A-ling the dumb child.

The scream didn't seem to stop anytime soon. Once he'd felt his breath hitch, he coughed and resumed screaming. Xiao Yuer dropped all that he had bought and strode over.

"Enough!", He approached the boy in long strides and covered his mouth, but winced when he felt a sharp pain on his delicate palm. The boy had bitten him right on his previous injury!

"You..."

He groaned then removed his palm, "You little... Ugh!"

The pain was as irksome as the loud deafening scream that almost had Xiao yuer's eardrum explode. He'd had enough. With frustration hitting Xiao Yuer all over, he couldn't control himself again.

"Can you just shut up, you screaming banshee!! Or I'll have you thrown out of here to heal and treat yourself. And also feed yourself you... You pickpocket!!!"

There seemed to be a sudden silence after his words.

It was thick and made Xiao yuer's heart tighten. He just had to mention what he heard when he came to save the little boy.

The boy kept calm, but his dark eyes became moist. He restrained himself and rolled to the end of the bed and started sobbing.

Silver pupils softened, his heart tightened even more and Xiao Yuer regretted his earlier action, though that was the only option he had. He must've frightened the little boy.

"Hey, little guy, I... I'm sorry for shouting at you ok." It had been long since Xiao Yuer last baby cuddled a little boy and that was a very long time ago. He was probably fourteen to seventeen then, so he must've forgotten how to take care of this one. He innocently waved his hands into the air.

"I didn't mean anything. Everything I said, I didn't mean it, ok. I was just joking." He chuckled nervously. He leaned closer with a sweet voice. "Would you like a honey biscuit? I brought one for you?"

With all these said, the boy didn't budge and Xiao Yuer could feel his temperature rise again but he had to subdue it. Not yet,' he told himself then exhaled. 'He probably had scared the little boy. He stood there for six minutes. Watching the boy sob while he didn't know how to entertain and lighten his mood, while his heart became more drowned in grief. He really should have been calm, but children are troubles. Big troubles. Especially this kind.

Xiao Yuer breathed, ignoring his injured finger which stung him. "I'm sorry... Ok..."

"...."

"Well, I'll go cook. I'll be back to serve you food if you're hungry ok. "

Nevertheless that there wasn't a reply, Xiao Yuer went to the back of the yard and started cooking.

....

The sky was covered with clouds which radiated dark grey everywhere. Gentle currents blew around, swaying the flames that carressed the back of Xiao yuer's pot. Cackling sounds of wood splinters consumed by fire resonated lightly, and steams bubbly escaped the cover of the cooking pot. The sky grew darker. It was going to rain.

"The heavens are angry at me this time, " Silver eyes blinked then lowered to the cooking pot before Xiao Yuer. There was a superstition which goes that whenever it rained, it was because the heavens were completely angry at someone's attitude. And wanted to shower the earth with how angry they were.

"Really angry at me for maltreating and bullying a little, little, pickpocket." He snorted a smile. Almost laughing at his dry joke. "I'll soon receive the lightening retribution if I don't keep quiet." 

bruised Slender fingers trailed to a stick nearby, picked it, and snapped it into two. The flames faintly smudged Xiao yuer's skin with it's golden glow, when Xiao Yuer got up and squatted closer. He pushed the remaining part of some woods deep into the fire to get consumed as well.

Then, he stood up and glanced around. "This ugh!" He grabbed his carelessly swaying silver hair and tied it in a high ponytail with few strands on both sides of his face. 'i wonder if I'll be able to cope with this? '

The atmosphere was boring. It was really boring having nothing to that Xiao Yuer paced into their house to collect the expensive fifty yuan silver flute he had bought. At the far end of the bed, the little boy still laid. sobbing as he clutched their blankets close to himself. Xiao Yuer frowned. His heart burdened him. How was he ever going to make this child happy?

Xiao Yuer sighed as he dug into a drawer nearby and brought out a silver flute decorated with golden flowery spirals.

He glanced at the boy; unsure of what to do before he left.

"I hope this flute sounds better than its price." Xiao Yuer mused, admiring his flute with intricate silver design as he made his way to his original sitting position.

He paused on his way and decided to check how the food was doing, and sat back down when he noticed the dish needed a few more minutes to be done.

Having been an expert at playing flute it didn't take long for Xiao Yuer to pick up a tone to play. His pink lips wrapped around the flute gracefully, instilling constant air into it as his fingers played notes outstandingly.

A sweet soft chime swam into the air. It mesmerization flew to the heavens and beyond as it's mellifluous tone caused goosebumps on every living being that heard it.

He was playing 'A thousand friendship'. One of the songs he'd learnt back when he was young.

The reincarnated grandmaster was enchanted in his little show that he didn't notice the little boy approach him and gently sit down beside him. watching him play the flute melodiously, a blissful smile crossed the boy lips while his moist eyes brightened.

Xiao Yuer played the flute for minutes until he was exhausted. He heard a gentle clap beside him after he was done.

"Who..." Startled, he turned to his side just to find the boy staring happily at him. A smile etched his lips while his heart melted. "Did you like the song?" Xiao Yuer smiled as he lowered his flute.

The boy nodded. Xiao Yuer beamed brighter, feeling a deep Sense of pride and satisfaction.

He surprisedly watched as the boy picked up a twig and began to scribble letters on the floor.

"Can you play it again, uncle?" Xiao Yuer read with a smile after the boy was done, but then again, his face suddenly dropped as he traced the boys figure. Without doubt he clearly understood one thing.

He could not speak.

He was... dumb...

"Don't worry, I'll play it for you at night before we go to sleep, ok." Xiao Yuer gently patted the boy's hair as he replied cheerfully. The boy nodded happily as well, and Xiao Yuer remembered that he still owed the kid an apology.

"I'm sorry for everything earlier, ok. I... I was just angry that you bit me and kept on screaming."

His eyes fell on his bitten injured fingers which blushed with pink.

"Forgive me ok." Xiao Yuer looked at the kid sincerely and cupped his face gently. The boy nodded at his apology and hugged him. They both stayed like that for a while, until Xiao Yuer broke their hug.

"Child. What is your name?" He asked.

Silence descended for a while, before he watched the boy scribble again on the floor. Xiao Yuer frowned as he read what was written.

'I have no name, uncle.'

He shook his head and drummed his fingers on his legs as he thought of a name for the child. The child watched for a while and when he heard the silver haired stranger say, "Why don't we call you A-ling." He nodded and smiled and wrapped the man into another hug.

Xiao Yuer stumbled back a bit at the impact then patted the boy's back. "Now, now, let's go eat."

Xiao Yuer led the little boy back to their home and brought in the dish and they ate peacefully. Afterwards, Xiao Yuer fetched water from a borehole nearby and they cleaned their bodies. A-ling maintained his clothes, while Xiao Yuer wore another of Lin cai'ers silver Hanfu. The day went gradually and it the storming weather had gradually dissipated, however the sky was already getting dark.

Xiao Yuer lit up the candles within their room, enjoying the glow of gold that enveloped everywhere as A-ling sat on the bed watching Xiao Yuer lit up the candles.

The night had been very chilly that the bickering ululations which came from the town of Wuzhen swept over to their side. Xiao Yuer had just finished litting up the last candle before he approached A-ling who clutched the blanket close to himself.

"Are you hungry, let me serve you dinner?"

A-ling nodded. Xiao Yuer nodded as well, before heading to serve the little boy the delicious soup he'd cooked, as he had always been a good cook. "I'll play you your song then head out. I need to refresh myself." He dished A-ling's food and served it to him;which A-ling took obediently. However when Xiao Yuer was done and wanted to sit at a corner, he felt A-ling's little arms wrap around his. His hold was tender that Xiao Yuer paused and turned.

"Hmm? What is it?" He asked with raised brows and A-ling answered by widening his mouth then acted as if he was scooping imaginary food. It didn't take a second for Xiao Yuer to understand what he wanted. A-ling wanted to be spoon fed! How unbelievable!

"I should spoon feed you." Xiao Yuer asked unbelievably, to be sure if he had interpreted it well.

A-ling nodded.

A brow cocked. Xiao Yuer sat down beside him. "Ok then." He received A-ling's food and gently fed the little boy.

Xiao Yuer wondered why the little boy wanted to be spoon-fed. Normally, without accuracy, he was sure that A-ling would probably be ten years old. Yet he acted and wanted to be treated like a little child. His behaviour reminscenced Xiao Yuer of the little boy he'd once taken care of years back. How funny that they acted familiar.

"Ahh..."

A-ling opened his mouth wide and Xiao Yuer fed him. A-ling had finally finished the food after few more spoons and Xiao Yuer returned the plate. When he came back, he sat at a corner and played the flute for A-ling until he went to sleep.

The little boy looked harmless as he laid peacefully. Xiao Yuer smiled at him then gently tucked him under his blanket. Then, he remembered that he also had to embed the dream talisman within their house!

Xiao Yuer paced to the drawer where he kept it, and brought them out. They were ten talismans in number! Eighty yuan for the ten of them! Really expensive it was! 

Four talisman were placed at the cardinal positions within the room. Two were placed within the other smaller room. The remaining four right around the exterior of their apartment. When Xiao Yuer was done he closely scrutinized the talismans to observe if they were working, then acknowledged the originality when he noticed faint white mists disperse from the writings on the talismans.

A-ling snuggled on his their bed when Xiao Yuer placed a kiss on his forehead. Xiao Yuer arranged his bed once more before he left.

(⁠┛⁠ಸ⁠_⁠ಸ⁠)⁠┛⁠彡⁠┻⁠━⁠┻(⁠ノ⁠ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ⁠)⁠ノ⁠彡⁠┻⁠━⁠┻