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

"ah!"

Wen Li was startled and quickly reached out to grab it.

The wooden snake didn't fly very high; it swayed and circled in mid-air, as if it were drunk.

It fell down again a moment later, hitting Wen Li on the forehead with a thud.

Wenli: "QAQ!"

Duan Shimi was startled by the strange noise and saw the little dumpling covering its forehead, staring at the wooden snake.

She gently touched the red mark on the baby's forehead: "What happened? Did you bump your head?"

Milk Dumpling hid the wooden snake behind her back and shook her head.

This is my little secret, and I can't tell Gugu yet.

The wooden snake, however, was restless and peeked out from behind her.

Now we can see clearly that the wooden snake actually opened its mouth and stuck out a piece of its tongue!

Wenli quickly pressed it back down.

Fortunately, Duan Shimi's attention was not on this, and she took Wen Li home.

She was still feeling depressed.

The banquet controversy only proves that Iris's craftsmanship is substandard, but the Golden Feather Award jury wants solid evidence of originality.

On the drive back to the Duan family's old house, after a brief period of shock and ridicule, a new wave of conspiracy theories emerged online:

[Does damaged clothing prove plagiarism? Those are completely different things!]

I think Mia's team deliberately sabotaged this.

[This is just a diversionary tactic; Mia still can't provide proof that the original manuscript was leaked.]

Duan Shimi turned off her phone, but the endless stream of negative comments still echoed in her mind.

Since the outbreak of the scandal, I have always maintained an aloof and dignified demeanor in front of others, but now I am really tired.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

I've already prepared for the worst: what if I lose the final defense?

Should I leave this career I love and return to the protection of the Duan family?

But all those years of hard work and dedication...

She is not reconciled.

More importantly, should one allow defamation and humiliation to accompany them for the rest of their life?

The little one laboriously leaned out of the car seat, stretched out her tiny hand, and gently cupped Duan Shimi's tired face.

In her large, dark eyes, there was no calculation or weighing of options like an adult, only a clear and unwavering worry.

"Gugu, I'm not tired, let Pear Baby give me a hug..."

She comforted her in a childish voice, just as Duan Shimi had done before, and rubbed her cheek against her aunt's.

The soft, warm scent of milk travels over the skin that is pressed against it.

Wen Li doesn't preach adult principles, but she tells Duan Shimi in the most practical way: It's okay, even if the whole world is against you, Li Bao, you will believe in your aunt!

Duan Shimi's eyelashes trembled.

The heart, long tormented, miraculously found a long-lost tranquility under this innocent touch.

-

After arriving home, the aunt and niece went to their respective rooms.

When Wen Li took the wooden snake out again, she found that it had changed again:

Although it still looks like a rigid wooden carving at first glance, now not only is its mouth open, but its tail has also changed compared to before, curling up thirty degrees to the upper left.

"Chirp chirp, what is it doing?"

Wen Li tilted her head, looking very confused.

"Or does it want Pear to do something?"

System notification: [Little Pear, think of a name for this blind box!]

name……

What does "One, two, three, wooden snake" mean?

She's only ever heard of "Red Light, Green Light".

—Huh?

Wen Li remembered that when her mother used to play "Red Light, Green Light" with her, she had to stay in one position and not move, like a little snake curling its tail.

So, should I imitate its actions?

But Pear Baby doesn't have a tail...

The little bundle of joy tilted its head, raised its hand, lifted its leg, and barely managed to twist out a similar arc, remaining fixed on the bed like a little sculpture.

After a while, the little snake moved to a different spot and changed its posture.

Wen Li followed behind, imitating each of them.

Will this really help Gugu? The little milk ball had its doubts.

Never mind, let's learn first!

There were several design drafts scattered on the ground. The wooden snake chose one of them as its landing point.

Wen Li rolled over and looked in the direction of its tail.

"...Huh?"

She got up and saw that the curve of the snake's body was very similar to the curve of the embroidery on the neckline in the design drawing.

Wen Li picked up another piece of paper and tilted her head.

This time it's the folds at the waist, which are exactly the same angle as the snake's tail pointing upwards.

"This one is also included..."

Another one, the dark pattern on the skirt hem, stretching in the same arc.

Why does my aunt have a "wooden snake" on every single one of her clothes?

Milk Dumpling carefully put away the blueprints, then, carrying them and the wooden snake, ran to find Duan Shimi.

"Coo coo! Coo coo!"

Duan Shimi was staring blankly at her phone when she heard the enthusiastic, sweet voice and turned around.

The little dumpling held up what it was holding high: "Look, snake and bend, they look so alike!"

Duan Shimi was stunned when she saw it.

The curve of the wooden snake coiled around it is almost identical to the mother-of-pearl flowing lines on the dress she wore to the Golden Feather Awards!

Wen Li then took out a second, a third...

Each one has curves with different materials and styles, but similar angles.

The little dumpling said earnestly, "Gugu's drawings all have snakes in them, Pear Baby found them!"

For her, it was like a game of finding patterns in picture books.

But for Duan Shimi, it was nothing short of a thunderbolt.

She took the manuscript paper, muttering incredulously, "...Nong Nong...?"

The little one asked, "Who is Nongnong?"

Duan Shimi replied in a low voice, "It was a snake I used to keep. I was alone abroad at the time, and I had no money. It kept me company."

The little dumpling asked, "And what about it now?"

Duan Shimi said softly, "I went to a better place."

The meaning behind that sentence is too complicated for a three-year-old. Wen Li understood it to mean that the snake was no longer with her aunt.

The little boy generously stuffed his wooden snake into her hand: "That's Pear Baby's snake, keep Gugu company!"

"Thank you, Li Bao." Duan Shimi's voice was hoarse. "I've always used Nongnong as my signature, I never even realized it..."

Even the fritillaria bulbs used in this competition have enlarged designs.

Iris may steal the design, but she can never steal the source of this pure emotion.

It contains pain, struggle, and longing; it is an irreplaceable mark of life.

Wen Li noticed that the design drawing was suddenly blurred by water stains.

Those are my aunt's tears.

Wen Li didn't understand why her aunt was suddenly crying, so she placed the wooden snake on the design drawing and went to comfort her.

An astonishing scene unfolded:

The shadow cast by the wooden carving, which the whole family regarded as a useless toy, overlapped with the flowing lines of the mother-of-pearl in the picture when illuminated by the light!

It fits perfectly, as if it were made by nature itself.

In that instant, it was as if Nong Nong came to life, telling its owner, "My design talent and yours have never left you."

Duan Shimi squatted down, hugged Wen Li, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Wenli used her little sunflower handkerchief to wipe away her aunt's tears, not forgetting to praise her: "Gugu, you're the best, the most amazing!"

Although her aunt was still crying, Wenli could sense that the adults were much more relaxed.

Did the snake help Auntie?

She misunderstood the system; the boxes she found were actually quite useful!

-

The next day, at the defense meeting.

When hundreds of "thick curves" and process certification reports from authoritative institutions appeared on the big screen at the same time, the scene was in an uproar.

Iris attempted to refute the claims, but the Duan family's legal team submitted a complete chain of evidence, plunging the judges into a long silence.

When the final result was announced, no one raised any objections.

The Golden Feather Awards have revoked Iris's nomination and launched an investigation.

That evening, the entire industry issued a joint statement declaring that designer Iris had broken her promise and that they would never work with her again.

Iris, who had planned to make a name for herself with the Golden Feather Award, never expected it to become the end of her career.

-

Another day, the Golden Feather Awards ceremony.

The media area was packed, with countless cameras pointed at the stage and the audience.

Among them, the camera focused most on a father and daughter in the first row of the audience.

"Hey, isn't that the head of the Duan Group?"

"So Mia really is the daughter of the Duan family?"

"I heard they're not getting along, and today the older brother even came to personally oversee things..."

"That little baby is here too! Whose daughter is she?"

Duan Hetong remained indifferent, ignoring the rumors.

Anyway, anyone who wants to be interviewed will be stopped by the assistant.

His most important task right now is to peel grapes for the milk ball next to him.

Today, Wen Li wore a sandy pink retro tutu dress designed by her aunt. The collar of her little jacket was uniquely decorated with a circle of snow-white fur, making her look like an exquisite doll.

Her features were originally delicate, but she had been abused and was pitifully thin. Now, under the careful care of the Duan family, her little face has become much plumper and she is even more adorable.

Duan Hetong fed the peeled and seeded grapes to Duan Hetong's lips, his usually cold and disdainful gaze now unusually gentle.

"Awooo—" Wenli opened her little mouth and took a bite, chewing until her cheeks were bulging like a little hamster.

After finishing hers, the little dumpling didn't forget to reciprocate, peeling off a piece and handing it to Duan Hetong: "Baba, have some too!"

This scene naturally elicited low gasps of surprise from those around.

"Oh my god, this is so cute!"

"You didn't believe that screenshot from the meeting last time, but I told you President Duan is a doting father to his daughter in private!"

"This stark contrast makes me feel like a typical married man... sob..."

"If I had a cub like that, I'd feed it to him every day!"

Just as everyone was melting from the cuteness of the adorable little dumpling, the lights in the hall gradually dimmed.

As the symphony began, the host announced from the center of the stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this year's 'Golden Feather Award' International Fashion Design Competition has been chosen—"

"Let's welcome—Mia, Duan Shimi!"

The audience erupted in applause!

"Wow--"

Wen Li was the first to jump up excitedly.

She clapped enthusiastically until her little hands were red, and the layers of her little dress swayed back and forth, making her look like a little cake that had come to life.

Duan Shimi walked slowly onto the stage amidst the attention of the crowd, accepted the heavy trophy, and stood in front of the microphone.

She took a deep breath: "Winning this award was no easy feat. These past few days, my team and I have experienced unprecedented turmoil. I almost had to give up the career I originally wanted to dedicate my life to."

The media in the audience were frantically snapping photos.

Wen Li noticed that her aunt seemed to be looking for something, and said, "Before issuing all the official acknowledgments, there is one person I want to thank first."

The little one curiously turned his head and asked his father, "Who should Gugu thank?"

Duan Hetong patted her little hand, smiling but not answering.

Her aunt's gaze finally fell on her.

The little bundle of joy waved vigorously: Pear Baby is here!

Then I heard my aunt say, "Li Bao, please come up on stage and come to my aunt, okay?"