DLRC – Chapter 1 The Picked-Up Son

“Yu Wei, don’t you play dead with me! You’re marrying Director Luo whether you like it or not!”

Yu Wei’s heart pounded as the thunderous roar rang in her ears. Her head was wrapped in thick gauze, so tight it felt like her skull was about to split open.

“Don’t yell like that… Let me catch my breath.”

It had been a full hour since Yu Wei transmigrated to this place. She had clearly been sleeping soundly in her own bed, but early this morning, this older woman had dragged her out of sleep and started scolding her non-stop.

Now, all she could do was sit on the bed, endure the woman’s complaints, and exchange bewildered glances with the exquisitely adorable little dumpling beside her.

She had no idea how she ended up in this strange place.

At first, when she woke up, Yu Wei thought some film crew was pulling a prank and had dragged her to a set. But after listening to the woman’s angry tirade in a daze and looking at her own frail, unfamiliar hands—so clearly not hers—and then spotting her reflection in the mirror on the wall, showing a face at least ten years younger…

She finally realized—

She had transmigrated!

And supposedly, this obedient little pink dumpling next to her was her son…

“Catch your breath? Did I tell you to go bash your head against a wall? Huh?” Yuan Guifang was fuming. Ignoring the bandages on her daughter’s head, she reached out and jabbed her forehead.

“Director Luo may be a widower with two kids, but his family’s well-off!” She looked utterly exasperated, slapping her thighs repeatedly. “Look around—how many families around here could land such a good match? Why are you being so stubborn!”

“You haven’t even married in yet, and Director Luo already arranged a good position for you—an office job! That’s comfort! The whole neighborhood’s green with envy, and what do you do? Huh?! After just two days, you tell me you’re not marrying him!”

Yuan Guifang grew angrier as she spoke. She just wanted to crack open her clueless daughter’s skull and see what kind of rotten straw was stuffed inside!

“Dabao, go outside and play with Daniu and the others. I need to talk to your mom.”

After successfully shooing her grandson out the door, Yuan Guifang continued her lecture.

“If you won’t think of yourself, at least think of our whole family! And look at your son—he’s skin and bones! If you marry him, our family could finally live a good life!”

Yu Wei stayed silent: So, who exactly is this remarried Director Luo? Please don’t throw me into a fire pit.

Yuan Guifang seemed to realize she’d lost control. Worried her foolish daughter might try to kill herself again, she let out a sigh and changed her tone to one of heartfelt persuasion.

“You know what kind of situation our family’s in. Listen to me—your brother and sister-in-law looked into it. Director Luo is a kind man. If you marry him, you’ll have a good life, I promise.”

It was a hot summer day, and even sitting still made Yu Wei sweat. She shifted her stiff body slightly and brushed her damp hair behind her ear. “Got it. Just… let me rest for a bit, okay?”

It was barely morning, and she’d already been lectured into a splitting headache. Worse still, she hadn’t even fully processed what had just happened to her.

Yuan Guifang finally paused to take a sip of water after hearing her daughter’s response, but she wasn’t about to give up on such a golden opportunity to climb the social ladder. Wetting her dry lips with another two sips, she started nagging again.

“A woman like you, with your reputation—he’s already doing us a favor by not minding that! And now you have the nerve to call him ugly? Seriously, what are you thinking?” Yuan Guifang just couldn’t understand her. “Last month you clearly agreed to this, and now suddenly you’re backing out and even went to bash your head!”

“Why didn’t you just finish the job! Then our Yu family wouldn’t have to suffer everyone’s gossip!”

Yuan Guifang’s chest heaved with anger as she scolded, “Hey! Stupid girl, I’m talking to you—what are you looking around for?”

Yu Wei withdrew her wandering gaze and replied helplessly, “I’m listening.”

“You’re listening but not saying anything?”

“No, I—”

Yuan Guifang didn’t care to hear any excuses and cut her off. “Let me tell you, as a woman, you—”

“Little bastard! Who let you bully my Daniu?!”

“Get lost! You dirty little thing with a mother but no father!”

The shouting from outside abruptly cut off Yuan Guifang’s rant. Both women turned to look out toward the small courtyard.

Through the slightly open window, they saw a pale, frail-looking child who had been shoved to the ground by someone. He sat silently beneath a tree, not making a sound or moving a muscle, just quietly watching everything unfold in front of him.

Their eyes moved upward—on the child’s fair forehead was a glaringly red wound, mingled with dried yellow leaves. It was a shocking, jarring sight.

Yu Wei was startled by the scene. Forgetting her pounding head, she jumped out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and rushed outside—only to trip over the threshold in her haste and stumble straight toward the little one.

“Heavens… Why is there so much blood…”

Yu Wei murmured in a daze. Just a moment ago, the little one had been clean and tidy, but now he was covered in dry leaves and dirt.

She gently brushed the dust off his tiny hands and lifted his clothes, only to be met with a shocking sight of crimson red. The bright red stood out sharply against his pale little face, making it even more jarring.

Holding the little boy in her arms, she carefully examined him and asked whether his head hurt or if anything was wrong, but he didn’t respond at all.

The woman who had been cursing moments ago immediately changed her expression when she saw Yu Wei rush out. She coughed awkwardly and forced a smile. “Ah, Yu Wei, my Da Niu didn’t mean it. Your son just accidentally ran into a tree. Don’t take it to heart; kids will be kids!”

She finished speaking and yanked Da Niu into her arms, scolding him sternly, “Da Niu, what’s wrong with you! Yu Hui is so small and skinny. Didn’t I always tell you to be nice to him? Why didn’t you watch where you were going? Now look—he hit the tree and bled so much! You’re such a troublemaker!”

Da Niu looked wronged by the scolding but didn’t dare to talk back. He just pouted, clenched his fists, and hung his head.

Yu Wei shot a fierce glare at the woman still putting on a solo act.

Looking at the battered and bruised little one in her arms, Yu Wei’s heart clenched tightly.

In this scorching summer heat, the boy was still wearing an old-fashioned long tunic, and his pants were so long they dragged on the ground. The excess fabric was messily rolled up, rubbed into a few holes.

Despite the blazing sun, his little face was deathly pale, with not a hint of healthy color. Even his lips were bloodless, which made his pitch-black eyes appear even more striking.

But this child had a strange temperament. He didn’t speak up when pushed or hit. Even as blood trickled from his forehead, he didn’t make a sound. He didn’t cry or react when his mother examined him in worry, as if he felt no pain and had no soul—like a puppet.

Normally, even if a child doesn’t cry when bullied by peers, they’d still break down in front of their parents. But not him. He just sat there blankly, watching everything happen—watching the kid who hit him be pulled into his mother’s arms, watching his own mother’s worried face, all with no reaction.

“Hey! Where are you going?!” Yuan Guifang shouted as she watched her daughter suddenly run out of the yard with the boy in her arms, and quickly chased after her.

Yu Wei was panting heavily, holding her son tightly as she fought back the stabbing pain in her head, cold sweat dripping down her face.

“What else? I’m going to the hospital!”

She didn’t have time to argue with them now. A child’s injuries couldn’t be delayed. Standing around arguing wouldn’t help anything.

When Yuan Guifang heard she was going to the hospital, she immediately looked pained—not for her grandson, but for the money.

“Aiya, how much do you think a hospital visit will cost? Who’s kid is this precious? He’s a rough-and-tumble boy—just a little blood, no need to go to the hospital!”

Even as she grumbled about wasting money, Yuan Guifang still hurried after her.

Up ahead, Yu Wei suddenly slowed down and turned back to ask, “Uh, where’s the hospital?”

Forgive her—she wasn’t familiar with the area at all.

“Over there, over there!” Yuan Guifang panted as she pointed to the north. “That three-story white building—are you blind?”

Yu Wei scanned the northern area, and the moment she spotted the white building, her expression hardened. She shifted the boy higher onto her shoulder, pushed back the bandage around her forehead, and broke into another run.

“Aiya, you little brat! Slow down! You’ve never worried this much about Da Bao before!” Yuan Guifang finally caught her breath, only to see Yu Wei dart off again. The panic in her daughter was truly baffling.

Yu Wei ran over ten minutes nonstop while carrying the boy. With the wound on her head, she was on the verge of collapse by the time she reached the hospital, pausing briefly to catch her breath before charging into the white building covered in ivy.

Her clothes were made of synthetic fabric that didn’t absorb sweat or breathe well, and by the time she got there, she was completely soaked.

Bang!

Hiss—

She had been running too fast. While carrying the boy, she ran straight into someone—a man.

The man stumbled back two steps, bending over and clutching his leg.

Luckily, Yu Wei had instinctively shielded the boy’s head before impact. Otherwise, he might have been hurt even worse.

“Sorry, sorry! My son’s hurt—I was in a rush. Are you okay?” Yu Wei bent over in apology while still holding her son, checking on the man.

The man took a few seconds to recover, then straightened up. As soon as he looked up, he froze. His sharp phoenix eyes locked onto her, his brows furrowed tightly. He was carrying a small cloth bag filled with medical supplies.

Yu Wei felt uncomfortable under his strange, intense gaze. She quickly bowed her head again and apologized.

“Really, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”

Hiss— Whether the man was injured or not, her own head was starting to throb even worse.

The man in grey remained motionless and silent. Yu Wei couldn’t read the emotion in his eyes, but she couldn’t afford to stay any longer—her son’s condition was still unknown.

She gave the strange man a quick, awkward smile of apology and turned to leave.

Forget it. Let him be angry if he wants. Her son’s injuries were more important.