The little guy smiled as he handed the design draft to him, "Uncle Huangfu, good luck!"
He lovingly tousled the boy’s hair, kissed his son’s head, and said farewell to the little one before striding out the door.
The butler came over and invited Gan Tang to the dining room for a meal.
The little guy just stood there without moving, his face turned to watch Huangfu Jue’s car disappear at the estate’s exit. Only then did he take his gaze back and walk towards the dining room with light steps.
While walking, he opened his little mouth and silently tried to call out the name he had longed for quite a while.
He had a father too, and his father had never abandoned him and mommy. How wonderful it was!
"Don’t... Don’t hurt him... Please don’t..."
In the bedroom, Gan Yuan jolted awake to the dim surroundings, breathing heavily with her legs drawn up and a hand wiping the cold sweat from her forehead.
Her pajamas were already soaked with sweat, clinging to her body with a sticky chill—like a cold hand had grazed her spine, sending shivers down her back. She involuntarily shuddered.
Looking around and seeing no one else, she wiped the thin sweat from her forehead, rose from under the covers, took off her damp pajamas, and pulled a dry bathrobe from the wardrobe to wrap around herself before stepping into the bathroom.
Standing under the shower, as the warm water flowed over her body, her cold hands and feet gradually warmed up.
As her mood slowly settled, she turned off the shower, took a towel to wipe the water from her body, and when she noticed the mirror in front of her, she slightly turned her body.
The mirror immediately reflected her smooth and pretty back, and just above her tailbone, a seductive Red Spider Lily was blooming like blood.
"Gaia, do you know what kind of flower this is?"
"Do you know why I had it tattooed on your body?"
"Is it because brother likes this flower?"
Her back once again seemed to feel that sharp, prickly pain, just like when Moses had tattooed the flower onto her body all those years ago.
Over the years, she had tried many methods to remove the tattoo, including lasers and medicated solutions... but nothing could erase the ink.
Latter on, she even sought out a surgeon, but the doctor just shook his head and said that the tattoo was too old and had deeply embedded itself in her muscles; it was impossible to remove.
Clenching her right hand, she punched out fiercely.
The mirror shattered, piercing her palm, and as blood flowed along the cracks, it stained the pieces with the image of the tiny Red Spider Lilies.
Holding her bleeding fist, Gan Yuan uttered in a deep tone.
From outside, rapid footsteps sounded, then Gan Tang’s concerned voice called out.
"Mommy, did you fall down?"
"I..." She took a deep breath, "I’m fine, just... accidentally broke the mirror."
Casually grabbing a towel to wipe the blood of her hand, she wrapped herself in the bathrobe, concealing the cut on the back of her hand in the sleeve. She smiled again, her tone as carefree as ever.
"Hey, handsome, good morning!"
The little guy looked up, worriedly asking, "Are you hurt?"
"Not at all!" She extended her left hand to pinch his little cheek and pulled the bathroom door closed with the other hand, "Have you had breakfast?"
The little one followed her to the side of the bed, gazing at her profile, his lips curving up.
"You’re so happy this early in the morning, is there something good going on?"