Apat na dakilang clans

After hearing an explanation from Zhou Wu and his dad, Ye Wanwan finally understood the concept of the Independent State's Yun City.

Pagkatapos niyang mapakinggan ang paliwanag ni Zhou Wu at ng tatay niya, naging malinaw na kay Ye Wan Wan ang tungkol sa Yun City ng Independent State.

"Four great clans…" Ye Wanwan murmured.

"Ang apat na dakilang clans…" bumulong si Ye Wan Wan.

"Heh, the four great clans of the Independent State are all tyrannical-level patrician families. The patriarch of the Nie family manages mercenaries, the Ji family focuses on underground syndicates, the Shen family might not be talented in martial arts but they're the wealthiest family in the Independent State—their wealth can rival a country's. As for the Ling family, they're a bit average and aren't especially outstanding," Zhou Wu said with a chuckle.

"Heh, ang apat na dakilang clans ng Independent State ay malulupit at nakakatakot na patrician families. Ang patriarch ng Nie family ay ang manager ng mga mercenaries, ang Ji family naman ang may hawak ng underground syndicates, hindi man talentado ang Shen family pero sila ang pinaka mayaman na pamilya sa Independent State–kayang kalabanin ng yaman nila ang ibang bansa. Ang Ling family naman ay normal lamang at hindi sila mahusay na pamilya," mapangasar na sinabi ni Zhou Wu.

"Oh right… then does the Nie family have someone called Nameless Nie?" Ye Wanwan probed as she looked at Zhou Wu.

"Oo nga pala… may miyembro ba sa Nie family na nagngangalang Nameless Nie?" Nagtanong si Ye Wan Wan habang nakatingin siya kay Zhou Wu.

"Nameless Nie?" Zhou Wu shook his head. "Our Zhou family rarely visits Yun City, and it's difficult for the outside world to learn about the members of the four great clans. Moreover, the Nie family simply has too many members. From the direct line to outside relatives and side branches, heaven knows how many people are in the Nie family… We don't even know the name of the patriarch of the Nie family."

"Nameless Nie?" Umiling si Zhou Wu. "Madalang na bumibisita ang Zhou family sa Yun City, at mahirap rin malaman ng ibang tao kung sino mga miyembro ng apat na dakilang clans. At tsaka, masyadong marami ang miyembro ng Nie family. Marami silang kamag-anak mula sa labas at ibang pamilya nila, walang nakakaalam kung ilan ang miyembro ng Nie family… hindi nga rin namin alam kung sino ang patriarch ng Nie family."

The Zhou family was only considered a minor martial-arts patrician family in the Independent State. A family on the Nie family's level was like a colossus to the Zhou family—distant and forever out of their grasp.

Tinuturing na minor martial-arts patrician family lamang ang Zhou family sa Independent State. Parang isang colossus ang Nie family sa Zhou family– malayo at hindi nila kayang mapantayan.

"Aiya…"

As they were speaking, an adorable little boy in his pajamas sprinted into the living room and latched onto Zhou Wu's calf.

Habang nag-uusap sila, may isang cute na batang lalaki na naka-pajamas ang naglakas papunta sa salas at hinawakan nito ang binti ni Zhou Wu.

"Your son?" Ye Wanwan asked with a light chuckle, looking at Zhou Wu.

"Anak mo?" Tinanong ni Ye Wan Wan habang nakatingin siya kay Zhou Wu.

Zhou Wu shook his head vehemently. "He's not my son. His parents are tourists who came to the Independent State three years ago and died here. I adopted him without much thought back then."

Paulit-ulit na umiling si Zhou Wu. "Hindi ko siya anak. Turista ang mga magulang niya, dumating noong nakaraang tatlong taon ang mga magulang niya dito at namatay sila dito. Kinupkop ko siya at hindi ako nagdalawang isip noon."

Ye Wanwan was briefly startled by Zhou Wu's explanation. It had to be said that Zhou Wu's character was quite decent. It wasn't only Zhou Wu—the entire Zhou family was very friendly.

Medyo nagulat si Ye Wan Wan sa sinabi ni Zhou Wu. Masasabi niya na disente naman ang ugali ni Zhou Wu. Hindi lamang si Zhou Wu– mabait rin ang buong Zhou family.

"What's your name?" Ye Wanwan asked the child with a smile.

"Anong pangalan mo?" Nakangiting tiningnan ni Ye Wan Wan ang batang lalaki.

The little boy had his eyes wide open and he kept staring at Ye Wanwan before suddenly opening his arms toward Ye Wanwan, as though he was asking to be picked up.

Nakabuka ng maigi ang mga mata ng batang lalaki habang nakatitig ito kay Ye Wan Wan bago niya binuka ang kanyang mga kamay sa harapan ni Ye Wan Wan, mukhang gusto niyang magpabuhat kay Ye Wan Wan.

Ye Wanwan couldn't help but think of Tangtang when she saw this child, and a feeling of familiarity surfaced in her heart.

Biglang naisip ni Ye Wan Wan si Tang Tang nang makita niya ang batang ito, at biglang binalot ng pagiging pamilyar sa puso niya.

Ye Wanwan took the little boy into her arms immediately.

Mabilis na niyakap ni Ye Wan Wan ang batang lalaki. 

"Miss Ye, his name is Qiuqiu. He was probably traumatized when his parents died tragically in the Independent State, so he lost the ability to speak…"

"Miss Ye, ang pangalan niya ay si Qiu Qiu. Na-traumatize yata siya sa biglaang pagkapatay ng magulang niya sa Independent State, kaya hindi na siya makapagsalita ngayon…"

Ye Wanwan looked at the little boy and fell into deep contemplation.

Tiningnan ni Ye Wan Wan ang batang lalaki at bigla siyang nagmuni-muni.

He was young, but he watched his parents die tragically in front of him, so he definitely suffered great trauma…

Bata pa siya pero nakita niya na ang pagkamatay ng kanyang mga magulang, kaya malamang ay na-trauma talaga siya...

She couldn't imagine this child's state of mind back then.

Hindi niya maisip kung kamusta ang bata noon.

Ye Wanwan gently touched the little guy's head, and Qiuqiu hugged Ye Wanwan, unwilling to let go no matter what.

Maingat na hinawakan ni Ye Wan Wan ang ulo ng batang lalaki at niyakap naman ni Qiu Qiu si Ye Wan Wan, ayaw niyang kumawala kahit anong mangyari.

"Miss Ye, it looks like Qiuqiu really likes you. This child is actually really afraid of strangers," Zhou Wu said with a smile.

"Miss Ye, mukhang gustong-gusto ka ni Qiu Qiu. Takot sa mga hindi niya kakilala ang batang ito," nakangiting sinabi ni Zhou Wu.

Ye Wanwan smiled when she heard that. She seemed to have a rather great affinity with children.

Ngumiti si Ye Wan Wan nang marinig niya iyon. Mukhang malapit siya sa mga bata.

After chatting so long with the Zhou family, Ye Wanwan felt a bit tired. Madam Zhou personally cleaned up a guest room for Ye Wanwan and had her go inside to rest.

Pagkatapos niyang kausapin ng matagal ang Zhou family, bigla niyang naramdaman ang pagod. Personal na nilinis ni Madam Zhou ang guest room para kay Ye Wan Wan at sinabihan niya itong pumasok sa loob para magpahinga.

However, Qiuqiu insisted on following Ye Wanwan, so she helplessly took Qiuqiu with her.

Gayunpaman, pilit na sumama si Qiu Qiu kay Ye Wan Wan kaya kasama niya sa kwarto si Qiu Qiu.

Late at night, Ye Wanwan sunk into a deep sleep with the child in her arms and spent her first actual night in the Independent State.

Gabing-gabi na, nakatulog ng mahimbing si Ye Wan Wan habang yakap niya ang bata at ito ang unang gabi niya sa loob ng Independent State.

…

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and Ye Wanwan had stayed at the Zhou residence for four days already.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras, at nanatili ng apat na araw si Ye Wan Wan sa Zhoy residence.

In those four days, Ye Wanwan asked Zhou Wu or Madam Zhou about the Independent State's culture and customs whenever she could. She couldn't live in the Zhou residence forever and had to leave eventually. The more she knew about the Independent State, the more beneficial it would be for her.

Sa apat na araw na iyon, tinanong ni Ye Wan Wan si Zhou Wu at Madan Zhou ang tungkol sa kultura at customs ng Independent State. Hindi siya pwedeng magtagal sa Zhoy residence at kailangan niyang umalis kaagad. Mas makakatulong sa kanya kapag marami siyang kaalaman tungkol sa Independent State.