Chapter 28: Refusal

“No thanks, we’ll walk on our own. It’s more liberating that way.” At the thought of that fellow from the bun shop yesterday—a handsome young man who initially looked quite decent, only to look at her with such disdain and loathing later—Hong Xiaoduo felt speechless.

What did it matter if such a person was easy on the eyes? It wasn't as if she hadn't seen men more handsome than him; in her own world, she had seen plenty.

Magazine covers, television, and movie screens—and most exaggeratedly, mobile phones. She wasn't exactly a lecher, but if she accidentally scrolled past a video of a handsome man or a muscular guy with an eight-pack, if she watched for even a few extra seconds, she could bet the platform would push plenty more of those videos her way.

Big data was truly thoughtful; it really knew how to cater to one's tastes.

The handsome, muscular men in those videos would say sweet things: "Don't scroll away, little sister! Use those hardworking hands to give us a follow and a like!"

Unlike that guy yesterday. She had only offered a kind reminder, but he was so dense and misunderstood it, actually thinking she had developed feelings for him?

As for how other women would react to such deep narcissism and self-importance, Hong Xiaoduo didn't know, but she personally intended to avoid them as much as possible.

After she finished speaking, she saw the expression on Brother Dong's face become quite animated. He looked puzzled, but after a moment of thought, he realized his own response hadn't seemed particularly wrong. Could it be that his use of the word "liberating" at the end was inappropriate?

Just then, a dull thud echoed from the adjacent room. Hong Xiaoduo didn't pay it much mind. "Brother Dong, what I mean is, look at me—I'm traveling with seven children. They are young and haven't had much guidance for a long time. If we travel with others, people might find us unpleasant."

"I understand, I understand. Lady Hong, there is no need to explain. I understand," Dong Yuefan said. Thinking back to the sound he had just heard and imagining the expression on the face of the person in the next room, he felt even more like laughing.

A pity he didn't see it with his own eyes!

"Brother Dong, if we happen to meet again in the future, just call me Xiaoduo. 'Xiao' as in small, and 'Duo' as in flower." Feeling that parting was imminent, and considering how much this person had trusted her and helped her despite such a brief acquaintance, she felt he was someone worth knowing.

Even if she wasn't sure when she might suddenly disappear from this place, and whether she would ever have the chance to see this kind-hearted and easygoing older brother again, the least she could do was settle on such a small matter as a nickname.

"Xiaoduo? Alright, Brother Dong will remember. When you are ready to leave, if you have a set time, you can come to the yamen to find me. I'll see you off," Dong Yuefan said. Being able to call her by her name clearly improved his mood.

By chance, he had found himself a little sister of a different surname—a unique and interesting one.

It had nothing to do with romance or family interests; it was direct, simple, and transparent. This kind of relationship made him feel very comfortable.

This was his greatest harvest since arriving in Molian Town over three years ago!

Hong Xiaoduo thought for a moment and replied, "I'm not sure when we will set off yet. Once the time is decided, I'll let you know, Brother Dong. I'll take them for another stroll for now; the lady at the garment shop said she made hats for them, so I'll go check."

"Alright." When Dong Yuefan heard that she wasn't leaving immediately and that she would explicitly let him know when she did, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

As they walked toward the private room, he saw her stop. "Brother Dong, aren't you leaving?" Hong Xiaoduo blurted out.

They had finished eating and drinking tea. Even if the yamen wasn't busy, would he just stay here in a restaurant alone? This wasn't a teahouse with books to listen to where one could kill time.

Dong Yuefan raised a hand to rub his nose. "I have an appointment to discuss some matters here in a moment."

*I see,* Hong Xiaoduo understood. She said her goodbyes and left with the line of little bald heads waiting nearby.

Watching the group being escorted away, Dong Yuefan actually felt a pang of envy.

With a light sigh, he turned and entered the adjacent private room.

"Since you're so reluctant to see them go, why don't you go follow them and see them off? And should I congratulate you on becoming an 'older brother'—an uncle who just gained seven nephews and nieces?" The person sitting at the round table leaned back against his chair and sneered.

Dong Yuefan was completely unbothered by the sarcasm. As he walked, he said, "You're just being sour because you can't have the grapes. Be as sour as you want; I won't bother arguing with you."

"Heh, you actually think you're something special? Do you really think she's being sincere with you? You've been played, and you're too foolish to even realize you just helped her do her chores," Mu Zitao said, shaking his head helplessly.

How had he not realized before that his childhood friend was this naive and easy to trick?

Hearing this, Dong Yuefan snapped, "I say, Mu Zitao, you're a grown man, why are you so narrow-minded? Are you slandering me just because you lost face with her? That's quite undignified."

Mu Zitao also lost his temper. He grabbed a shaomai from a plate in front of him and threw it.

Dong Yuefan caught it mid-air, casually brought it to his mouth, and took a bite. The shaomai was cold, and looking at the food on the table, it seemed almost untouched.

"Hmph, seeing you all alone and pitiful, I can't be bothered to lower myself to your level." He pulled out a chair and sat down.

Mu Zitao glared at him with exasperation. "Don't be so defiant. Just wait until you have to clean up their mess later."

Hearing this, Dong Yuefan frowned in disgust. "What is wrong with you? Is it really necessary? To lose your composure over such a small thing? Your language is getting vulgar. Can't you just say 'handling the aftermath'?

No matter what happens in the future, I'm happy to do it.

As for you, is this the first time you've been ignored, and you can't handle it? That won't do!"

On the street, Hong Xiaoduo began looking at the signs of the roadside shops. Dong Yuefan's words had reminded her that she should buy a map to guide their way. By looking at the towns and villages on a map, she could choose a route so the children wouldn't be too exhausted. Otherwise, wandering aimlessly seemed pointless; if they went wrong and ended up in a place with no people for days, food would be one thing, but what about lodging?

With winter approaching, if they could only find a place to shelter for the night, the children might catch a cold and fall ill!

A bookstore? They sell books here? They should have maps, right? Hesitating, she stepped inside.

She successfully bought the map she wanted. Turning around, she saw Tianshu and Tianquan staring longingly at the "Four Treasures of the Study" on the counter.

"Do you want them?" Hong Xiaoduo asked.

The two boys nodded, then shook their heads. "Even if we had them, it wouldn't help. We can only recognize a few characters."

At their age, if their family circumstances were even slightly better, they would likely have been sent to an academy or a private school to study.

Hong Xiaoduo wanted to say, *Then I'll buy them, and I'll teach you to read when I have time,* but she thought about how she wasn't sure how much longer she could stay with them. If she suddenly left, and there was no one to teach them to read and write, wouldn't that make things even harder for them?

Hardening her heart, she led them out of the bookstore.

There were some things she wanted to do, but she would have to wait until that old man from the Science Museum contacted her again to determine roughly how much longer she could stay here before choosing the most important and suitable tasks.

Just as she was thinking, a voice drifted into her ear: "Find a deserted place and enter the Space."

That voice... Hong Xiaoduo's heart raced, and her eyes widened instantly...