Hearing the little one say this, Yu Xiaoyu was a little surprised. She thought it would be difficult, but she didn't expect it to be so smooth.
She carefully picked up the little one, finding that the child was very soft, like holding a pile of soft things.
"Sister..."
The sweet, soft voice made Yu Xiaoyu feel like her heart was about to melt.
"What's your name?" Yu Xiaoyu couldn't help but ask.
"Sister calls me Xingyue," Xue Xingyue said, looking at Yu Xiaoyu.
How could she not see that this Miss Yu had feelings for her own father? As the saying goes, a break must be made at the root.
All sprouts must be nipped in the bud.
"Xingyue, come play with me over there." Yu Xiaoyu carried her towards Lin Shishu.
Seeing Yu Xiaoyu holding the little one, Lin Shishu was also startled. She hadn't expected her to actually bring the child over.
A mat was spread on the grass. Yu Xiaoyu placed Xue Xingyue on it. "Xingyue, would you like something to eat?"
Lin Shishu handed over the pastries in her hand. Xue Xingyue looked at the pastries, as if her father had also given her some to eat.
She thought for a moment, took them, and took a bite. It was indeed the same as what her father gave her, exactly the same.
"Cousin, you stay with Xingyue. I just remembered there's milk for children in the carriage. I'll go get it."
Lin Shishu nodded. She hadn't gotten a good look at the child's appearance earlier, only thinking she was beautiful. Now that she was closer, she realized the child was exquisitely beautiful, astonishingly so. How could there be such a beautiful child?
She was like a delicate carving.
Xue Xingyue looked at Lin Shishu. She didn't have her mother's bearing, but she was gentle.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but stick out her tongue. If her mother knew she said this, she would definitely educate her.
"Xingyue, can I hold you?" Seeing the little one stick out her tongue and make cute gestures, Lin Shishu couldn't help but want to hold this adorable little creature.
Sensing no malice from Lin Shishu, Xue Xingyue extended her hands to her and said sweetly and softly, "Sister, hug."
Lin Shishu smiled and stepped forward to embrace her, only to find that the child's body was soft and yielding. She couldn't bear to let go after holding her.
"Miss, when we came, I saw a lake, very clear. Why don't we take Xingyue there?"
Lin Shishu looked at the little maid. This was the maid Yu Xiaoyu had brought. She nodded, "Alright, you lead the way."
After walking for a while, Lin Shishu felt the little one in her arms tug at her clothes. She looked down and saw the little one whisper, "Sister, something's wrong. Where's the lake?"
Lin Shishu then realized something was amiss. Where was this? There was no lake at all.
"Xiao Cui, did you misremember?" Lin Shishu asked.
The maid in front suddenly stopped. Lin Shishu suddenly felt a sense of unease. She turned around and ran back the way they came. Suddenly, she was struck from behind and knocked unconscious. Before she fainted, she tightly hugged the little one.
"Sister, wake up..."
A voice echoed in her ears. Lin Shishu woke up and found she was tied up.
"Where are we..."
"Kidnapped," Xue Xingyue said.
She could actually escape on her own, but when Lin Shishu was knocked unconscious just now, she would rather get hurt herself than protect her. Her mother had said that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, and she couldn't abandon Lin Shishu.
"Little one, I'm sorry..." Lin Shishu knew she had been too careless and had fallen into someone's trap.
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "Sister, ignorance is bliss. You didn't know anything, so why blame yourself?"
Lin Shishu was taken aback. Looking at the tiny person tilting her head up to look at her, she inexplicably felt an indescribable emotion in her heart. She could only step forward, hug the little one, and whisper, "Don't be afraid. My father will definitely come looking for me when he knows I'm missing."
Xue Xingyue nodded. "I'm not afraid because I know Daddy will come looking for me."
"Young Master Yan, my cousin is missing," Yu Xiaoyu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, almost crying.
"Xuesong..." Yan Jin Chao looked at Xuesong, who then left.
Yu Xiaoyu cried, "Young Master Yan, do you think my cousin will be alright? If Uncle knows, he'll definitely scold me. I..."
"Young Master, Miss Lin was knocked unconscious and taken away, and..."
Yan Jin Chao heard this and asked, "And what?"
"Xingyue is also missing," Xuesong said.
Yan Jin Chao was startled. The image of the exquisitely carved little one flashed in his mind, and his eyes deepened considerably. "Xuesong, go to the Prefect's mansion first and inform the Prefect."
"Yes." Xuesong received the order and left.
Seeing Yan Jin Chao about to leave, Yu Xiaoyu quickly stepped forward. "Young Master Yan, don't leave me alone. I... I'm scared..."
Yan Jin Chao looked at Yu Xiaoyu, who was alone, and asked, "Where is your maid?"
Yu Xiaoyu shook her head. "I don't know where they went. I'm all alone now. Please, Young Master Yan, can you give me a ride?"
"Go..." Yan Jin Chao turned around, leaving only these words, which made her overjoyed.
Yu Xiaoyu got into the carriage and realized it was completely different from the carriage she had been in. This carriage was much more comfortable.
She saw a thick cushion inside and reached out to grab it, but two slender fingers grasped the other side. She looked up and saw Yan Jin Chao, and was slightly stunned.
"Young Master Yan, can I use this cushion?"
It was just a cushion. Yu Xiaoyu thought Yan Jin Chao wouldn't be so stingy. But who would have thought he would be so stingy? "Miss Yu, you can't use this."
"Why?" Yu Xiaoyu was a little surprised. Was Yan Jin Chao really unwilling to spare a cushion?
"This is the cushion Xingyue sat on."
"Can't I borrow it for a moment?" Yu Xiaoyu looked up at that astonishingly beautiful face and couldn't help but ask.
"No," Yan Jin Chao refused outright.
Yu Xiaoyu felt extremely awkward. She smiled sheepishly and said, "Children are really difficult."
Difficult? Yan Jin Chao's mind conjured the little one's smiling face, and he felt inexplicably uncomfortable. Without thinking, he blurted out a defense for her, "She's not difficult."
Yu Xiaoyu was stunned and retorted, "If she's not difficult, why won't she let others use her cushion?"
Yan Jin Chao said faintly, "It's not that she doesn't allow it, it's me. I think things used by others are dirty and not suitable for the little one."
Yu Xiaoyu's face suddenly flushed red, but she dared not argue, fearing she would give him the impression of being difficult with children.
However, being called dirty was a first.
Yu Xiaoyu was a little unhappy.
Prefect Lin, upon hearing that his precious daughter was missing, immediately mobilized his men and began searching for his daughter's whereabouts.