Against the Light - Chapter 162
Chapter 162: More Beautiful Than the Stars
The yellow cat Xiao Ye mentioned was one Gu Xinran had given her in their past life, back when Xiao Ye and Lin Yuqing were living deep in the mountains. That was the first time she had seen the grown-up Xiao Ye, and she had recognized her at a glance. Seeing how much she adored the cat, Gu Xinran had secretly left it in front of their little wooden cabin. It was because of that cat that she was able to have more contact with Xiao Ye.
"Does Xiao Ye remember anything else?" Gu Xinran composed herself and pressed on.
"Remember what?" Xiao Ye blinked her eyes, asking with a puzzled look.
"No, it's nothing." Gu Xinran shook her head and breathed a sigh of relief. The little one must have subconsciously thought of the cat after seeing this cabin, but she hadn't recalled anything else. Thank goodness.
Lin Yuqing also took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of emotion welling up inside her.
Gu Xinran didn't dare let her look around the cabin anymore, afraid she might unconsciously remember something else. She quickly carried her outside and pointed to the rosy sunset glow on the horizon for her to see.
"Wow! So pretty!" Xiao Ye's mouth fell open in astonishment. She had never seen such a beautiful sight!
"Auntie Lin, Auntie Lin, look!" Xiao Ye turned her head and saw Lin Yuqing still standing in the cabin, so she hurriedly called for her to come and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Lin Yuqing walked out and stood beside her, gazing toward the distant horizon.
"Isn't it pretty!?"
"It's very pretty."
Xiao Ye giggled, revealing a row of small, white teeth.
The busy crew members also unconsciously stopped what they were doing, pausing to gaze at the red clouds in the sky.
Gu Xinran carried Xiao Ye over to Bai Yilan's side. With one arm around Yilan's waist and the other holding her little baby, her heart felt exceptionally full.
After watching for a while, everyone took out their phones to record videos and take pictures.
Seeing how much fun everyone was having, Bai Yilan didn't say anything to stop them.
After a little more fun, Jin Shuang got everyone back to work. She and Yilan finalized the location for the set, and then they began planning the camera positions.
Seeing that there was nothing for her to do for the time being, Gu Xinran took Xiao Ye for a stroll nearby.
Everything was new and exciting to Xiao Ye. One moment she was staring blankly at a towering tree that reached into the clouds, the next she was scared by a bug on a tree, running and jumping away, nearly bursting into tears.
As the sky began to darken, Gu Xinran led Xiao Ye to gather some branches nearby.
"Mama, why are we gathering branches?" Xiao Ye held Gu Xinran's hand with one hand and clutched two branches in the other. Seeing more scattered branches not far away, she obediently ran over to pick them up, even though she didn't know why.
"Hmm… Mama is going to perform a magic trick for you in a bit." Gu Xinran acted mysterious and winked at the little one.
"Hmm?" The little girl tilted her head and looked at her, her face full of curiosity.
Soon, Gu Xinran glanced at the pile of branches beside them. It was enough. She led Xiao Ye back to the front of the cabin.
Gu Xinran had Xiao Ye stand behind her while she crouched on the ground. She gathered some dry grass, shaped it like a bird's nest, placed a stick on top, carved a small hole in the middle, and began to make a fire with a fire drill.
Xiao Ye tilted her head, watching her movements and blinking her big eyes. "Mama, what are you doing?"
"Mama? Huh, wow! It's on fire! It's fire! Mama, it's on fire!!" Seeing a fire being made up close for the first time, Xiao Ye was so scared she stumbled back a few steps, bumped into the stairs, and sat down with a plop.
Gu Xinran glanced back at her little scaredy-cat and chuckled softly.
"Mama, get away from it, you'll get burned!" The little one worriedly tugged at Gu Xinran's clothes.
Gu Xinran scooted back a couple of steps, wrapped an arm around her, and took her small hand, stretching it toward the fire to warm it.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, hot!"
"Don't be so dramatic. We're two meters away."
"Scary!" The tiny girl huddled in her arms, her eyes fixed on the burning fire, the dancing flames reflected in her bright, dark pupils.
"Don't be afraid. Mama's here. It won't burn you."
"Hmph, Grandmother told Xiao Ye not to play with fire. I'm going to tell Grandmother when we get home."
"???" "You will not!" Gu Xinran immediately pinched her little ear and warned her in a low voice.
"Hmph."
The little one's indignant huff left Gu Xinran without a temper. "Alright, alright. It's getting dark, wasn't Mama worried you'd be scared of the dark? Besides, it gets cold in the mountains at night, and Mama was afraid you'd catch a chill," she explained patiently.
"Oh, is that so?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye immediately wrapped her arms around Gu Xinran's neck.
"That's right."
"Thank you, Mama!"
"Good girl."
"Hey, you've already got a fire going? Doesn't this call for some roasted meat?" Jin Shuang and the others gathered back at the cabin. They spotted the fire from a distance and laughed.
"Hey, I think that's a great idea. While it's not completely dark yet, I'll run down and buy some meat. I saw some meat skewers at the owner's place just now," someone suggested.
"Great, great! Get two people to go with you. Go quickly and come back quickly. Remember to buy some seasoning."
"You got it~"
Gu Xinran chuckled helplessly. What a bunch of foodies.
Bai Yilan walked over to her. Gu Xinran spread a piece of clothing on the steps for her to sit on. "You've worked hard, Wife." She gently massaged her shoulders.
"Mommy worked hard!" Xiao Ye mimicked Gu Xinran and offered her greeting, then gently tapped Yilan's neck with her little hands.
With this mother-daughter pair giving her a massage, all of Yilan's fatigue instantly vanished, leaving only pure enjoyment.
"Does that feel good, Mommy?"
"Mhm, it feels so good. Xiao Ye is such a good girl." Bai Yilan opened her eyes, reached back to pull the little one into her arms, and kissed her. Xiao Ye lay on her lap, giggling.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she pointed at the sky. "Stars!"
"So many, such big stars!!" Xiao Ye's face was full of excitement. She sat up, tilting her head back to gaze intently at the star-filled sky.
Gu Xinran looked up as well. The stars in the mountains were big and bright, twinkling as if they were playfully winking.
"Wow…" The little girl gasped in amazement again and again, seeing such a beautiful sight for the first time.
"Mama, Xiao Ye wants a star." The little girl stretched out her two short arms, grasping at the air as if trying to catch the stars in the sky.
Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She stood up, picked up the little girl, and lifted her high above her head. "Xiao Ye, try and see if you can catch one."
The little girl strained to reach upward. "A little higher, Mama! Xiao Ye can't reach!"
The crew members who had been watching them burst out laughing. "Xiao Ye, you're asking too much of your mama."
"Hmph…"
Gu Xinran put Xiao Ye down. Seeing the disappointed look on her face, she smiled and ruffled her little head.
"Xiao Ye, you're still small, so you can't pick the stars. When you grow up, you'll be able to."
"Huh?" Xiao Ye's mouth fell open in surprise.
"Then can Mama pick the stars?"
Gu Xinran smiled faintly. "Of course."
As she spoke, to the confusion of the onlookers, she leaned down and kissed Yilan's eye.
Yilan didn't even have time to react, freezing for a moment in surprise.
Gu Xinran crouched down and stroked Xiao Ye's head. "See? Aren't Mommy's eyes more beautiful than the stars in the sky?"
"Hiss—"
"Ugh, Sister Ran, you've really gone too far!"
"How can you teach a child like that? You'll corrupt her!!" The crew members cried out in protest, though it was unclear if it was for Xiao Ye's sake or their own.
Gu Xinran beamed and glanced at Yilan, giving her a playful wink.
Yilan was exasperated and lightly patted her. "Xiao Ye, you are not to learn these things from Mama." She turned to look at Xiao Ye, only to find her staring intently off to the side.
Following her gaze, she saw it was, of course, Lin Yuqing…
"Xiao Ye?" Bai Yilan raised an eyebrow, pulling the little girl into her arms and tweaking her nose. "Mommy is talking to you, did you hear me?"
"Huh? What did you say?" Xiao Ye looked adorably clueless.
"You are not to learn these things from your mama!"
"Learn what?"
"You are not to look at other people's eyes, and you are definitely not to kiss other people's eyes, except for Mama and Mommy's." Bai Yilan grew anxious, pinching the little girl's ear as she warned her.
"Oww, Mommy, don't pinch Xiao Ye's ear. Xiao Ye won't do it again," the little girl pouted, looking aggrieved. Her expression made everyone roar with laughter.
"Sister Lan, she's still so young. Even if you tell her these things now, she won't understand."
"Exactly, look how you've upset our Little Milk Bun. Besides, if anyone's to blame for this, it should be Sister Ran, right?"
"That's right!"
Gu Xinran chuckled softly, earning a glare from Yilan.
Before long, the few who had gone down the mountain for ingredients returned. Everyone naturally divided the labor and began preparing for the barbecue.
Held in Bai Yilan's arms, Xiao Ye secretly leaned forward, her little head peeking out from behind Yilan as she searched for Lin Yuqing.
The next second, Yilan's hand cupped her cheek, forcing the little girl to be obedient.
"Sit still and watch Mama grill some meat for you," Yilan coaxed softly.
"Mhm," Xiao Ye responded, her eyes now fixed on the large meat skewer in Gu Xinran's hand, no longer looking around.
Seeing that the little one had settled down, Bai Yilan secretly glanced back and saw Lin Yuqing sitting diagonally behind her. Lin Yuqing met her gaze and gave her a slight smile.
Bai Yilan paused for a moment, then returned the smile.
"Mommy, it smells so good! Xiao Ye wants to eat!" Before long, the aroma of grilled meat filled the air. Forget the little one; even the adults couldn't resist. The sound of swallowing could be heard all around.
Gu Xinran sprinkled a tiny bit of salt and cumin powder on a cooked skewer, blew on it, and held it to Xiao Ye's lips.
Xiao Ye opened her mouth, drool nearly spilling out, but she suddenly stopped herself. With a gulp, she swallowed her saliva. "Mommy eats first. In our family, Mommy is the boss!" she declared with a serious expression.
"Pfft…" The crowd didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Bai Yilan lowered her head and rubbed her forehead, then nuzzled the little one's head. This girl, she says everything that comes to her mind.
Gu Xinran cleared her throat and held the skewer to Yilan's lips. Yilan glanced at her and took a small bite of meat. Gu Xinran also took a bite to taste it—not bad. Then she broke the wooden skewer and handed it to Xiao Ye to eat on her own.
The little girl had been swallowing her saliva for a while now. After getting the skewer, she eagerly opened her mouth wide and took a fierce bite. She looked adorably ferocious, but she couldn't bite through the meat, only managing to get a little taste.
Gu Xinran watched her for a few moments, then left her to her own devices, letting her wrestle with that piece of meat.
Everyone ate their barbecue and enjoyed the rare night scenery.
Before long, as the night grew late and everyone had eaten their fill, Gu Xinran stood up, stretched, and called for everyone to clean up the trash. After tidying up, the large group headed down the mountain.
After returning to their lodgings, everyone went to their respective rooms to wash up and prepare for bed.
The two also returned to their room. Yilan went to take a shower first. Gu Xinran got out a pair of pajamas to change Xiao Ye into, but the little girl didn't want to wear them. Looking like she hadn't had enough fun yet, she clung to the window, watching the aunties in the courtyard.
"Mama, Xiao Ye wants to go out and see the stars again," Xiao Ye said, pointing at the sky.
Gu Xinran sighed. She opened the window, picked her up, and let her stand on the windowsill, holding her steady.
"You can watch for just a little while longer from here. When Mommy comes out, you have to go to sleep with Mommy, okay?"
"Mhm, okay." Xiao Ye nodded obediently.
Gu Xinran held her for a moment, then suddenly frowned and turned to look at her eyes. "Xiao Ye? Aren't you looking at the stars? Where are you looking?"
Following her gaze, Gu Xinran was stunned. The little one was looking at Lin Yuqing's back!
Gu Xinran rolled her eyes and slapped her forehead. Her own cub was truly stuck to Lin Yuqing like glue!
"Huh? Why isn't Xiao Ye asleep yet?" Jin Shuang, who was chatting in the courtyard, turned around and saw Xiao Ye at the window. She waved at her and asked with a smile.
"Auntie Jin Shuang, Xiao Ye isn't sleepy yet."
"Is that so~" Jin Shuang walked over to look at her. "Can Auntie give you a hug?" She opened her arms to her.
Xiao Ye looked back at Gu Xinran.
"Go on, let Auntie hold you for a little while. Just a little while, okay?"
"Mhm!" Xiao Ye's eyes lit up, and she immediately hugged Jin Shuang, who lifted her straight out of the window.
"Look who I stole?" Jin Shuang carried the little girl over to a few crew members, showing her off.
"Hello, Aunties~" The little girl smiled and greeted everyone.
"It's very late. Why aren't you asleep yet?" Lin Yuqing frowned when she saw the little girl.
"Um, Xiao Ye wants to look at the stars a little longer." Being watched by Lin Yuqing made Xiao Ye feel a bit guilty, and she unconsciously scratched her little ear.
"Xiao Ye, which one of these aunties do you like the most?" Jin Shuang asked.
"Um?" Xiao Ye scratched her head, then glanced shyly at Lin Yuqing. "That one~"
"Huh? Which one? Can you point her out for Auntie?"
"Um, Xiao Ye… Xiao Ye likes Auntie Lin the most."
"Ooh, ooh, so Xiao Ye only likes Auntie Lin? You don't like Auntie Jin Shuang?"
"Hehe."
"Well, Auntie Jin Shuang is jealous now. Go find your Auntie Lin!" Jin Shuang huffily placed Xiao Ye in Lin Yuqing's arms and even pretended to be angry. She had expected the little girl to comfort her, but to her surprise, she didn't even look back. It was as if her eyes were glued to Lin Yuqing.
"Xiao Ye? Auntie is sad, you know. Aren't you going to comfort me?"
"Xiao Ye?"
"Fine, don't comfort me then." Jin Shuang rolled her eyes.
"Hahaha~"
As for the little girl, she sat on Lin Yuqing's lap, gazing at her with adoring eyes, completely oblivious to anyone else speaking.
Lin Yuqing smiled at her and tweaked her little nose. As her finger approached, the little girl instinctively closed her eyes, a sight so cute it could melt anyone's heart.
She wrapped her arms around her small body, holding her securely in her lap, one hand protecting her so she wouldn't fall.
Xiao Ye suddenly sneezed.
"Are you cold?" Lin Yuqing asked. She then instinctively unzipped her windbreaker and wrapped the little girl in it, holding her tightly in her embrace with only her little head peeking out.
Xiao Ye unconsciously broke into a grin and tilted her head up to look at the sky.
"Are the stars pretty?" Lin Yuqing asked.
"Mhm!" Xiao Ye stuck out her little tongue, unconsciously being cute.
Lin Yuqing also tilted her head back and looked at the countless stars in the sky.
Her clothes were suddenly tugged. Lin Yuqing looked down.
"Auntie, can you lower your head?"
"Hmm?" Lin Yuqing bent down, bringing her face close.
The little girl looked at her beautiful eyes, puckered her little lips, and gently touched her eyelid.
Lin Yuqing straightened up, looking at her with some surprise.
Xiao Ye grinned, then belatedly felt a little shy. She buried her face in Lin Yuqing's chest, completely hiding inside her coat, pretending to be a turtle pulling its head into its shell.
"Ahem." Lin Yuqing coughed lightly, her pretty face flushing red.
"What did your mommy warn you about? You little rascal," Lin Yuqing pretended to question her.
Hearing this, Xiao Ye lifted her head to look at her, her big eyes blinking. She raised her hands and covered her ears.
"Auntie can't tell Mommy. She'll pinch Xiao Ye's ears." Her little brows immediately furrowed, looking very worried.
"But Xiao Ye didn't listen."
"No, no, Xiao Ye listened. Xiao Ye likes Auntie. Please don't tell Mommy, okay?" The little girl grabbed her hand and shook it, acting spoiled.
Lin Yuqing had absolutely no resistance to this.
"Auntie, let's make a pinky promise. This is a secret!"
"Okay?"
"Auntie Lin~ Please~"
"Then, Xiao Ye has to promise Auntie that from now on, you won't kiss anyone else, okay?" Lin Yuqing's eyes were filled with a deep, fond smile.
"What about Mama and Mommy?"
"That's okay."
"What about Grandma and Grandmother?"
"That's okay too. Xiao Ye just can't kiss strangers."
"Mhm." The little girl nodded as if she understood, took Lin Yuqing's hand, made a pinky promise, and sealed it with a thumb press. Only then did she let out a proper sigh of relief, even patting her own chest.
Lin Yuqing's face was full of adoration.
"Hmm? Where's Xiao Ye?" Bai Yilan's voice came from the room.
"Jin Shuang took her out to play."
"It's so late and she's still playing. Call her back, it's time for bed."
"Okay."
Gu Xinran went to the window and called out to Jin Shuang.
Jin Shuang looked left and right, and when she couldn't see the child, she nearly lost her mind on the spot.
"Where's Xiao Ye?"
"Over here~" The little girl poked her head out from inside Lin Yuqing's coat and giggled at Jin Shuang.
Jin Shuang let out a huge sigh of relief, picked up the little girl, and handed her back to Gu Xinran through the window.
"Xiao Ye is going to bed now. Goodnight, Aunties!"
"Okay, goodnight~"
"Goodnight, Auntie Lin!" Seeing that Lin Yuqing hadn't turned to look at her, Xiao Ye called out to her again.
Lin Yuqing turned her head and nodded at her. "Goodnight."
Only then was the little girl satisfied. She helped Gu Xinran close the window and draw the curtains.
"Sigh, that little one is so cute. If I had a daughter that adorable, I'd wake up laughing from my dreams," Jin Shuang lamented.
"I know, right? But raising a daughter is also tough. The treasure you hold in the palm of your hand will have to be given away to someone else when she grows up."
"Hey, aren't you thinking a bit too far ahead?"
"Not really. Time flies, you know."
"That's true."
"Hey, when Xiao Ye grows up, if her other half doesn't treat her well, Sister Ran and Sister Lan won't even need to lift a finger. I'll be the first to tear them limb from limb!" Jin Shuang cracked her knuckles.
"Me too, count me in! Our entire crew will back her up!"
"More than just the crew, all of Heart Entertainment is Xiao Ye's backing. I'd like to see who dares to bully her!"
"Exactly!"
Lin Yuqing silently watched them, inconspicuously shifting to the side.
The killing intent was palpable.
In the room.
Bai Yilan lay on her side at the edge of the bed, holding Xiao Ye and patting her gently, trying to lull her to sleep.
However, for some reason, the little girl was exceptionally excited. Bai Yilan told three stories in a row, and the little girl listened with great interest, even discussing the plots with her. As a result, she successfully talked Yilan to sleep.
When Gu Xinran came out of the shower, she saw that Yilan, who was supposed to be putting the child to sleep, had fallen asleep herself, while the child was still staring at the ceiling, a cute smile on her lips.
"Xiao Ye? Why aren't you asleep yet? Mommy is already asleep," she asked very softly.
"Mama~" Xiao Ye reached out, wrapped her arms around Gu Xinran's neck, and buried her face in her chest, giggling.
Gu Xinran was baffled. "What is it, baby? Did something happy happen? Tell Mama."
"Ah, um… no."
"Nothing happy happened."
"Hmm?" Gu Xinran was completely puzzled.
"Eh? You're done with your shower." Bai Yilan heard the voice and lifted her eyelids, only then realizing she had fallen asleep.
"Mhm. You, if you're tired, just sleep. This is no way to put a child to bed." Xinran smiled and ruffled her hair, gently stroking her back.
"I don't know what's making this little one so happy, she just keeps smiling and is unusually energetic," Bai Yilan said helplessly, closing her eyes.
"No, nothing, nothing happy happened at all!" the little girl retorted, turning over to lie on her stomach, covering her face with both hands and burying it in the pillow.
"Alright, alright, nothing happy happened. Then shouldn't Xiao Ye be going to sleep? Mommy is so tired," Gu Xinran said, lying down on Xiao Ye's other side and patting her.
"Mhm," Xiao Ye responded, obediently lying down and closing her eyes.
Gu Xinran hummed a soft song. After a short while, the little one's eyelids began to droop, and she soon fell asleep.
Yilan, who had been sound asleep, suddenly jolted and opened her eyes. "Oh, she's asleep."
"Yeah, finally. I don't know why she had so much energy today," Gu Xinran said, tucking in the corner of Xiao Ye's blanket.
"You should get some sleep too."
"Mhm."
Just as the two of them closed their eyes, ready to sleep, they suddenly heard the little girl's laughter. They both opened their eyes at the same time and saw the little one grinning, actually laughing out loud in her sleep!
They looked at each other. "Something's fishy!" they said in unison.
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