Chapter 54: The Little Ghost is the Protagonist

“Yaoyao?” Xie Ningwan, who stood beside him, first noticed that something was off with him and raised his hand to cover his forehead.

It was slightly warm, but not a fever.

“Yaoyao, what’s wrong?” Song Huaichuan also turned around worriedly, paying close attention to his complexion.

“……I’m fine.” Song Yaoyao closed his sore eyes, steadied his mind, and lowered his eyelashes to look at the little bear doll that Song Huaichuan held up in front of him.

This little bear doll looked just like the one Xie Ningwan had given him, with a round plump body and round ears, curly brown fur that was soft and cute.

Song Yaoyao stared blankly at the little bear doll.

“Did you remember something?” Song Huaichuan placed the little bear into his hands, held his hands, bent down at the waist, and looked at him with eager eyes. “Do you remember this little bear?”

Song Yaoyao lifted his head and scanned the room’s furnishings once more.

The room was clearly prepared for a child at first glance: a cartoonish little bed, piles of dolls and toys, a wall of storybooks and picture books, and a small wind chime hanging by the window.

Song Yaoyao walked to the window and touched the small pendant on the wind chime. Just then, a gentle breeze blew in from outside the window, making the wind chime sway and produce a crisp, pleasant tinkling sound.

“I think I remember, Brother.” Song Yaoyao turned back in a daze and said softly.

This doll bear, the cartoonish little bed, the crisp sound of the wind chime…

But he could not quite distinguish if it was an illusion or real.

The clear-browed, bright-eyed youth with red lips and white teeth stood by the window holding the wind chime as he turned back, overlapping with the image of the tender and adorable toddler from over a dozen years ago who stood by the railing grasping the wind chime and waving it playfully.

Song Huaichuan was deeply moved and shed tears again. He stepped forward and hugged Song Yaoyao tightly. “Yaoyao.”

Tears welled in Song Huaichuan’s eyes, but a gentle smile graced his face. He held Song Yaoyao’s hand and showed him everything one by one. “This was your favorite picture book when you were little. You would laugh as soon as I read it.”

“You also loved this balloon toy… It leaked before, and we patched it many times. In the end, when we couldn’t patch it anymore, we got an identical new one.

“And this little horse—you loved riding it, but you fell off it once and didn’t like it afterward.

“Oh, right, this little bib…”

Song Huaichuan led Song Yaoyao to sit on the edge of the bed. In his hand was a baby bib embroidered with a little bear. It was clearly handmade by the creator, with stitches that were not very fine, but one could see the full measure of love poured into it.

“You were the cutest when you wore this bib—like a little doll,” Song Huaichuan said with a soft, nostalgic smile. He turned his head toward Xie Ningwan. “President Xie, take a look.”

He held the bib up to Song Yaoyao’s neck, acting like the most ordinary big brother proudly showing off his cute and obedient little brother to others.

Xie Ningwan had quietly stayed by their side the whole time. He followed Song Huaichuan’s narration and gently touched each of Song Yaoyao’s childhood toys and picture books with care.

At this moment, he raised his eyes and saw Song Yaoyao sitting obediently on the bed. His gaze softened as well, as if he could picture that adorable child carved from pink jade back then.

“Very cute,” he said softly.

Song Huaichuan smiled in satisfaction. Just as the smile bloomed at the corners of his eyes, he suddenly remembered the relationship between Xie Ningwan and Song Yaoyao.

“……”

He looked at the tender and loving gaze Xie Ningwan directed at Song Yaoyao and suddenly felt a sour taste in his heart.

When he saw Xie Ningwan reach out to touch Song Yaoyao’s head and even try to take the bib from his hand, Song Huaichuan unobtrusively withdrew his hand and stood up. “Ahem, let’s look at the other things.”

Xie Ningwan paused for a moment. His fingers landed on Song Yaoyao’s soft hair, and he smiled indifferently. “Alright.”

Song Yaoyao did not notice the covert rivalry between his two “brothers.” As soon as Xie Ningwan touched his hair, he habitually nuzzled into Xie Ningwan’s palm.

Song Huaichuan took Song Yaoyao’s hand and led the two of them to tour the rest of Song Yaoyao’s childhood room, then to other places in the house where Song Yaoyao had often played as a child.

Song Yaoyao only had vague impressions of his own room, that little bear doll, and the wind chime. The other places gave him occasional flickers of familiarity, but his memories were still unclear.

Even so, it was enough to fill Song Huaichuan with emotion and joy. After the three of them roughly toured the interior of the villa, Song Huaichuan took Song Yaoyao and Xie Ningwan downstairs to meet Madam Song and Former President Song again.

Former President Song of the Charity Association and Madam Song had calmed down somewhat after a period of composure. Now, they sat back down on the mahogany sofa in the living room, chatting and drinking tea.

Song Yaoyao was beckoned to sit between Former President Song and Madam Song.

“He’s exactly the same as when he was little,” Madam Song said, covering her mouth. Her eyes were still red, and her gaze never left Song Yaoyao for a moment. Her expression was gentle as she held Song Yaoyao’s arm and said to her husband beside her, “Look at Yaoyao.”

“Yes.” Former President Song also gazed warmly at Song Yaoyao’s face, reaching out to touch his cheek.

This was the first time in Song Yaoyao’s memory that he sat between his mom and dad. He curiously turned his head to look left and right.

“I’m Mommy, and he’s Daddy.” The missing more than a decade made Madam Song still treat Song Yaoyao like a child. She gently guided him. “Call them.”

“Mommy, Daddy.” Song Yaoyao followed her.

“Ah.” They responded together, and the wrinkles at the corners of Madam Song’s eyes bloomed like flowers.

“Yaoyao, I’m Brother.” Song Huaichuan, sitting opposite, leaned forward and joined their conversation warmly.

“Brother.” Song Yaoyao called out again.

Song Huaichuan’s eyebrows curved. “Mm.”

After calling everyone, Song Yaoyao’s gaze shifted to Xie Ningwan, who sat beside Song Huaichuan.

Xie Ningwan had accompanied him all day today, encouraged him, and quietly stayed behind him. Now, he sat on the sofa, looking at him with gentle eyes.

Song Yaoyao’s heart stirred. He opened his mouth and introduced him to everyone. “He’s Xie Ningwan, he’s my—”

As soon as he spoke, he glanced sideways at Madam Song’s face and thought of how emotional everyone had been today, especially Madam Song and Former President Song, whose moods had fluctuated wildly. It might not be the right time to explain his relationship with Xie Ningwan to them.

He pursed his lips. Just then, he saw Xie Ningwan also give him a gentle shake of the head, so he held back his words for the time being.

Former President Song and Madam Song were indeed not yet clear on Song Yaoyao’s relationship with Xie Ningwan. They had only heard from Song Huaichuan that Xie Ningwan had greatly helped them find Song Yaoyao and had taken good care of him, so their attitude was warm and friendly.

Moreover, it was obvious that Song Yaoyao trusted and depended on Xie Ningwan. Even if they learned something, they were too busy doting on Song Yaoyao after finally finding him to care about anything else.

When mealtime arrived, the Song Family’s maids prepared a lavish table of dishes. The group enjoyed a lively, long-overdue family reunion dinner together.

After the meal, Song Yaoyao had to go back home first with Xie Ningwan.

Although Former President Song and Madam Song wanted more than anything to keep Song Yaoyao right there, they worried that being too hasty might make him uncomfortable. They decided to take it step by step, respect Song Yaoyao’s wishes, and let him gradually get to know the family over the next few days.

Later, once everything was prepared, they would hold a grand homecoming banquet for Song Yaoyao.

When leaving the Song residence, Madam Song cried again. Song Yaoyao hugged her before departing with Xie Ningwan.

In the car on the way home, only Song Yaoyao and Xie Ningwan were there.

Song Yaoyao’s emotions had fluctuated greatly today as well. His head drooped as he lay on Xie Ningwan’s lap.

Xie Ningwan leaned down and kissed his cheek, then picked him up and held him in his arms. He picked up their earlier conversation. “Who am I?”

“You’re my boyfriend.” Song Yaoyao did not act shy. He buried his face in Xie Ningwan’s chest and said muffledly.

Xie Ningwan kissed the top of his head again. “You’re my Baby.”

Song Yaoyao lay softly against him, his fingers grasping Xie Ningwan’s clothes. He closed his eyes to nap for a bit. Xie Ningwan held his phone in one hand to handle the work that had piled up today while his other arm encircled him, gently patting his back.

Song Yaoyao slept for a short while, then suddenly opened his eyes and looked up at Xie Ningwan.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Ningwan felt his movement right away. He lowered his gaze, pressed his forehead against Song Yaoyao’s, and continued patting without pause.

“Nothing.”

Song Yaoyao quietly looked at him for a moment, then peacefully nestled back into his arms and closed his eyes again.

He had just suddenly realized that he now had two homes: Xie Ningwan’s home was his home, and the Song Family was his home too.

……

Perhaps due to the intense emotional fluctuations, after returning to the villa and taking a bath before bed that evening, Song Yaoyao still developed a fever.

His cheeks were flushed, his vision swam, and he huddled under the covers.

“Baby.”

Xie Ningwan held him, frowned as he took his temperature, then called his private doctor for advice.

“How do you feel? Besides dizziness, is there anything else uncomfortable?” Xie Ningwan pressed his lips to Song Yaoyao’s forehead and asked softly with concern.

“No.” Song Yaoyao’s head felt woozy. He dazedly burrowed into Xie Ningwan’s arms.

He felt as if the whole world was spinning, dizzier than when he had seen his room at the Song Family earlier that day, dizzier even than when he was still the little ghost tumbling across the ceiling.

His vision turned a vast white blur. Song Yaoyao felt like he was floating and rolling in water. The surroundings grew whiter and whiter…

A system orb glowing with white light appeared before him.

“System!” Song Yaoyao’s mind suddenly cleared. He stepped forward, as if stepping into the void, and nearly stumbled.

【Greetings, Host. Upon inspection, the original plot of the book has concluded, the world glitches have been fully repaired, and System 7446972’s service to you is about to end. We are now settling your account…】 The white orb rotated.

“Wait, what’s really going on here?”

This was the second time Song Yaoyao heard the system’s number. Hearing that it was leaving as soon as it appeared, he hurriedly asked, “What’s the deal with my background? Why do I feel familiar with the Song Family’s room? If I was originally from this world, what was the transmigration book about?”

“And with me and Xie Ningwan… What was that fortune absorption before? If Xie Ningwan is really the protagonist in the book, what effect will absorbing his fortune have?” This was the question Song Yaoyao had buried deep in his heart.

【Please don’t worry, Host. I will answer each of your questions.】 The system’s mechanical voice seemed a bit gentler at this moment. 【First, regarding your background, I believe you already have the answer in your heart.】

Song Yaoyao froze. “……You mean I really was originally from this world?”

【Yes. Unfortunately, that is the world glitch I just mentioned.】 The system said.

【Due to a malfunction in the world’s operation, you accidentally transmigrated into another independent world more than a dozen years ago. Only now has it been corrected and reset, sending you home.】

“……” Song Yaoyao’s breathing slowed. His long straight eyelashes trembled slightly, and the corners of his eyes hid a small patch.

“Brother said I went missing from drowning… So, I fell into the water as a child, transmigrated to the world where I grew up before, and then drowned again trying to save someone, so you sent me back.”

【You can understand it that way.】 The system elaborated. 【This is also why you initially entered this world in soul form.】

“Then what about the ‘original book’ and protagonist Xie Ningwan? Is this world really a book?” Song Yaoyao pressed.

【To any independent small world, it may be a book, a film, or even a painting in another world. This world manifested as a novel in the world you lived in before. And the world you lived in before might just be a picture book in another world among the myriad realms. It is all the same.】 The system explained.

Song Yaoyao: “About me absorbing Xie Ningwan’s fortune…”

【Regarding this question, you need not worry. The ‘protagonist’ is the person with the highest fortune value in the world. In the current world, it was previously Xie Ningwan.】

【The fortune on the ‘protagonist’ is infinitely renewable. He remains the protagonist.】

【Of course, this world has changed a little because of you.】

“What change?” Song Yaoyao raised his eyelashes worriedly.

【From the moment you ‘transmigrated into the book,’ you became a protagonist too.】 The system said.