Mom, I Had a Dream

Although Leng Yaozhu had never cared about outside gossip, there was indeed a deeper reason why she had so conspicuously carried Dai Yuhao into the Spirit Pagoda this time.

She intended to use herself as bait, placing this child who had appeared out of nowhere under everyone's watchful eyes to see whether the Mastermind lurking in the shadows would make any move.

However, before the expected undercurrents could stir, someone she had anticipated came knocking first.

She had just settled the sleeping Dai Yuhao onto the bed and tucked in the blanket when a clear knock sounded from the outer room.

Leng Yaozhu's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly. She immediately rose and strode toward the sitting room.

Opening the door, she found a tall man standing outside.

His face was as resolute as carved stone, and his silver hair was combed with meticulous precision, gleaming coldly beneath the corridor lights.

Only the fine lines etched at the corners of his eyes revealed that he was far older than he appeared.

Leng Yaozhu did not invite this "guest" inside. Instead, she gently closed the door behind her before looking up at him. "Tower Master, what important matter brings you here in person?"

The visitor was none other than Qiangu Dongfeng, the current Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda—and the ultimate simp who showed up in every major version of the Douluo World!

He already had grandchildren, yet he still couldn't let go of Leng Yaozhu. Love Continent truly lived up to its name!

"Yaozhu, I heard you brought back a..."

Qiangu Dongfeng had only gotten halfway through his sentence when Leng Yaozhu's cool voice cut him off cleanly.

"Tower Master." She raised her eyes to Qiangu Dongfeng. "It would be better if you addressed me by my full name."

Faced with Leng Yaozhu's bluntness, Qiangu Dongfeng showed neither anger nor embarrassment. Instead, he seemed to have expected it—even grown accustomed to it.

This scene had played out far too many times over the long years.

Qiangu Dongfeng's Adam's apple moved as though he had countless things to say, but in the end, he merely asked cautiously, "That child you brought back... who is he?"

Leng Yaozhu turned her head and gave him a bland glance. "I found him on the road. I just got back, I'm tired, and I need to rest."

Seeing that she clearly had no intention of explaining further, Qiangu Dongfeng immediately nodded. "All right. Get some rest, then. I won't disturb you."

He spoke decisively, then turned and left without hesitation.

Leng Yaozhu silently watched his figure disappear at the end of the corridor. "It couldn't have been his arrangement... Then who was it that sent that child to me?"

Dai Yuhao only felt that this sleep had been exceptionally peaceful, as if he were sinking into soft, warm clouds.

As his consciousness slowly surfaced from deep sleep, he hazily opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a face close at hand.

That face was slightly pale, yet it did nothing to diminish its gentle features. Between those brows and eyes was a warmth and affection he knew better than anything else, one that put his heart at ease.

Dai Yuhao froze for a moment before overwhelming joy flooded through him like a tide.

He practically sprang off the bed, his little body throwing itself entirely into the other person's arms. His voice was soft and clingy from sleep. "Mom! When did you get back?"

That's right. The one sitting by the bed and gently holding Dai Yuhao was his mother—Huo Yun'er.

A gentle smile rested on Huo Yun'er's lips as her fingers softly smoothed her child's slightly tousled hair. "I've been back for a while. Yuhao was sleeping so soundly that I couldn't bear to wake you."

Dai Yuhao wriggled slightly out of his mother's warm embrace, tipped up his little face, and began sharing eagerly, his eyes sparkling.

"Mom, I just had a really... really amazing dream!"

He waved his arms about, trying to describe those incredible sights.

"I dreamed of buildings taller and brighter than the clouds!"

"And... and cars with wheels that could move by themselves."

He spoke with animated excitement, immersed in the novelty and shock of the Dreamscape.

He did not notice at all that the bruises and pain on his body had vanished without a trace.

"There was also a pretty Aunt Leng in the dream. She treated me so well."

Dai Yuhao's eyes curved into crescents, and he unconsciously smacked his lips as a glistening thread of drool slid down from the corner of his mouth.

"She took me to eat so many... delicious things I'd never had before."

He wiped his mouth carelessly with his sleeve, but his lively expression suddenly dimmed and his little head drooped. "Too bad... it was only a dream. Otherwise, I definitely would've brought some back for Mom to try."

It felt as though Huo Yun'er's heart had been lightly pricked by a needle. Looking at her son's childish yet already remarkably sensible face, guilt and sorrow flickered uncontrollably in her eyes.

Ever since he was little, this child had followed her in this remote little courtyard. When had he ever tasted anything truly good?

Even seeing meat once a month was already rare.

Then, Dai Yuhao suddenly remembered something else.

He raised his face with a hint of curiosity and asked the question he had been unable to answer in his "dream."

"Mom, when will I get to meet Dad?"

The hand Huo Yun'er used to stroke his hair paused ever so slightly.

Under normal circumstances, Huo Yun'er would likely have brushed the question aside with a vague answer.

But now, looking into Dai Yuhao's eyes, filled with curiosity and longing, and thinking of how this child was only three years old yet already so obedient and sensible—even possessing maturity beyond his age—

A gentle smile spread across Huo Yun'er's face. She lightly tapped Dai Yuhao's nose with her fingertip and said softly, "Yuhao's dad... he's an incredible hero. In another couple of days, you'll be able to meet him."

"Really, Mom?!"

Dai Yuhao's eyes lit up instantly, and his whole body seemed to shine with the sudden joy.

"Of course it's true." Huo Yun'er held him a little tighter, resting her chin lightly against the top of his head. "When has Mom ever lied to you?"

She truly had not lied to Dai Yuhao. While working with her head lowered in the Laundry Room today, she had overheard others saying that the White Tiger Duke would return to Star Luo from the front lines in a few days.

It was precisely this information that had allowed her to give her son a definite answer today.

Two days later, the entire White Tiger Duke Mansion began a thorough cleaning from top to bottom in preparation for White Tiger Duke Dai Hao's return, proving that what Huo Yun'er had heard was correct.

Time flew by. Another two days passed, and shortly after noon that day, after a simple lunch, Dai Yuhao's mother gently took his hand and led him out of the remote, quiet Small Courtyard.

Dai Yuhao tipped up his little face and asked curiously, "Mom, where are we going?"

Huo Yun'er looked down at him, warmth shimmering in her eyes. She then bent down, straightened his collar, and said softly, "Hasn't Yuhao always wanted to know who Dad is? Mom is taking you to meet Dad now."

"Really?!"

Dai Yuhao was stunned for a moment before immense joy surged through his heart. He could not help letting out a cheer as his little hand tightly clasped his mother's slightly cool fingers.

Huo Yun'er led him from the most secluded corner of the rear courtyard, step by step, toward the grand front court of the Duke Mansion.

The farther forward they went, the clearer and denser the voices became.

When they finally stepped onto the broad, straight main road before the mansion gates, Dai Yuhao saw that people already stood in orderly rows along both sides of the road.

From stewards and guards to ordinary servants and Maids, all wore neat clothes and stood silently with their hands lowered.

It turned out that, to display the Duke's benevolence and allow the whole mansion to celebrate together, the Duchess had specially permitted every servant in the mansion to welcome the Duke home today.

The air was thick with suppressed excitement and solemnity.

Huo Yun'er held tightly onto her son's hand and silently blended into an inconspicuous corner at the edge of the crowd.

Like many around her, her gaze turned toward the far end of the road leading from the mansion gates.

That was where all expectations and attention would converge today.