Gu Qinghuai called out twice, but no one answered. The familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings filled him with unease. Chirp was small, had short legs, and was lazy; it shouldn't have been able to climb so fast. How could it have disappeared in such a short time?

He nervously swallowed and took a few steps forward. For some reason, his unease kept growing. He called out a few more times, but still received no response.

He didn't want to go back and see his father's concerned expression towards Gu Ling and Gu Wen; it would make him look pathetic.

Let's go find Chuchu!

Gu Qinghuai had always lived in Wangchun Pavilion, and it was only after the Gu poison was cured that the mute servant brought him here. He only knew that half of the huge house was sealed off, but he had no idea what the other half was used for.

He felt as if the entire house was divided in two, each hiding a different secret.

After walking for a while, the surroundings were overgrown with weeds, desolate and somewhat frightening. Gu Qinghuai wondered whether to continue. Suddenly, the grass rustled…

"Chirp, is that you?"

"Chirp?"

There was no response, but the commotion in the bushes grew louder. Finally, a small black and white cat's head peeked out from the bushes.

Judging from its "wise" eyes, Gu Qinghuai was certain that this was the little cow that Qiuqiu was looking for.

The little cow followed and rubbed against Gu Qinghuai's trouser leg, "Meow?" Is this Chirp's friend?

Gu Qinghuai bent down and picked up the calf, looking around warily. When he saw that no one was around, he asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here? Where's Chirp?"

The little calf tilted its head slightly, thinking, "Oh yeah, how did it get here?"

It was taken away by one man, but another man didn't seem to like it very much and threw it out again. He was a bit too strong, and the little calf fell and lost consciousness. When it woke up, it was here.

It lowered its head and licked Gu Qinghuai's hand, meowing twice. The cat didn't know.

But it knew that other people lived there.

The calf tugged at Gu Qinghuai's trouser leg, signaling him to follow it.

Gu Qinghuai silently followed, and the two of them, one human and one cat, eventually arrived at the lakeside after many twists and turns.

"Meow meow~"

Gu Qinghuai followed the little cow's gaze and saw a man lying on the pavilion in the middle of the lake. The man's face was not very clear, but the smile on his lips was chilling. The man even smiled and waved at him when he saw him.

What truly frightened Gu Qinghuai was not his laughter, but the child lying on his lap!

The familiar red tiger-head shoes, although I can't see the face clearly, I can be sure that it's Qiuqiu!

The calf was also very confused. It clearly saw a woman, so where did this man come from?

Chiu Chiu is truly fearless, managing to sleep soundly amidst unknown danger. Gu Qinghuai couldn't hear Chiu Chiu's thoughts and couldn't determine if she was in any danger.

Gu Qinghuai mustered his courage and took a few steps toward the pavilion in the lake. The closer he got, the clearer the man's face became; his familiar features made him feel as if he had seen him before. The man's lips were still unconsciously curved upwards, his gaze deep, as if he was expecting Gu Qinghuai to approach.

The little calf anxiously circled around Gu Qinghuai's feet, but the cat was too small and weak to hold him back.

"Meow! Awooo!"

He's possessed!

Gu Qinghuai remained silent, moving forward unconsciously like a puppet on strings. He was slightly off course; three more steps and he would fall into the lake.

The man's smile deepened: "One, two..."

This little brat is about to die...

The calf desperately braced its head against Gu Qinghuai's leg, half its body already dangling in the air. Just then, the lake's surface suddenly rippled, forming a whirlpool in the center. Despite it being winter, schools of koi carp appeared in the icy lake water.

A red koi carp swam around a small fish whose entire body shimmered with golden light. Just as Gu Qinghuai took a step, the golden fish leaped out of the water and slapped Gu Qinghuai across the face.

The small fish was probably only about the size of Gu Qinghuai's palm, but it slapped him with considerable force, sending Gu Qinghuai spinning three or four times. Eventually, he spun around until he reached safety.

The man, witnessing all this, suddenly sat up straight, staring intently at the lake. His eyes were dark and unreadable, and he chuckled, "Luckily alive."

The little cow climbed up and jumped onto Gu Qinghuai's chest, settling down comfortably. "If you hit him, you can't hit the cat!"

The golden fish fell into the water and disappeared, along with the group of red koi.

Gu Qinghuai's face was red and swollen, clearly feeling wronged from the beating. He covered his face, his mind clear, and although he knew that Xiaoyu had saved him, he still felt like crying.

The boy, only a few years old, held back his tears, but this time he dared not take another step forward.

"Chirp chirp waaaah, I'm a useless little brat, I can't save you!"

Gu Qinghuai and the mysterious man in the pavilion faced each other across the lake, while a commotion arose in the distance. He knew it was his father who had arrived. Although he was still angry, this was the only way to save Qiuqiu.

Unfortunately, before he could ask for help, a dark figure appeared behind him. Gu Qinghuai felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck and quickly lost consciousness.

The calf's pupils contracted; it was the man who had taken it away!

Sensing the danger posed by the man, the little cow closed her eyes and collapsed onto Gu Qinghuai.

It doesn't need anyone to hit it; it faints on its own!

"Master, should we kill him?"

"You dare kill the son of Gu Qiuheng, the Prince of Zhennan? We're staying at our host's house; we'll spare that brat's life as payment. Is everything ready?"

"All traces have been erased, but what about the woman in the east?"

"She's crazy, ignore her. Let's go."

The man sat up and looked at Qiuqiu, who was fast asleep on his lap. His hand, which had been on her face, moved down and finally stopped on her slender white neck.

As long as he applies a little force...

"This is the little koi fish that caused us so much loss? It's nothing special..."

The man's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but the sounds from not far away grew louder and louder.

"Master, it will be too late if we don't leave now." He couldn't guarantee that he could escape unscathed under the command of the Prince of Zhennan.

"withdraw!"

Prince Gu Qiuheng of Zhennan had not entered this half of the house for a long time. His steps were heavy, his mind was preoccupied, and his brows and eyes were full of melancholy.

"Gu Qinghuai? Gu Qinghuai!"

"Where did that brat run off to?!"

"Your Highness, is that the young master lying over there?"

Gu Qiuheng looked in the direction Mu Yang was pointing, and there lay her son, looking disheveled on the ground. The group rushed over, and Gu Qiuheng noticed a kitten lying beside him.

Mu Yang picked up Qiu Qiu, thinking she was unconscious, but to his surprise, he heard her snoring.

"Your Highness, he's asleep!"

"Asleep?"

Gu Qiuheng isn't stupid. Why would such a tiny little brat go through all that trouble to climb all this way just to sleep?

She's young, not mentally challenged!

"Something's strange here... Oh no, madam!"

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"