“Little Aunt~! Little Aunt~!”
Jiang Lekang pumped his little short legs and panted all the way to Qiao Shu’s room. He didn’t even knock before bursting inside.
He kept calling “Little Aunt” as he ran, but when the little guy reached the bedside and saw Qiao Shu lying there with her eyes closed, sleeping sweetly and beautifully, he didn’t dare make another sound.
But he was terribly worried for his own sister, so the five-year-old milk dumpling Jiang Lekang grew so anxious that his eyes turned red-rimmed.
In his heart, he didn’t want to see his sister get beaten, and he wanted to protect her.
Yet he couldn’t bear to wake the Fairy Little Aunt who was sleeping so soundly…
Just as the little guy was on the verge of shedding golden beans, Qiao Shu, who had been sleeping comfortably, sensed a hiccupping sob beside her. She slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she did, she saw a fair, chubby little milk dumpling crouched by her bed.
“Kangkang, what’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu sat up in bed. She looked at the little guy with his red-rimmed eyes and damp gaze, asking worriedly.
Seeing Qiao Shu awake, the little guy who had been holding back his tears could no longer control himself and burst into sobs.
“Wahhh~ Little Aunt, Sis, Sis got in trouble again and she’s gonna get beaten…”
“Huh? There, there, Kangkang, don’t cry. What happened to Ningning? Why’s she getting beaten?”
The instant she saw tears falling from the little guy’s eyes, Qiao Shu hurriedly scooped him into her arms. She wiped the tears from Jiang Lekang’s face while soothing him and gently asking what had happened.
Though Jiang Lekang was only five, he was a smart child. He recounted everything that had occurred while she slept.
He spoke in fits and starts, stumbling over his words with bits that didn’t quite connect, but under Qiao Shu’s patient guidance, he got the whole story out.
At least, Qiao Shu understood exactly what had gone down.
Once she grasped the full picture, Qiao Shu pressed her lips together helplessly.
Though she hadn’t been involved at all in He Anning’s mischief, when it came down to it, she was the root cause.
And now, hearing from Jiang Lekang that others had called He Anning a liar, she couldn’t just stand by.
After all, being doubted, misunderstood, and distrusted was a heavy blow even for an adult—let alone a child???
Especially since this little girl, disbelieved and misunderstood by everyone, had only lashed out to defend her and stop the badmouthing. Qiao Shu absolutely couldn’t let He Anning suffer for it.
So the usually low-key Qiao Shu, who shied away from strangers, pulled Jiang Lekang out the door. She then changed into a white silk dress she’d taken from her Spirit Spring Space, paired with a pair of white transparent sandals from this era.
Unsure just how beautiful this “Chu Sister” the little guy mentioned was, Qiao Shu picked a pale yellow flower still dotted with dew from the vase by her vanity mirror and tucked it into her hair.
She checked herself in the mirror. Gazing at her reflection, Qiao Shu thought this should make her at least as pretty as the Military District Compound’s most beautiful “Chu Sister.” She ought to be able to help the little guy save face~!
And so, with a quick primp, Qiao Shu took Jiang Lekang’s hand and headed downstairs. Just as the crowd was about to disperse, she appeared before them like a dazzling ray of light.
Everyone stared at the girl in the flowing white dress, her snowy arms and slender legs bared, glowing under the sunlight as if she herself emitted light. No one could tear their eyes away.
Especially that face—beautiful like a celestial fairy descended to earth, so stunning it felt like a dream.
They all had the same two eyes, one nose, one mouth.
Yet this fairy-like girl in white was breathtakingly unique.
Their features served mere human survival, but hers were like exquisite artwork, intoxicatingly beautiful. Even from afar, one could drown in her allure.
And with that cascade of lush hair adorned by a fresh flower glistening with dewdrops, she seemed ethereal, otherworldly—like a woodland sprite or heavenly fairy…
Everyone there, who had never beheld such beauty, stood stunned and awestruck.
Until He Anning’s smug shout snapped them out of it.
“Gao Yatong, you’re dumbfounded, hahaha! Admit it—my Little Aunt really is the prettiest!”
He Anning crowed with hands on hips as Gao Yatong gaped like she’d seen a ghost.
All her earlier grievances vanished the moment everyone gawked at her Little Aunt in shock!
But soon, the little girl regretted showing off her Fairy Little Aunt to the world, because—
“Wow! Ningning, your Little Aunt’s a flower fairy! Prettier than the ones in cartoons!”
“Ningning, your Little Aunt’s so pretty! Way prettier than Chu Sister!”
“Hi Little Aunt, I’m Ningning’s friend…”
“Fairy Little Aunt, you’re gorgeous! Can I come play with you later?”
…
Seeing her former doubters—the kids who’d badmouthed her Little Aunt—now boldly crowding Qiao Shu and shamelessly calling her “Little Aunt” too, He Anning wasn’t having it.
“Shoo! Don’t you all have your own Little Aunts? This is MY Little Aunt! Get lost!”
“You! And you, you, you! You were just calling my Little Aunt a country bumpkin and saying bad things about her. No talking to my Little Aunt!”
Possessive as ever, He Anning spread her little arms like an old mother hen, staunchly guarding Qiao Shu and keeping the others at bay.
If He Anning could still chase off the envious little brats eyeing her Fairy Little Aunt, she stood no chance against the grown-ups.
Once they recovered from Qiao Shu’s stunning beauty, several aunts and grannies began fawning over her, prying into her life like a census. They grilled the Feng Family Members about her.
Though the elders were praising her Fairy Little Aunt, He Anning eyed their hungry stares—like monsters spotting Monk Tang’s flesh—and felt something off.
“Wow, Hong girl, your little daughter-in-law’s a real looker! Old me’s lived this long and never seen such a fresh, pretty young thing.”
“Isn’t that right! A girl this refined and spirited—first time I’ve laid eyes on one. She’s just so likable.”
“I took a shine to little Qiao Shu right away. Feels like my daughter from a past life. How about… Shushu recognizes me as her godmother?”
“Little He, did your Feng Xiao skip coming home for such a big wedding ’cause he’s unhappy with the match? Times have changed—we elders can’t be so feudal anymore, forcing arranged marriages! That’s no good!”
“Exactly! He Sis, if Feng Xiao’s not keen, maybe Shushu could consider my boy? He likes girls just like her!”
“And my little brother! He’s great too! Aunt Hong, you’ve watched him grow up—he’s one of the best catches in the compound!”
…
The Feng Family Members hadn’t been angry enough over He Anning’s fight to give the little troublemaker a beating.
But now! Seeing other families in the Military District Compound eyeing their precious daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, plotting to steal her away, they itched to thrash the pesky kid!!!
Though He Hong and He Yingzi, neither with gentle tempers, both wanted to slap the impure schemers who lusted after their darling.
But the folks in their compound weren’t simple—mostly generals and commanders like Elder Feng. Starting a real fight wouldn’t do.
Besides, they hadn’t done anything overt—just heaped praise on their daughter-in-law while… anyone not an idiot could sense their sneaky intent to sabotage Feng Xiao and Qiao Shu’s marriage, coveting their fairy daughter-in-law!
So the Feng Family Members saw the poachers off with skin-deep smiles, then unleashed their pent-up fury on the unlucky He Anning~!
Qiao Shu let out a long breath once the huge throng finally cleared out.
She was used to stares, but… being mobbed with questions like a household registry? That was a first!
Especially those grandmas old enough to be hers, fondling her hands with grandmotherly affection and wanting to take her home—she was at a total loss!
How had she never realized in her last life how much elders liked her?
Oh, right—after college, she’d never gone out, and never crossed paths with any elders…
“He Anning! On your knees!”
The moment they entered the living room, He Yingzi dropped all restraint and bellowed at He Anning.
Knowing her mother was truly furious, the sensible He Anning promptly knelt in apology.
“Mom, I’m sorry, I was wrong…”
“Hmph! Wrong how!”
He Yingzi narrowed her eyes, glaring sternly at He Anning.
“I, I was wrong to hit anyone…”
But at just ten years old, how could He Anning grasp the adults’ underhanded motives? She scratched her head, figuring it must be because she’d hit too hard this time.
Sure, she’d gone heavy on them—but only because they’d mocked her Fairy Little Aunt.
And she hadn’t even hurt them…
As He Anning grumbled inwardly, her fierce mother shot her another venomous glare.
“Wrong! You were wrong to drag your Little Aunt into things outside!”
“Huh…?”
He Anning had already regretted bragging about her Fairy Little Aunt to her friends when they tried to steal her away, but her mother’s words still left her baffled.
He Hong couldn’t help chiming in at her granddaughter’s confused look.
“Ningning, think—your Little Aunt’s so wonderful, so likable. Once others notice, won’t they covet her and try to snatch her home?”
Hearing He Hong, the already clever He Anning instantly got what her mother meant.
She finally understood why those grannies, aunts, and ladies had ogled her Fairy Little Aunt like irresistible prey!
At once, He Anning regretted it so much she wanted to give herself a good thrashing!