Chapter 31: Different Treatment

Su Ruo's thoughts were in turmoil, countless ideas racing through her mind, while An'an stood silently to the side watching her, neither fussing nor making noise, extremely well‑behaved.

Li Zhaodi came running in, out of breath, breaking the indoor silence; upon seeing An'an, she immediately said, "Oh dear, so you're here! I've been looking for you forever."

Just after Li Zhaodi woke up, she discovered the little girl was missing, which frightened her terribly.

Su Ruo had specifically instructed her to take good care of the little girl, and if the girl were gone, she truly wouldn't know how to explain it to Su Ruo.

Upon seeing Li Zhaodi, An'an became frightened and hid behind Su Ruo, gripping Su Ruo's clothes tightly with her small hands.

"Alright, little ancestor, I'll take you to eat." Li Zhaodi clapped her hands, wanting to hug An'an.

But An'an, scared, hid completely behind Su Ruo and said in a childish voice, "I don't want to, I want Mommy."

"Mommy, what mommy?" Li Zhaodi was a bit confused, then immediately thought of An'an's deceased parents, feeling a pang of sympathy; looking at An'an, her pity grew—such a small child, without parents, how will she manage in the future?

Li Zhaodi fought back the sting in her eyes and said, "Be good, in a few days sister will take you to look for Mommy, okay?"

"Mommy is right here; An'an doesn't need to look for Mommy."

An'an clung tightly to Su Ruo, her whole body hanging like a koala on Su Ruo, watching Li Zhaodi warily, making it seem as if Li Zhaodi were a child‑snatching villain.

Li Zhaodi became even more puzzled, not understanding why An'an would call Su Ruo "Mommy," given Su Ruo's appearance—she looked at most eighteen or nineteen, impossible to have such a big child.

Li Zhaodi wondered if An'an had possibly hurt her head in yesterday's injury.

Su Ruo herself hadn't yet figured out the situation, so she naturally couldn't explain it to Li Zhaodi, and said to Li Zhaodi, "Please bring the food over; I'll feed her."

"An'an doesn't need Mommy to feed her; An'an is a big girl and can eat by herself."

Su Ruo felt her heart melt as she was gazed upon by An'an's clear, pure eyes.

She smiled, ruffled An'an's head, and said, "All right, An'an has grown up and can eat on her own."

Although Li Zhaodi was still somewhat bewildered, she still went to fetch the food.

Once Li Zhaodi left, An'an relaxed, her fluffy little head rubbing against Su Ruo's embrace, making Su Ruo feel an itchy warmth in her heart.

Su Ruo tentatively asked, "An'an, besides remembering Mommy, do you remember anything else?"

An'an looked up seriously at Su Ruo, seeming not to understand what she meant.

"What Mommy means is, do you still remember anyone else, like Daddy?"

An'an's eyes were full of confusion, as if her memory had never contained a person called Daddy.

Su Ruo then asked, "What about Grandpa and Grandma? Do you still remember them?"

An'an furrowed her brows tightly, straining to recall, her little face all scrunched up.

As time passed, her complexion grew paler, she clutched her head with both hands, and painfully said, "Mommy, An'an can't remember; An'an's head hurts so much."

Seeing An'an in pain, Su Ruo's heart ached as well; she reached out and pulled An'an into her embrace, saying, "Good An'an, let's not think about it—just remember Mommy and that's enough."

An'an also clung tightly to Su Ruo, as if only Su Ruo could give her a sense of security.

When Li Zhaodi entered carrying a bowl, she saw this scene: Su Ruo holding An'an in her arms, morning sunlight spilling over them, gilding them with a layer of gold.

Su Ruo's gentle beauty and An'an's lively cuteness made the sight before them as beautiful as a painting, impossible to look away from.

After a long while, Li Zhaodi snapped out of it, smiling and saying, "This little girl is really clingy to you."

Li Zhaodi reached out, wanting to touch An'an's head, but An'an dodged away.

An'an scrunched her little nose and said, "Only Mommy is allowed to touch my head."

Upon hearing An'an call Su Ruo "Mommy" again, Li Zhaodi was no longer as surprised as before; she thought it must be that the child suffered such a huge blow yesterday that she mistakenly took Su Ruo for her mother.

Su Ruo thought the same, after all, yesterday when An'an was rescued and opened her eyes, the first person she saw was Su Ruo.

Such a young child having endured such a great disaster, nearly dying, it's possible for her memory to become disordered.

But whether An'an's memory loss is temporary or permanent, Su Ruo doesn't know.

As for that earlier speculation, Su Ruo buried it deep in her heart, for it was too far‑fetched; compared to that, amnesia is far more plausible.

Li Zhaodi felt rejected, feigning anger as she said, "You ungrateful little thing, yesterday it was I who painstakingly took care of you all day, and now you actually turn your back on people, refusing even to let me touch you."

Li Zhaodi felt the girl was being terribly unfair—why, having both saved her, is Su Ruo called "Mommy" while she is labeled a child‑trafficking kidnapper?

Looking at An'an's chubby little face, Li Zhaodi couldn't resist the urge to reach out and pinch it, thinking An'an was extraordinarily pretty, so rare‑looking, utterly unlike a village child, like a porcelain doll stepped out of a New Year picture.

An'an kept her whole body hidden behind Su Ruo, evading Li Zhaodi's grasping hands.

Su Ruo watched the two teasing each other, a smile appearing on her face, and she shook her head, saying, "All right, let's eat first."

Only then did Li Zhaodi stop, ceasing to tease An'an.

For breakfast, Li Zhaodi made lump soup and scallion‑oil pancakes, which smelled wonderful.

"Sis, I've already eaten; you go ahead, I'll go check on the wounded."

After yesterday's interaction, Li Zhaodi had become familiar with Su Ruo, no longer calling her "Doctor Su" but switching to "Sis"; Su Ruo also liked Li Zhaodi's straightforward, cheerful manner and didn't object.

Li Zhaodi feared that Su Ruo would again split her food with her as yesterday, so after uttering that sentence she bolted out as if fleeing.

Su Ruo looked at her retreating back with a hint of helplessness, waved her hand at An'an, and said, "Come, let's eat."

Upon hearing that, An'an obediently sat beside Su Ruo, picked up her bowl, and began to eat properly.

This child had been taught extremely well; she ate without making a sound, didn't spill food everywhere like other kids, and her good behavior made people feel pity.

Watching her, Su Ruo couldn't help wondering if her own daughter, should she grow up, would also be as well‑behaved and sensible, endearing herself to others.

But Su Ruo quickly gathered her thoughts; this life is already different, and she cannot keep immersing herself in the pain of her previous existence.

Su Ruo had just finished her meal and set down her utensils when the Women's Director hurried over; the Women's Director was also worried that yesterday's situation might happen again, so she came early this morning.

Upon seeing the Women's Director, Su Ruo smiled and greeted, "Auntie, you came so early."

"'Mm, I came to have a look; the villagers are coarse, I was afraid they might offend you.' After saying that, the Women's Director still looked at Su Ruo with concern, fearing she was still upset about yesterday's incident."

"'Auntie, it's all in the past; I'm not narrow‑minded, but I do have something I'd like to ask you.'"

Su Ruo wanted to inquire about An'an's condition, so she thought of having Li Zhaodi first hold An'an and leave.

Who would have thought the little girl would clutch Su Ruo's clothes tightly and refuse to go with Li Zhaodi no matter what; left with no choice, Su Ruo could only let her stay.