83: The children's decision

Miao Miao pounced directly at Gaia.

"Miao Miao!"

Tu Nan tried to call her back, but failed.

But strangely, Gaia, as a B-grade Beastman, didn't react either. He froze in place at that moment until Miao Miao fiercely pounced on him and bit his wrist hard.

The Small Knife fell to the ground, making a crisp clinking sound.

Tu Nan was still covered in cold sweat and didn't have the strength to say more. After gasping for a long time, she coaxed Miao Miao in her mind.

"Miao Miao, Mama is fine. I asked Uncle Gaia for help. Let go of him quickly."

Miao Miao's front paws pressed on Gaia, her mouth still tightly biting Gaia's wrist. Did the flames on her feet scorch Gaia's clothes or flesh? A burnt smell filled the air again.

Gaia seemed to suddenly regain his senses. He used his other hand to pinch Miao Miao's mouth, trying to save his hand.

Miao Miao bared her teeth, biting a little deeper, seemingly threatening him not to act rashly.

Seeing that Miao Miao was stressed, Tu Nan had to change her approach. She let out a cry of 'ouch,' which indeed attracted the Children's attention.

"Mama hurts so much, Miao Miao, come quickly and check on me."

Miao Miao's ears twitched. Seeing that Gaia had been pushed a certain distance away from Mama, she felt it was more important to go to Mama's side. She retreated, step by step, back to Tu Nan's side, her peripheral vision repeatedly scanning Mama.

Suddenly, her large green eyes quickly welled up, and big drops of tears streamed down.

Miao Miao realized she was very big now and didn't dare to press on Mama. After crying for a long time, she carefully extended her tongue and licked the sweat from Mama's face.

In her mind, the Child was already crying uncontrollably.

"Mama...Mama, are you going to die? Wuwuwu...Don't leave me, does it hurt?"

Tu Nan was helpless. A black shadow flashed before her eyes, and Ao Ao flashed into her arms.

Ao Ao materialized in her arms, looked at Gaia, who was covering his injured hand but doing nothing else, then glanced at the healing potion nearby, and tentatively asked, "Are Uncle Gaia and Mama doing something? But why would Mama hurt herself?"

"What? Really? So much blood, it hurts so much!" Miao Miao was shocked. She couldn't understand why Mama would do such a thing.

It was getting late; Tu Nan had to resolve all of this as soon as possible.

Including Miao Miao's early Childhood Stage and her special mutation.

She stroked the big tiger and first asked Miao Miao, "Can you become small?"

Miao Miao wagged her tail, and instantly, a tiny Tiger Cub appeared before Tu Nan's eyes again.

"Yes, Mama, but..." Another flash in place, and a small girl with a three-head body ratio, wearing a tiny White Tiger Fur Dress, appeared.

She had short, curly white hair, round green eyes, and chubby little cheeks and hands; she was incredibly cute.

This is!

"Miao Miao, this is, she's entered the Childhood Stage early." Gaia said what Tu Nan was thinking. His gaze shifted to Ao Ao, who had silently appeared in Tu Nan's arms, and he asked Tu Nan, "Is Ao Ao, also special in some way?"

Tu Nan twitched her lips. She suddenly felt that everything was fate.

Just as she made up her mind, the Children's changes removed the biggest obstacle in front of her.

She hugged the Two Children in her arms, her sweet responsibility, and looked up at Gaia, saying, "Let's not talk about this for now. Hurry, take care of your hand. Then help me clean up the wound and these things."

She was referring to the flesh and blood in the basin.

"Miao Miao's special ability, huh..." He mumbled as he stepped forward, treating Tu Nan's wound. "Fortunately, you also prepared wound Repair Fluid; this stuff isn't easy to get."

Tu Nan was silent. She had bought it from Li.

That was more than two months ago.

Li had reopened the scar on his face, then applied the Repair Fluid and nursed it for a week, which resulted in his current smooth face.

Facing Tu Nan's heartache and disapproval, he smiled indifferently and said, "Don't you not want to see this scar on me?"

Tu Nan didn't remember saying such a thing.

Li, however, told her that after that first night, Tu Nan had repeatedly caressed his scar. He had thought then that he would get rid of this scar one day. It was just a pity that the Repair Fluid was very expensive and difficult to obtain.

In less than three months, who could have expected so many things to happen?

"Help me fill in the ointment and then apply the Simulated Skin," Tu Nan told Gaia. "That way, it will be foolproof."

Gaia silently complied.

The Two Children were quiet. They realized that Mama had indeed hurt herself... for unknown reasons.

"I'm going to change clothes. Wait for me, let's burn it together." She struggled to get up, leaning on the chair, then stood firm. After thinking for a moment, she requested Gaia.

"Gaia... since you've already helped me so much, please help a little more." She looked at the Two Children, who seemed no different from yesterday.

"Regarding the Children, please pretend you didn't see anything."

"Help me one last time."

Gaia looked back and forth at Ao Ao and Miao Miao. Although he didn't know what Tu Nan was thinking, he still... agreed to the request.

He nodded solemnly.

The courtyard immediately returned to its original state, except for the strong Incense burning in the corner.

Tu Nan endured the pain, washed her body, applied Fragrant Oil all over, and changed into a new dress, then had the Two Children sit in front of her.

Now, she had to properly ask for the Children's opinions.

"Mama needs you to make a choice now... You might not understand it yet. But, Mama can't stay with Papa anymore, I'm sorry."

The two clearly didn't quite understand what was happening and looked at Tu Nan with confusion.

Tu Nan swallowed, feeling that what she was about to say would be very difficult for her. What she felt most apologetic about in making this decision was the Two Children. She had clearly wanted them to have a life with both parents.

She had broken her promise so quickly.

"When you're older, I will definitely tell you everything. But Mama must leave Papa now, or Mama will die."

"? Mama can't die!" Miao Miao interrupted Tu Nan anxiously, while Ao Ao remained sitting attentively.

"Mama will try her best. No matter where Mama is, I will love you, but... you can only follow either Papa or Mama."

"I'll go with Mama," Ao Ao said calmly.

"I... I'll go with Mama too!" Miao Miao hurriedly followed her brother.

Tu Nan was stunned for a moment, suspecting that the Children didn't understand the meaning of this choice, so she explained it to them: "If you go with Mama, you might not see Papa until you're adults. And Mama's future life... will be very difficult. I don't know if I can let you continue to live the life you have now. You might go hungry, you might not have good clothes or a house."

"With Mama." Ao Ao touched Tu Nan's hand with his damp nose, then licked her. "Papa can live without us, but Mama needs me."

Miao Miao was always a step behind, which made her very anxious. "Right! I want to protect Mama, I'll find food for Mama. I want to be with Mama too."

Tu Nan showed a genuine smile.

She stroked the heads of the Two Children and told them, "Think about it again, but this is our secret, don't tell anyone... not even Papa."

"Otherwise, Mama will really die."

The two nodded seriously.

The kinship that no other emotion could replace filled Tu Nan. On the eve of this impending danger, she felt a long-lost peace.

Until... an unfamiliar communication number appeared on her bracelet.

Tu Nan lowered her eyes.

She had a premonition that this was the call she was waiting for—the opportunity she had been waiting for.