Why come here so late? Could it be to find him?
A Da felt no joy. Seeing Wen Jue made him furious.
Only fury!
However, a spark of inspiration flashed in his mind. If this little brat came to find him so late.
If Wen Jue insisted on keeping him by his side, he still had a chance to remain in the Wen family, by Wen Jue's side.
Based on his understanding of Madam Wen, she would surely indulge the whims of these two little good-for-nothings.
Thinking of this, A Da concealed his impatient and angry expression.
He approached Wen Jue, adopting a concerned tone and adjusting his facial expression, he asked softly, "Young Master Wen Jue? Why are you still here so late, where are the people by your side?"
Wen Jue emerged from the darkness, offering no reply.
A Da found an excuse for himself, "Are you looking for me?"
Wen Jue walked up to A Da. His small hands fumbled and produced something, which he offered to A Da, "I heard you are leaving tomorrow, this is for you."
A farewell gift?
A Da was irate, who the hell wanted his gift?!
Then, with a sideways glance, he saw the exquisite jade pendant in Wen Jue's hand, which shimmered with a verdant green even in the moonlight. It was undeniably valuable.
This jade pendant should fetch a considerable sum of money!
A Da reached out and took it, then crouched down to be level with Wen Jue.
Unwilling to give up, he continued to guide Wen Jue, "Young Master, if you miss A Da and want A Da to stay, you must show it. You can tell Madam Wen, your mother, directly tomorrow. You must cry and fuss, saying you want to keep A Da by your side, then I won't have to leave."
After speaking, A Da eagerly awaited Wen Jue's obedient compliance.
To his surprise, Wen Jue shook his head.
He lifted his small face, looked directly into A Da's eyes, and said, "If you don't like me, then there's no need to stay with me."
A Da's face fell the moment he saw Wen Jue shake his head.
But upon hearing Wen Jue's words, his heart suddenly skipped a beat for no reason.
Then, his heartbeat rapidly accelerated, his heart pounding like a drum, vibrating against his own eardrums.
He stared in shock at the small, soft face before him and asked stiffly, "You... you... what... did you say?"
Wen Jue's eyes curved into crescents, and he smiled softly, "This is a thank you gift for your 'dedicated' care of me."
With that, Wen Jue no longer paid A Da any mind and turned to leave.
A Da remained crouched in place, holding the jade pendant in one hand, his other hand suspended in mid-air as if he were still supporting Wen Jue's shoulders, staring blankly at the small retreating figure until it disappeared from his sight.
Could this little brat Wen Jue know?
He immediately dismissed this sudden thought.
No, he absolutely couldn't know.
If he knew, why wouldn't he tell Master and Madam directly? And why would he, so foolishly, come so late to give him such a valuable jade pendant?
A Da clutched the jade pendant tightly and stood up, shaking his head.
He told himself not to overthink it and turned back to his room.
Wen Jue couldn't possibly know.
He was just a 5-year-old little waste, only good for eating and sleeping.
Wen Jue's eyes, deep as ink, were almost indistinguishable from the night sky.
After giving the jade pendant to A Da, Wen Jue did not return to his room. Instead, he walked through the corridors of the Wen manor, along the deserted paths, heading in a direction that even during the day, the Wen family seldom frequented...
He seemed remarkably familiar with this path, able to easily find his destination even in the dim light of night.
Wen Jue arrived at a secluded spot behind the abandoned manor of the Wen family.
Someone was already there when Wen Jue arrived.
Wen Jue's footsteps echoed in the silence.
Hearing the sound, the person turned around.
The person said, "You're late."
Wen Jue's small figure walked a few more steps forward until he stood a few feet away from the person.
The person's face was cold, and they looked down at the little child before them. The words they spoke, however, were not pleasant, "You were both abducted for so many days, and you had no opportunity?"
Wen Jue's eyes darkened, he then lifted his small face, but he masked the darkness.
He put on the usual expression of a child, pouting unhappily, tugging at his clothes, and said softly, "I'm only 5 years old this year."
Implying, do not ask such unreasonable things of me.
The man was momentarily choked for words and did not wish to argue with the child, "You must remember your purpose for being here, remember why you are here! Don't forget who you are just because someone is nice to you."
Wen Jue did not reply. Instead, in the darkness, he tilted his tense little face upwards and asked, "Why are you the one who came this time? I don't like you."
Upon hearing this, the man became instantly enraged, like a firecracker being lit, "Do I like you?! Take it, take it, and leave! I'm just here to deliver something, do you think I enjoy coming!"
The man said this and heavily threw a small bundle onto the stone path at Wen Jue's feet.
Wen Jue was not in a hurry. He opened the bundle on the ground and carefully examined its contents.
After confirming that it contained the few medicinal herbs he was missing, Wen Jue patted the bundle, picked it up, and left without a word.
Watching Wen Jue's rapidly retreating small figure, the man's chest heaved. He took deep breaths: enraged.
Wen Jue turned around, all his expressions gone. He hugged his small bundle and headed towards his courtyard.
Logically, he should have been happy to receive the herbs he liked.
But he wasn't.
Wen Jue remembered how Wen Bai's parents had held Wen Bai when he returned.
After he was abducted, those people hadn't even come looking for him.
The next day, before dawn, Wen Bai woke up.
He lit his own lamp and dressed himself in his small shoes and clothes.
Just as he finished dressing, the door to his room was gently knocked.
On the other side of the door, Duo Shu, Wen Bai's servant, stood holding a tray with a basin of warm water, a small jar of tooth powder, mouthwash, and clean cloths.
Duo Shu stood anxiously at the door and asked softly into the room, "Young Master, are you awake now?"
Wen Bai said, "Come in."
The door was unlocked, so Duo Shu pushed it open with his elbow and entered.
After serving Wen Bai and helping him wash up, it was still pitch black outside.
Duo Shu was puzzled.
As a servant, he had a habit of waking up early.
As a servant, he needed to serve and align with the schedules of the young masters and lords.
And since it was his first day, he wasn't sure if Young Master Wen Bai would wake up at the time the steward had mentioned, or if he would wake up earlier, these were his concerns.
So he had to wake up early, always ready.
But the young master was so young, still a child, and not yet attending school, why was he up so early?
Duo Shu's confusion did not last long.
Because Wen Bai directly refused Duo Shu's suggestion to have breakfast now and instead walked directly into the courtyard.
He did some simple stretches, then stood up straight, opening his small hands into a 'big character' posture, stretching left and right.