"Mm, of course you may. Xiao Hei is very well-behaved and won’t bite you." An Yiqing nodded affectionately and placed Xiao Yuan’s bun-like hand onto Xiao Hei.
Feeling the smooth black fur in her hand, and seeing how obedient Xiao Hei was, Yu Aiyuan’s eyes shone with increasing delight, and her courage gradually grew. She even held onto Xiao Hei and wouldn’t let go.
Yu Zifang watched his little sister having fun and felt envious. He sidled up to Xiao Hei step by step, snuck his hand out to pet its little tail, and then boldly touched Xiao Hei’s backside. After realizing there was indeed no danger, he joined in the frolicking group.
Yu Tianyou and Liu Ruohua, watching their son and daughter play so joyfully with Xiao Hei, were absolutely ecstatic. Xiao Fang and Xiao Yuan, due to suffering from illness, had been sensible and mature beyond their years since they were young, always considering others, and seldom had such carefree childish moments. Therefore, Mr. and Mrs. Yu were even more grateful to An Yiqing for bringing such childlike joy to their children.
"Brother Yu, Sister-in-law Yu, please feel free to make yourselves at home. Treat this place like your own," An Yiqing offered them hot tea and fetched some snacks for the two children.
"Qing, we really can’t thank you enough," Liu Ruohua said gratefully, looking at her happily playing children, "These kids have always been so sensible that it breaks our hearts. This is the first time we’ve seen them playing so happily. We’re truly overjoyed."
"Sister-in-law, as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. Don’t cry all the time, it’s bad for your eyes," An Yiqing quickly advised upon seeing the reddening rims of Liu Ruohua’s eyes, "Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang’s health will soon recover. You need to take care of yourself; they have such a long journey ahead and need you and Brother Yu to accompany them on it. You can’t neglect your own health ."
Liu Ruohua nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with hopeful light, "Okay! I’ll listen to you, sister! As long as the children get better, I’m willing to do anything!"
An Yiqing nodded and said to the two nannies who followed her in, "Ladies, please take Xiao Yuan and Xiao Fang to the inner hall to play, I have something to discuss with Brother Yu and Sister-in-law."
After receiving Yu Tianyou’s consent, the two nannies took Little Bun and Xiao Hei out of the main living room.
"Sister, are you going to talk to us about the poisoning?" Yu Tianyou, seeing An Yiqing sending the children away, immediately understood what she wanted to discuss.
"Brother Yu, your keen insight," An Yiqing said appreciatively, then thought for a moment and continued, "The ’Merciful Mother’s Tears’ in Xiao Fang and Xiao Yuan is very special. The antidote will require Sister-in-law’s blood as a catalyst, and the process can be a bit painful, so you’d better be mentally prepared."
"Blood as a catalyst for the antidote?" Yu Tianyou was startled and asked worriedly, "Will there be any danger to Ruohua?"
"No, there’ll only be some blood loss, nothing life-threatening," An Yiqing assured him.
"That’s a relief, that’s a relief!" Yu Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief. His thoughts quickly turned, and he asked, "Qing, you said earlier that this poison was administered to Ruohua?"
Hearing Yu Tianyou’s words, Liu Ruohua also became tense. Who bore such deep animosity against them that they wouldn’t even spare their children!
"Exactly, ’Merciful Mother’s Tears’ is colorless and tasteless. It has no effect when eaten by ordinary people. However, if a pregnant woman consumes it, it will pass through the mother and into the fetus. This poison must be administered every three days, twenty times in total, to be effective. Brother Yu, Sister-in-law Yu, you really need to think hard about who bears such a grudge against you. After all, hidden dangers are hard to guard against. I can cure the poison, but I can’t stop someone with malicious intent from striking again," An Yiqing said solemnly. She really did not want to see those two adorable Little Buns suffer again.