Song Yaoyao opened his eyes, his butterfly-wing-like eyelashes gently parting in a natural, soft curve, his eyes bright.
He had been wrapped up in soft blankets by someone, with a fever-reducing patch printed with a little bear stuck to his forehead, cool and very comfortable.
“Baby.”
Xie Ningwan had been holding him all along. When he noticed him open his eyes, he kissed his face tenderly and reached out to check the temperature on his forehead, his eyes full of worry as he asked, “Do you feel better now?”
Song Yaoyao did not speak. He just looked into his eyes, his long eyelashes blinking once.
Xie Ningwan had already gently held him in front of him with one arm while the other stretched to get the thermometer and warm water from the bedside table.
Just as he turned his head, Song Yaoyao, wrapped in front of him, suddenly lifted his head and kissed his lips unexpectedly.
“…” The soft touch parted as soon as it connected. Xie Ningwan was stunned for a moment before turning back and lowering his gaze.
Song Yaoyao was wrapped in Xie Ningwan’s arms like a real baby, and his position was rather low. The first kiss only reached Xie Ningwan’s jaw. The second time, he lifted his hands to wrap around Xie Ningwan’s neck and tilted his face up to peck his lips.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Ningwan held him a little tighter without dodging, rubbing against his lips as he whispered.
Song Yaoyao did not speak. Just like before when he secretly absorbed Xie Ningwan’s fortune, he tentatively touched Xie Ningwan’s lips with the tip of his tongue. Xie Ningwan quickly took the lead, holding the back of his neck and capturing his tongue tip, his warm breath mingling with their lips and tongues as it delved deeper.
Song Yaoyao was soon kissed until he could barely breathe, his cheeks flushing red.
He flailed his arms, making a fuss that it was enough. Xie Ningwan, concerned that he was still running a fever, let him go easily this time, his fingers caressing his cheek.
Seeing that his face was still flushed but his spirits seemed much better, Xie Ningwan pressed his forehead—where the fever patch was—against his and asked again, “What’s wrong? Do you feel better?”
Song Yaoyao adjusted his breathing, his eyes clear and lively. His fingers rested on Xie Ningwan’s shoulder.
“I’ll get better as soon as I kiss you once.” Song Yaoyao said it with utmost seriousness.
Kissing Xie Ningwan once let him absorb fortune. Kissing Xie Ningwan once turned him back into a human.
“Is that so?” Xie Ningwan smiled cooperatively and pulled him closer. “Then let me take your temperature again to see if you’re better.”
Song Yaoyao held the thermometer in place and took a sip of the warm water Xie Ningwan fed to his mouth. Up to his old tricks, he muttered, “I’m a naughty ghost. I want to suck your essence. Once I suck your essence, I’ll be fine.”
“Mm, you’re a little ghost.” Xie Ningwan saw he was not drinking anymore and put the cup back on the bedside table. He lowered his head to suck away the lingering water from the corner of his lips.
“I’ll teach you how to truly suck essence later,” Xie Ningwan said.
“…” Song Yaoyao understood the implication in his words, and his ear tips turned red at once.
…
Song Yaoyao’s fever was not serious, and he recovered the next day, full of vitality and energy once more.
After learning the truth about the world and the ins and outs of his transmigration from the System, with his worries gone, he felt even more a sense of belonging to this world. He was at ease and happy.
In the following days, Song Yaoyao’s routine remained the same as before.
In the mornings, he rode on top of Xie Ningwan’s head as they went to the company together. In the office, he watched online classes, sprawled on the sofa watching cartoons, ate snacks brought by Assistant Lei, chatted with Mop Head and Skinny Bamboo Pole… and got scooped up by Xie Ningwan for a kiss.
At noon, he ate exquisite lunches ordered by the secretary with Xie Ningwan, sneaking meat from Xie Ningwan’s lunchbox. Or he went with Song Huaichuan and Madam Song to restaurants outside, getting familiar with his parents and brother. Then he returned to the office and got scooped up by Xie Ningwan for another kiss.
In the evenings back home, after showering, he wore his little bear pajamas, hugged his little bear doll, and obediently went to sleep quietly… only to get scooped up by Xie Ningwan for a kiss again!
“Wuwu…!” Song Yaoyao struggled under the covers, rolling to one side wrapped in the blanket to hide as he shouted, “Don’t attack the person in the bed!”
Xie Ningwan chuckled lowly, pressing him—blanket and all—into his arms and continuing the kiss.
Many days passed like this, until the grand homecoming banquet prepared by the Song Family for Song Yaoyao arrived.
A few days early, Song Yaoyao was picked up by Song Huaichuan and brought back to the Song Family first.
During this time, Song Yaoyao met Former President Song and Madam Song frequently. The connected blood ties, along with their deep care and affection, quickly brought him close to them, eliminating any sense of unfamiliarity.
In the Song Family’s old residence, Song Yaoyao stayed in the room from his childhood.
The room’s decor had always been kept as it was before he went missing—a children’s room. After his return, Madam Song and the others let go of their fixation and added many new items, arranging it more suitably for the current Song Yaoyao according to his preferences.
Song Yaoyao lay on his own bed, tilting his head to look at the wind chimes tinkling by the window, and called Xie Ningwan.
“My little assistant isn’t here, so I can’t work,” Xie Ningwan said on the other end. “I miss you.”
Ever since the little ghost came to his side, they had been together almost twenty-four hours a day. This was the first time they had been apart for so long, and neither was used to it.
Song Yaoyao sprawled on the bed, hugging the little bear doll from his childhood on this side, and said, “I miss you too and want to come back to you, but my brother keeps crying.”
After Song Yaoyao returned to the Song Family, every time Song Huaichuan saw him moving about the house, his eyes reddened. Not just Song Huaichuan and the Song couple—even the aunts would tear up now and then at the sight of him.
“I want to cry too,” Xie Ningwan sighed.
“Yaoyao.” They had just finished the call when Song Huaichuan arrived, knocking lightly on the door from outside.
“Brother.” Song Yaoyao put down his phone and sat up, letting Song Huaichuan come right in.
Song Huaichuan’s face was as gentle as a spring breeze. He opened the door, holding several outfits, with an aunt following behind carrying gift boxes.
“Brother prepared a few sets of clothes for you to wear to the banquet. Come try them on.”
“Wow.” Song Yaoyao slid off the bed.
“Do you like them?” Song Huaichuan asked warmly.
“I like them,” Song Yaoyao said.
He circled around the luxurious formal attire Song Huaichuan had prepared for him and took it to try on in the dressing room.
Song Huaichuan’s warm gaze fell on the soft, cute round-neck long-sleeved T-shirt Song Yaoyao wore that day. In a clear voice, he asked, “What styles and types of clothes does Yaoyao usually like to wear?”
Song Yaoyao looked down and said, “Xie Ningwan buys all my clothes.”
Xie Ningwan had originally had Assistant Lei custom-make many for him, and he still had not worn them all even once. Later, Xie Ningwan bought him many more new ones.
The spring breeze on Song Huaichuan’s face paused briefly, but he still kept his smile. “Brother will buy them for you from now on.”
“Thank you, Brother.” Song Yaoyao did not notice the silent rivalry between his two “brothers” and smiled with curved eyes.
.
On the day of the banquet, Song Yaoyao wore the clothes carefully prepared by his dad, mom, and brother, standing at the center of the venue.
He wore an exquisite and beautiful formal suit, perfectly tailored to his figure. The inner shirt’s collar and cuffs were embroidered with intricate, elaborate lace, luxurious and eye-catching.
To suit the occasion, Madam Song personally styled his hair, smoothing the soft strands so he looked even more noble, like a little prince stepped out of a storybook.
Almost everyone in the city had heard about the Song Family’s little young master falling into the water over a decade ago. Now that he had been found, with the Song Family returning to the spotlight from obscurity, many guests attended the banquet.
Guests came and went continuously. Song Yaoyao was led by his dad, mom, and brother to stand in the brightest spot under the lights, greeting everyone and revealing his identity.
“He really is the Song Family’s little young master. He looks just like Madam Song when she was young—bright brows and sparkling eyes.”
“After more than ten years, they found him back. What great news. We all thought he was gone before, sigh…”
“I’d say it’s because the Song Family has done so much charity work all these years. Good deeds bring good rewards.”
“…”
The guests discussed kindly in low voices.
“Hey, this little young master Song looks so familiar. Like I’ve seen him at a banquet before,” one person said softly.
“Isn’t he President Xie’s treasured pearl?”
“Yeah, yeah, ah…” The crowd covered their mouths.
There were too many guests. Song Huaichuan presided over the event and had Song Yaoyao stand in place to meet some people. Worried he might get bored or tired, he let him go to the rest area to relax and eat something.
The desserts at today’s banquet were prepared to Song Yaoyao’s taste as well. A dazzling array of pastries filled the dessert table, colorful and sweet-smelling.
Song Yaoyao circled the dessert table once, eyeing the prettiest little cake he liked most and reaching for it. But that cake was taken by another hand with distinct knuckles and slender fingers.
“…?” Song Yaoyao’s round eyes widened slightly.
Song Yaoyao pouted secretly, lowered his eyelashes, and planned to walk away. Then he heard the owner of the hand that “stole” his cake chuckle lightly, the sound soft and low.
“?”
Song Yaoyao suddenly looked up and met Xie Ningwan’s lake-like eyes filled with amusement.
Song Yaoyao’s eyes lit up, his long straight eyelashes fluttering upward as joy appeared on his face.
“Little Young Master Song, please.” Xie Ningwan held the cake plate toward him, tilting his head slightly with an indulgent look.
The surrounding guests observed them discreetly. Song Yaoyao said proudly, “Thank you, President Xie.”
“You’re welcome.” Xie Ningwan curved his lips.
The two naturally entered an empty lounge together.
Xie Ningwan’s outfit today was also very formal, a bit like that handsome, stylish suit Song Yaoyao had secretly tried on when he was still a little ghost and admired. But today’s Xie Ningwan seemed even more handsome.
Before Song Yaoyao could look at him fully, Xie Ningwan lifted his chin with one knuckle and planted a gentle kiss on his lips, saying, “Baby.”
Song Yaoyao finally ate that little cake he had selected to his heart’s content and got an extra kiss as a bonus.
After the banquet ended, Song Yaoyao went back to the villa with Xie Ningwan.
Once home, Song Yaoyao showered in the bathroom first, then pounced onto the master bed in his little bear pajamas and hugged the little bear doll.
“I missed you so much.” He said it to the round head of the little bear doll, then planted a smooch on it.
The bed dipped beside him. Xie Ningwan, wearing the matching pajamas, sat on the edge and raised a brow at him. Song Yaoyao leaned over proactively and kissed his face.
As soon as he leaned in, he fell into the trap again. Xie Ningwan kissed him deeply until he was breathless before letting go.
Song Yaoyao hid under the covers, turning into a blanket burrito.
Xie Ningwan fished the little ghost out of the blanket burrito and pulled him back into his arms.
After some playful struggling, before sleep, Song Yaoyao sprawled in front of Xie Ningwan, arms around his neck, and whispered, “I want to tell you a story.”
“Mm, a bedtime story.” Xie Ningwan wrapped an arm around his waist and tucked him in.
Song Yaoyao said, “Once upon a time, there was a little ghost who fell into the water and transmigrated. He met a person, and as long as he kissed the person and absorbed essence, he could turn back into a human too…”
Xie Ningwan laughed. “Mm, I know. It’s Song Xiaoqian’s story.”
“I haven’t finished yet,” Song Yaoyao tightened his hold around his neck and continued, “But this little ghost was originally from this world. He fell into the water as a child and transmigrated to another world. Now he’s back.”
Xie Ningwan gently stroked his back again and again, lowering his head to kiss his forehead.
“Do you believe the story I told?” Song Yaoyao asked, looking up.
“I believe it.” Xie Ningwan held his body close and rubbed against his warm, soft cheek. “I also know the story’s ending: the little ghost gets caught and has to let the person kiss him before being held to sleep.”
“…”
Song Yaoyao did not want to be kissed breathless again. He buried himself in Xie Ningwan’s chest and closed his eyes to sleep.
Xie Ningwan’s brows and eyes softened as he kissed the top of his soft hair. “Thank you, Baby, for the bedtime story.”
