"What, Xiao Qi had that dream again..." Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin were both startled.

Lian Manman’s eyes, however, never left Lady Zhou. She saw that when she mentioned Xiao Qi having that dream again, Lady Zhou’s facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.

Lian Manman hadn’t witnessed Lady Zhou’s fall and didn’t know how serious her injuries were, but it seemed they were not as severe as Lady Zhou had made out to be. If Lady Manman did nothing, given Lady Zhou’s personality, she would definitely make a mountain out of a molehill, using this opportunity to torment and manipulate them. Moreover, both Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin were softer-hearted than most people; seeing Lady Zhou fall, they would feel sorry for her and might even feel guilty. Therefore, no matter how Lady Zhou made a fuss or put forth disrespectful demands, they might just agree.

She couldn’t let this happen.

"Yes, it’s that child again... wearing just a bellyband, standing outside our window. He asked Xiao Qi where the buns were because he wanted to eat some. He also said he was scared and wanted someone to play with him. Xiao Qi said he looked very frightening." Lian Manman pretended to be scared as she spoke.

"Stop talking, I don’t want to hear it." Lian Xiuxiu’s face turned ashen as she covered her ears and shouted.

As for Lady Zhou, who was lying down, sweat beaded on her forehead. She knew who the child in the bellyband was that Xiao Qi dreamed of, without any need for an explanation. That child hadn’t even come into the world when... Though she put on a tough exterior, Lady Zhou was well aware that if it weren’t for Lian Xiuxiu, if it weren’t for her, Lady Zhang’s child would not have been lost during the small month. Lian Manman said the child was standing outside the window of the West Wing Room, so lonely and wrongfully dead, unwilling to leave the Lian Family; he wanted to find someone to play with, which meant he wanted to drag someone to meet Yama Raja.

Her recent fall, with Lady He and Si Lang so close, yet not catching her, why was that?

That child had come for revenge!

Lady Zhou was fearless against mortals, but like most village elders, she was afraid of ghosts, even more so than most people.

Suddenly a clattering sound broke the silence of the room; it was Lady Zhou’s upper and lower teeth chattering.

"This tragedy!" Old Master Lian heaved a long sigh.

Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin were both somewhat dazed.

"Mother, you should go take a look at Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi’s crying is quite... distressing." Lian Manman said.

It was only then that Lady Zhang seemed to awaken from a trance, bursting into tears.

Only a mother could understand the searing pain of losing a biological child. Lady Zhang had never really forgotten, but in order to continue living, she had to bury that pain deep down. This is the instinctual self-preservation method that humans adopt when faced with great sorrow and hurt.

Lian Manman’s words ripped the lid off the pain Lady Zhang had buried, like tearing the scab off an unhealed wound, allowing the pain to gnaw more sharply at her heart.

"My son!" cried Lady Zhang, "It’s all my fault, all my fault. I’ve lost one child, Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi must not suffer any harm."

Lady Zhang ran out crying. She had believed Lian Manman’s words, and was particularly caught by one line: The poor child was alone and wanted Xiao Qi’s company.

"Mother, be careful, the ground outside is slippery!" Lian Manman quickly shouted, then pushed the dazed Lian Shouxin. "Father, aren’t you going to look after Mother?"

"I’ll go and see." Lian Shouxin, roused by Lian Manman’s shove, followed her at a brisk pace. Lady Zhou was very likely faking it, and besides, there were plenty of people to accompany her, but Lady Zhang and his children only had him. He couldn’t let anything happen to Lady Zhang or Xiao Qi.

Lian Manman didn’t follow Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang right away; she stayed behind.

"What’s wrong with Grandma?" Lian Manman asked deliberately, "Is she having a nightmare too?"

Lady Zhou lay there, a thin blanket covering her chest, and Lian Manman could see Lady Zhou trembling slightly. The room was warm and sweat glistened on Lady Zhou’s forehead; it was obvious that the shivering wasn’t due to the cold.

With a guilty conscience, one is especially afraid of ghosts.

"Your grandma is fine." Old Master Lian said, "Manman, you go back and keep your father, mother, and your brother company. If anything happens, come and tell us right away."

"Oh." Hearing what Old Master Lian said, Lian Manman naturally agreed, turned around towards the door, then stopped again, "Cover Grandma with another blanket. She looks so cold that she’s shivering."

...

In the West Wing Room, Lady Zhang was holding Xiao Qi, wiping away her tears, with Lian Shouxin, Lian Zhizhi, and Wu Lang sitting beside her, none of them speaking a word.