Chapter 28: Can You Bear to Leave Them?

"No!" Ling Yun answered decisively. "Especially April. If you run into her, stay as far away as you can!"

"Mm, I'll remember that!"

Duoduo nodded obediently, tucking Ling Yun's words firmly into her heart. Standing to the side, Lin Jianyue hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously, "Duoduo, are... are you afraid of the supernatural?"

Duoduo thought for a moment and gave a gentle nod with her little head. Seeing the light fade from Ling Yun and Lin Jianyue's eyes, she quickly shook her head.

"Duoduo isn't afraid!"

As if worried they wouldn't believe her, she raised her voice intentionally. She thought her mom, dad, and brother were amazing for being able to suddenly appear at her grandparents' house. Her dad had just told her about the Supernatural Forest, and combined with her parents' expressions earlier, she had already guessed that they were supernatural beings themselves. She was afraid of the supernatural, but not of her mom, dad, and brother. They were her family, and she loved them the most; she wasn't afraid of them at all!

"Really?" Lin Jianyue looked at Duoduo, her eyes flickering.

Duoduo nodded vigorously, hopped off the sofa, and grabbed Ling Yun and Lin Jianyue’s hands. "Duoduo knows everything. Duoduo isn't afraid of Mom and Dad!" She tilted her little head back and shook it.

Zhang Yangfan immediately wiped the tears from his face. "What about me? What about me? Is Duoduo afraid of me?"

"Brother is so short, I'm not afraid of you at all! Hehe..." Duoduo looked up at Zhang Yangfan and giggled. Zhang Yangfan laughed through his tears and patted her fluffy little head, then gave it a couple of light taps.

"You're the short one, you little shrimp!"

"You're short, you're short, you're the shortest!" Duoduo pouted, unhappy. She ran to a chair, scrambled up with effort, and stood on the seat. With her hands on her hips, she looked down at Zhang Yangfan. "Look, Brother, I'm taller than you!"

"You childish brat!" Zhang Yangfan grinned.

Fearing she might fall from standing so high, Ling Yun reached out and picked her up. He continued to educate her on everything about the Supernatural Forest, telling her everything he knew. The more she listened, the sleepier she became, until she finally fell asleep in his arms. In her dreams, she heard only Ling Yun's voice. Duoduo furrowed her tiny brows slightly and murmured in her sleep, "Dad, stop reading, I've already memorized it all!" Hearing her talk in her sleep, Ling Yun smiled and shook his head.

Standing nearby, Zhang Yangfan rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Was he seeing things? Had Ling Yun, that old specter, actually smiled?

The midnight bell rang right on time. Every room in the Supernatural Forest vanished.

Duoduo, nestled in Lin Jianyue's arms, was sleeping soundly when she suddenly felt a chill on her neck. Opening her eyes slowly, she realized their home was gone, and her sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Mom..."

"Mom is here," Lin Jianyue’s gentle voice drifted into her ears. Duoduo met her gaze, quickly climbed up, and looked around. Seeing her dad and brother nearby, and her grandparents not far away, she let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, they were all still there.

"Duoduo, you must be good after you leave here." Lin Jianyue hugged her reluctantly. As the words left her lips, she shook her head. "No, from now on, you must be fierce so that others won't dare to come near you!"

"Mom, where are we going?" The soft, milky voice reached Lin Jianyue’s ears. Knowing Duoduo didn't realize it wasn't them leaving, but her, Lin Jianyue slowly let her go and stroked her little head.

"You'll know in a moment!"

"Wuwuwu, Dad, do you have any more ugly dolls? Or can you pull Ugly out and put me inside instead?" Zhang Yangfan wanted to stay by Duoduo's side forever, never to be separated! Hearing this, Ugly nodded eagerly. Yes, yes, let him in and let her out! This cloth doll was ugly and small, and being inside was miserable. Whoever wanted to stay could stay; she certainly didn't want to!

Ling Yun lowered his eyes, cast a cold glance at Zhang Yangfan, and then fixed his gaze on Duoduo. He slowly extended his hand toward her. He was still contemplating what to say when he saw Duoduo grasp his hand without hesitation. Ling Yun felt something in his chest stir. He raised a hand to touch his heart, but before he could grasp what it was, a man's voice echoed from above the forest.

"Congratulations to the four players for successfully clearing the 'Sweet Home' instance. The exit has been opened; players may depart on their own."

What clearing, what exit—Duoduo didn't understand a word of it. She looked up at Ling Yun.

Ling Yun looked down at her and said faintly, "Let's go. I'll take you there."

"Mm!" Duoduo nodded obediently and followed Ling Yun forward. Passing through the red mist, a black vortex appeared ahead.

Xie Fangyun and Xu Hetang accompanied Dean Zhou to the vortex. Seeing Duoduo, the two elderly people couldn't help but cry. "Duoduo, be careful from now on!"

"Will you miss us, Duoduo?"

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dean Mommy, let's go together!" Duoduo looked at the couple and then at Dean Zhou standing beside them, her round eyes brimming with smiles.

Seeing Duoduo, Dean Zhou felt a pang of surprise. Thinking back to before they entered the forest, when she had asked Duoduo to yield the "aunt and uncle" to April, her cheeks burned. Although she had done it for the sake of the orphanage, she had ultimately wronged Duoduo.

"Duoduo, do... do you hate Dean Mommy?" Dean Zhou asked cautiously, fearing that the child she had watched grow up might resent her.

Duoduo tilted her head, confused. Why would she hate Dean Mommy? Before she could speak, April’s voice suddenly cut in.

"Duoduo, don't you love your 'dad' here? Can you really bear to leave this place and leave them behind?"

As soon as April spoke, Ling Yun's expression darkened instantly. Not wanting to kill in front of Duoduo, he merely gave April a warning glare. Dean Zhou had not expected April to say such things to Duoduo at this critical moment. She frowned, looking at April in confusion. "April, why would you say that to Duoduo?"

"Was I wrong?" April felt nothing was wrong with her words. She looked at Dean Zhou, then turned to Duoduo, feigning a sudden realization. "Oh, I see. You don't actually think your mom and dad can go with you, do you?"

"You're courting death!" Ling Yun narrowed his eyes dangerously, a terrifying aura of slaughter radiating from him.