There were still empty rooms in Fu Yunruo's rental house. The three of them teamed up together to prepare two guest rooms and soon finished the clean-up. Having anticipated the arrival of the guests, Fu Yunruo asked a villager who worked in the town to buy two sets of mattresses and quilts this morning. The things she ordered arrived at noon, and soon were opened up and washed while Wenwen was taking a nap. The mattresses and quilts were now left to dry under the sun, ready for use tonight.
Considering the long travel they had just taken, Fu Yunruo offered Tiantian and Qian Shengnan to rest at home during the afternoon, but they refused, claiming to be not tired. Knowing that Wenwen was currently shooting the variety show, Tiantian couldn't hold back her longing, "It's been a long time since I last saw my little cutie…"
In the end, Fu Yunruo relented and took the two to the set. On the way, they met some villagers who were curious upon seeing the two beautiful young girls, "Ruoruo, who are they?"
"My friends. They are here to visit me…"
The three of them exchanged greetings with the villagers they met on the way, and it took them a bit of time to reach the set. Fu Yunruo stopped in the distance and watched Wenwen for a while. At this moment, the boy was playing in the small creek that ran through the village, giggling and romping like a little duck.
Fu Yunruo introduced the two guests she brought to Yuan Xin. Tiantian had heard a little about Yuan Xin's name and respected him as a senior figure in the industry. Thanks to their common love for Wenwen, the two hit it off at first sight and began to exchange various anecdotes about the little boy. Meanwhile, Qian Shengnan was busy watching their surroundings in vigilance, fulfilling her duty as a bodyguard. Seeing this, Fu Yunruo told her to relax. "This village is safe. We won't encounter any dangers here."
The reason Fu Yunruo decided to employ a bodyguard was mainly to give a sense of safety for both herself and her son. However, this village was always safe and peaceful, sans the arrival of a few annoying people, so there was no need for the bodyguard to be always on a high alert.
Moreover, those people only stayed in the town for two days before hurriedly leaving again. It seemed that an accident happened in one of the Fu Group's cooperative projects, prompting the chairman to go to the scene to deal with the trouble in person. The news of their departure spread quickly from the small town and reached Fu Yunruo's ears in less than ten minutes. She was relieved to hear this. Now that those people had left, she no longer had to worry that they might come to pollute the air again.
Qian Shengnan listened to Fu Yunruo's persuasion and relaxed a bit, but her eyes still habitually glanced around from time to time.
During the break, Wenwen ran over to her mother. His face was still wet, either from water or sweat, so Fu Yunruo took out a handkerchief and wiped him.
Wenwen knew Tiantian, who was his mother's business partner, and promptly called her with a sweet voice, "Sister Tiantian!"
Tiantian responded with a smile: "Hello, Wenwen!"
When Wenwen saw another beautiful sister he had never seen before, he looked at his mother puzzledly.
Fu Yunruo introduced, "This sister is Qian Shengnan." She then lowered her voice, "She is our bodyguard. Very strong!"
Wenwen's eyes quickly sized up the new bodyguard. The next second, he sweetly greeted, "Hello, Sister Shengnan!"
Qian Shengnan was not a match for such a cute little child. Full of nervousness, she responded with a stiff expression.
Yuan Xin took out a cute-looking light blue water bottle and called, "Wenwen, come here and drink some water."
Several adults circled around Wenwen and completely ignored Si Yue, who came after the boy. Fu Yunruo noticed Si Yue's arrival and felt quite awkward. With his fame, Si Yue should be the center of attention wherever he went, but now he was totally left out because of Wenwen. Feeling bad, Fu Yunruo poured Si Yue a glass of water and handed him a pack of tissues to wipe his sweat. She then quietly told him about Qian Shengnan's identity in a low voice.
Without changing his expression, Si Yue nodded silently.
…
That night, Fu Yunruo's house was very lively. When Auntie Mei and Uncle Mei learned about the guests' arrival, they specially butchered a few chickens and ducks, which Fu Yunruo then took back to make a sumptuous dinner.
Even Yuan Xin stayed behind for the meal before leaving.
After dinner, Si Yue packed up and prepared to move back to the Mei family's house with Auntie Mei, who was informed about Qian Shengnan's real identity.
Tiantian had just discovered that Si Yue lived here during this time and was very shocked. Yet, she was hesitant to breach the subject and looked at Fu Yunruo from time to time, until she could no longer hold back her curiosity. Pulling Fu Yunruo aside, Tiantian interrogated her in a hushed tone, "Why does Mr. Yue live at your house?"
Fu Yunruo told Tiantian the story.
Tiantian couldn't help exclaiming in doubt, "Ruoruo, you are too innocent. Aren't you afraid that he has other intentions?"
Fu Yunruo smiled back in response, "I understand what you mean, but it's impossible. He did it just to indulge Wenwen, and in any case, there is also Auntie Mei here."
It's not that Fu Yunruo looked down on herself, but she just knew her self-worth. Si Yue was a famous and prestigious superstar; what kinds of beauty had he never seen before? Such a person wouldn't be interested in everyday women, not to mention someone who also had a child out of wedlock.
What's more, she didn't feel he was chasing after her. No matter how slow she was, she surely would know if he showed such intention, no?
It was her son who was too likable, so much that even the dignified movie emperor was willing to make a fool of himself for him.
"What are you talking about? You are this excellent. Anyone who dares to despise you is not worthy!" That said, even Tiantian understood how high-grade Si Yue was. As an actor, he was surely used to being surrounded by talented and beautiful women. No matter how good Fu Yunruo was, the fact that she had a child out of wedlock was sure to bring prejudice and contempt from many people.
"However, everyone in the entertainment industry knows that Mr. Yue has always been very careful about getting along with women. There is absolutely zero gossip about him having an ambiguous relationship with a woman…"
Tiantian's understanding of Si Yue was all hearsay, but he was indeed a famous actor with a clean private life, which was a rarity in this circle. Tiantian obviously never expected that such a Si Yue would take the initiative to live under the same roof with a young, beautiful, and — most importantly — single woman. It was impossible for her imagination to not run wildly.
Surely, Ruoruo just didn't notice it yet…
After listening to Tiantian's persuasive words, Fu Yunruo suddenly became suspicious. Could it be that Si Yue was really interested in her? But it didn't seem right — she really couldn't feel that he was chasing her.
Or was Si Yue's method too subtle?
With this question in mind, Fu Yunruo and Tiantian returned to the yard where Wenwen was currently 'offering' his chubby cheeks to Si Yue with great reluctance. Wenwen really didn't want to do it, but this was Si Yue's remuneration written in the contract, so he could only reluctantly let the man play with his soft cheeks.
When Fu Yunruo saw Si Yue again, all the doubts she had just have instantly dissipated. If this person really liked her, surely he would try his best to stay here, no?
Sure enough, Tiantian was simply overthinking it. How could Mr. Yue like her? It was just a misunderstanding. And for a moment, she even felt conflicted, trying to find a way to reject without hurting Si Yue.
…
In the evening, Fu Yunruo read to Wenwen the comments on the livestream channel, just like yesterday. In the middle, she suddenly realized a large number of comments clamoring that Wenwen and Si Yue were so alike, as if Wenwen was a mini copy of Si Yue.
Like yesterday, Fu Yunruo took the screenshots randomly without paying much attention to the comments on the screen. Therefore, only now did she find out the sheer number of comments talking about the same thing.
Fu Yunruo scoffed inside. Where did Wenwen look like Si Yue? Obviously he is her copy, ah. Si Yue had nothing to do with Wenwen, so how could they be similar?
Wenwen also saw the comments, but his reaction was totally different. Did he unconsciously bring over the habits he learned in his previous life? Seeing so many people commenting about how he was like a little Si Yue made him very nervous.
In his last life, he collected all of Si Yue's films and used them to learn by imitating to hone his acting skills. It was inevitable that his acting had the shadow of Si Yue's, not to mention that he later rose all the way to fame under the marketing gimmick of the nickname 'Little Si Yue.'
He knew that Si Yue's fans didn't like others rubbing up on their idol's popularity, and his own anti used this fact to mock him relentlessly.
Wenwen looked at the comments nervously. Thinking how the audience, who was previously very friendly, might change their face and turn to dislike him made him very uncomfortable. He never intended to rub off Si Yue's popularity in this life, so why did these people still say that he looked like the child version of Si Yue? And even calling him Little Si Yue?
Wenwen glanced at his mother. Seeing that she seemed to be in a daze, he reached out and swiped the screen, wanting to confirm the audience's general reaction. Wenwen braced himself to see ridicule and scolding, but was surprised to find nothing of such a tone. Most of the audience was full of praise, and even the nickname 'Little Si Yue' was used in an endearing tone instead of a mocking one.
Seeing the completely different reaction from his previous life, Wenwen was stunned beyond belief. What actually happened here? Did the moderator delete all the negative comments? Or did Mom only take screenshots of positive comments?
Meanwhile, because of her conversation with Tiantian this evening, Fu Yunruo felt a bit embarrassed by the comments. Children naturally liked to imitate grown-ups, and Si Yue was one of Wenwen's favorite grown-ups. It was normal for the boy to imitate his words and deeds unconsciously, which probably led to the current situation.
Feigning ignorance, Fu Yunruo continued reading the comments as if it was nothing. Wenwen still couldn't read anyway, so he wouldn't know anything as long as she skipped these comments.
…
Fang Xueruo sat in front of the computer, watching the livestream broadcast go dark, along with her increasingly darker face. She then went to see the comments on social media. Seeing how well-received Fu Yunruo mother and son were and watching their number of fans skyrocketing, Fang Xueruo's hands clenched even tighter, leaving shocking red nail marks on her fair skin.
After a while, she rang her agent, "Sister Wen, is there any endorsement offer recently? I'm a little bored at home and need something to pass the time."
"Uh…" Sister Wen's eyelids jumped ominously, but she braced herself and told Fang Xueruo the truth, "There is one job from this cosmetics company…"
"Which one? IO?" Fang Xueruo casually mentioned an internationally renowned cosmetics brand. A while ago, the person in charge of the Asian region contacted her studio, obviously with the intention of opening cooperation.
"…No, it's OY."
With a click, the bamboo stick in Fang Xueruo's hands broke into two, "What did you say?"
Sister Wen shuddered by Fang Xueruo's icy voice, but she still repeated, "It's OY."
Only one letter difference in name, but the gap between the two brands was huge. OY was a domestic brand and not even a well-known one. On top of that, there had been scandals regarding damages caused by their cosmetics, causing the government to ban the sales of their products. Later, the case was withdrawn and the brand resumed sales, but the market no longer trusted them.
Such a brand with a ruined reputation actually had the gall to ask her to endorse their products? Fang Xueruo said in a cold voice, "Sister Wen, I trusted your ability as an agent, but you actually bring me this kind of job?"
Sister Wen felt wronged. Ever since Fang Xueruo's image collapsed, their brilliant days were over. As an agent, she sought cooperation everywhere, but major brands refused to work with a scandalous star, and not even the immense backing of Orange Entertainment, Chang Group, and Fu Group could secure Fang Xueruo's cooperation with those brands. From the business point of view, this was actually understandable. After all, which company was willing to risk having their brand name stained with the artist?
Except for the brands owned directly by the Fu Group and the Chang group, only such inferior brands would come to seek Fang Xueruo's endorsement now.
Presumably, even after the scandal subsided, these days would still continue.
But Sister Wen didn't dare to tell the truth to Fang Xueruo now, so she quickly appeased in a low voice, "I will try again…"
Sister Wen hung up the phone. Her face was dark. Where could she find good resources now? In the past, she didn't even need to look around, because good resources were automatically delivered to their door. Now, not only endorsement and advertisements, but even movies and television dramas also shut them out, and those who still looked for them were all third-rate producers who wanted to leech on Fang Xueruo's fame, even if the fame was now mostly negative.
If this continued for a long time, Fang Xueruo's presence would gradually fade away, and in an era where public memory was very short, it would toll a certain death to her career.
Unless… Orange Entertainment poured money to create resources exclusive to Fang Xueruo.
The three-day shooting passed quickly. After rounding up the last day, the production team held a donation ceremony with the local government, then had a special dinner together. Considering Wenwen's young age, Fu Yunruo only allowed him to stay briefly before taking him back home. Si Yue also only sat for a while before leaving, taking the mother and son back to the village with the driver.
Driving at night, especially on the mountainous road, warranted extra cautiousness, so the car ran relatively slowly. Fu Yunruo tried to open a conversation. Recalling that the show's crew and cast were going to depart home tomorrow, she asked Si Yue, "Mr. Yue, are you leaving tomorrow morning with the rest of the crew?" Well, they now could be regarded as acquaintances, so it was just proper for her to see him off.
Meanwhile, Wenwen was very excited tonight, mainly because the director had issued his fee. Looking at the bank card that contained his first fruit of labor, Wenwen's chubby face was flushed with excitement. However, Fu Yunruo's question poured a bucket of cold water on Wenwen's joy. Falling silent all of a sudden, he raised his head and couldn't help asking again, despite already knowing the answer, "Uncle Yue, are you leaving?"
Si Yue laughed: "Are you reluctant?"
Wenwen threw his head aside awkwardly, "I'm not reluctant!" Still, he secretly took a glance at Si Yue.
"Heartless little guy." Si Yue's eyes softened, "I'm not leaving with the crew. Will you welcome me if I stay for two more days?"
Wenwen's eyes immediately lit up.
Fu Yunruo couldn't help chuckling, "Of course. Right, Wenwen?" Seeing her son's joy, she hoped Si Yue could stay longer.
…
The car stopped on the side of the road, and Si Yue sent Fu Yunruo and Wenwen home before heading back to the Mei family's house.
Tiantian and Qian Shengnan were surprised to see them back so quickly, but were happy nonetheless.
"Wenwen, did you have fun tonight?"
"Yeah!"
Suddenly remembered, Wenwen ran to Fu Yunruo and solemnly handed her his first salary card, "For you, Mom, so you can buy beautiful clothes and cosmetics."
All the money he had just made was gone, but it was okay! He could make a lot more sooner or later.
Fu Yunruo was overjoyed. She hugged the boy and showered him with kisses, "Wenwen is amazing! At such a young age, you can already provide for your mother!"
Wenwen's small chest puffed out proudly, and his face sparkled with a smile. Oh, look how great he is! He can make money for his mother!
Tiantian was very envious. She also wanted to have such a sensible and caring boy, ah!
Fu Yunruo carefully put the bank card, reluctant to use even a single cent. She would keep the money for Wenwen and hand it back once he grew up.
For the donation today, Fu Yunruo asked Yuan Xin to donate an additional sum of money from her pocket under the show's name. Tiantian, who went with Yuan Xin, also put on a donation on her own, and it seemed that Si Yue also personally added some figures. Hopefully, the total amount will be enough to make some real changes to this area.
Having put down another worry, Fu Yunruo was currently in a very good mood, but Wenwen suddenly sighed in disappointment.
"What's the matter, Baobao?"
Wenwen said in a sad tone, "Uncle Yue is about to leave." Although there were still two more days, and they actually hadn't gotten along for so long, he was indeed a bit reluctant…
After saying goodbye this time, there would be few opportunities to meet again, which made him a little sad.
Seeing her son's dejected figure, Fu Yunruo went to hug him and was about to find some consoling words when the boy suddenly cheered up on his own, "Mom, let's go visit Uncle Yue tomorrow and the next tomorrow!"
"Okay, okay…"
…
The next day, the crew and cast left after another. Fu Yunruo especially went to send off Xin Xu and handed him some local souvenirs.
Xin Xu reluctantly left with a strong promise to keep in touch.
After that, Fu Yunruo returned to her job in the flower garden, leaving Wenwen and Si Yue messing around outside. The orchids they planted on the roof had withered, but they didn't know whose flower actually died first. The pot couldn't call the kettle black, so they made a compromise and encouraged each other for another try.
Fu Yunruo ignored the two and poured all her attention into teaching Qian Shengnan to do some simple tasks.
Yuan Xin was sitting in the bungalow, teaching Tiantian some insider knowledge of managing a studio.
In the evening, the group returned to the village to spend the night there.
After two days, Si Yue and Yuan Xin finally left. Fu Yunruo brought Wenwen to send them off. Auntie Mei and Uncle Mei also came, gifting the two a lot of local specialties, including two bags of home-grown organic millet, which filled the car trunk in no time.
Wenwen was very silent today. Holding Fu Yunruo's hand, he kept his head down all the time.
Before getting into the car, Si Yue walked to the boy and squatted down, "Wenwen, why didn't you say something to Uncle?" He said warmly.
Wenwen still kept his head down, refusing to look at Si Yue.
"Uncle is leaving." Si Yue patted the boy's head, "don't cry later, okay?"
"I won't!" Wenwen raised his head and retorted strongly. He was already a big kid with a salary, so he wouldn't cry!
"Okay, okay. Wenwen is a mature little adult."
"When you come to Beijing, Uncle will take you to the playground."
"Really? What if you lied…"
"Uncle won't lie to you."
Wenwen hesitated, but he still stretched out his little finger, "Pinky promise!"
"Well, pinky promise."
Wenwen hesitated, but he still stretched out his little finger, "Pinky promise!"
"Well, pinky promise."
Si Yue stood up and looked at Fu Yunruo, but he only said, "Take care."
Fu Yunruo also replied, "Have a safe journey."
No matter how reluctant, it was time to leave. Si Yue gave Wenwen a quick hug before getting into the car.
Soon, the car started and slowly drove away.
When Wenwen finally looked up, the car had already drifted away. He subconsciously tried to chase, but only moved a little before stopping in place.
Fu Yunruo picked him up, patted his back soothingly, and softly said, "Wenwen, just cry if you're sad. Mom is here."
Hugging his mother, Wenwen tried hard to hold back his cry, but he finally failed and burst into tears.
He was actually a bit — only a little bit — sad.
All blame this childish body that couldn't control its emotions. Otherwise, he wouldn't cry just because of one farewell…
Fu Yunruo felt distressed for her son, but at the same time, she was also relieved, because it was better to cry when feeling sad.
At this moment, she didn't even know whether it was right or wrong when she didn't stop Wenwen and Si Yue from getting closer.
…
Even after the people reflected in the rear-view mirror gradually became smaller and completely disappeared from sight, Si Yue still didn't retract his gaze.
Seeing this, Yuan Xin casually asked, "Since you are so reluctant, why didn't you tell them the truth?"
"It's not the time yet."
Yuan Xin thought for a while and couldn't help snorting in disdain. What a scheming bastard!
What did Si Yue mean? Nothing more than worrying that Fu Yunruo would be afraid of him trying to fight for Wenwen's custody. Once she had this worry, she surely would try her best to avoid Si Yue, including canceling her plan to move to Beijing and continued staying in that small village.
Yuan Xin didn't know whether to sympathize with Fu Yunruo, who was 'cared for' so tremendously by Si Yue, or to laugh at seeing this dog man working so hard for a woman.
Si Yue closed his eyes, wanting to take a rest. After a while, he whispered, "Soon…"
…
Uncle Mei and Auntie Mei tried their best to console Wenwen, but the more they tried, the louder he cried. Finally, Fu Yunruo coaxed him: "Baobao, stop crying. We will go to Beijing soon, and you can see your Uncle Yue again."
Wenwen finally stopped crying. When he turned to look at Fu Yunruo, his red eyes had brightened again.
"Ruoruo, have you decided?" Auntie Mei was happy for Fu Yunruo and Wenwen, but when she thought the two would soon move far away, the joy turned into a strong reluctance.
"Capital is pretty good," Uncle Mei commented, then went back into the house.
Auntie Mei snorted, "Don't mind that old man. There are more opportunities in the big cities, and it's a good thing that you go. We are all happy for you."
Fu Yunruo nodded. She was actually not too happy to leave. After several years, she enjoyed living here, creating countless precious memories free from the hustle and bustle of the world. But life was all about trade-offs, and the time for a change had come, even though this decision was hard to make.
Fu Yunruo looked at the son in her arms. For this little guy's sake too, she would have to live in the city for at least ten to twenty years, but she could always come back here to live her retirement once her responsibilities were over. She just hoped that by then, living here would still be the same.
Fu Yunruo chatted with Auntie Mei before returning home. Wenwen couldn't help but ask softly, "Mom, are we moving to Beijing?"
"Well, that is the plan."
Wenwen jumped up in joy. Did it mean that he would be able to see Uncle Yue from time to time?
Seeing this, Fu Yunruo couldn't bear to tell Wenwen that they might not be able to see Si Yue even if they lived in the same city.
Wenwen was happy for a while, but he slowly came to a realization. So they were going to leave the village? Leaving Grandpa Mei, Grandma Mei, and Grandpa Guo? And he also had to say goodbye to his playmates, and then…
Flooded with sadness, the tears that had just stopped broke out again, and Wenwen cried even more sadly.
He didn't want to say goodbye…
"Wenwen, what's the matter?!" Fu Yunruo was flustered seeing her son suddenly cry again. Didn't he look so happy just now?
Fu Yunruo, after knowing the reason for Wenwen's second cry: "…"
"Wenwen, don't cry. During the winter vacation every year, Mom will take you back for the New Year."
"You can still play with your friends…"
Fu Yunruo did her best to console the boy, "And we will also ask Grandpa Guo to move with us. We are going together!"
Wenwen sniffed, "Really?"
"Well, the decision is up to Grandpa Guo, so you should do your best to ask him so that he will come with us."
Wenwen wiped his tears and nodded. Well, if Grandpa Guo also came with them, he would feel less sad.
Tiantian brought over a basin of warm water and said jokingly, "Come here, little crybaby. Let's clean your face, okay?"
Embarrassed, Wenwen buried himself in his mother's embrace. He actually cried again; how embarrassing!
Fu Yunruo smiled at Tiantian. This girl knew about Wenwen's high self-esteem, but she still joked with him.
Tiantian covered her mouth and giggled.
…
Less than two days later, Tiantian also returned to Beijing, leaving the house even more deserted. Fortunately, there was still Qian Shengnan. After knowing they were about to move far away, Wenwen spent his time playing crazily with his friends all day. Fu Yunruo assigned Qian Shengnan to send the boy to the village every day and then took him back again at night.
Regarding Fu Yunruo's plan to move to Beijing, Tiantian was the first to be informed, and Fu Yunruo also asked for her assistance in searching for a suitable house. Now that she had also told Uncle Mei and Auntie Mei, Fu Yunruo went to have a talk with Uncle Guo.
"Uncle Guo, will you go to Beijing with us?"
Uncle Guo frowned, "No. Too troublesome."
Persuading Uncle Guo was not an easy task, and Fu Yunruo was mentally prepared. She put on a melancholic face and said worriedly, "Wenwen is about to start school, but the educational resources here are no match to that of the big cities. In fact, I have long been used to living here and am also reluctant to leave. Not to mention that those people are also in Beijing. If I am bullied, no one will help me…"
Uncle Guo knew who 'those people were. His frown deepened, but he still didn't say yes.
Fu Yunruo also didn't expect to be able to convince Uncle Guo in one or two days. Anyway, there was still more than half a year, and she was not in a hurry.
These past few days, Fu Yunruo has been livestreaming nonstop. Some time ago, her followers had doubled following Wenwen's appearance in the variety show, but she actually didn't have time to livestream when accompanying Wenwen's shooting. When she finally resumed livestreaming, she temporarily doubled her broadcast time every morning and evening, which was her compensation for the fans.
As soon as Fu Yunruo finished the broadcast, Tiantian rang.
"Ruoruo, I've found a very good house…" Tiantian quickly rattled off the house's location, the community where it stood, and the surrounding facilities.
"Really? That's great. Tiantian, thank you!"
"It's nothing! Ruoruo, you should come here and take a look! Although it's second-hand, the house is very new and such a rare opportunity still! If you miss this one, you won't be able to find a deal this sweet next time!"
"Okay, okay. Then I will go visiting in two days. Tiantian, help me book the house first."
Fu Yunruo was ecstatic upon seeing the photos sent by Tiantian. She hadn't seen the house with her own eyes, but just the photos alone had already made her fall in love. It was indeed rare to find such a house that practically filled all her requirements but was still within her budget range, so Fu Yunruo immediately booked a flight for tomorrow. When she first transmigrated, she was in a trance all the way and didn't remember how she got here. Therefore, this travel could be said to be her first.
In the evening, Fu Yunruo told Wenwen and Qian Shengnan that she would go to Beijing tomorrow morning. Her plan was to go alone. The travel was long and tiring, and she was afraid that Wenwen would not be able to adapt. However, Wenwen insisted on going along, using everything at his disposal — from crying to acting cutely — to make his mother agree. In the end, Fu Yunruo had no choice but to take him with her.
Fortunately, there was now Qian Shengnan. Otherwise, Fu Yunruo wouldn't dare to take such a young child alone.
…
After a long travel, Fu Yunruo, Wenwen, and Qian Shengnan finally arrived in Beijing on the morning of the third day. Fu Yunruo walked along with the crowd with the sleeping Wenwen in her arms, followed by Qian Shengnan, who was pushing a suitcase with a travel bag attached to it. As soon as they left the exit gate, Tiantian came to pick them up.
"You must be tired," Tiantian hurriedly took Wenwen over. Fu Yunruo was indeed very tired, so she didn't refuse.
Wenwen seemed to sense when the person holding him changed. He sleepily opened his eyes, called "Sister Tiantian" with a dazed voice, and then fell asleep again.
"The car is outside." Tiantian took Fu Yunruo and Qian Shengnan to the parking lot.
Fu Yunruo was happy seeing a child seat specially installed in the car, and she was grateful for Tiantian's meticulous care.
After getting in the car, Fu Yunruo took off the hat that she wore to obscure her face. She was indeed not a celebrity, but to some extent, she and her son were now public figures whose faces had been recognized by many, so in order to avoid trouble on the road, both she and Wenwen put on some easy disguises.
However, Fu Yunruo was surprised to find that Qian Shengnan actually had superb makeup skills. Thanks to her makeup, their appearances had been changed quite differently. Strangers who saw their faces would only feel somewhat familiar but could not guess their identities. Even Tiantian found it hard to recognize them if not for the photo Fu Yunruo sent in advance.
Tiantian drove the car out of the airport. Fu Yunruo looked at the busy traffic and high-rise building outside the windows, feeling a bit hard to adapt. She looked at the scenery carefully, wanting to see if it was any different from the metropolis in her original world. The unique city landmarks were the same, but many of the details were a bit different from her memory…
This city was both familiar and unfamiliar to her.
Not long after the car started, Wenwen woke up and quickly regained his spirits. At this moment, he was reaching out his neck and looking outside the windows. He was very curious. How much different was the Beijing from 20 years ago?
Tiantian brought Fu Yunruo and the others directly back to her home. The red car drove in and stopped in a beautiful neighborhood, where Tiantian bought a two-bedroom apartment. The unit was not large, but it was spacious enough for Tiantian to live alone.
Tiantian had prepared the spare room beforehand, turning it into a guest room for Fu Yunruo and Wenwen, while Qian Shengnan would stay with her.
"Welcome. Sorry it's a bit cramped, though."
"How come?" Fu Yunruo observed the apartment and praised, "Did you do the interior design by yourself? It looks very warm and cozy."
Tiantian's apartment was very nicely decorated. The careful choice of furnishing made it look spacious and not at all cramped. The entire space looked warm and welcoming, especially with the beautiful scenery outside the balcony.
Although the entire apartment was less than 90 square meters, owning a house and a car in Beijing was already quite an achievement. At such a young age, Tiantian had achieved what many people might not be able to achieve in decades.
Tiantian smiled modestly: "Of course not. I know nothing about interior design, so I ordered the design from a well-known designer." The fee was hefty, but in order to have a comfortable home, Tiantian gritted her teeth and paid the money. The result, however, was worth every penny.
"The bathroom is here." Tiantian gave a quick tour. "I have also bought a few daily necessities. Use them freely."
Fu Yunruo glanced in and saw four sets of toothbrushes and water cups on the washstand. One of them was of a child-size in sky blue color, clearly prepared for Wenwen. Hanging on the hooks on the bathroom wall, there were also several brand new towels.
"You guys take a shower first and then take a rest. No hurry. I've made the appointment to see the house at ten tomorrow morning." Tiantian knew that Fu Yunruo and the others must be very tired at the moment, so she let them clean up first before resting for a while. Always feeling tired mentally and physically every time she took a long-distance bus, Tiantian understood her guests' fatigue at this moment. Going out for sightseeing and a meal could wait until they were well-rested.
Fu Yunruo nodded and accepted Tiantian's suggestion. After more than two days on the road, she was indeed exhausted. Fu Yunruo helped Wenwen shower, then went to take one herself. After a shower, she was indeed much more comfortable, feeling her exhaustion had also been washed away.
When the guests were in the shower, Tiantian was not idle either. She washed and peeled a bunch of fruits, serving them on the coffee table in the living room along with a variety of snacks she had prepared beforehand.
After showering and changing, Wenwen sat comfortably on the sofa, watching a kid's cartoon on the huge TV hanging on the wall. Although he felt that cartoons were too childish, he still watched them with relish.
Fu Yunruo returned to the living room after blowing her hair dry. Her hair was thick and long enough to reach down to her waist. It was annoying to let them loose, so Fu Yunruo casually tied her hair halfway up.
"Mom, this snack is so tasty!" Wenwen couldn't wait to share everything delicious with his mother.
Tiantian poured a cup of warm water for Fu Yunruo, then also sat on the sofa. "A friend of mine brought me this snack from a trip abroad. Apparently, it is a famous local shop."
Because Tiantian knew that Fu Yunruo and the others were coming, she didn't eat any and kept them for today.
Wenwen hurriedly handed a piece to his Sister Tiantian, "Sister Tiantian, you eat too."
Facing the boy's sweet care, Tiantian smiled happily.
"You don't have to specially entertain us. We have troubled you enough."
Tiantian responded with a smile, "What trouble? This is your first time coming to my house, so of course I have to be a good host. When I was staying at your house, you cooked so many delicious meals for me every day. You know, I gained 1.5 kg after returning home. It is only fair that I now fatten you too."
Tiantian's declaration of 'taking revenge' made Fu Yunruo laugh in amusement.
The guests and the host chatted over a table full of fruits and snacks. Not long after, Fu Yunruo took the drowsy Wenwen back to the guest room.
Fu Yunruo and the others slept until five in the afternoon. After waking up, they felt so refreshed and no longer exhausted, so Tiantian took them out for dinner. "I know a delicious restaurant. Once you try their food, you will surely fall in love with this place."
Fu Yunruo nodded, "Okay. We are looking forward to it."
Tiantian took Fu Yunruo to a private restaurant that offered good privacy for their clientele, run by a fellow insider of their industry. The four of them were quickly seated in a small private room that was just right for their group. Tiantian was obviously a regular here. She ordered a few signature dishes with familiarity before handing the menu to Fu Yunruo and the others, letting them see if there was anything else they wanted to try.
Fu Yunruo turned to Wenwen, who was sitting on a child's seat lent by the restaurant. The seat was pretty high, and his two short legs dangled in the air.
"Can little children eat these? Do they have a kid's menu?"
"There is no kid's menu, but the food here is not heavy, and some of their dishes are quite popular with children."
Fu Yunruo saw that Tiantian had ordered a lot, enough for the four of them, and there were also no dishes that the children couldn't eat, so she said, "It's enough."
While waiting for the food, Tiantian chatted with Fu Yunruo.
"This restaurant was opened by a food streamer from Panda Live. However, the news has not been made public yet."
This streamer was a foodie who was also an excellent cook. He had a lot of fans. After opening this restaurant, he was practically here all the time, so he deliberately didn't make publicity in order to avoid frequent interruptions by fans. However, he also openly owned a bunch of chain restaurants, so his fans usually went there to support their idol.
"How long do you plan to stay?" Tiantian prayed the house-buying process to go smoothly with no nasty surprises. Once Fu Yunruo and Wenwen moved to Beijing, it would be easier to hang out with them.
"If everything goes well, probably about ten days." It was a rare, hard-to-come visit, so Fu Yunruo naturally had to fully take advantage of the time and take Wenwen on various sightseeing to broaden his horizon. It would be better if they could find a flower garden to rent as well. She couldn't possibly bother Tiantian for every single thing, so she planned to look at it while she was here.
"Only ten days? Why so rushed? Didn't you say that Wenwen's school starts in September? Why don't you stay until the end of August?"
"Let's see the situation first." Fu Yunruo didn't insist.
Not long after, the door of the private room was knocked, and a group of people came in with the ordered dishes. When Tiantian saw a fat man in the chief's uniform, she stood up in surprise, "Brother Fatty, why are you here?"
The man called 'Fatty' replied with a smile, "It's rare for a fellow streamer to come for a visit, so of course I have to entertain you guys."
"Hello, Miss Yunyun. I've heard a lot about you."
"Hello." Fu Yunruo stood up and shook the man's hands.
"If you don't mind, just call me 'Brother Fatty' like my other friends."
"Nice to meet you, Brother Fatty." Fu Yunruo replied.
"Nice to meet you too, Yunyun." Brother Fatty laughed, "Knowing that Wenwen is also here, I specially made him fresh egg custard. I hope he likes it." This egg custard was not on the restaurant menu, but it was the favorite of Fatty's son and he often made it at home.
"Thank you, Uncle." Wenwen thanked politely.
Fu Yunruo also thanked him.
"Let's exchange WeChat. We can be considered colleagues, and it won't do harm to keep in touch."
Fu Yunruo did not refuse.
"Alright then, I have to go now. Have a nice meal."
Fatty didn't stay long. After the waiters finished bringing in all the dishes they ordered, Fu Yunruo and the others began to eat.
Tiantian said: "Brother Fatty is a nice person. He is friendly and loyal to his friends."
When Tiantian was still working in Panda Live, her position was not high and she didn't have any intersections with the top-rank streamers. Later, she came to this restaurant by chance. When Fatty learned that Tiantian was an employee of Panda Live, he gave her a 50% discount and talked to her in a friendly way without putting the slightest air.
Fu Yunruo nodded in understanding. "Our studio is growing, so it's good to know more people in this circle." After all, one more friend meant one more connection.
In the past, Fu Yunruo stayed in the remote mountain village and livestream without showing her face, so she didn't have a deep relationship with other top-rank streamers on the same platform. Now that she had opened a studio in Beijing, it was only natural to integrate with the circle.
Now was the time to enjoy food, so Tiantian stopped talking about work.
Fu Yunruo's eyes lit up when she took the first bite. As expected of a famous food streamer, this taste was absolutely amazing!
Wenwen also enjoyed the food very much. He tasted the egg custard and instantly fell in love. It was fresh, tender, silky, and melted in his mouth. Absolutely the best thing he had ever eaten!
Wenwen scooped up a spoonful of egg custard and pushed it to Fu Yunruo's mouth, "Mom, try it!"
Fu Yunruo leaned over and took the bite, "Delicious!"
Wenwen grinned happily.
After enjoying the lively meal, Fu Yunruo asked for the bill, only to be told that the boss had waived it. Getting treated right after the first meeting, Fu Yunruo was very embarrassed and wanted to pay, but it was currently the restaurant's busiest time, and she was told that the boss was currently busy in the kitchen. Fu Yunruo didn't want to interrupt Fatty's work, so she transferred the money to the WeChat account she had just added to her friend list and didn't forget to compliment to food.
The food was indeed amazing, and their group of three women and a young child managed to finish one table full of food. Bloated, they didn't immediately return to the apartment after going back by car, but took a walk around the neighborhood for about an hour.
At half past ten that night, Fatty finally replied to the message, refusing to accept the money. Fu Yunruo tried to insist, but finally had to back down.
[Brother Fatty, do you dislike us coming to eat? If I am not allowed to pay, I won't dare to go again.]
[Of course you should come more. Don't worry, the next order won't be free, but I will still give you a 50% discount.]
[I do the same for other friends. So you should just take it.]
With this, Fu Yunruo could no longer argue. The next moment, Fatty added her into a small group with only thirteen members, all of whom greeted her with full enthusiasm.
Fatty: Guys, the person you want to meet is here.
Taotie1: I've been looking forward to this moment forever.
Lark: Welcome, welcome!
Fu Yunruo introduced herself, and the group soon became even more lively. When she looked at the members, she found they were well-known fellow streamers of Panda Live. Some of them had already retired while some were still active, but they were all big names with millions of fans.
Lark: How come Yunyun only goes to Beijing? Come to my Shanghai! I will take you sightseeing.
Taotie: Of course Yunyun will go to Beijing. She is originally from here.
CS: Actually, my city is also pretty good. Come anytime. I always welcome you.
Fu Yunruo saw that all the members used a nickname that more or less represented the content of their livestream, so she also gave herself a nickname: Orchid. Fu Yunruo thanked everyone for their invitation, saying that she would be glad to. Among the thirteen members, seven were already retired or semi-retired, and only six were still active streamers. True to the nature of their occupations, the group members were scattered all over the country, and three even lived abroad. Only four, including herself, were in Beijing.
The topics turned to Fu Yunruo's livestream. Someone who had just taken flower gardening asked her some questions, while others also sent her pictures. Fu Yunruo didn't expect that so many in the group actually also grow flowers, and many were still orchids. When it came to her job, Fu Yunruo naturally knew a lot.
Later, it was revealed that many of them had watched the MV that used the pictures of Fu Yunruo's orchids and were seduced into trying to keep orchids themselves. However, despite their best efforts, the orchids they raised were still far away from Fu Yunruo's, lacking the same mesmerizing aura that enticed them in the first place.
Everyone truly admired Fu Yunruo. Just like the photos taken by the top photographers, the paintings painted by the best painters, the songs composed by famous musicians… they all had one thing in common, that is, the artists injected their soul into their works, allowing others to resonate with the joys, sorrows, and other emotions expressed by their works.
The orchids that Fu Yunruo raised were also the same. She devoted all her energy and hard work to showering her orchids with love. As a result, they seemed to exude positive energy, making people feel warm and happy.
After Fu Yunruo's fame exploded, the popularity of gardening-type livestream also grew rapidly. Many people tried to replicate Fu Yunruo's success, but no one could do it like her.
Therefore, some success was not accidental, but inevitable.
The chat was lively, and when Fu Yunruo knew it, it was already midnight. Fu Yunruo rarely went to bed so late, and she could no longer hold back her sleepiness. After saying goodbye, she turned off her mobile phone and fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes.
The next day, Tiantian took Fu Yunruo and the others to see the house. All the way, she was full of good words. "Before seeing this house, I have also seen several others. Some of them fill your requirements, but I think this one is the best. Of course, we can also see other houses if you don't like this one."
That being said, Tiantian actually hoped that Fu Yunruo would like this house. It was not an apartment, but a detached villa-style house. Both the location and the house itself were so good that even Tiantian wouldn't hesitate to buy it for herself if only she had the money. Compared with this one, others on her list were simply mediocre at best.
The car stopped in front of the gate of a very upscale-looking community. A middle-aged man in a western suit was standing at the gate, waiting for them. "Miss Tian, welcome."
"Hello, Mr. Mo. Sorry for keeping you waiting. This is Miss Fu. She is the one looking for a house."
"Nice to meet you."
After a quick introduction, the car drove in. Worthy of its appearance, the security in this community was very strict. Guests needed to be registered, and the security would also check with the resident before allowing guests to enter the gate.
The man named Mr. Mo was the property agent commissioned by the owner of the house, so Fu Yunruo and the others could only enter the community in his presence.
When Fu Yunruo saw the strict inspection, her initial impression was favorable. With this level of safety, she would feel at ease living here with a young child. She then looked around. The greening of this community was done well. There were not many people on the road at this time, and she also observed how the road was clearly separated between pedestrians and vehicles.
From the gate, the car drove for a while before reaching the house they were going to see. The housing in this community was built in the style of separated villas with a certain distance between each house, far enough to protect the residents' privacy but still close enough to maintain relationships between neighbors.
The two-and-a-half-story villa also came with a beautiful garden. Both the house itself and the community also offered many places for children to play. Considering Fu Yunruo and Wenwen's current fame, the privacy provided by the community could guarantee that their life wouldn't be disturbed.
What a bargain!
Although this community was not located in the most affluent area of Beijing, it was pretty close to the city center. It was also a quiet community with good security, and a lot of famous people from all walks of life seemed to also live here.
Needless to say, the price of a house here would not be low. However, the previous owner had to relocate abroad and was in a hurry to cash out his domestic assets, thus selling the house at a significant discount. Fortunately for Fu Yunruo, the house's owner was an acquaintance of Panda Live's boss. Knowing that Fu Yunruo was looking for a house, the boss contacted Tiantian. If not for this connection, such good luck would not fall on her.
Fu Yunruo had liked the house the moment she saw the photos Tiantian sent, but now that she saw it with her own eyes, she liked it even more. There was a small flower garden in the yard. The interior of the house was not fancy at all, simple and elegant, and thus needed no modification or renovation. On top of that, eighty percent of the furniture would be left behind as a free bonus to the buyer, and those were not cheap.
The security guards in the community were former soldiers, which added a great layer of security.
Five kilometers from here, there was a comprehensive school campus ranging from kindergarten to middle school. Fu Yunruo had done her research and found that this school was top-notch in every aspect and fully met her criteria.
Because Fu Yunruo was a friend of a friend, the owner gave her an additional friendly discount, with the only condition that she was to pay full in cash.
Counting all her savings, Fu Yunruo had just enough to buy a house, but she would have to go into the frugal mode for a while.
Fu Yunruo originally wanted to buy a smaller house first. That way, she could use the rest of the money to rent a piece of land to be used as a flower garden. If she bought this villa, her savings would take the bottom, and she wouldn't be able to rent land, let alone build a new flower garden. But if she missed this opportunity, she probably wouldn't meet such a good deal again.
In fact, even if this villa was a bit too large for just a mother and son, she knew that it wouldn't feel empty or deserted. From the beginning, Fu Yunruo was determined to bring Uncle Guo with them, and Qian Shengnan would also live here. With three adults and one child, the villa would sure be lively enough.
Fu Yunruo had taken a great fancy to the house, and Wenwen also felt the same. The boy ran up and down the house, taking a great interest in every detail. He knew this was a great bargain; even the best house he lived in his previous life was not as good as this one. But he also knew the amount of his family's savings and was a bit reluctant to spend so much money at once.
Fu Yunruo asked her son's opinion: "Wenwen, do you like this house?"
Wenwen hesitated for a while, but finally nodded. The price of real estate would only rise year after year, so it could be regarded as an investment. Even at the present time, the price was already very low for a villa with such a great location and would grow tenfolds in 20 years.
Once he saw Uncle Yue again, he must ask for a job and start to make money!
Tiantian also didn't want Fu Yunruo to miss this opportunity, "Ruoruo, if you don't have enough money, I still have some savings…" That being said, she still had a mortgage on the apartment and couldn't lend much.
Fu Yunruo said, "Thank you, Tiantian. But it's alright. I have enough."
Seeing Wenwen and Tiantian nervously waiting for her to make a decision, Fu Yunruo gritted her teeth and decided to buy the house.
It seemed that the owner was in a hurry to sell, so the process was done at record speed. Right after Fu Yunruo expressed her intention to purchase the house, Mr. Mo quickly brought her to various bureaus, completing the procedures in just three days.
After three days, Fu Yunruo was left with a nearly empty bank account and a shiny real estate certificate. Although her savings was now bottomed up, Fu Yunruo suddenly felt a huge relief — this certificate was a legal document that she now owned this house, and she and Wenwen finally had a house that truly belonged to them.
The purchase of a house gave Fu Yunruo a sense of taking roots. Although they regarded the house in Shanghe Village and the bungalow in the flower garden as home, those were never their houses after all.
Wenwen was also ecstatic. It wasn't a small feat to buy a property in the capital city, where a piece of land was more expensive than gold. How amazing!
"Mom, you are amazing!"
"Wenwen is amazing too!"
After the transfer procedures were over, the house was now completely Fu Yunruo's. Since the previous owner had moved their belongings in advance, she could theoretically move in right away.
But Fu Yunruo was not in a hurry, mainly because she lacked the money to decorate the house and buy new furniture at this moment. She indeed liked the interior of the house and didn't intend to revamp it, but the furniture in the bedrooms — such as beds, cabinets, wardrobes, and the likes — was very private and had to be replaced. Moreover, Wenwen was a big kid now and needed his own room, which had to be furnished according to his size and preferred style.
After the house was bought, Fu Yunruo took Wenwen to her studio. This was Fu Yunruo's first time seeing the studio staff in person. Their number was not many, but Tiantian was very discerning, and the people she chose were excellent. The staff adored their boss and little boss from the bottom of their hearts. Fu Yunruo also found out that some of them were actually Wenwen's 'Mom and Daddy' fans.
…
When Chi Weicheng learned that Fu Yunruo and Wenwen were in Beijing, he hurried to meet them, complaining, "Why don't you inform me that you are in Beijing?" If not for his excellent network, he would still be kept in the dark even after they returned home.
Fu Yunruo smiled in response, "We are only staying for a few days. I'm afraid of bothering you."
"We are students under the same teacher. No need to be so polite." Fu Yunruo was not only his youngest junior sister but also their teacher's favorite student. As a senior, it was just a given that he took good care of her, or the Teacher would chase him away the next time he visited.
Seeing that Fu Yunruo and the others were about to go out, Chi Weicheng asked where they were going.
"We are visiting the suburbs to survey a rental garden." The new flower garden didn't have to be located in an urban area with higher property prices. Considering the need for a larger site, it was more cost-effective to rent something in the suburb, which was why Fu Yunruo focused her search there.
As for Wenwen, this little guy refused to allow others to look after him and insisted on following his mother, so Fu Yunruo had no choice but to take him along.
"Uncle Guo will never agree to part with his precious orchids, so I plan to rebuild the flower garden here. With a site to grow his orchids secured, he should be willing to move with us."
This plan was the most realistic. Having a new flower garden built in Beijing would not only allow Fu Yunruo to continue doing her job as before, but also eliminate Uncle Guo's biggest concern and give her perfect ammunition to persuade the old man to move with them. Once this matter was settled, she and Wenwen could immediately launch their attack and beg Uncle Guo coquettishly. See if his attitude would not soften by then!
When Chi Yucheng heard Fu Yunruo's plan, his eyes suddenly lit up, "Will Teacher be willing to move here?"
"I'll do my best to persuade him."
In fact, Fu Yunruo was not too confident. If Uncle Guo was still unwilling no matter what, then the only thing she could do was to bring Wenwen back to the village to visit the old man as often as possible.
"Since you have the plan, what about you meet with our other seniors? Unlike me, most of them work in this industry and are well-connected. They surely know better about suitable sites in the market."
Fu Yunruo chuckled, "I've actually asked Tiantian to help." Tiantian was both her employee and best friend, so it was just right to ask for her help. In any case, it was not in Fu Yunruo's character to bother others with her affairs.
In the end, Chi Yucheng also tagged along today. It was a pity that the results were not satisfactory. The garden was too far from the house Fu Yunruo had just purchased, and the site was also not big enough. In the end, the group returned in disappointment.
"It's alright. I've contacted the seniors and asked them to give you a call if they found anything suitable."
"Thank you, Brother Chi."
In fact, Fu Yunruo no longer had enough money to lease a garden and was doing some tours just to check on the local market situation. If she was lucky enough to find a suitable place, she planned to mortgage her newly-purchased house to a bank and slowly repay the loan with her income over time.
Fu Yunruo's career was still going on steadily. A few days ago, an agent came in with an endorsement offer to represent a popular clothing brand called Yishang, a domestic brand famous for high-quality products made from comfortable fabrics and its simple yet fashionable design.
It was common knowledge that foreign brands were more popular in China. Yet, Fu Yunruo was a loyal fan of Yishang, thanks to their competitive prices compared to foreign brands despite the same level of quality and comfort. Since Fu Yunruo revealed her face to the public, she often appeared on the camera wearing Yishang's product, which probably was why the brand reached out to her.
Fu Yunruo accepted the offer without much thought. The contract had just been signed a few days ago, and she had not yet officially started representing the brand. Once the endorsement started, however, various fees would start to be paid to her account one after another, and her financial situation would improve greatly by then.
Fu Yunruo, Wenwen, and Qian Shengnan returned to Shanghe Village after a few more days in Beijing. They hadn't had the chance to meet either Si Yue or Yuan Xin on this trip, but saw the former practically everywhere. A movie Si Yue starred in was shortlisted for a triennial international film festival, which was a great honor for an actor. The news about Si Yue was flooding the internet, and a giant screen in the city square repeatedly played his movie trailer.
At first, Wenwen still clamored to see Si Yue, but after Fu Yunruo explained that Uncle Yue was going overseas with the director to promote his new movie, the boy stopped making a ruckus and nodded in understanding.
It took almost three days on the road to travel between the village and the capital, mainly because there was no direct transportation. They not only had to take a roundabout route, but also had to transfer buses several times after getting off the plane. A car would make the journey faster and a bit more convenient, but long-distance travel would remain a hassle unless an airport was built near the town.
When Fu Yunruo's group of three reached home, they were totally beaten. It took no time for the villagers to hear the news of their return and began to come visiting in flocks. They all wanted to know whether Ruoruo and Wenwen were really going to move?
In fact, the villagers had known from the beginning that Ruoruo and her son would leave their small village sooner or later, but when the time to say goodbye really came, everyone was very reluctant.
They had gotten along as neighbors for a few years and had long regarded Fu Yunruo and Wenwen as their own. Moreover, they had also watched Wenwen grow up from a red-faced newborn into the cute and handsome little lad he was now, and were even more reluctant to part whenever they thought that the tender, cute, and soft little boy who called them uncle and aunt in his babyish voice would no longer be here.
The ones who received the most shock, however, were the children, who couldn't believe their ears.
Their Wenwen was going to leave the village far, far away?
The children rushed to Fu Yunruo's house one after another and crowded the yard in an instant. They surrounded Wenwen tightly, expressing their sadness, loss, and disbelief.
Trusting her son to appease his playmates, Fu Yunruo left the children alone and went back into the house. A bunch of parcels had arrived and were now piled up in the living room, bought as souvenirs from their trip to Beijing. Together with Qian Shengnan, Fu Yunruo spent hours unpacking and delivering the souvenirs to their neighbors.
These souvenirs were actually bought using Wenwen's money, because Fu Yunruo had spent most of her savings buying the house and no longer had sufficient cash on hand to buy gifts for the entire village. In the end, with Wenwen's consent, Fu Yunruo reluctantly used the boy's savings for the purchase.
Everyone in the village, including their pet cats and dogs, received a gift from Fu Yunruo to thank for their kindness over the years.
…
The remaining days passed peacefully, and Fu Yunruo continued her normal life while Wenwen spent his time playing with his friends as much as possible. At the end of August, the boy received another shocking announcement from his mother.
"Going to kindergarten?!" Wenwen had heard from Fu Yunruo more than once that he was about to start schooling. But seeing no particular actions on his mother's part, he soon let go of his worry.
Wenwen's eyes rolled, thinking hard and quick. He then said pitifully, "I don't want to go to kindergarten. I want to spend more time with Grandpa Mei, Grandma Mei, Zhuangzhuang, and the others…"
Wenwen grabbed Fu Yunruo's hand and shook it, acting coquettishly, "Mom, can I?"
Who'd like to go to kindergarten with little kids! With his brain, he should be in the fifth grade at the lowest, alright!
"Mom, I'm still young. I'm still a baby…"
Fu Yunruo was amused, but she deliberately looked serious as she argued, "Don't you always call yourself a little adult? You are already a four-year-old big kid. It's time for you to enter kindergarten."
Wenwen retorted and raised six of his chubby fingers, "I'm not four yet. It's still six months away!"
"Witty kid!" Fu Yunruo stopped arguing with the boy. Her original intention of enrolling Wenwen so early was not to make him learn any knowledge, but to let him get used to the local kindergarten for a semester. She wanted him to not feel out of place once they moved to Beijing and started schooling for real.
Since the boy himself refused to go, Fu Yunruo didn't force it. Wenwen was indeed a bit too young, but he would grow up a bit and should be more sensible in a few months. Moreover, Wenwen's argument actually touched Fu Yunruo's soft spot because, just like her son, she also took the hassle of commuting from and to the flower garden every day, all for the sake of spending more of what's little time remaining in the village.
That evening, Fu Yunruo went to the Mei family house to chat with Auntie Mei as usual. These past few days, she noticed Uncle Mei left early and returned late every day, and he always came back with a smile on his face.
Curious, Fu Yunruo asked, "Does something good happen?"
Auntie Mei replied, "It should be about the government. He has been very mysterious recently."
"Does it have something to do with the donation?" Fu Yunruo was reminded. Otherwise, why should Uncle Mei go out for meetings all day?
"It seems so?"
However, both Fu Yunruo and Auntie Mei guessed wrong. It turned out that a survey team of some huge corporation took fancy of the beautiful scenery and air quality, and thus expressed their intention to build a retirement home for the elderly here.
The scope of the project was huge, involving at least several county towns and villages.
Needless to say, the money involved would not be small, enough to even alarmed the higher-ups. Moreover, this so-called investment was actually a charity project with no prospect of profit. However, if everything went well and the project was successful, the local economy was guaranteed to be heavily stimulated.
For a long time, the government had been racking their brains to develop the rural economy and lift the locals out of poverty. Still, there was no easy one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. The geographical location in most places was horrible, located deep into the mountain and far from modern infrastructures. Not only did the area lack convenient access, but there were also no particular resources that might attract private investment.
This time, a consortium that ranked forefront globally and whose main power was located abroad had expressed their willingness to pour heavy money on rural development projects. Seeing this act of patriotism, the government naturally gave the green light without much thinking.
The consortium also decided to fund the construction of an airport nearby in order to facilitate future tourism projects.
This was a great boon for the locals. Since the news came out, the land price had gone up.
Recently, the favorite pastime for the villagers was to get together and chat about the project. They had lived here for generations, but never realized that their home was actually a treasure trove highly regarded by outsiders. They all felt honored.
Fu Yunruo was equally overjoyed. If an airport was really going to be built nearby, it would be easier for them to go back to visit!
Everything was going for the better!
The Spring Festival had just passed, and the festivity of the Chinese New Year had yet to dissipate when Fu Yunruo stepped her feet in Beijing again, this time with Wenwen, Uncle Guo, and Qian Shengnan in tow.
"Be careful! If you break my flowers, even selling you won't be enough to pay for it!" Uncle Guo — hands on the hip and looking very spirited — stood in front of the door of the new flower garden, barking instruction upon instruction. His sharp eyes fell on one particular guy whose hands were clumsier than the others.
The rest of the people looked a bit fearful as they carefully carried the pots in. Fu Yunruo comforted them with her soft voice while instructing where each one should go.
Amidst the chaotic situation, a boy's tender yet serious voice also rang in the garden, mimicking Uncle Guo's instruction.
A thickly-dressed little dumpling stood on a chair by the side. He was wrapped all over, which made his chubby figure as round as a snowman, and the fluffy white hat on his head made him even cuter than usual.
Chinese New Year had just passed, and the weather in Beijing was still very cold. The snow outside had not yet melted, and people's breath was still white with fog.
At this time, however, everyone was so busy that they forgot to feel cold. The group of people who specially came to help transport their teacher's precious orchids was fond of this cute little guy and happily listened to his instruction.
Amidst the busyness, Fu Yunruo occasionally glanced in his son's direction. As long as he obediently stayed in place and didn't run around, she simply let the boy do whatever he wanted.
Still, Fu Yunruo secretly sighed in relief when seeing Wenwen being energetic again. When they left, almost the whole village came to see them off, including more than a dozen children of various ages. The little ones all cried so hard, reluctant to part with their beloved Wenwen.
For half a year, Wenwen had prepared himself for this separation and originally believed that he would not cry when the day came. In the end, however, he found himself crying no less than other children, with tears flooding out of his eyes like a broken dam.
Fu Yunruo was also sad and cried a little at first, but after the children started crying, she was too busy consoling them that she forgot her own sadness. Even now, the long-lasting cries seemed to still be echoing in her ears.
To Fu Yunruo's surprise, this new flower garden was actually found by Chi Weicheng. In October, Chi Weicheng suddenly called to inform her that he had found three places that met her requirements and asked her to have a look when she had time.
Fu Yunruo hurriedly departed for the capital. After inspecting the three sites, she chose to lease the largest among them, located about a 40-minute drive from the villa she bought. This garden was originally used to grow and sell flowers, but the management was not good, and the business went bankrupt, so the owner wanted to sell it.
The fee of transferring the business and buying all the remaining flowers and equipment was not cheap, far above Fu Yunruo's remaining savings. In the end, accompanied by Chi Weicheng, she went to the bank to take out a loan and signed a ten-year lease agreement.
After two critical needs in Beijing were settled, Fu Yunruo and Wenwen launched their attack and started persuading Uncle Guo day in and day out.
Fu Yunruo decided to wait until Chinese New Year before moving, as she had to decorate both the house and the flower garden. The two decoration projects were personally overseen by Tiantian, who sent her videos of the progress every day. Occasionally, Fu Yunruo also traveled thousands of miles to direct the projects in person, but never stayed long because she still had a son and a row of orchids waiting back in the village. Not to mention that she also wanted to spend more time with Auntie Mei and the others…
After running back and forth several times in a short period of time, Fu Yunruo lost weight at speed visible to the naked eye. Still, her eyes became brighter with every visit, and she was very energetic indeed.
Every time Fu Yunruo returned from her long trip, the distressed Auntie Mei always cooked her a lot of food, but the intake couldn't make up for the tiredness. In the end, Auntie Mei often scolded Fu Yunruo for being too impatient.
Fu Yunruo also didn't expect to get herself that busy. She originally thought she could take the renovation slowly for over half a year, but in the end, time was not enough, and the deadline turned out to be a bit too pressing.
Thankfully, the whole studio came to help, and Chi Weicheng also occasionally gave assistance. Otherwise, she would have been even busier.
But it was all over now.
When Fu Yunruo and the others left the village, they also took with them all the orchids in Uncle Guo's garden. The precious orchids were naturally delicate, so Uncle Guo hired a team of professionals to arrange the move through a special route, and the orchids ended up arriving in Beijing at the same time as them.
After arriving in Beijing, the group went directly to the flower garden to arrange a new home for the orchids.
Chi Weicheng also graciously came to help, along with a group of Uncle Guo's students.
"Yunruo, thank you." Chi Weicheng glanced at the spirited old man by the door and said softly. Because Teacher Guo had no children, his students had always wanted to take care of him in old age, but the old man had a stubborn temper and refused to move from his hometown. Teacher Guo's hometown was located in a remote mountainous area where the transportation was horrible, but the rest of them had jobs in the city they couldn't leave. In the end, they could only take turns to visit the old man and look after his situation.
In the end, it was Fu Yunruo who managed to accomplish the impossible and took their teacher to move with her to Beijing. With Teacher Guo in Beijing, it was much more convenient for his students to visit him, so everyone was very grateful to Fu Yunruo.
Therefore, even though this group of middle-aged people was all elites in their own field, they still happily came to help with the move despite being yelled at by their teacher.
"This is what I should do." Fu Yunruo believed that she only did her responsibility, so she didn't feel that she deserved their gratitude.
"Right, my mistake." Chi Weicheng chuckled, "Little Junior Sister, don't be angry."
When Uncle Guo saw Chi Weicheng was slacking off, he immediately shouted, "What are you doing there? Don't you see we are so busy?"
"Coming!" Chi Weicheng hurriedly came over.
When Uncle Guo saw Chi Weicheng was slacking off, he immediately shouted, "What are you doing there? Don't you see we are so busy?"
"Coming!" Chi Weicheng hurriedly came over.
Fu Yunruo smiled and then continued to help arrange the place. A lot of things were carried over from the old flower garden, many of which were delicate flowers needing special attention. Thankfully, with many people coming to help, the job was over in two hours, and the originally empty and desolate space was now vibrant with various orchids.
The new flower garden was much bigger than the old one and separated into two: the private area with its own private entrance, and the public area open to the general public.
This was Fu Yunruo's idea. As the capital city, the annual rent in Beijing was not cheap, so she wanted to utilize the excess space to generate additional income. For example, since they were already in the business of growing orchids, they could start selling or renting the orchids.
Naturally, the security system had to be different in the two areas, with the private area where Uncle Guo kept his most prized orchids equipped with the best and most advanced security system.
Fu Yunruo didn't have enough money to pay for these. It was Uncle Guo who, upon learning of her plan, took out a bank card and told her to prepare the best of everything.
After some consideration, Fu Yunruo accepted the card and prepared a formal ownership contract based on the amount of money they each invested in the new flower garden. Later, if the business turned profitable, she and Uncle Guo would be paid dividends according to the contract.
Of course, all those precious orchids that Uncle Guo raised were still fully owned by him.
…
With his hands behind his back, Uncle Guo looked around the new flower garden before nodding with satisfaction. Um, not bad!
Wenwen, who had gotten off the chair on his own, followed behind Uncle Guo. Imitating the old man's posture, the boy's short legs strode forward, and he looked around while nodding from time to time,
Not bad, not bad!
Because of the layers of clothes he was wearing, Wenwen's chubby short hands couldn't reach his back, so they were swaying on the sides as he walked like a little penguin, inviting many laughs.
After everything was sorted out, Uncle Guo rudely chased his students away.
Fu Yunruo sent them off with a smile, "Let's meet again when everyone has free time."
Fu Yunruo's senior brothers and sisters nodded back with a smile, "Indeed, it has been more than ten years since the last time we gathered like this. Let's find the time for another get-together."
"No hurry. We can wait until Ruoruo's family fully settled in Beijing."
"If you need help, just speak up. Don't keep it to yourself, alright?"
After sending the guests off, Fu Yunruo settled the wages for the transportation company, who also left soon after. Today was already a very busy day, but although the flower garden was pretty much done, they hadn't started to tidy up the villa yet.
Chi Weicheng cheekily stayed behind, claiming that he wanted to help.
Uncle Guo glanced at the two-story building near the flower shed and announced, "I'm living here."
The new flower garden was bigger than the old one, but the structure was pretty much the same. Therefore, it took no time for Uncle Guo to feel at home.
When Fu Yunruo saw that Uncle Guo wanted to live here permanently, she immediately refused, "No, you cannot."
There was indeed a small two-story red brick house inside the flower garden, left behind by the previous owner. Fu Yunruo had peeked in and found that the house was quite livable. There were three bedrooms upstairs, one bedroom downstairs, plus a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a toilet. Considering the larger area that now had to be maintained, Fu Yunruo planned to hire two live-in helpers — preferably a couple — who would occupy the single room downstairs.
Of the remaining three rooms, two were for Uncle Guo, and the last was for her and Wenwen. However, Fu Yunruo never meant to let Uncle Guo live here full time. Her plan from the beginning was for them to live together in the villa she bought, so that she could take better care of the old man. The rooms in the garden were prepared just to stay overnight occasionally, especially during Wenwen's school break.
Uncle Guo snorted coldly, a little dissatisfied. But upon seeing Fu Yunruo's face, he didn't speak anymore.
…
Fu Yunruo and the others departed for the villa by car and arrived in 40 minutes. When they got out of the car, the villa's front door was wide open, and countless boxes and luggage of various kinds were awaiting them in the main lobby.
A home worth countless memories. When Fu Yunruo and Wenwen packed up prior to the move, they were reluctant to get rid of their belongings. Still, it was impossible to pack the entire house and transport them to Beijing, so after long, long deliberation, the mother and son finally managed to sort the things they were most reluctant to part with, while the rest were gifted away to their neighbors in the village.
They had done their best to reduce their belongings, yet there were still so many.
"Ruoruo, are you back?" Tiantian came out. She didn't follow them to the flower garden, but directly returned to the villa to receive the luggage. "I don't know how you like to organize the house, so I didn't dare to touch them."
"It's okay. Thank you, Tiantian."
There were heaters in the villa, making the temperature inside much warmer. Still bundled in winter clothes, Fu Yunruo felt hot in no time, so she quickly took off her jacket. Seeing that Wenwen's cheeks had turned red all of a sudden, she also took off his coat, hat, and the rest of his winter gear, then told the boy to stay indoors.
Wenwen nodded obediently. His sharp eyes quickly located the bags he had personally packed and immediately strode away to unpack them.
The group had just started unpacking when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Fu Yunruo was puzzled. They had just moved in today and still didn't know anyone here. Who might be looking for them?
Fu Yunruo was about to open the door when Wenwen called, "Mom, put on your coat!"
"Got it." Fu Yunruo quickly put the coat on and walked away.
Wenwen sighed in exasperation. Mom surely is careless sometimes!