Dying in the Male Lead's Arms Every Time - Chapter 5

After a moment, Shi Qi shook his head, his small face masking the initial curiosity.

Shi Shanjin nodded, not forcing the issue, and pulled out a notebook from the shelf.

This pen fairy incident wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

He had seen the photos from the scene; the manner of death was different from those he had encountered before. He had dealt with pen fairy cases in the past, but the resentment of the ghost had never been this intense.

His daughter was practically gone.

It wasn’t until much later that he remembered there was still someone in the study.

Shi Shanjin looked up at Shi Qi, who was staring at him without blinking, his emerald eyes reflecting Shi Shanjin’s upright figure, yet holding an unreadable expression.

He didn’t like the look in this kid’s eyes.

The test results had come back long ago; he was indeed the third younger brother’s child. But there was a sense of unease in his heart, a feeling that accepting him might not be a wise decision, hence the delay.

When he focused again, the child had already lowered his head, his slender black hair covering a pale little face, with a bruise on the back of his neck left by Shi Cong.

Shi Shanjin paused, pursing his lips, “Get a haircut tomorrow and move to the small building.”

The old madam wanted to take care of him, so let her.

The third younger brother had once turned against the family for a woman, abandoning a promising future. Knowing the Shi Family’s status in Yanjing, he had vanished, living who knows where.

If not for this child coming, he might not have known the third younger brother had passed away.

Since he was gone, the child should be brought into the family. No matter what happened before, he was still a descendant of the Shi Family.

Shi Qi left the study, his face stiff as he walked back to his room.

He had heard the servants mention the small building, where the old madam lived. From his current room’s window, he could see a corner of it, mostly obscured by flowers and plants.

On the way, he encountered servants in twos and threes, all lowering their heads as if they hadn’t seen him, quickly escaping from his side.

Shi Qi clenched his hand, looking down at his thin wrist, veins visible.

Unlike those two siblings, whose skin was fair and tender, faces rosy, never having experienced hunger.

His rich experiences taught him how to gain the highest stakes with the least cost. The weak have always garnered more attention.

One day, he would live better than them.

Shi Qi spread his fingers, smiling silently, his hair covering his eyes.

Ning Meng slept for another day in the small building.

When she woke, she turned over in bed, and upon waking again, found the sun had already set outside, the small building much cooler.

She didn’t call for anyone, dressing herself, struggling to put on her outer clothes, eventually managing after much effort, taking quite some time.

Once dressed, she was out of breath.

Ning Meng wiped her sweat, touching her dry skin, sighing again.

If there was one thing she disliked about transmigrating into an old madam, it was the inconvenience in movement. Fortunately, Old Madam Shi wasn’t an ordinary elderly woman; after marrying, she was pampered, and the family dared not slack off. Now her son also had doctors taking care of her health.

Experiencing an elderly life for the first time, she initially thought it would be simple, but now realized it was anything but.

Being waited on hand and foot was her current reality.

Ning Meng, feeling rested, put on her jacket.

She planned to look in the mirror to comb her hair, but found it unnecessary. Her short hair was smooth, and much had fallen out, eliminating the need for makeup. For a lazy person, it might be quite enjoyable.

Though she had memories, she hadn’t left her room in two days, curious about the outside of her bedroom.

She quietly opened the door, not stepping out.

The small building had a pastoral style, with wooden railings carved with patterns, hooks hanging from the corridor above, holding small pots of orchids, resembling a paradise from a magazine.

The corridors twisted and turned, apart from a few rooms, the rest were hollow, fitted with glass, with a rocking chair in the glass room.

It was the perfect place for recuperation.

Li Chun hummed a tune as she came upstairs, seeing the old madam standing at the door, motionless, her steps quickened.

She placed the porridge on the table by the door, asking, “Old madam, why did you get up yourself? Are you feeling unwell?”

Ning Meng shook her head, “I’m fine now, I want to go downstairs.”

Li Chun said, “Better rest another day; the doctor said you need to recuperate.”

“If I rest any longer, I’ll regress.”

Already slow in movement, sleeping for two days made her feel walking was better. If she lay down any longer, she might only be able to lie down in the future.

Li Chun couldn’t stop her, sighed, “Then have some porridge and I’ll help you down.”

Ning Meng felt weary.

She believed she could move well enough, but the two girls were nervous, so she complied, obediently drinking the porridge.

The porridge, prepared by the doctor, was warm in color, served in a porcelain bowl, delicate and translucent, with yam on top, looking very appetizing.

Though she had been drinking porridge for two days, this new bowl indeed whetted her appetite.

Li Chun suddenly said, “By the way, old madam, the eldest young master came while you were asleep, then left.”

Ning Meng responded, Shi Shanjin, the eldest son in her memory, respected the old madam. Plus, he was the one who angered his mother into encountering a ghost on the way back, so not visiting would be unfilial.

Thinking of the days spent in bed, she suddenly asked, “Li Chun, prepare two computers.”

Li Chun looked at her in surprise, “Old madam, didn’t you think those were… distractions?”

She remembered the eldest young master preparing them only to be scolded, so they didn’t bring phones here. However, there was a phone in her room to check messages, but no outside communication was allowed.

She was a fan herself but never dared to speak out, fearing being kicked out by the old madam.

The second madam was an international star, and the old madam hadn’t liked her much. If not for having Young Master Cong later, she might not have been favored.

Hearing her words, Ning Meng felt helpless.

The old madam focused on gardening and cooking all day, with no phone or TV in the small building. She couldn’t pass the time, wondering if she had to spend her days idle.

As a severe internet addict, she couldn’t endure life without a phone.

To use the phrase, anything could be missing, but not a phone. Without checking social media or news several times a day, life would fall behind.

“Old madam, you haven’t read the newspapers you subscribed to for days,” Li Chun spoke again.

Newspapers? Ning Meng looked in the direction she pointed. Neatly arranged newspapers were on the shelf, but she couldn’t read the text.

She put down the spoon, sternly, “Seventeen is coming soon, so we must be prepared. With technology advancing so fast, computers are necessary, and… a TV too… and prepare phones, two!”

Li Chun was dumbfounded, when did the old madam become so knowledgeable about these, even asking for two phones.

“The latest smartphones,” Ning Meng added, “with internet access.”

Li Chun held back laughter, teasing, “Old madam, you even know about the internet?”

Ning Meng glanced at her, drawing out her words, “I’m a modern old lady.”

Li Chun couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, I’ll prepare them later.”

She wondered if the old madam wanted to use these things to get closer to Young Master Qi.

Seeing she wasn’t suspicious, Ning Meng felt relieved, happily finishing her porridge, then remembered the important matter, “It’s the second day, hasn’t Seventeen arrived?”

Wasn’t it supposed to be soon?

The eldest son of the old madam worked so inefficiently? No wonder Shi Qi later took over the Shi Family.

Li Chun quickly smiled, “He’s here, downstairs.”

Ning Meng hurriedly stood, urging, “Then let’s go, let’s go.”

The novel described it beautifully, but seeing the child in person was different, wondering what his personality was like now, if he was easy to get along with.

The Shi Family had good genes; the old madam’s third son was once a charming young man. The novel mentioned he inherited his mother’s beauty, so he shouldn’t be too bad.

Standing, her legs weakened, nearly falling back into the chair, startling Li Chun to quickly support her. Fortunately, it was common, and she was used to it.

The small building was called small, but it was actually quite large. From upstairs, you couldn’t see all of downstairs, only when you went down could you see clearly.

Ning Meng’s eyes swept around, taking in the exterior, matching her memory, with no difference.

Just seeing things blurry, she hadn’t been nearsighted before, but heard elderly people were farsighted, she probably was now.

Thinking of raising a child, Ning Meng felt a strange sensation, sighing inwardly, asking, “Where is he?”

Why hadn’t she seen him yet, she’d walked for a while.

Li Chun chuckled, “In the small living room. Old madam, Young Master Qi must be happy to have a grandmother like you.”

The small living room was where guests were entertained in the small building. They had come down from upstairs, needing to go around the back.

Li Xia squatted by the coffee table, arranging a platter, then handed peeled fruit to the black-haired child on the sofa. His thin frame sat in the large sofa, sinking into it, making him appear even smaller.

Ning Meng felt heartache just looking from behind.

The novel mentioned he was weak back then, but she hadn’t expected it to be this severe. Wasn’t he supposed to be the same age as Shi Cong? Shi Cong was almost like a little pig, while Shi Qi looked a whole size smaller, malnourished, skinny from behind.

His fine hair barely reached his ears, exposing pale skin, with a bruise on his neck, clearly caused by someone. In the mansion, there were only two children, no need to guess it was Shi Cong’s doing.

Thinking of this, Ning Meng felt anger.

That brat, the second son’s couple clearly hadn’t taught him well. Now just a child, who knows what he might do in the future.

She was now his grandmother, if there was a chance to correct him, it would be good. After all, no one is born evil, especially a child.

Li Chun saw the old madam stop, whispered in her ear, “Young Master Qi lived in… a well-known poor area in Yanjing…”

Ning Meng understood, no wonder.

But now he was in the Shi Family, surely well cared for. They say it’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, wondering if he might be spoiled, then it would be her fault, so she must find good parenting guides.

Moreover… in the novel, Shi Qi later developed yin-yang eyes, allowing him to see through feng shui and command ghosts.

The system spoke, “You can help him develop yin-yang eyes early.”

Ning Meng thought, the book mentioned how to reveal hidden yin-yang eyes. Shi Qi’s reason was the old madam’s fatal fall, bleeding, revealing them.

Did she need to die once first?

Perhaps hearing the commotion, the child on the sofa suddenly turned his head.