"Watch out!"
The street was bustling with people, and the carriage wasn't moving particularly fast.
But for a little doll like Feng Jin Chen, it was still incredibly difficult to avoid.
Seeing the tiny figure frozen in place, the vendor dropped his candied hawthorns and rushed forward.
The moment his hand touched Feng Jin Chen's clothes, there was an extremely long whinny. The carriage stopped a mere two inches from Feng Jin Chen.
Phew—that was close!
This incident sobered Feng Jin Chen up by seven parts.
On the carriage, Qi Xuan hadn't expected a figure to suddenly dart out from the roadside. As he eased his grip on the reins, Ye Ting Lan's deep voice drifted from inside.
"What is it?"
What is it...
Qi Xuan followed the direction of the horse's gaze and saw a little dumpling standing there, its small face so tender and pink it looked like it could be squeezed.
For some reason, his grip on the reins tightened, and his heart instantly softened.
"Your Highness, it's a little dumpling."
A little dumpling?
What kind of answer was that?
Inside the carriage, Ye Ting Lan frowned at the words and raised a hand to lift the curtain. But before his fingers could touch the fabric, he heard a crisp "snap."
The next moment, a childish shout followed.
"You... you scared me just now! I'm going to hit you!"
At the front of the carriage, Feng Jin Chen was raising his little fleshy hands and hitting the horse's legs with all his might.
This scene almost made the vendor and Qi Xuan's eyeballs pop out.
The vendor's body trembled violently, and he quickly grabbed the child's hand, pulling him back.
Good heavens, this was Prince Mo's carriage!
Hitting Prince Mo's horse was tantamount to slapping Prince Mo's face!
If you slapped Prince Mo's face... what would happen then?!
Qi Xuan's eyelids twitched heavily. He was worried that Chi Feng would kick the child away with one hoof.
Of all the horses in the manor, this one had the most violent temper. If it kicked out, that little dumpling would be sent flying!
However, before Chi Feng could make a move, their Prince had already emerged from the carriage.
Seeing this, the people around them immediately scattered.
"Your Highness."
Qi Xuan hadn't expected him to get down personally and immediately moved the horse step down.
Ye Ting Lan let out a faint "mm" and looked towards the front of the carriage.
In an instant, a chilling aura descended.
Seeing this, the vendor's body stiffened, and he quickly bowed.
"Greetings... Greetings, Your Highness."
Prince Mo's approach was formidable, and he didn't seem like someone who would let this go easily...
He secretly observed Ye Ting Lan's expression, but his peripheral vision caught sight of the little dumpling standing beside him. He was shocked to realize the child hadn't knelt down at all!
His heart tightened, and he quickly tried to pull Feng Jin Chen down. But before he could act, he saw the child lift his small face and speak righteously.
"Is this carriage yours?"
The voice was clear and crisp, clearly carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
Both the vendor and Qi Xuan were shocked by this. The dissatisfaction was directed at Ye Ting Lan!
Could this little dumpling be trying to argue with His Highness?!
The two gasped, their hearts leaping into their throats.
They stealthily glanced over, only to see that the cold god, after hearing the question, not only did not scowl in anger but actually... nodded?!
"And if it is?"
And if it is?
Feng Jin Chen's small face drooped. "It almost hit me just now!"
It really was just a hair's breadth!
Although it was also his fault for not watching where he was going, the carriage was going so fast, how could he dodge it!
Ye Ting Lan raised an eyebrow at this, his expression unreadable.
"As you say, this is my fault then?"
As expected of a child, always making a fuss.
He thought this, but to his surprise, the little dumpling in front of him furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and then spoke earnestly.
"This matter cannot be entirely blamed on you. How about this, I'm not a petty person, so you don't need to apologize."
"However, there are so many people on the road. You really should pay more attention. What if you hit someone?"
The little fellow looked at him with a serious expression, showing no trace of fear.
Ye Ting Lan listened, his dark eyes shifting slightly.
Hitting his horse, and then telling him to pay more attention?
Whose child was this little dumpling, daring to be so bold?
What astonished him even more was that as he gazed at the tender little face before him, an inexplicable impulse arose within him.
He wanted to reach out and pinch it...!
Almost instinctively, Ye Ting Lan's hand reached out. But before he could pinch, he was interrupted by Feng Jin Chen.
"Uncle, what are you doing?"
He stared defensively at the outstretched hand, his small face full of wariness.
Ye Ting Lan paused slightly at the words. Realizing his previous action, his expression darkened, and he immediately withdrew his hand.
What was he doing, wanting to pinch a child's face in the middle of the street...
Utterly improper!
His hands clenched behind his back. He looked up and met the child's round eyes, and Ye Ting Lan's expression turned cold again.
"Nothing, there was a bug on your face just now. I was trying to help you flick it off."
He said this with a straight face. To his surprise, the little dumpling in front of him turned pale at the words and then jumped up.
"Ahhh! A bug!!!"
Feng Jin Chen was terrified of bugs, so much so that he didn't even realize he had jumped directly onto Ye Ting Lan.
Suddenly a soft, fluffy ball rushed into his arms. Ye Ting Lan instinctively reached out to catch it.
This scene startled the vendor and Qi Xuan.
Just when they thought Ye Ting Lan would throw the child away, they saw his large hand move down, steadying the little dumpling in his embrace.
"?"
The surrounding air froze for a second, and faintly, they heard two petrified voices.
Qi Xuan and the vendor exchanged glances and spoke weakly.
"Your Highness...?"
Were they seeing things?
The grim-faced Prince Mo was actually holding a child?
Help me, why does this scene also have a strange sense of harmony?!
When Ye Ting Lan came back to his senses, he realized his actions. However, because the little dumpling felt surprisingly good in his arms, he pursed his lips and didn't let go.
Feng Jin Chen was still terrified of the bug.
Not knowing how to comfort the child, Ye Ting Lan's expression darkened. He could only say in a cold voice,
"Stop crying, the bug has already flown away."
Feng Jin Chen touched his small face.
"Really?"
"Mm."
Seeing that he was still touching his face absentmindedly, showing no resistance to being held.
Ye Ting Lan lowered his gaze, looked down, and asked, "What is your name?"
He couldn't just call him "dumpling."
Unexpectedly, the little dumpling, who had been secretly relieved, became wary again in an instant.
Mother had told him not to tell strangers his name, because bad people would catch him!
Therefore, he rolled his eyes slyly for a moment before speaking again.
"I don't have a name. You can call me Chen Chen."
The little fellow was quite vigilant.
Ye Ting Lan's brows rose slightly. "Then where are your family? Whose child are you?"