I turned to get off the bed, disdainfully saying, “Fine, don’t tell. Stingy. ╭(╯^╰)╮” I stretched out my hand, “Hey, where’s my luggage?”
Wind quickly ran to bring me my luggage, respectfully handing it to me. I checked it; nothing was missing, not even the silver. I made a face at him: “You’d better behave!” Wind smiled at me again, and just seeing his smile gave me a headache. Where had I seen this smile before? Feeling annoyed, I took it out on him, “Hey, you’ll pay for breakfast later!”
Wind obediently nodded: “Yes, of course.” He smiled again! My head hurt, “Don’t smile! Your smile makes me uncomfortable! My head is about to split!” Wind was stunned for a moment, then immediately suppressed that headache-inducing smile, cheerfully agreeing: “Okay!”
The more I looked at him, the more familiar he seemed. Who was he? Where had I seen him before?
After spending several days with Wind, I noticed his peculiar habits. He was a clean freak, always disinfecting bowls and chopsticks before eating and washing his hands multiple times. He would bathe twice a day if possible or at least change clothes. His baths were long enough that I worried he might wash his skin off. Stranger still, Wind seemed to understand my dislike of repetition and never made me repeat myself. Someone who understood my habits so well must be someone I knew.
But… who was he exactly?
I propped my chin on my hand, staring at Wind, lost in thought, even the delicious food unable to disturb my musings. Wind put down his chopsticks and waved his hand in front of me, “Xiao Han? What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? No appetite?” I snapped back to reality and shook my head: “No, no, just eat!” Wind always seemed a bit afraid of me. If I said one thing, he never dared say two.
If I told him to go east, he never dared go west, though sometimes he could be quite cocky.
Huh? Wait, cocky? Didn’t I use this word for Mo Ran? I’ve known very few people since arriving here, with even fewer I’ve spent time with. The Yama King Dad, Jade Emperor Dad, and Elder Ling were old enough to be ancestors, so definitely not. So cocky, with such a sunny smile – it couldn’t be Shang.
So… it could only be Mo Ran! Mo Ran also had cleanliness issues and was afraid of me. Plus, when he got cocky, he was exactly like Wind! Damn! Does this mean Mo Ran has been lying to me? My anger rose, and I slammed my hand on the table, which split in two. Everyone’s eyes focused on me, the owner looking shocked.
I stood up, twisting Wind’s ear, shouting: “It’s really you! You little brat, call me daddy right now!” Wind tried to remove my hand, “Ow ow ow, Xiao Han, be gentler! And what are you talking about? I don’t understand…” Oh, still playing dumb?! I increased the pressure on his ear: “Still not admitting it? Mo Ran! Believe me, I’ll skin you alive!”
True to form, he was still afraid of me, swallowing nervously and pleading: “Daddy, please have mercy! I’ll confess anything if you stop twisting my ear…” “Good boy!” I released his ear, pulled out some silver coins from his pocket, and threw them on the table like hidden weapons.
Amid everyone’s astonished looks, I coolly left with Mo Ran.
I threw the silver coins too hard; they were deeply embedded in the table, and the owner struggled for ages to remove them. From that day, all females in the town made me their idol, sparking a wave of female supremacy… I became famous worldwide.
I led Mo Ran into a grove of trees, cornering him against a tree: “My dear son, it’s time to spill everything, hmm?” Mo Ran swallowed and thought: ‘This woman is truly terrifying…’ Helplessly removing his mask, he began: “Actually, this is quite a long story. It was in a certain year, on a certain day, when I, Du Gu Mo Ran, was born…”
I interrupted: “Boy! Want to die?! Get to the point!” Mo Ran raised his hands in surrender: “Okay, okay, don’t get violent. Actually, after you left, my imperial brother and I were very anxious. My brother wanted to personally bring you back, but as a monarch, he couldn’t easily abandon state affairs. So, I came out to find you in his place.” I asked: “Why wear a mask and lie that your name is Wind?” Mo Ran got cocky: “Tsk! You have no sense of humor. Directly chasing you would be boring; you’d just run away as soon as you saw me.”
Sometimes, hiding your identity and deceiving people can be quite fun. “Mo Ran… I’m going to kill you!” Mo Ran immediately fled, with me in hot pursuit, my killing intent scaring away all nearby animals.
[Volume One Encounter: Chapter Thirteen – Mo Ran is the ‘Bodyguard’ and ‘Wallet’]
“Han, let’s go over there, okay? Let’s play there, okay?” I’ve had enough! This damn Mo Ran was annoying enough before I exposed him, and now he’s even more irritating! “Your saliva is more abundant than seawater! Keep talking and I’ll send you back to NingYue Kingdom!” Mo Ran jumped in shock, helplessly lowering his head: “I know… as long as you don’t drive me away…”
After revealing Mo Ran’s true identity, I told him: “Fine! I won’t hold a grudge about you deceiving me! Go back to wherever you came from!” Mo Ran made a pitiful expression, with fake tears in his eyes, “Woo… Han, don’t send me away, I’ll be good! I promise!” I narrowed my eyes, “Be good? Hmph! What’s the use of being good? More importantly, what benefit do I get from keeping you around?”
Mo Ran’s eyes immediately lit up: “I’ll be your bodyguard!” I burst out laughing, “I was once a guard myself. Do I need your protection? What a joke!” Mo Ran pouted: “Then what do you want?” I laughed again, with a cunning smile, “I want you to be my ‘wallet’…”
He’s so stupid, blinking with curious eyes, staring blankly at me, “What does that mean?” I knocked on his head, “It means you’ll cover all expenses! Everything – playing, eating, drinking, accommodation – all paid by you! You must obey me completely. Otherwise, if I’m not happy, I’ll kick you back to NingYue Kingdom!” Mo Ran nodded frantically like he’d been electrocuted…
Alas! Regret! Don’t I already have a bag of silver? Why bother with such a troublesome person? “Han, that place looks lively! Let’s go see…” I glared at him, and he quickly swallowed his words.
I have to admit, sometimes I feel my choice to keep him was definitely right.
Satisfied after eating my fill, I let out a loud burp: “Mo Ran, pay!” Mo Ran would scurry to the counter to pay. Or: “Mo Ran! I like this!” I’d say with starry eyes, looking at a purple jade pendant. Mo Ran would be carrying a mountain of clothes and accessories – all for me.
No matter how unwilling Mo Ran was, what could he do?
His dear ‘daddy’ – me – could send him back home anytime. “Okay, boss, how much?” After asking the price, Mo Ran wouldn’t even bargain, paying obediently and continuing to accompany me shopping. This gave Mo Ran a new understanding of women’s shopping abilities and spending power.
I also realized that royal silver was as abundant as desert sand. Each time I saw Mo Ran withdraw a huge pile of silver from the bank, this thought grew stronger. To help them sleep peacefully without worrying about their money being stolen, I tried even harder to spend. Look how kind I am!
“Wow! This is so beautiful!” I exclaimed again, and Mo Ran had to pay once more. After paying, Mo Ran hung his head low, his face incredibly dark. I’d pat his shoulder: “Good job! Don’t be sad, we’ll soon reach the capital of Zhen Ming Kingdom, and then you can go home!” Mo Ran sighed, hoping that day would come soon.
Although shopping was fun, he was still annoying. Chattering all day, he’d run to my room at night to discuss a beggar he saw, talking endlessly… I had enough! “Damn it! Do you live by the sea?! Mind your own business?!”
Mo Ran tilted his head and thought for a moment before honestly saying: “I don’t live by the sea, but I do tend to manage quite a wide area…”
