning—
She was stunned.
“Mommy, you’re awake!” A chubby little hand appeared before her eyes, gently touching her face.
Her skin was smooth and tender, but that little hand felt even softer.
The child’s voice was sweet and gentle, so pure it seemed untouched by the world, melting her heart into a puddle.
Yao Zuizui was momentarily dazed.
She blinked, and the chubby-cheeked face of a little boy came into view.
Big, round, sparkling eyes, darker than grapes, brimming with innocence.
Soft, silky black hair fell over his forehead in a handsome fringe.
And those plump, pinchable cheeks looked so delicious she wanted to take a bite.
This… was her son?!
Her son was this adorable?!
Her first reaction wasn’t shock but pulling him into her arms and giving him a thorough squeeze.
She ruffled his hair, pinched his cheeks, and even poked his belly.
It was infinitely more satisfying than petting a cat or dog.
Yao Zuizui was having the time of her life, and Suhei was perfectly obedient, not resisting at all. His big, dark eyes stared at her unblinkingly as she played with him.
Best of all, he had two tiny dimples.
Every time she poked him, his lips would curl up, his eyes crinkling with a carefree smile, deepening those dimples.
He was so cute Yao Zuizui wanted to drown in those dimples and never wake up.
“Sweetie, how are you this adorable?” Yao Zuizui’s voice trembled with joy—this was an unexpected delight in this world.
“Because Mommy made me!” Suhei pouted adorably, his eyes twinkling like stars.
Yao Zuizui’s heart melted all over again.
Her son was so precious—thank goodness he didn’t take after his father.
But then Suhei paused, glanced beside Yao Zuizui, and blinked before adding, “Daddy helped too~”
“Pfft, as if he did anything!” Yao Zuizui scoffed, pulling her son into her arms and planting a kiss on his milky-scented cheek.
There were plenty of things Daddy had done.
Suhei was about to elaborate on his father’s contributions when Yao Zuizui cut him off: “Oh, right, Suhei, how did you grow up so fast? How old are you now?”
“Mommy, I’m five!” Suhei straightened up like a little adult, enunciating clearly before adding, “Actually, that was Daddy’s doing! Daddy saw how hard it was for you to take care of me, so he made me grow up faster so I could be a little man and help you, and protect you!”
“Wait, are there any side effects?” Yao Zuizui suddenly panicked, turning Suhei over to inspect him, worried this forced growth might have consequences.
“Nope, Mommy! The only one who lost anything was Daddy. He used up a hundred years of his power just to make me grow five years! Poor Daddy!” Suhei’s big, dark eyes shone with gratitude—this was high praise for his father.
He hoped Mommy would agree.
But Yao Zuizui remained unimpressed.
Big deal. The Immortal Sovereign had once used ten thousand years of his power to save her.
And had the Immortal Sovereign ever bragged about it? Not a word!
Unlike a certain ghost, who used a measly hundred years of power for his own son and then had the nerve to have the kid bring it up.
Yao Zuizui’s dismissive expression made Suhei lower his head.
He didn’t tell her that Daddy had only fifty years of power left after speeding up his growth.
Yao Zuizui was already lost in another thought.
With Suhei suddenly so big, she couldn’t stay in this city anymore.
A ten-month pregnancy suddenly producing a five-year-old son? That was way too unscientific—she couldn’t let anyone find out.
After packing up the home she hadn’t lived in for long, Yao Zuizui didn’t have much to take.
She booked a bus ticket for the next day, resigned from her job, and with just a suitcase in one hand and Suhei in the other, she moved out.
Her destination was another major city nearby—a historic ancient capital with a strong cultural atmosphere and a thriving economy, perfect for work and living.
On the day of departure, Suhei wore a tiny black bucket hat and obediently trailed behind her.
Dragging her luggage and her son, Yao Zuizui was the last to arrive at the bus station.
The driver urged her aboard: “Hey, lady with the little brother, hurry up! Kids don’t get seats—you’ll have to hold him!”
Little brother?
Yao Zuizui was secretly delighted—this driver had a silver tongue.
She really did look that young~
Even Suhei noticed his mother’s joy and played along, tugging her pinky and saying sweetly, “Sis, let’s get on the bus.”
Smiling, Yao Zuizui stowed her suitcase and boarded with Suhei.
Once inside, she saw only one empty seat remained.
Beside it sat a quiet, steady-looking man with an honest face—the kind that inspired instant trust.
He seemed around her age, though she looked younger.
The moment the young man saw her with a child, he immediately offered her the window seat.
His cheeks even flushed slightly: “H-Here, you take the inside. The window’s more comfortable.”
“…No need. Holding a kid makes the aisle seat better,” Yao Zuizui replied, realizing this guy was probably flustered by her pretty face.
“Let me hold him for you. It’s a four-hour ride—your arms will go numb,” the young man said shyly, his awkwardness obvious to anyone.
“Okay, thank you, Uncle~” Suhei, ever the considerate son, didn’t want his mother to tire herself.
With a dazzling smile, he patted the empty seat: “Sis, you sit here!”
One “uncle,” one “sis.”
The sly little Suhei had just subtly warned this man not to get any ideas about his mom.
Yao Zuizui wasn’t one to fuss either, so she took the window seat.
“I’m Fang Yi,” the young man said earnestly, holding Suhei properly—not just as an excuse to get close.
“Xu Weiwei,” Yao Zuizui replied politely, flashing a glimpse of pearly white teeth that sent Fang Yi’s heart into a flutter.
“I—” Fang Yi tried to speak again, but Suhei interrupted—
“Uncle, shhh~ I’m sleepy. Sis says good kids don’t talk when they nap~” Suhei blinked his grape-like eyes mischievously before yawning.
“Right, sorry. Sleep well,” Fang Yi chuckled awkwardly, as if embarrassed for disturbing him.
True to his word, he stayed silent the entire ride, occasionally patting Suhei’s back to soothe him.
What a gentle soul.
Yao Zuizui could tell he was a good man—honest to a fault, maybe even a little dull.
She couldn’t dislike someone like that, but they were just passing strangers. She could only hope he’d find love someday.
The bus rolled smoothly along the highway, lulling most passengers to sleep.
Yao Zuizui leaned against the window, her eyelids growing heavier.
Only Fang Yi remained upright, his solemn gaze fixed ahead, his hand still gently patting Suhei’s back, a hint of tension in his steady eyes.
Yao Zuizui dozed fitfully, waking every now and then to check.
But when she opened her eyes this time, sleep fled entirely.
The bus was still moving, but outside, the scenery had changed to desolate wilderness—rows upon rows of graves stretching beyond the horizon.
And inside the bus—
Fang Yi was gone. Suhei lay slumped beside her, still asleep.
The other passengers sat with their eyes wide open, faces frozen in terror, their gazes hollow and lifeless, as if time had stopped at their final moment.
She turned to the driver’s seat.
Empty.
There was no driver at all!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage