Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

At breakfast time, the Duan family's long table remained quiet as always.

The servants walked very quietly, trying their best not to make any noise from the dishes.

Wen Li hugged her little bowl and sat on the very edge, looking tiny.

They were far from the main seat, afraid of offending any order.

Duan Hetong went on a business trip, and she lost her biggest source of security, becoming noticeably more reserved.

Duan Yuanzhou saw it and frowned.

Two days ago it was running all over the house, but after being locked up for a while yesterday, it's back in a corner today.

They're far too adept at reading people's expressions.

Making yourself look like a villain.

He put down his teacup: "Why are you sitting so far away?"

The little dumpling looked up from the bowl, her expression blank, but instinctively replied, "Pear doesn't take up space."

The old man said in a deep voice, "Come here."

Wen Li was somewhat at a loss.

The maid next to her realized what was happening and quickly moved the chair forward: "Miss Wen Li, please sit here."

The entire baby was lifted up, chair and all, and placed right next to Grandpa Duan.

Wenli tensed up, her little body stiffened, and she almost forgot how to use a spoon.

Duan Xianchen, watching from the opposite side, wanted to laugh and deliberately teased her, "Are you that afraid of Grandpa?"

Wen Li glanced at the old man and quickly shook her head: "I'm not afraid."

In his haste, the small spoon fell to the ground with a thud and shattered in two.

The little dumpling's face turned pale with fright, and she hurriedly went down to pick it up.

The old man stopped him: "Don't move."

The servant immediately brought a new one.

Wen Li took the spoon, thanked them, and apologized.

Duan Yuanzhou frowned even more deeply. Why was this child so timid when Duan Hetong wasn't home?

Today's breakfast is Cantonese style: hot shrimp dumplings and crab roe buns.

Wen Li buried her head in her porridge, not daring to pick up any vegetables.

Duan Xianchen peeked at her empty little plate: "Why don't you eat something else? Don't you like it?"

Wen Li didn't even dare to drink the porridge anymore: "Li Bao is full."

She wasn't actually full, but she didn't dare to.

Back when she lived at the Gao family home, she wanted to eat a chicken leg, but Gao Ye, who was drunk, slapped her and overturned her bowl.

Bai Ru scolded her, "You worthless slut, how dare you eat this?"

After that, she didn't dare to pick up any more food.

The old man glanced at it: "Picky eater?"

Before the little dumpling could answer, he picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a shrimp dumpling on her plate, and said, "Eat."

Wen Li stared blankly at the plump, white shrimp dumplings, which looked incredibly fragrant. Was this something she could eat?

The old man clicked his tongue: "Raised so pampered."

Wen Li said softly, "Thank you, Grandpa..."

The old man didn't respond, but instead put more radish cake on her plate.

After the meal, the servants began to clear the table.

Wen Li glanced around furtively, making sure no one was paying attention to her. She quietly wrapped the unfinished cake in a tissue and hid it in her pajama pocket, her movements quite practiced.

Just as I put it down, a voice came from above: "What are you doing pretending that?"

The milk ball froze, like a kitten caught stealing cheese.

She slowly raised her head and met Duan Yuanzhou's gaze.

Wen Li clutched the small cake, unsure whether to hide it further or hand it over, stammering, "I'll...I'll save it for tonight..."

"Didn't you eat enough?"

The milk ball shook its head: "I'm full."

"Then why are you hiding this?"

Wen Li's face flushed red, and after a long while, she whispered, "If I don't get dinner, I'll be hungry..."

The servants were all stunned.

Duan Yuanzhou frowned, recalling the first time they met, that thin little body that seemed to break at the slightest touch.

What kind of life did this child lead in his previous home?

The old man said with a stern face, "The Duan family won't starve you."

Little Wenli blinked, not quite understanding.

The old man had already turned around and instructed: "From now on, the kitchen will be preparing snacks 24 hours a day."

"Yes."

Wow.

Watching from the sidelines, Duan Xianchen thought to himself that he never received this kind of treatment when he was a child. If he wanted to eat snacks outside of regular meals, he either had to ask for permission or his legs would be broken.

Brother is right, old man, it's obvious that you've fallen for it!

-

Wen Li woke up from her afternoon nap, rubbed her eyes, hugged her doll, and went downstairs to get a drink of water.

I had just woken up, my head was still foggy, and I wasn't wearing socks, my little feet were bare on the floor.

Duan Yuanzhou was reading financial news in the living room when he saw the little thing, and his face darkened: "Don't you know the floor is cold?"

Wen Li was startled. Before she could figure out why she was being yelled at, she reflexively apologized, "I'm...I'm sorry..."

The old man almost sighed: "I didn't ask you to apologize."

The milk dumpling looked at him, bewildered.

The old man instructed, "Go get a pair of socks."

When the maid brought it over to give to Wen Li, the old man stopped her again: "Give it to me."

The maid quickly lifted the baby onto the sofa, and the old man bent down to put socks on her.

The process wasn't smooth; I slipped off several times, but I finally managed to put it on.

Even more unfamiliar than Baba. Wen Li thought.

No, no, no.

Grandpa... is putting on his own socks?

The little dumpling was completely dumbfounded. She looked up at her grandfather and then down at her own feet.

She instinctively held her breath, afraid that if she made a sound, the scene would disappear.

After putting one sock on her, the old man commanded, "The other one."

The milk ball immediately and obediently lifted its foot.

The old man couldn't help but complain, "How old are you? You still can't dress yourself."

But the movements were very gentle.

Actually, Li Bao can do it; she can put on her socks and shoes by herself. Little Wen Li thought, but she also really likes it when Grandpa helps her put them on.

Seeing that she was still in a daze, Duan Yuanzhou asked, "Didn't you want some water?"

Wen Li then came to her senses: "Ah!"

She climbed off the sofa and went to the kitchen, but stopped halfway there, calling out, "Grandpa."

Duan Yuanzhou subconsciously asked, "Hmm?"

After responding, I felt something was off. How come I'm getting more and more used to being called "Grandpa" by the little one? What happened to not raising her as a granddaughter?

Wen Li, however, said in a childish voice, "Thank you, Grandpa!"

Duan Yuanzhou deliberately ignored her, pretending to watch TV: "Go drink your water."

-

That night, Wen Li lay on her bed, staring blankly at the open notebook.

There are 13 days left. Her father, uncle, and grandfather are all very kind to her.

But Baba has been so busy lately, I haven't been able to see her at all; and no one has mentioned adopting her in a long time.

If the mission fails, she can't stay here.

She couldn't help but shudder at the thought of her stepfather and Aunt Bai's fierce and menacing appearance.

Not only will I have to go back there, but Mommy will also never wake up.

Thinking of her mother, Wen Li looked at the entire blank page of little stars in her notebook.

One million is too complicated a number for a three-year-old child; she simply cannot count it correctly.

So the system created a simple panel for her, where she could light up a star for every point she earned.

Once all 100 little stars on the panel are lit up, you can exchange them for the Wish Box.

The panel is in the blind box shop, while in reality, Wen Li drew many stars herself.

Only a small nightlight was on in the children's room, casting a soft, warm yellow glow.

Milk Dumpling held a crayon and carefully colored.

After she finished drawing, she tucked the notebook under her pillow.

That way, it seems like I can get closer to Mommy.

Wen Li snuggled under the covers, patted her tummy, and tried to lull herself to sleep.

"Li Bao was good today too."

"Grandpa put dumplings on Li Bao's plate and even put socks on her..."

"Tonight, I will dream of Mommy."

"Will Baba be back tomorrow?"

The nightlight and stars protected the child's simple and innocent wishes, accompanying her as she gradually fell asleep.

-

The next day, the Duan family was in chaos.

The sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets came from every room, and everyone was hurrying along, creating an eerily low atmosphere throughout the old house.

Wen Li, holding a doll, cautiously peeked out.

All the drawers in the study were open, and documents were scattered all over the floor.

Duan Yuanzhou stood in the center of the room, his tone stern: "Keep searching."

The butler's forehead was covered in sweat: "Master, we've searched everywhere..."

The old man slammed his cane on the table: "Then let's look again!"

Startled by the loud noise, Xiao Wenli shrank back and timidly asked the maid, "What happened to Grandpa?"

The maid lowered her voice: "Master's pocket watch is missing."

A pocket watch? Wen Li was puzzled.

Baba and Uncle have lots and lots of watches, which they casually toss to Libao as toys, and throw away when they get them dirty.

Why is Grandpa so angry that he lost his watch?

The maid sighed, "That was a gift from the old lady to the master."

The milk ball blinked.

She had never met the old lady, but the gift must be very important. She would be very sad if the gift her mother gave her disappeared.

As more and more people returned empty-handed, the old man's mood worsened.

That pocket watch had been with him for decades. When he was young, the Duan family business fell to its lowest point, and he had almost nothing left. She sold her dowry jade bracelet and gave him this watch.

Later, he made a comeback and everything was within his grasp, except for her.

Over the years, many things have changed around him, but this watch has never changed.

Now it's gone.

The old man was experiencing severe chest pain, and his hands were trembling.

The housekeeper quickly brought him medicine and water and had him take it.

Xiao Wenli stood at the door, too afraid to go in.

She could tell that her grandfather was more upset than angry.

Just then, the gardener spoke up: "This morning... I saw Miss Wen Li enter the study and open a drawer."

The gardener had worked for the Duan family for over twenty years, usually responsible for tending to the flowers and plants in the backyard. He didn't talk much and walked silently.

During Wen Li's stay at the Duan family's residence, she had met him several times. Each time she politely greeted him with "Hello, Uncle," the gardener would simply glance at her expressionlessly.

Once, she was squatting by the flower bed watching the ants when the gardener came over to water the plants, saying in a rather unfriendly tone, "Don't block the way here."

From then on, she was always a little afraid of him.

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes immediately focused on it.

The gardener stammered a little, but forced himself to speak: "I thought the child was just a child, didn't know any better, and thought it was fun, so... so I didn't tell the master."

Every sentence, seemingly an explanation, actually pushes the blame onto Wen Li.

It took the little dumpling a while to understand that this uncle was admitting to stealing something. He had stolen Grandpa's most important watch.

But she didn't even know what her grandfather's pocket watch looked like.

The adults looked at her with suspicion, and Wen Li subconsciously took a half step back, her lips trembling, her voice weak:

"Li Bao didn't... didn't take Grandpa's things..."

The gardener fell silent, and no one in the living room spoke up or refuted him.

But silence is more terrifying than accusation—it means no one believes her.

Xiao Wenli felt like she had returned to the Gao family home.

Every time something goes missing, every time something goes wrong, she's the first one suspected.

Her stepfather slapped her, and Aunt Bai pinched her arm. They didn't ask any questions; they just condemned her.

"Li Bao went to the study to look at the paintings and didn't touch Grandpa's things..." The little dumpling was so anxious she was about to cry, desperately trying to explain.

Still, no one responded.

Without Duan Hetong's protection, this child who caused chaos in the Duan family was a complete outsider in the eyes of the servants.

Little Wenli's tears finally fell.

She wiped haphazardly with the back of her hand, but she couldn't finish wiping it off.

She dared not cry out loud, biting her lip, her sobs escaping as if she were about to break.

"Li Bao won't go in anymore... she'll never go in again..."

Duan Yuanzhou, leaning on his cane, stepped forward.