Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Chapter 108 Duoduo: Actually, I'm trying not to laugh

The car was parked on the side of the playground.

The first thing Liao Zhong saw when he got out of the car was that pink mist.

He didn't go up and disturb them.

After the fog dissipated, everyone finished their practice and played a game—Eagle Catches Chickens.

Xia He acted like a mother hen, spreading her arms to protect a bunch of little ones behind her.

Cheng Mo, like an eagle, swooped left and dodged right.

"Giggle giggle—"

"We can't catch them! We can't catch them!"

"The eagle is flying over!"

"Ah! Run! Run!"

As he watched, a smile crept onto Liao Zhong's lips.

After this round ended, he cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Brother Cheng, come here for a second!"

Cheng Mo said a few words to Xia He, then patted each of the little ones' heads before walking over.

"What's up?"

Liao Zhong walked a few steps away, and Cheng Mo followed.

Liao Zhong lowered his voice: "I'm going to have Guoguo's parents come to pick them up."

Cheng Mo: "Hmm...and then?"

Liao Zhong: "What's your opinion on Duoduo's side?"

Cheng Mo thought for a moment and said, "I'll take Duoduo back to Liangyi Temple. Master has experience raising children, so don't worry."

Liao Zhong couldn't help but wonder: If Master Cheng could raise such a freak like you, he must have some serious illness...

Of course, he only dared to think these words in his heart.

"Then please tell Duoduo yourself," Liao Zhong nodded, "Don't let her be traumatized by the fact that her friends have all left."

Cheng Mo said he understood: "If there's nothing else, you can go now. I still need to take them out to play."

Liao Zhong: "...Okay, you're busy."

He turned and took a couple of steps, but Cheng Mo called after him again, "By the way, what are you planning to do with these two playgrounds?"

Liao Zhong turned around and said, "The company plans to expand this area and turn it into a training ground."

Cheng Mo nodded: "That's pretty good."

After saying that, he turned and ran over there, spreading his arms wide and shouting:

"Now, let's play hide-and-seek!"

"Okay, okay~~" the four little ones responded immediately.

Xia He looked disgusted: "Ugh... little Taoist priest, your tone is disgusting~"

Cheng Mo ignored her, blindfolded himself, and started counting: "When we reach 100, we'll catch someone! 1!"

Xia He was the first to run away, disappearing under the slide in a flash, showing no trace of her earlier disgust.

"2-3-4"

The little ones scattered and ran away, laughing so hard they almost fell over.

……

They played happily until dark.

The group got into the car and drove back.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Cheng Mo gave Xia He a wink.

Xia He understood and called to the other three children, "Come on, come on, big sister will take you to take a bath~"

Laughter rang out from ahead, and the three little ones followed Xia He.

Cheng Mo led Duo Duo at the back.

He crouched down, looking Duoduo in the eye: "Duoduo, Guoguo and the others have found their parents."

Duoduo looked at him without saying a word.

"Your parents... may not be found."

Duo Duo's expression didn't change much.

The word "parents" was too foreign to her.

Even after watching so many cartoons and videos of other children living with their parents, she still couldn't understand.

What kind of two people would they be?

What's it like living with them?

I don't know, and I don't want to not know.

Now that she heard she had no parents, she felt relieved.

No more living with strangers.

Cheng Mo ruffled her hair: "I want to ask you, would you like to return to Liangyi Temple with me and live with Master from now on?"

Duo Duo's eyes lit up instantly, and a smile bloomed on her face: "Mmm!"

She nodded vigorously, her hair bobbing as she said, "If Yueyue and the others knew, they'd be so envious of me!"

Cheng Mo laughed too: "Then let's not tell them yet. After they've settled down with their parents, let's surprise them when they come to Liangyi Temple during winter and summer vacations, okay?"

Duoduo nodded repeatedly, smiling smugly.

"Okay~ Senior brother is the best~"

In the days that followed, life was simple yet lively.

We practice martial arts in the morning, play on the playground in the afternoon, and eat lunch outside.

Cheng Mo cooked, and Xia He assisted, while the four little ones watched from the side, occasionally exclaiming, "Senior brother is so amazing!" or "Sister Xia He is so great!" making the two of them beam with joy.

We'll watch the video this afternoon.

Every day, other friends send back videotapes documenting their lives in their new home.

The four little ones huddled together, staring intently at the screen.

DouDou received a little red flower at kindergarten and is holding it up for the camera to see.

Little Swallow learned to write her own name; it was crooked but still legible.

Stone participated in the sports meet and won second place in the running event.

"DouDou is so amazing."

"Little Swallow's handwriting is better than mine."

"The stone runs so fast."

The four little ones chattered and laughed non-stop from morning till night.

The four little ones are becoming more and more lively and more like normal children.

They would bicker, fight over toys, tattle on each other, and secretly save treats for one another.

Cheng Mo and Xia He saw this and were secretly delighted.

Days passed by, and everyone almost got used to this kind of life.

Then one day, Liao Zhong arrived.

He stood at the edge of the playground and waved to Cheng Mo.

Cheng Mo walked over: "What's wrong?"

"Guoguo's parents have arrived," Liao Zhong said.

"See you now?"

Liao Zhong shook his head: "I'm letting you know in advance so you can help talk to the kids. I have some things to discuss with their parents."

Cheng Mo gave an OK sign.

Liao Zhong turned and left.

……

Inside the guesthouse.

The three pairs of parents sat in a row, their eyes all red.

Liao Zhong sat opposite them, cleared his throat, and repeated what he had said to other parents before—the child was abducted, suffered a lot, had psychological trauma, needed patient guidance, and needed to adapt slowly.

The three pairs of parents nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down their faces.

After confirming that they were all behaving normally, Liao Zhong said, "There's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

The three sets of parents looked at him, waiting for what he would say next.

Liao Zhong said, "Our company has its own kindergarten and primary and secondary schools with high teaching quality. We would like to invite children to enroll. Of course, this is just a suggestion, and you can consider it yourselves."

The three pairs of parents looked at each other.

One of the men spoke up: "Comrade, actually... someone contacted us a few days ago."

Liao Zhong was taken aback.

Another woman chimed in, "Yes, that man's surname is Bi, and he said he's a leader at your company. He also said that the child can attend your company's kindergarten and primary and secondary schools, and that the teaching quality is very good."

Liao Zhong: "..."

Bi Youlong, you old rascal, you're quick on your feet.

He coughed lightly: "So... what are your considerations?"

The three pairs of parents looked at each other.

"Of course we would like to," one woman said. "We've heard that the college admission rate is exceptionally high, and many parents want to send their children there but can't get them in."

Another man nodded: "Yes, our city is the same. It's a good thing the kids can get in."

Liao Zhong breathed a sigh of relief.

Alright, although Chairman Bi was a bit rough around the edges, the result was not bad.

He stood up: "Alright, let's go to the children's side now."

The three pairs of parents stood up abruptly and followed Liao Zhong outside.

……

Beside the playground.

Guoguo was sliding down the slide when she steadied herself and turned back to Yueyue, shouting, "Yueyue, come quick! This slide is super fast!"

Yueyue climbs up, then slides down in a flash, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Xiao Guang was swinging on the swing, and Duo Duo was pushing him from behind.

"Higher! Higher!"

"That's tall enough!"

The four little ones were having a great time when Guoguo spotted a few figures.

He stopped what he was doing and looked over there.

Yueyue saw it too.

Xiao Guang jumped off the swing.

Duoduo stood up straight.

Three pairs of parents stood on the edge of the playground, their eyes fixed on their children.

A young woman was the first to lose control, rushing forward a few steps before stopping, her whole body trembling.

"Guoguo..." her voice trembled, "Guoguo, it's your mother..."

Guoguo stared at her blankly.

Mother?

He knew the word; it appeared in cartoons and videos, but…

That's someone else's mother.

Yueyue and Xiaoguang's parents also stepped forward.

"Yueyue..."

"Hikaru..."

The three children stood there, bewildered.

They looked at the strangers, at the complex expressions on their faces—excitement, sadness, joy, and heartache mixed together—and tears streamed down their faces.

They didn't know what to do.

Cheng Mo squatted down and looked at the three children at eye level: "They are your parents, just like the parents of the children in the video. They will take care of you, play with you, and kiss your faces."

The three children looked at him with a mixture of anticipation and fear.

"You can try calling out."

Yueyue pursed her lips and looked at the woman.

The woman was trembling with sobs, covering her mouth to stifle her voice.

Yueyue's lips moved slightly: "Mom...Mom..."

The voice was very soft and hesitant, like a child learning to speak for the first time.

But the woman heard it.

She rushed forward, hugged Yueyue tightly, and burst into tears, crying, "Yueyue... my Yueyue..."

Guoguo and Xiaoguang's parents rushed up and hugged their children.

"Guoguo! Mommy has finally found you!"

"Xiaoguang! Daddy's here to pick you up!"

The three children, held in his arms, were even more bewildered, but they did not struggle.