Returning to the manor, Gan Tang quickly sneaked back to his room, washed off the sweat from his body, and changed into clean and refreshing clothes.
As Charlie was helping him blow-dry his hair, he sat on the small sofa, fiddling with the medal.
The medal was the size of his palm, exquisitely crafted, and heavy in hand, fashioned into a design of a rose branch cradling a pair of crossed swords.
"The rose is a symbol of the Royal Family, representing a noble temperament and tenacious determination... the crossed swords symbolize courage..."
Charlie explained considerately by his side, "This is not just any medal, but a true Royal Family medal, one that only members of the Royal Family can possess. The fact that the King and Queen have given you this medal means that they have recognized you as a member of the Royal Family."
The little guy held the medal with both hands, his lips curved into a smile.
After a moment, he turned his face toward Charlie again.
"Then... what about Mommy?"
Charlie was at a loss for words, "This..."
Suddenly, the door was knocked, and a bodyguard poked his head in to deliver a message.
Gan Tang hurried to stuff the medal into his jacket pocket, "Uncle Charlie, hurry up!"
A moment later, when Gan Yuan pushed the door open and walked in, Charlie had already put away the hairdryer and Gan Tang’s riding outfit, while the little guy, whose hair wasn’t entirely dry yet, was leaning against the bay window with a book, pretending to read.
"Mommy, you’re back?!" When he saw her enter, he turned his face toward her with a smile, "I’ll keep reading then, just a few pages left..."
Gan Yuan walked up to his side, her gaze falling on the book in his hands.
The little guy nervously shrank the book back a bit, as in his haste, he had just grabbed any book off the shelf, only to realize it was one he had already read.
Would Mommy, with her keen eyes, realize he was lying?
Gan Yuan stretched out her hand and gently grasped the book in his hands.
"Stop reading." Gan Yuan casually put the book aside and didn’t care whether he had read it or not, "Let’s go, prepare some things with Mommy."
"What things?" the little guy asked in puzzlement.
"Haven’t you always wanted to go camping in the wilderness?" Gan Yuan cupped his small face with both hands, "Tonight, we’re going camping with Uncle Huangfu, how does that sound?"
The little guy cried out in excitement, "Really?"
"We’ll bring some gear, go fishing and then have a barbecue, and spend the night outdoors. I’ve bought a tent that allows us to look at the stars, and you can lie in your sleeping bag to watch them. Do you want to check it out?"
"Mommy, I love you to death!" The little guy leapt from the bay window into her arms, planting a strong kiss on her cheek, then, wearing only his socks, he bounced onto the floor, hurling himself towards the doorway.
"Young master, your shoes... you haven’t put on your shoes yet!" Charlie, carrying his shoes, chased after him, "Be careful... don’t run too fast..."
Gan Yuan stood still, unmoved.
It took quite a while before she came back to her senses, glanced around the room, and then she turned and walked out of her son’s bedroom, into the master bedroom.
Stepping into the walk-in closet, she took out the backpack she had packed long ago but never used, slung it over her shoulder, her eyes briefly scanning the women’s clothes on the shelves before she pursed her lips and returned to the bedroom.
On the bedside, something was reflecting light.
She turned her head, only to see that a new picture frame had appeared on the nightstand.
Behind the clear glass, there was a photo of a man and a woman. She looked closer and immediately recognized that it was her and Huangfu Jue.
How is this possible?