C11 It Was Proven!

"Brother, it looks like Mom really is lost. What do we do?" Liuya's face was etched with concern.

Han Rui shared his sister's worry, realizing that their mother couldn't keep going on like this. But he wondered, would she be upset if she discovered they were following her?

"We should go help Mom find her way," Han Rui finally decided, taking his sister's hand and hurrying toward Ann Yan.

Ann Yan hadn't expected the children to track her down and mistook their arrival for a happy coincidence. She waved to Han Rui and Liuya with a warm smile, easing the tension in Han Rui's chest.

"Little Rui, Liuya, what brings you here? Are you out for some fun?"

"Mom, we noticed you were lost and came to show you the way." Liuya hadn't called Ann Yan 'Mom' in years, yet the word flowed naturally from her lips, without a trace of awkwardness.

Liuya adored her current mom, so she candidly confessed their reason for coming. Han Rui barely had time to react, thinking his sister was a bit naive. But seeing Ann Yan's unbothered reaction, he couldn't help feeling that perhaps his mother was the more naive one.

"That's wonderful, you two are such sweet children."

Ann Yan's delight was palpable as she scooped Liuya into her arms. Liuya, caught off guard by the sudden affection, nestled contentedly in the softness of her mother's embrace, feeling as though she was living a dream.

Han Rui watched his sister's joyous moment with a twinge of envy. As a young man, he couldn't just ask to be held, but he couldn't help yearning for the same affection. Stealthily, he reached for the hem of Ann Yan's garment. When she noticed but didn't scold him, instead patting his head, his lips quirked into a smile.

"Mom, I know a place where we can pick wild vegetables. Let me take you there." Bolstered by Ann Yan's affectionate gesture, Han Rui's eyes sparkled with eagerness as he spoke to her.

"Really? That's wonderful. But, Mother has a question for you. Can you answer it for me?" Ann Yan's tone was clearly that of someone cajoling a child. Han Rui's eyes flickered; although he held a certain admiration for Ann Yan, his trust in her was limited. "Mother, what would you like to know?"

"Little Rui, can you tell Mother how to get to the mountain?"

As Han Rui heard this, his guard dropped, confirming his suspicion that perhaps his mother was indeed a bit naive. He had braced himself for some malice from his stepmother, as the villagers had warned, but since she had come into their lives, all they heard were ominous whispers, leaving them on edge, wondering how to respond. Yet, here she was, asking such a simple question.

Despite his relief, Han Rui didn't immediately answer Ann Yan's question. Instead, he countered, "Mother, do you want to go into the mountain?"

This stepson of hers was proving to be quite sharp. Ann Yan nodded, "Yes, the wild fruits you boys picked were so tasty. I haven't had my fill and would love to pick some more. You found them in the mountains, right?"

"Yes, yes! Big brother is the one who picked them. He's amazing—no one climbs trees faster than he does. None of the other kids in the village can hold a candle to him." Liuya chimed in before Han Rui could respond, her face beaming with pride as she spoke of her brother.

"That's fantastic. Would you be willing to take me there?"

Han Rui then realized that his stepmother's intention to go out wasn't to gather wild vegetables; that was merely a pretext. She actually wanted to venture into the mountains.

"Uh, Mother, there are no more wild fruits where I picked them. Next time there are some, I'll pick them for you."

Ann Yan's intent was simply to placate the two youngsters, hoping to explore the mountains and possibly find something to barter with the system. She wasn't truly interested in picking wild fruits.

"There's no need for that. As an adult, I can't let you children do the picking. Just show me the way to the mountain, and I'll look for other spots that might have wild fruits. In the future, I'll be the one to pick them for you to enjoy."

"Mother, the mountains are full of wild animals and can be very dangerous. You shouldn't wander off alone." Han Rui's voice carried a hint of exasperation, and he looked at Ann Yan as one might look at a child who doesn't quite grasp the situation.

Ann Yan chuckled awkwardly. "As an adult, of course I know what I'm doing. Don't worry about me—just show me the way to the mountain."

Despite Ann Yan's determination to venture into the mountains, Han Rui had no choice but to lead the way. He reassured himself that as long as he was with her, she'd avoid any dangerous areas.

Ann Yan had initially intended to have her stepson direct her and go by herself, but the two youngsters were adamant about tagging along. Reluctantly, she brought her two little 'shadows' with her into the mountains, thinking of it as a way to familiarize themselves with the paths.

Reality, however, was far from easy. The effortless foraging for wild ginseng and mountain goods, the medicinal herbs strewn about as described in stories, was pure fiction.

With the two kids in tow, Ann Yan was cautious, not daring to venture too deep into the forest. The outskirts had been thoroughly scavenged by local villagers, making even gathering wild vegetables a challenge.

Moreover, young Han Rui, despite his tender age, was quite the steward. Any time Ann Yan strayed a bit deeper, he would fuss over her and Liuya, warning them about the perils of the forest's depths and insisting they stay away—a stark contrast to his usual reticence and aloofness.

Ann Yan's lips twitched with the effort of holding back her annoyance at the constant nagging, not wanting to discourage her stepson.

"Little Rui, rest assured, I'm an adult and I know where it's safe to go," she said. "But you and your sister are still kids, and you're right to be cautious. The woods can be dangerous. If we encounter wild animals, I can run fast with these long legs of mine and escape, but you two might not be able to at your age. It's best to limit your trips into the forest, okay?"

Ann Yan, ever the responsible stepmother, seized the moment to impart some wisdom to her stepchildren.

Liuya nodded obediently, but Han Rui cast a skeptical glance at Ann Yan's 'long legs.' The rumor was that stepmothers from wealthy families, like her, moved with a slow, deliberate grace, a sign of their refined upbringing. Could his stepmother truly be quick on her feet?

He was convinced he could outrun her, but faced with her tender look, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Ann Yan was oblivious to the thoughts running through her cheap son's mind at that moment; had she known, she surely would have teased him with a quip about being a "Devilish Child." Watching Han Rui and Liuya attentively nodding along to her guidance, she swelled with a sense of accomplishment. She considered these two stepchildren to be exceptionally well-behaved, a refreshing change from her mischievous nephew who was far more of a handful.

Despite a lengthy search, Ann Yan came up empty-handed, leaving her feeling somewhat disheartened.

"Mother, if there were any treasures here, the villagers have long since claimed them. We've found nothing. Perhaps we should just go and forage for wild vegetables instead. Otherwise, we'll have a hard time explaining our empty hands to Grandma," Han Rui suggested, seeing his stepmother's persistent search and speaking with a tone of resignation.