Chapter 341

Accompanied by the squeaky rotation of a rusted door hinge, a small door at the corner of the wall was slowly pushed open. A tall and beautiful lady with fair skin and delicate features bent down slightly to pass through the doorway and stepped into the semi-abandoned garden.

Even in its semi-ruined state, this vast garden still exuded an elegant atmosphere. Numerous plain stone slabs intricately carved with peony patterns surrounded the dry marble fountain at the center of the garden, forming several petal-shaped secluded paths.

These paths, covered with gravel and fallen leaves, clearly neglected, intertwined and meandered outward. They passed through collapsed pillars and abandoned sculptures, went past a delicate greenhouse with shattered glass, skirted around the courtyard walls with peeling paint, and extended all the way to the farthest corner of the garden, stopping beside the only place that was still being maintained—a small wooden house.

“Elie.”

Walking along the path until she reached the door of the small wooden house, Emma, carrying a large bag, lightly knocked on the door with her non-emeraldified hand and called out gently, “I’m back. Are you home?”

“…”

Just as Emma finished speaking, the door of the small wooden house was pulled open. A little girl with two light chestnut braids, each tied with a ribbon, lightly leaped out from inside and fluttered into Emma’s arms like a butterfly.

“I’m sorry for making you worry again.”

After gently stroking her daughter’s head, Emma said softly with a very tender gaze:

“Don’t worry, no matter what, Mom won’t die. As long as you’re waiting for me at home, even if I really die one day, I’ll come back step by step. I absolutely won’t let you be alone again.”

“…”

The little girl with ribbons still didn’t say anything but nodded slightly. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she loosened her arms wrapped around Emma’s waist and raised her slightly clenched right hand in front of Emma’s eyes.

“Hmm? What do you want to show me?”

After placing the things she was holding on the cabinet by the door, Emma squatted down and smiled as she stretched out her hand toward the little girl. The adorable little girl then placed her right hand in Emma’s palm with utmost seriousness and unfolded it…

“Did you catch this in the garden?”

Looking at the tiny blue-pink butterfly flapping its wings in her palm, Emma couldn’t help but smile with surprise, then asked guiltily:

“It’s so beautiful… Elie, thank you for your gift, Mom really likes it. But how about you… Were you okay these few days? Did you feel lonely staying at home by yourself?”

“…”

After hearing Emma’s words, the twin-tailed little girl first nodded slightly, then shook her head vigorously, flashing her a big smile.

It might have been a little lonely, but now that you’re back, Mom, I’m not lonely anymore.

Understanding her meaning from her nod followed by a shake, Emma bit her lips slightly. Just as she was about to say something, she noticed the little butterfly suddenly flying up. It turned out the little girl had released the butterfly she was lightly pinching and instead grabbed Emma’s bandaged right hand.

“?!”

Glancing at the hint of emerald peeking through the gaps in the bandage, the little girl blinked her big, clear eyes a couple of times before worriedly lifting her hand and pointing at Emma’s right fingers.

“It’s nothing serious, just a minor injury.”

After affectionately kissing the little girl’s forehead, Emma explained with a smile: “Mom did encounter some trouble this time, but everything is resolved now. In about half a week at most, these small injuries will heal. Don’t worry!”

“…”

Upon hearing Emma’s assurance, the worried expression on the little girl’s face gradually dissipated, and happiness returned once more.

Is this… a drawing from last year’s birthday?

Taking the slightly crumpled piece of paper, Emma spread it out and recognized the two colorful figures sitting around a table happily clapping their hands.

Looking at the round shape on the table, which was probably a cake, and the tiny crown on the head of the smaller figure, Emma hesitated briefly, then squatted down holding the drawing, asking seriously: “Elie… Do you remember that Mom mentioned before that there would be a… uncle coming over on the day after tomorrow for your birthday?”

“?!”

After hearing Emma’s question, the little girl blinked her eyes in surprise.

Uncle? Wasn’t it Big Brother? “There’s actually quite an age difference between you two, and he is also Mom’s colleague, so… so you should call him uncle.”

Understanding her daughter’s confusion, Emma blushed slightly while explaining a few sentences, then quietly clenched her fists, feeling her ears heating up as she softly asked:

“Elie, would you mind having… um… do you prefer a lively atmosphere?”

Caught by her daughter’s eyes that seemed to understand something, Emma felt slightly embarrassed and hurriedly changed the subject:

“What I mean is, on the day after tomorrow for your birthday, besides Uncle Leon, his younger sister and two children around your age will also come over to celebrate your birthday together. Would you be happy about that?”

No mistake, content inside 69 book bar!

“Friend… friends?”

“That’s right, friends!”

Seeing her daughter’s surprised yet hopeful expression mixed with a hint of apprehension, Emma realized that although she yearned for conversational friends, she was somewhat concerned about getting along well. She then picked up the little girl in her arms and consoled her gently: “Don’t worry. I’ve learned a bit ahead of time; they are lively but very nice kids. You’ll definitely have a great time playing with them.”

After hearing Emma’s assurance, the little girl let out a long sigh of relief, revealing an excited and anticipatory cute expression on her delicate little face.

“Well… well, that’s good…”

Although her voice was as clear and melodious as wind chimes under the eaves, the little girl seemed to rarely communicate with others, causing her speech to be slow and her pronunciation slightly muffled.

But because friends of the same age were going to celebrate her birthday, the usually quiet girl still blinked her eyes and looked forward with full anticipation as she tried hard to speak:

“They… do they like flowers? I’ve grown some in the small greenhouse… There are butterflies… birds…”

“…”

Recalling the flock of crows in Leon’s memory who kept throwing poop onto the windowsill, Emma couldn’t help but twitch her mouth slightly.

Compared to cute little birds, Leon’s overly active younger brother and sister might prefer climbing trees to raid bird nests… Hmm… This really needs attention, lest they raid the nests of Elie’s favorite little birds.

“Do those two kids… like birds?”

Unconvinced, Emma told a white lie and changed into loose indoor shoes. Holding the little girl’s hand, she walked into the room, intending to ask what happened these past two days. However, through the window of the small wooden house, she saw a large patch of flattened land at the back of the garden.

Someone came over these past two days?!

(The chapter ends here)