Song Yuan has been stunned recently. If it weren't for her boss, who is the head of the company, she would have been fired long ago.

She received a pay slip that clearly showed her taking a week off. It was mid-summer, and there was a lot of cold air in the office, causing her to shiver.

"Amy, I remember you said that the peace charm from Nanfeng Temple is very spiritual, right?"

She approached the front table and asked quietly.

The young woman named Amy was drinking tea. She turned her head slightly and chuckled softly, "Yeah, did you really run into something evil? It would be useless to ask the charm to ward off evil; you have to help yourself drive it away."

Song Yuan had never believed in these things before, but at that moment, she was extremely devout and wrote down the contact information of the so-called master.

This time was truly wicked. She had been sleeping in her single apartment the night before, but when she woke up the next day, she found that a whole week had passed. Her parents and family had called her, busy trying to find her. She wasn’t even home! But she lay in bed when she woke up, swearing she hadn’t gone anywhere! The worst part was that she couldn't remember anything from that week.

Given her history of pretending to be sick to travel with friends, her family believed she had just gone away and lost her mind for a week.

She had every reason to suspect that she had either run into something evil or gotten tangled with something dark.

After work, Song Yuan rushed to the master. After the master drew a few talismans for her, she felt relieved, but she dared not stay in her apartment, not even to retrieve her deposit. She quickly moved to a new place in her own name.

In summary, Song Yuan could barely be considered a rich second generation. Her parents had started a clothing company when she was young, becoming quite successful. They say shared suffering is easy, but difficult when you have money. After gaining wealth, Father Song developed a wry mindset; according to him, he just wanted to have fun and didn’t want a divorce. But Mother Song was so scared by the business world that she couldn’t handle the pressure. The court granted custody to Mother Song on the grounds that the child was too young.

After Father Song divorced Mother Song, the company was split in two. Though neither was as strong as before, both had a business mind. Father Song transitioned early, now running a large supermarket in the city, while Mother Song adapted to the clothing industry and started online services a few years ago, which have been doing well.

Neither of them could care for Song Yuan, so the only way they made up for it was through money.

Because of her fear, Song Yuan let her friends stay with her for two months. Finding that nothing strange happened during that time, she began to calm down.

"I think you're just too nervous," her friend Xie Ya said while packing her luggage. "I really can't live here; it's too far from my company. I've been late for more than a month. If this keeps up, I doubt I'll keep my job."

Song Yuan reluctantly replied, "I support you."

Xie Ya smirked, "Thank you. If you were a man, I'd marry you and live off you. Don’t give me this kind of orange juice; I'm really not into that, and my sexual orientation is erratic."

"By the way, the TV series I'm following is about to start." Xie Ya put down her clothes and eagerly turned on the TV. "I tell you, this show is really great."

Song Yuan never pursued dramas; she found watching TV boring, and her home TVs were all set up but unused.

But today, she wanted to chat more with Xie Ya, so she went to the sofa.

The jade pendant she had placed on the dinner table shone with a strange light.

"What's this show about?" she asked.

"An ancient costume drama based on a novel. The heroine travels to ancient times and enters the harem..."

Song Yuan rolled her eyes. "Too old-fashioned!"

"Song Xiaoyuan, when I'm giving you crazy recommendations, please don't interrupt me." Even if Song Yuan was unwilling to listen, Xie Ya insisted on her stance. "Really, even though it's cliché, the more you watch, the more you appreciate it. The protagonist’s golden finger is really impressive. The actor is the emperor, and he has many concubines, but he never spoils any of them..."

"Forced double standards, with no logic," Song Yuan interjected, staying true to her critical nature. "Isn't it the male protagonist who's just incompetent compared to others? Does he even have feelings for the female lead?"

Xie Ya shot back, "How many novels below the neck have you secretly read?"

"…"

"The heroine had a psychological shadow from childhood. She's very aloof. But she's also really cute. The two love each other in their interactions. The heroine becomes the queen of the palace, but you know the heroine’s perspective is completely different from modern people. They have many contradictions. I don’t know how the TV drama will adapt it, but I read the novel. It has a bittersweet ending. The heroine gives birth to a boy who becomes a prince, but for the next few years, the hero and heroine torture each other and are very unhappy. The ending is open; it seems that the heroine awakens and returns to modern times, unsure if she experienced it or if it was all a dream."

Xie Ya was very passionate about her recommendation. "Don’t you think this plot is a bit melodramatic? But this male lead is really a scumbag."

Song Yuan hugged her pillow. Even though it was her friend's enthusiasm, she remained uninterested.

As Xie Ya vented her frustrations about the actor, they finally reached the ending song. Song Yuan picked up her car keys and said to Xie Ya, "It’s getting late; I’ll drive you back."

"Woohoo, you’re so kind to me! Only you think it’s dangerous for me to go out at night!" Xie Ya said, looking at Song Yuan from head to toe. She couldn't help but ask, "So, have you been dating recently? I've been meaning to ask this for a while."

Song Yuan wondered, "My mother raised me alone, didn’t you know? Why are you asking?"

Xie Ya circled around Song Yuan and teased, "I think you look very feminine now, like, like you’re nurturing something."

That analogy... why did it sound inappropriate?

Song Yuan was silent for a moment. "It was probably because I had a beauty treatment."

After waking up one day, she noticed she looked dull; her skin wasn’t as radiant, and the sparkle in her eyes was gone. Concerned about her appearance, she felt years older. Alarmed by her lackluster look, she quickly sought out an acquaintance who was a doctor and underwent a medical beauty procedure. After more than a month, she slowly started to recover.

"Is that so?" Xie Ya observed her closely. In fact, Song Yuan was very beautiful. She inherited all the advantages of her parents: clean, fair skin and exquisite features that drew much attention. If it weren't for her parents, she might have been scouted into the entertainment industry to showcase her beauty.

Xie Ya shook her head again. "I don’t think it’s just the treatment. Anyway, you’re different now; it’s really feminine. You can't hide it from me when you're in love. I want to help you navigate it properly. There are just too many men."

Song Yuan smirked at her words. "I’ll just say that you’ve noticed my figure more. Don’t worry; I already have sharp instincts, and all scumbags will reveal their true colors in front of me."

After dropping Xie Ya off, Song Yuan drove back to her community. As she arrived, she noticed the elevator lights flickering on and off, reminding her of unsettling things. When the elevator door opened, she rushed out but stopped suddenly—

A little boy in period costume was standing in front of her house, looking at her seriously.

Song Yuan was so frightened that she nearly stumbled back, her heart racing in her throat.

It was really strange. The flickering lights of the elevator had just filled her mind with frightening thoughts. And now, seeing the pale boy in his costume, with the voice-activated lights above his head flickering on and off, sent chills down her spine.

Rong Ting frowned, his gaze locked onto Song Yuan.

But she couldn’t connect him to the paintings in her father’s secret room.

Everyone said that her father’s painting and calligraphy skills were incomparable, and it felt flattering to think about it.

Song Yuan felt her throat go dry and her pupils dilate.

"You..." She surprised herself by speaking, though it was all she could muster.

Rong Ting stepped forward.

Song Yuan instinctively stepped back.

"Gu knows that you are guilty," he said, his tone dismissive.

Song Yuan was confused and didn’t understand what he meant.

"I don’t want to listen to your pain."

Song Yuan: "???"

As the moonlight refracted through the window, she saw the little boy's shadow on the ground. Feeling a bit relieved, she gathered her courage and tried to appear sincere and kind. "Child, did you find the wrong person? Does your family live here?"

"You don't know Gu?"

"Don't you remember being alone?!"

Song Yuan was confused, not understanding what she had said to provoke the little boy in period costume, who now looked at her as if she had committed a heinous crime.

"Um, kid?" After reassuring herself that the boy wasn't a ghost, she calmed down a bit. "Do you have your parents' contact information? I can call them to pick you up."

Rong Ting glared at her, clearly angry.

Since he could remember, he had never seen his mother. His father, the emperor, rarely mentioned her, making the subject a taboo in the court. Still, he had tried to find out about her. An old lady who knew his mother told him that she loved him very much and had cherished him even before he was born. He was her favorite person.

He had asked the old woman if his mother would still remember him if she saw him.

With tears in her eyes, she had said that no mother could ever forget her child.

Now, did she forget him?

Rong Ting looked at her coldly. "You worked so hard to conceal your father and emperor and came to find me, yet you don’t remember being alone."

Even if Song Yuan were slow to catch on, she realized something was off. The little boy clearly recognized her.

"You know me?" she asked, surprised.

"Of course I know!" he snapped back.

Song Yuan probed cautiously, "So, do we have a relationship?"

Rong Ting fought back tears. Despite being His Royal Highness, adored by many, and raised with the expectation of greatness, he felt crushed. Everyone flattered him, and he had always strived to meet his father's expectations, especially since his father had said she liked smart children. He had read poems since he was two or three years old without fail.

But now, she didn’t remember him and asked such innocent questions!

The little boy didn’t want to engage with her any further. Song Yuan, determined to find out if he had a mobile phone or his parents' contact information, searched for a phone.

Rong Ting was taken aback, his ears turning red. He almost shouted "Bold!" but swallowed his words. After all, despite the norms of propriety, she was his mother, and exceptions could be made.

When they couldn't find her phone, and he continued to refuse to speak, Song Yuan, although not one to meddle in others' affairs, felt compelled to help. Any normal adult would want to assist a lost child in period costume. Despite his awkward demeanor, he was undeniably cute. She gently took his hand, intending to lead him to the nearby police station.

Rong Ting was startled by the sudden contact. As the Crown Prince, he was never close to others and instinctively wanted to pull away. Yet the warmth from her hand felt comforting, stirring a sense of nostalgia. He pursed his lips, trying to maintain a cold front. "I don’t need your help."

Song Yuan laughed at his stubbornness.

Surprisingly, the little boy followed her without protest, obediently. Such a handsome child, appearing to be no more than five or six years old, would be at risk of being targeted by traffickers if he remained lost.

"Children are supposed to be with their mom and dad. How worried must they be if they lost you?" Song Yuan continued. "They must be going crazy without seeing you."

Rong Ting didn’t understand her earlier words, but he grasped this part. "It has nothing to do with solitude."

Song Yuan chuckled at his awkward self-reference. It seemed his parents had given him a nickname similar to "Coo," which made him sound a bit spoiled. She thought it would be amusing to tell others, "Yuan doesn't see you like this," or "It has nothing to do with the garden."

Children were so cute.

"Coo, don’t you really remember your parents’ contact information? Not even a name? The police uncle will need to ask you these questions."

Rong Ting frowned. Despite his young age, he was exceptionally clever. He caught a few key phrases. "The emperor has no brothers, and I have no uncle."

Song Yuan paused. "Okay! Families have different dynamics. Since I don’t understand what you’re saying, let’s get you to the police station."

The child seemed well-mannered, likely spoiled by his family. If he was lost, his parents must have mobilized all their relatives and friends to find him. They were probably already waiting at the police station.

When Song Yuan brought Rong Ting to the police station and explained the situation, an elderly policeman crouched down and asked with a gentle smile, "Child, what’s your name?"

Song Yuan smacked her forehead—she had forgotten to ask that!

She really wasn’t great with kids.

Rong Ting watched the old policeman cautiously, but he was a bit more proud than Song Yuan had been.

The policeman asked him questions, but Rong Ting only looked at Song Yuan instead of answering.

Feeling the pressure of the situation, Song Yuan stood up and said to the old policeman, "Hello, I have to work tomorrow. It’s getting late; I should head back."

The old policeman nodded. "Okay, do you want to leave your contact information? The child’s parents may want to thank you."

It was not uncommon for children to go missing, and the loss of a child could be devastating for a family. Many parents wanted to express their gratitude to those who helped return their children.

Song Yuan thought about it and left her contact information. However, when she stood to leave, Rong Ting, who had been sitting in a chair, followed her.

Surprised, Song Yuan quickly crouched down and spoke gently to him. "Sister has to work tomorrow, so I can’t stay here with you while you wait for your mom and dad. The police uncle and aunt are very nice; they will take good care of you. They will also keep an eye out for news about missing children."

Rong Ting’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You’re leaving me here? You abandoned me? You want to give up on me a second time?!"

Song Yuan was taken aback. "Abandon you? You’re talking about me?"

The old policeman watched them with an amused expression.

"Gu Gu, I don’t care about you," Rong Ting continued, sounding like an angry little beast. There was a hint of unexpressed hurt and sadness in his voice. "After all the trouble I went through to find you, you plan to leave me?! You’re so kind to me!"

It seemed Rong Ting was truly angry, even dropping the pretense of calling himself "solitary."

The old policeman, noticing the tension, carefully observed the two, realizing that this situation might be more complicated than he initially thought. Recently, there had been cases of parents abandoning their children. He pulled Rong Ting closer and pointed at Song Yuan, asking seriously, "Child, tell me the truth—what is your relationship with her?"

Rong Ting, maintaining his composure, refrained from condemning the old man for his lack of understanding. Instead, he huffed, "The relationship between Gu and mother-in-law is well known in the world."

Mother? Queen Mother?

Not only was the old policeman confused, but Song Yuan—who had begun to adapt to his unique speaking style—was now frightened. "Child, don't say that! I'm only 22 years old this year, and I don’t even have a boyfriend!"

She never imagined that picking up a lost child and bringing him to the police station would lead to such a bizarre situation. Was this some sort of new routine for the porcelain team?

But this scenario felt outdated! She was only 22, having just graduated from college, and the child looked around four or five years old. There was no way he could be her child, and the audacity of him claiming otherwise was infuriating.

The old policeman scratched his chin, puzzled. He had seen Song Yuan’s ID card, confirming she was indeed 22. This child, being around five years old, raised eyebrows about their supposed mother-child relationship.

Song Yuan felt desperate to swear to the heavens that she had no boyfriend, no marriage, and certainly no children.

Having worked in this field for decades, the old policeman was adept at discerning truth from fiction. The issue was that neither the child nor the young woman looked like they were lying.

"Miss, think carefully. Is this child related to you?" the old policeman suggested calmly. "He really resembles you."

Song Yuan stumbled back in disbelief. "How is that possible?"

Rong Ting, who had been trying hard to deny their relationship, slowly began to lose his luster. His lips tightened, and he fell silent.

Finally, after checking the system, the police confirmed that Song Yuan was unmarried and had no records of having children. This was reassuring, but Song Yuan still felt uncomfortable about the whole situation. Since the child hadn’t provided any names or information about his parents, the police couldn’t definitively assert that Song Yuan was his mother.

As Song Yuan prepared to leave, she couldn’t shake the absurdity of the day. The thought of someone potentially following her added to her anxiety.

Just as she was about to exit the room, Rong Ting, who had been quietly sitting in his chair, suddenly stood up. He stared at her with a look of abandonment and whispered in a voice laced with unspoken hurt, "If you leave Gu Gu again today, Gu Gu will never see you again and will never forgive you."

Song Yuan felt her heart tremble.

She knew she shouldn’t be affected by the words of a child, but for some reason, his plea struck a chord deep within her. It felt as if someone had grasped her heart, making it hard to breathe, accompanied by a sharp pain that was difficult to shake off.

Half an hour later, Song Yuan left behind a copy of her ID, her home address, and her contact information, casting a meaningful look at Rong Ting as she exited.

She didn’t say a word.

Rong Ting followed her, raised his head, and looked at her back, thinking that his mother should love him; otherwise, she would not have taken him away. But she should forget him, and he should still be angry.

Song Yuan actually regretted it when she brought the child home.

She didn't do anything wrong, and it was definitely not her who gave up her husband and abandoned her son, so why should she be frightened by the child's words?

Song Yuan now lives in a house that was given to her by her father when she was ten years old. The three bedrooms and two living rooms are very spacious. There is also a large balcony. Even if she was aggressive and suspicious of life, she did not forget to buy towels and toothbrushes for children.

As soon as she got home, before she could say a few words to the child, she heard a cooing sound in his stomach.

Rong Ting was embarrassed. To him, it was rude to make such a sound in his stomach.

"How long have you not eaten?" Song Yuan asked, lowering her head.

"Only breakfast."

"Child, why do you talk like that?" Song Yuan opened the refrigerator, took the bread out, and looked back at him. "Really, does your family do that?"

Rong Ting was now a little better, not so embarrassed, and had a better tone when speaking to Song Yuan. "How can my mother speak so casually?"

Song Yuan: "..."

"It takes more than half an hour to get delivery. I'm afraid you're too hungry. There are only bread, eggs, and ham at home. I'll make a sandwich for you."

Rong Ting communicated with Song Yuan, not discussing chickens and ducks, but they did not quite understand what the other was talking about.

But he could hear that his mother was cooking for him.

His heart warmed slightly.

The mother was the mother of the country, and she had never cooked for others (she should include the father). He might be the first.

He forgave her for the moment she forgot him.

Song Yuan occasionally cooks when she is in the mood. After all, takeout can be too greasy. Making sandwiches is too easy for her. She uses a pan to fry eggs and ham simultaneously. There is a salad dressing she loves. When she thinks that kids love ketchup, she adds some. After making the sandwich, she prepares a glass of milk for the child.

Sitting at the dinner table, Rong Ting frowned as he looked at the food in front of him.

This was food he had never seen before.

The point is, can he eat it?

Seeing that Song Yuan was looking at him earnestly, Rong Ting thought he should not disappoint his mother's intentions, so he picked up the sandwich and took a small bite.

Song Yuan certainly wouldn't ask the kid how the sandwich tasted.

Rong Ting thought that maybe because this weird thing was cooked by his mother, the taste was acceptable.

Song Yuan pointed to the milk on the dining table. "Remember to drink milk. Drink milk to grow up."

Rong Ting was annoyed. "Do you think you are not tall enough?"

How to say, Song Yuan was a senior member of the Appearance Association. She felt deeply that she would never have brought him home if it had not been for the boy being too handsome and cute. The child visually estimated that he was about a meter tall. He was obviously a child, but he was always crouching, and he looked like an adult.

"Then you really aren't as tall as me now," Song Yuan deliberately quarreled with him. "Well, drinking milk is good for the body. After drinking, I brush my teeth, wash my face, and take a bath. I really want to go to work tomorrow and not lie to you."

Rong Ting stared at the milk in the cup for a while, then held the cup with both hands and took a sip.

Sweet and not bad.

"Mother, why didn't the palace wait for her?" Rong Ting was full and in a good mood, so he was willing to chat with Song Yuan.

The decoration of this palace is really strange, but he also overheard his father talking while drunk. His father said that his mother's time was different from theirs, so it seems reasonable to explain it.

Why is there no court eunuch?

Song Yuan was silent for a while and felt that the child's parents were likely ancient fans, but even if the parents loved ancient styles, that should not affect the child. She really doubted whether the child communicated smoothly with others in kindergarten.

"Are you talking about Auntie Nanny?" It seems that the child's family should be fine. "I personally don't need to ask Auntie Nanny. I can do everything myself."

Rong Ting stared at Song Yuan.

"What do you look at me like this for?" Song Yuan asked him.

"Why?"

Rong Ting was very puzzled. "You are living so embarrassed now, why did you leave Father Emperor? Is this how you want to live?"

Song Yuan was confused but moved her chair and sat next to him. She said to him very seriously, "Child, I don't understand what you're talking about. I'm really not your mother, but you can rest assured that the uncles and aunts at the police station will help you find your family. You can also stay with me until your parents come to pick you up."

Rong Ting was not an unreasonable child. He combined Song Yuan's words and her performance, and asked tentatively, "Don't you remember the emperor?"

Before Song Yuan could answer, Rong Ting responded himself, "It's a good thing to not remember. You don't even remember being alone; how can you remember someone else?"

Even his favorite biological son had been forgotten; how could he remember the husband behind him?

He was so stupid for asking such questions of his mother.

Song Yuan thought about it and prepared to rephrase the child's words, "Then tell me what your father's name is; maybe I will have an impression."

After hearing this, Rong Ting was angry again. "You don't remember me when you see me; how can you be impressed when you hear the name of the father?"

If the mother really had an impression, he would be angry. The old woman said that the mother once held him and said that she loved him the most.

He paused and said, "And as a son, shouldn't you keep your father's name in your mouth?"

Song Yuan: "..."

Would you like to get into a drama like this? Even if they are ancient fans, it seems they are still living at home with the emperor and the queen.

"Okay, then you can always say your name, right?"

Rong Ting glared and looked at her coldly. "It's because you even forgot the name of your biological son."

Song Yuan's temper was really good.

She has always loved children since she was a child. Of course, they are good children, but today is also strange. Such an awkward child, she would never take the initiative to come forward.

Rong Ting was silent for a while after saying this, "You remember, Rong Ting."

The name is strange.

Song Yuan felt that according to the current progress, she could ask for his parents' names and contact information within the week.

"Okay, go and brush your teeth." Song Yuan led the still-sulking Rong Ting to the bathroom and squeezed toothpaste onto the newly bought children's toothbrush and handed it to him.

Rong Ting used to brush his teeth while in the palace.

However, not many people in the palace had toothbrushes. After listening to the old maid, it took a long time for the mother to make a toothbrush.

Now the toothbrush in his hand looked better than that of the palace.

Rong Ting brushed his teeth and felt that there was a sweet taste in his mouth, unlike in the palace. After the mother hid the good stuff, he came to her, and she gave it to him.

Rong Ting looked strange in this room, but he also paid attention to etiquette and did not want to show cowardice behind his mother.

"Coo, that's it." After Rong Ting brushed his teeth and washed his face, Song Yuan took him to stand under the shower and said patiently, "You are a boy, I am a girl. I am not convenient to give you a bath; would you take a bath yourself?"

Rong Ting didn't care about Song Yuan calling him like this.

Song Yuan simply taught Rong Ting to use a water heater. She felt that no matter how fascinated the ancients were at home, modern facilities were so convenient, and the infrastructure was definitely there.

After telling Rong Ting which bottle was the shower gel and which was the shampoo, she left the bathroom and closed the door.

Rong Ting stood under the shower. He was a clever boy. Many things were easy. After he took off his clothes, he hesitated. After learning from his mother, he just turned on the switch. The moment the shower rushed out water and wet him, he couldn't control his inner fear and screamed.

When Song Yuan heard his cry, she rushed in.

Rong Ting was still scared. When he saw her come in, his first reaction was to hug her waist. He was brave and didn't cry.

When he calmed down, he also threw the pot gracefully, "You have left alone people here!"

Song Yuan could see that the child was a little embarrassed.

Now many children over five years of age also need parents to help take a bath. She has never been a mother. She has no experience in helping relatives take care of children. She was also a little embarrassed in her heart. Children are easy to be afraid in strange environments.

By the time the child was finally bathed, Song Yuan's clothes were soaked.

Convenience stores did not have pajamas for children, and Song Yuan casually wrapped her long T-shirt around him.

The child was very disgusted. "How can a lonely woman wear clothes?"

"Tomorrow after work, I'll take you out and buy you pajamas. It's really too late now." Song Yuan pointed to the dark circles under his eyes. "You can do well; I will get off for the time being. I really need to sleep; it's exhausting."

Rong Ting looked at her and said awkwardly after a while, "Only this time; don't tell outsiders."

After Song Yuan also removed her makeup and showered, it was already past ten o'clock.

She was lying on the bed, thinking about what happened tonight; it felt like a dream. Very tired and sleepy, she fell asleep. Fortunately, the child was very disciplined. He didn't need to be told anything; he also understood what she didn't. In summary, he and she couldn't sleep in the same bed. He slept in the second bedroom. She looked in on him once before returning to her room. The child seemed to be asleep before she turned off the light.

What Song Yuan did not know was that when she turned off the lights and closed the door, Rong Ting, lying in bed, opened his eyes.

In his mind, he had imagined many times what his mother-in-law looked like, how she looked when she laughed, and how she looked when she got angry. Everyone said that he was distinguished, and many envied him for being born a prince, but only he knew that he didn't want to be a prince; he only wanted to be a child of his mother.

Although his mother-in-law did not show that she truly loved him, Rong Ting thought, you have to forgive her. She just forgot.