Chapter 4: The Childcare Tutor

Page (1/3)

Shi Chuchu’s eyes rolled back as she was tightly grabbed, struggling to speak and ask the system, “Wh-what’s going on? Did Little Stone Pillar recognize my identity?”

After a moment of silence, the system hesitated before replying,
[Probably not. When you left, he was still just an egg... It’s likely because you carry the scent of his father, Long Yuan, which makes him feel a sense of familiarity.]

Shi Chuchu suddenly understood and found this explanation reasonable.

But realization only deepened her troubles.

The little cub clung tightly to her neck, making her look like a suspicious kidnapper.

With footsteps drawing closer, Shi Chuchu knew she couldn’t hesitate any longer. No matter what, she couldn’t appear before everyone in this state. She resolved to pick up the cub and escape.

Taking a deep breath, she focused her energy in her dantian—

The cub didn’t move an inch.

Shi Chuchu was puzzled.

Unwilling to believe it, she focused again—

Still, the cub remained motionless, staring at her with wide, innocent eyes.

She fell silent, finally grasping what the system meant by the cub’s astonishing bone density.

Indeed, the cub was a real obstacle for her...

At that moment, the servants searching for the young master finally spotted them.

“Found the young master… hmm? And who are you?”

The leader suddenly noticed Shi Chuchu standing nearby and looked puzzled.

Shi Chuchu’s heart skipped a beat. She was about to think up an excuse when the man’s expression suddenly brightened—

“Ah! You must be the young master’s chosen caretaker! Please be sure to inform us whenever you take the young master out. We are about to depart back to the manor; please come with us.”

Shi Chuchu was dumbfounded, staring at his sudden change in attitude, which automatically assigned her an identity in her mind.

After a moment’s thought, she decided to play along, blending into the group for now.

With resolve, she tried to stand up holding the cub—

But she couldn’t rise.

Embarrassed, she asked the nearby sturdy servants for help, “Little Stone Pillar… cough, the young master is quite solid. Could someone help me lift him?”

The servants immediately stepped forward, attempting to take the cub from her arms, but the cub threw a tantrum, whining and clutching her neck stubbornly.

As the only son of the marshal, no one dared forcibly take him away.

So the group was stuck in a stalemate.

With no other choice, the lead servant contacted Long Yuan’s steward, explaining the situation and hoping the steward could personally coax the young master away.

Page (2/3)

The steward answered the call, utterly bewildered.

“You’re saying the young master is clinging to the caretaker and refuses to leave?”

“Yes, Miss Caretaker doesn’t have enough strength to carry the young master.”

The steward glanced at a young woman beside him with even more confusion.

If memory served, wasn’t this young woman the caretaker originally chosen by the young master? Who was this other caretaker?

Noticing the steward’s horrified expression, Long Yuan, just awakened, tiredly rubbed his brow and asked, “What’s wrong? Where’s the little one?”

Hearing the steward mention his son was in the arms of a strange woman, Long Yuan’s brow furrowed deeply. He donned his military robe and rose to go to the location described by the servants.

The steward hurried after him, and the caretaker, stunned at first, also quickly followed the marshal’s steps.

She had paid a heavy price to be chosen by the young master, even using her body as leverage in the deal!

And now, someone dared impersonate her; she was eager to see who had such audacity!

The three arrived at the scene swiftly.

From a distance, Long Yuan saw his cub clinging tightly to a woman’s neck, mumbling something unintelligible, saliva dripping onto her collar.

The woman’s back was turned to him, her face hidden, but her slender figure inexplicably felt familiar.

Long Yuan paused, recalling a recent dream. A familiar flutter stirred in his heart as a bold guess formed in his mind, nearly making him stagger.

Could it really be her...

He stepped slowly toward the figure, footsteps so light as if afraid to startle her away.

Seeing his father, the cub was excited, immediately reaching out for a hug.

But unlike usual, Long Yuan, who doted on his son, did not respond to the cub’s eager reach this time.

His gaze was fixed, almost frozen on that silhouette.

It was too much like her... far too much, even the scent was so familiar.

His hand trembled slightly as he gently tapped the woman’s shoulder.

The next moment, she turned her head, and their eyes met.

Shi Chuchu:!!

Startled by Long Yuan’s face, she almost instinctively wanted to throw off the cub and run.

Thankfully, the system reminded her in time: [Don’t be afraid, host! I’m here; he won’t recognize you!]

Shi Chuchu calmed down a little and tried to keep her expression natural.

But as Long Yuan clearly saw her face, his eyes darkened again.

Page (3/3)

After a moment, he curled his lips in a self-mocking smile.

He was truly confused.

How could such a ruthless woman ever come back... She had long abandoned him and the little one, hadn’t she?

Long Yuan’s fists clenched and unclenched, his heart overwhelmed by crushing disappointment.

After a long silence, he gently lifted the cub from the woman’s arms.

“小 Bao, you can’t run off like that anymore. Father will worry.”

Listening to Long Yuan softly coax the cub, Shi Chuchu was momentarily lost in thought.

...Little Bao?

Wasn’t that the nickname she jokingly gave the child before?

Even with such hatred for her, Long Yuan still used that nickname.

Lost in her thoughts, she heard the steward’s voice speak up, “Marshal, so... shall we return directly to the manor?”

Long Yuan, holding the cub, turned and said, “Yes, head straight back.”

No sooner had he spoken, the cub grew anxious, waving those chubby, jointed arms at Shi Chuchu repeatedly.

Long Yuan furrowed his brows, looking at the struggling cub then at Shi Chuchu.

After a moment’s thought, he instructed the steward, “Take that caretaker along with us.”

Only then did the cub settle down.

Seeing this, the originally chosen caretaker grew anxious.

She peered from behind the steward, forcing a smile, “Is it possible the young master has mistaken someone? I’m the original chosen caretaker…”

As soon as she spoke, she finally saw Shi Chuchu’s face through the crowd.

The moment she recognized her, her expression turned pale, lips trembling, unable to utter another word.

This woman before her was the one who had just uncovered her secret!

Shi Chuchu was equally stunned.

Wasn’t this the woman who had just been with that lecherous officer? How had she suddenly transformed into Little Stone Pillar’s caretaker?

Both were shocked, and neither dared to speak first.