The fish survived

Something flowed along her finger and was sucked away by the fish.

Qin Yan's little mind went to the crystal core she had eaten before.

The fish looked livelier.

Qin Yan stood there for a good while as the fish sucked on her finger, treating her like a life-sustaining baby bottle.

She was getting a little dizzy.

"Jigu, jigu~"

Only after Tuantuan hopped over and bounced a few times did Qin Yan pull her finger back.

She crouched down and hugged Tuantuan.

"A little dizzy."

She couldn't see it herself, but her face was a little pale, too.

Still, seeing that the fish in the little tank seemed to have come back to life made her happy again.

"You have to stay alive."

She had also been a dying little fish Meimei had picked up. Meimei had helped her find a home, and she had survived. She was even living very well now, with a family.

She wanted this little fish to survive, too.

Qin Yan leaned close to the tank and watched the fish, which had turned itself right side up and could already swim slowly, for a good while before heading downstairs with Tuantuan in her arms.

She brought her pocket money, too.

"Uncle, here."

She held out five hundred-denomination bills.

Fu Yunting was on the phone when he looked at the little person who had run up beside him, raising the money to offer it to him.

He reached out and gently poked her forehead.

"What, you think you need to pay me back for that little bit of money?"

"Your eldest uncle may be stingy, but I have my generous moments, too."

"Take it back."

Not only did he make Qin Yan take the money back, but he also pulled a wad of cash from his breast pocket.

"Here, a cash gift for our first meeting. I don't know how much is in there. Count it yourself. Your eldest uncle isn't short on money."

Qin Yan clutched the money he stuffed into her arms, her little eyes bewildered.

She hadn't managed to give away her money and had received a whole lot more instead.

"Thank you, Uncle."

The little one wavered for a few seconds before accepting it.

She ran back to her room with the money in her arms and took a large Piggy Bank out of a cabinet.

She put the bills inside one by one.

Finally, she placed the Piggy Bank together with the Golden Pixiu her eldest uncle had given her and some gifts from her grandfather.

This cabinet was specifically for the things she liked.

Qin Yan went downstairs again and ran to pour Fu Yunting some water.

"Uncle, have some water."

Instead of taking the water right away, Fu Yunting took a photo of Qin Yan first.

"What's wrong with your face? Were you this pale before?"

He held Qin Yan's exceptionally tiny face between his fingers and examined it.

"I'll get the doctor to come check on you."

Qin Yan shook her head. "No need. I don't feel bad."

"That won't do. You need regular checkups."

He immediately sent the family doctor a message.

He also went to the kitchen and poured her a glass of warm milk.

The old man's instructions for looking after Yanyan included having her drink milk every day.

While Qin Yan held the milk and drank, he took another photo and sent it to the group along with the one from earlier.

This was a family group he had just created.

They had never had anything like it before. Their family was like wild carnivores: once they reached adulthood, their father chased them out to claim their own territory.

They rarely contacted one another unless necessary.

But now, he had created a family group.

Aside from him and his father, the group included his four younger brothers, whom he hadn't contacted in months.

These relatives were both familiar and unfamiliar.

Fu Yunting: [Photo] [Photo]

Fu Yunting: She's drinking milk.

Old Master Fu soon appeared.

Fu Rong: Such a good baby.

Fu Rong: You could've just told me. Why make a group? You know perfectly well what your brothers are like. What difference does it make whether they're in here or not?

Fu Rong: What's going on in the first photo?

Fu Yunting: Oh, the little one was bringing me water.

Fu Rong: ...

He shouldn't have asked. Had that brat been waiting for him to ask that very question?

Fu Rong: Heh. Who was it who said he didn't like children? You even called Yanyan a fraud.

Fu Yunting: I still haven't said I like children.

Fu Yunting: She's very well-behaved. I don't dislike her.

Father and son exchanged quite a few messages, but none of the others spoke up.

When the doctor arrived, Fu Yunting put his phone away and watched the doctor examine her.

The doctor said, "The little one's recovering very well. There are no major problems. Now, as long as she eats and sleeps properly, she'll be no different from any other child."

Qin Yan obediently nodded.

Fu Yunting breathed a sigh of relief, too. As long as she was all right.

After seeing the doctor off, Fu Yunting gave Qin Yan some not-so-good news.

"An old friend of your grandfather's is ill. He doesn't live in our city, so your grandfather needs to leave for a few days to visit him."

Qin Yan stared blankly, taking a long while to understand what he meant.

Then she grew a little restless.

"Then, then will I be home all by myself?"

Fu Yunting folded his arms. "What, does someone as big as me not count as a person?"

Qin Yan hurriedly shook her head.

"Eldest Uncle, busy."

Grandpa had told her that her uncles were all very busy and rarely came home.

Fu Yunting said, "Anyway, you'll be sticking with me for the next few days."

Qin Yan was a little happy, but nervous, too.

She was happy that her uncle was willing to let her stay with him.

Even though she wasn't familiar with her eldest uncle yet, she didn't want to be alone.

She said in her tender little voice, "I won't be any trouble."

Her eyes seemed to say that she wouldn't be any trouble, so please don't leave her behind.

Fu Yunting felt as though something had poked his heart.

Unable to help himself, he pinched Qin Yan's little cheek. "Why are you like an abandoned kitten?"

Even with her cheek being pinched, the little one remained incredibly well-behaved.

"Oh, right. Is that fish of yours dead yet? If it is, you'll have to throw it out. Otherwise, it'll stink up your room so badly you won't be able to stay in there."

Qin Yan shook her head. "It's not dead."

"Oh? Tough little thing."

"I'll go have a look."

As they headed upstairs, Fu Yunting's phone rang.

It was a video call from Old Master Fu.

The moment the call connected, Fu Rong looked at his eldest son's big face and said disdainfully,

"Give the phone to my granddaughter. Who wants to look at you?"

Fu Yunting curled his lip.

As if I'm so eager to see you.

When Qin Yan heard her grandfather's voice, she tipped her little head back to look at him.

"Here. Your grandfather."

Her hands were small, so she needed both to hold the phone.

Tuantuan considerately hopped onto her head.

"Grandpa~"

"Yes, baby, here I am. Have you been eating properly? Your eldest uncle told you, didn't he? My old friend suddenly became seriously ill, so Grandpa has to go see him. Stay with your eldest uncle while I'm away these next few days. If that brat bullies you, call me and tell on him."

Qin Yan nodded.

"Eldest Uncle didn't bully me. He took me out to play."

Her sweet little voice left Fu Yunting thoroughly satisfied.

Exactly. Look what a good guardian I am.

Although the little one hadn't wanted to go at first, she had still had a good time and even bought a few things.

While the old man and the little one talked, they arrived at Qin Yan's bedroom.

Old Master Fu had arranged for Qin Yan's bedroom to be decorated with plenty of childlike charm, with pink touches everywhere.

But Old Master Fu had good taste. Rather than that awful Barbie pink, it was a peachy pink, with plenty of fluffy touches, too.

For instance, there were several stuffed toys on the bed.

The rug was a kitten.

This bedroom was entirely unlike everyone else's in the Fu family.

But it suited a sweet, gentle-tempered child like Qin Yan perfectly.

Updates will become regular after I sign the contract. Something came up at home today, so I didn't write anything. I'm using a stockpiled chapter for today.