On the outskirts of Liyue Harbor.
Several young children surrounded another child, pointing at her and mocking her:
"You're always looking so miserable. No wonder your parents left you!"
"Yeah, you always have such a sour face. You're not cute at all!"
"Orphan! An orphan without parents!"
As she listened to the children mocking her, the little girl in their midst clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with anger.
She wore her reddish-brown, gradient-colored hair in twin ponytails and a patterned Chinese-style outfit with a long back hem.
Her black robe reached her waist, and she wore shorts, short socks, and black shoes, with red knots tied around her white socks.
"Hu Tao isn't an orphan!!"
She shouted in her little voice and lunged at the nearest child.
Her sudden attack caught the children off guard, but they shoved Hu Tao to the ground.
"Hit her! Show her what we're made of!"
"She actually fought back! Get her!"
The children punched and kicked Hu Tao as she curled up on the ground, venting their anger on her small, timid body.
And yet.
The pain of their beating was nowhere near as piercing as the words they had spoken.
Hu Tao curled up like a shrimp on the grass, their words echoing over and over in her mind as a crystal-clear tear slipped silently from the corner of her eye.
"Ah! Her grandpa's here! Run!"
"Run!!"
The children cried out in alarm, then scattered and ran off.
Xiu Yuan hurried over. Once he saw that the little troublemakers had fled, he crouched beside Hu Tao and helped her up.
She looked at Xiu Yuan with her large, tear-filled eyes, then threw her arms around him.
"Grandpa... they... they said I... was an orphan nobody wanted..."
As she sobbed, she buried her head deeper against Xiu Yuan's chest.
"They're talking nonsense. Little Tao isn't an orphan nobody wants." Xiu Yuan gently stroked Hu Tao's hair, comforting her in a soft voice.
"Then... then where are my mommy and daddy... where did they go..."
She lifted her head, gazing at Xiu Yuan with watery eyes.
"They went up to the sky to pick stars for Little Tao. Once they've picked some stars, they'll come back."
With a faint smile, Xiu Yuan rubbed her head.
"Stars..." With only a vague understanding, she tilted her head up to look at the vast, boundless sky.
"Yes, beautiful, twinkling stars."
"Besides, Little Tao still has me. How could you be an orphan nobody wants?"
Hearing this, Hu Tao looked at Xiu Yuan, momentarily entranced by his sincere, gentle gaze.
"All right, let's go home." Xiu Yuan wiped away Hu Tao's tears and spoke softly.
"Okay!"
Hu Tao wiped her eyes too, answering happily.
Xiu Yuan was a typical transmigrator, and his mission was to complete nine cycles of reincarnation.
This was his first life, in which he played the role of Hu Tao's grandfather and helped her grow until she was qualified to become the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
When that time came, he would leave.
Night fell.
Liyue Harbor bustled with traffic and people coming and going.
Walking along the street, Xiu Yuan spotted two scholars in clean, comfortable clothes drinking and enjoying themselves together.
On a whim, he recited, "Soft rosy hands, golden wine; two orioles sing where green willows twine."
Xiu Yuan's sudden recitation naturally caught Hu Tao's attention, and she stared at him with wide eyes.
"Grandpa, what were you singing? It didn't sound like reading or singing. It's so interesting!"
"Hahahahaha! That's called doggerel. You make it up as you please and say whatever comes to mind."
Xiu Yuan answered with a faint smile.
"Doggerel...? Make it up as you please? Say whatever comes to mind?"
Hu Tao's gaze also fell on the two scholars drinking and enjoying themselves.
She repeated what Xiu Yuan had said.
At once, her large eyes sparkled with stars.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, I want to learn doggerel! It sounds so fun!"
Hu Tao swung Xiu Yuan's hand, pleading sweetly.
"Little Tao wants to learn?"
"Yes, yes!"
"It's not that easy, you know."
"Don't worry, I'm really good!" Hu Tao patted her perfectly flat chest and declared confidently.
"Really? Then I'll have to see just how good Little Tao is." Xiu Yuan wore a faint smile too.
"Hehe, get ready to be amazed!"
Hu Tao proudly puffed out her chest.
The two soon returned to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Director, you're back," one of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's employees greeted him.
"Yes, I am." Xiu Yuan wore a faint smile no matter whom he spoke to, giving off a warm, comforting air.
"Oh, what happened to our little Miss Tao?"
The employee had clearly noticed the dirty marks on Hu Tao and asked in confusion.
"Well..."
"Excuse me, sorry to bother you."
Xiu Yuan had only just begun to speak when a woman's voice came from outside.
Everyone turned to look and saw a woman in a qipao walk in with a child.
She had a lovely face, and her qipao accentuated her figure perfectly.
"Hello. Is there anything I can help you with?" Xiu Yuan stepped forward with a faint smile.
Yet he had barely taken a step, before he could bring his other foot forward, when Hu Tao tugged at the hem of his clothes.
Slightly puzzled, Xiu Yuan looked down and saw the unmistakable anger on Hu Tao's face. Her gaze was fixed on the child beside the woman in the qipao.
Xiu Yuan quickly understood what was going on.
The woman in the qipao noticed this as well and approached with an apologetic expression.
"Director, I'd like to apologize on my child's behalf." She spoke softly and gently, then gave the little boy a light pat on the back.
The little boy approached timidly with his head lowered.
"I'm sorry..." As he spoke, he lowered his head even farther and held out what he was carrying. "This is for you."
Hu Tao froze at the sight. She stared blankly at the beautifully wrapped little box, seemingly unable to believe it.
Xiu Yuan gently stroked Hu Tao's head.
Hu Tao instinctively looked up. After seeing the look in her grandfather's eyes, she slowly reached out with both hands and accepted the box.
The next moment, the little boy blushed and darted back behind his mother.
"These are mung bean cakes we made at home. I hope you can forgive Yuan Chen for his rude words."
The woman in the qipao spoke with deep remorse.
Rather than answering her, however, Xiu Yuan turned his gaze to Hu Tao.
Hu Tao looked up at Xiu Yuan too. Seemingly understanding what he meant, she blushed and hugged the little square box tightly in both hands, murmuring, "It's okay..."
"Phew..." The woman in the qipao let out a long breath, and a smile returned to her face.
"Director, I'd like to discuss a funeral coming up in a few days."
"Of course. Please come inside, and we can talk." Xiu Yuan ushered her in.
Left behind, Hu Tao and the little boy, Yuan Chen, stared at each other, then both grew awkward and shy.
"About today... I'm sorry about today. I... I didn't mean it..." Yuan Chen apologized again.
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