61: Who's calling my mom?

Sheng Ranran tried several more times to belittle Tu Nan and elevate herself in front of Li.

All attempts failed.

So she started trying to approach Li alone.

That was even more disastrous. So disastrous that Tu Nan almost felt sorry for her.

How did she and Li start back then? She had thrown herself directly into his arms, seduced him sensually, and clearly laid out her own value.

Even more coincidentally, Li's account happened to have that "huge sum" of money at the time.

As for Sheng Ranran... she wore expensive clothes, sprayed perfume, and stood stiffly in the yard around the time Li came home. When Li pushed open the gate, he treated her only as a mobile obstacle, not only quickly walking around her but also asking Tu Nan worriedly, "The smell is so strong, will it bother you?"

She made exquisite pastries and knocked on Tu Nan's door, shyly saying they were made with a secret Sheng Family recipe, and asked Li to sample them.

Li scrutinized her for a long time. Just when Tu Nan thought Li would at least offer a polite thank you, Li hesitantly asked, "I heard that the Nobles sometimes prepare special dietary supplements for pregnant and postpartum women. Do you know how to make those?"

Sheng Ranran's face nearly split with rage. Without saying a word, she took the pastries and left.

Li closed the door and commented to Tu Nan, "It's not like I wasn't going to pay. I was just asking. Why is she so angry?"

Tu Nan stroked the Male Beast, looking at his inflexible mind.

Idiot, is it your money she lacks? She's interested in you... But the information she could gather from Sheng Ranran is almost complete.

There's no need to cause herself more trouble. The Children might be born in another month. It's better to have this mother and daughter move out.

But that evening, an unexpected guest arrived.

A continuous knocking sound came from the courtyard gate.

"Coming." Li and Gaia hadn't returned yet. Tu Nan held her waist as she went to open the door; her belly had been growing rapidly recently.

Chen Fang peered through the doorway.

Standing at the door was someone Tu Nan hadn't expected—Ken, holding Little Bear in his arms.

As soon as the door opened, Little Bear reached out to Tu Nan, but then he noticed Tu Nan's bulging belly. He withdrew his hand and stayed awkwardly in Ken's arms.

"Oh my, look who it is, our adorable Little Bear." Tu Nan greeted Ken and happily invited the two of them inside.

Ken carried the child and followed Tu Nan inside, exchanging pleasantries with a slight smile.

"We hadn't even reached Mata City this time, and he was already pestering the Chief to come see you. We haven't even finished organizing our goods yet. We only got your address after asking Sergeant Song Jie."

"The Chief couldn't make it, so he entrusted me to bring him to bother you. Your environment here is really nice."

After entering the room, Little Bear squirmed until he was put down. Tu Nan managed with some effort to lift him onto the edge of the bed and seat him beside her. She stroked his soft hair and asked painfully, "What's wrong? Didn't you want to see me? Why are you ignoring me now that you're here?"

Little Bear just turned his head and told Ken, "Go away, I want to play with Tu Nan alone."

Tu Nan and Ken exchanged a look, and both adults showed a doting, amused expression.

"Alright, how about Little Bear stays here tonight?" Tu Nan asked Ken with her eyes.

Ken nodded. "The Chief guessed this would happen. He said if you don't mind, we'll come pick him up tomorrow noon."

Who could refuse such an adorable Little Bear? Tu Nan's maternal instincts were overflowing recently, making her treasure cute Children even more. She hugged Little Bear close and immediately agreed.

Ken left.

Tu Nan saw him off and only just returned to the room when Little Bear tightly hugged her leg. The child pressed his head against her but remained silent.

She frowned, realizing something was wrong.

She carefully squatted down to look, and sure enough, Little Bear's face was flushed red, and tears were welling up in his eyes, threatening to fall.

Tu Nan's heart sank with a thump, and a very bad premonition arose. Her lips trembled for a long time before she finally asked the question to which her heart already knew the answer.

"Ji Yu... Is it Ji Yu..."

"Wah!" Little Bear couldn't hold it in any longer, and tears streamed out fiercely.

"Tu Nan! Tu Nan! Ji Yu is dead! I don't have a mother anymore! She... she wouldn't let me cry... She said I couldn't let anyone know that I was sad!"

"Tu Nan, I'm so sad. Waaah..."

Little Bear's tearful complaint was heart-wrenching, told in fits and starts.

But it was enough for Tu Nan to understand.

Ji Yu was dead. After giving birth to Ken's daughter, she didn't even survive the second day, and... she died.

"Hic..." Little Bear couldn't continue his story. He carefully pulled out a small, folded piece of paper from his inner clothing and handed it very solemnly to Tu Nan.

His eyes were full of reluctance.

"For Tu Nan..."

It was a letter.

There was no envelope, no salutation, and no signature.

But Tu Nan knew this was what Ji Yu had written to her.

"If you receive this letter, then I have already gone to meet the beast god.

I actually had a premonition that this time would be it.

This was the ending that had long been destined for me.

I don't know if I gave birth to a son or a daughter this time, or what their Beast Form is like. But I'm not worried about these things; the child's father will worry about all that, and he will also have his mother.

I only worry about that child... He shouldn't have to know all this. Now I think I shouldn't have let him know my identity.

It is my fault for making him experience this separation at such a young age. If possible, please comfort him for me.

You must be close to giving birth too.

I think you were right.

Every mother loves her Children, so you must not give anyone the chance to separate you from your Children.

If I get to see the beast god, I will plead with him for you. So please... you must be happy."

Tu Nan clutched the letter tightly, her vision went dark, and the world in her mind began to spin.

She stared blankly at Little Bear.

What kind of world is this? What kind of rule is this? Why must there be this small group of people who live so miserably and die so silently?

After a long while, she finally gathered her thoughts, wanting to comfort the child in front of her, just as Ji Yu's letter had requested. But she found it very difficult to do so right now.

She forced herself to show a terrible smile to Little Bear, suppressing her grief, but this only made Little Bear look more panicked.

She fumbled, trying to sit down on a chair, warning herself not to actually faint in front of the child. But the strength left her hand, and she could no longer hold the item; the letter fluttered to the ground... "Tu Nan! Tu Nan!" Little Bear's frantic cries kept ringing in her ears, but she was finding it hard to be brought back.

She felt immense rage.

And panic!

She already had her own Children inside her belly. If her identity were exposed, or if Li's mind changed, would she eventually lose them one day?

Why?

They were her flesh and blood, separating from her own body. By what right? How could they make her give them up?

"Tu Nan! Waaah!" Little Bear was too flustered. Tu Nan's eyes were fixed blankly, not looking at him at all, as if she had suddenly gone to another world.

He didn't want this! Was it because he brought the letter? Had he done something wrong?

"Tu Nan!" The door was suddenly slammed open.

Li entered the door and saw Tu Nan, looking dazed and slumped in the chair. He quickly pulled her into his arms, gently patted her face, and waved his hand in front of her eyes, panicking and not knowing what to do next.

Gaia also flusteredly offered random advice: "I'll go pour water, should it be hot or cold?"

Sheng Ranran and Chen Fang, who were behind them, also witnessed the chaotic scene.

Chen Fang stepped into the room. She casually picked up the letter from the floor, but before she could read more than a few lines, Little Bear furiously bumped into her.

The little fellow bared his claws and teeth fiercely at her: "Give it back! That's not yours!"

Gaia's gaze turned toward them. Chen Fang pursed her lips and casually tossed the letter back to the jumping child.

She pretended to be concerned and stepped forward: "Don't panic. She's just startled. Just let her lie down quietly on the bed, and put a warm towel on her forehead to help her recover."

Li suddenly understood and hurriedly picked Tu Nan up.

As for Tu Nan... she clearly heard voices coming from somewhere, anxiously calling out to her.

"Mama, Mama, what's wrong?" It was a Boy Child with a childish, milky voice.

"Mama, don't be sad." It was a Girl Child with an equally sweet, milky voice.