The next day.
Yi Xiaoxiang looked at the dozen or so little tots gathered at her doorstep and fell into deep thought.
“Cousin!” the children called out, looking a bit uneasy.
“Yes,” Yi Xiaoxiang nodded slightly. “Are you here for Wangyou?”
The children looked at one another. Feeling quite intimidated by Yi Xiaoxiang, they didn't dare to speak.
The Cold King, Zhou Zihao, stepped forward and braced himself. “Cousin, we made plans with the Little Overlord yesterday. We're here to ask him to come out and play today.”
“The Little Overlord is here!” Zhuang Xun had heard the commotion outside long ago. He had only delayed to hide Bengbeng first, lest these children play too rough and accidentally kill his little squirrel. Only now did he leap out.
Behind him was his little shadow, Xia Xingmian.
“Let's go.” Sensing their fear of the dignified and heroic-looking Yi Xiaoxiang, Zhuang Xun took the lead and ran out.
“Master, I'm going out to play!”
“Alright, be safe out there.”
After leading the dozen or so children to an open garden, Zhuang Xun stopped and asked, “What do you guys want to play?”
“I don't know.”
“How about tag?”
“Playing house?” Xia Xingmian suggested in a quiet voice.
“Knocking on doors and running away,” Zhou Zihao said.
Isn't that a bit of a jerk move? Zhuang Xun pondered for two seconds, then nodded. “Alright, let's play that.”
Seeing his suggestion approved, Zhou Zihao felt a secret thrill. He glanced sideways at the others and said, “Follow me. I know exactly whose door to knock on to get someone to chase us.”
Finding it thrilling, the children eagerly followed, giggling and laughing.
Xia Xingmian hesitated, but seeing Yi Wangyou go, she ran after him as well.
Zhou Zihao led the way to a courtyard. However, when he saw a woman sweeping the yard inside, he gasped in fright and immediately spun around to run back.
“Oh no! Let's get out of here!”
Hearing the noise, the sweeping woman looked up and roared, “Zhou Zihao! You again!”
She chased them out the gate with her broom raised. Spotting a handsome little boy in a red padded coat standing still, along with a delicate, doll-like little girl in a skirt hiding fearfully behind him, she frowned and scolded:
“Whose kids are you? What are your parents' names? Tell me!”
As she spoke, she reached out to grab their collars, frightening Xia Xingmian so much that tears began to well up in her eyes.
Oh no, the Little Overlord and Xingmian are in danger... Prompted by his sense of loyalty, Zhou Zihao braced himself and ran back.
“If you have a problem, take it out on me—”
Before he could finish his sentence, he heard Yi Wangyou say with an innocent face, “Big Sister, we just wanted to remind you to come outside more often to get some fresh air and sunshine.”
The woman froze, eyeing the little boy suspiciously.
Yi Wangyou was naturally beautiful. When he deliberately put on an innocent expression, he looked incredibly sweet and well-behaved. This instantly won over the woman's trust, making her feel a twinge of guilt.
Her voice softened. “I'm sorry. Big Sister misunderstood you. Do you think my skin looks too pale and unhealthy, so I should get more sun?”
“No,” Zhuang Xun said, pointing at the freckles on her face. “Big Sister, you have corpse spots on your face.”
“Hahaha~ Run!” Taking advantage of the woman's stunned silence, Zhuang Xun grabbed Xia Xingmian and bolted.
“Hahahahaha!” The other children burst into laughter and started running as well.
“You little brat! Stand right there! I'm going to beat you to death!” The woman's face flushed red with anger instantly. She chased after them with her broom raised, occasionally smacking the ground hard to scare them.
“Can't catch us, can't catch us! Eat the Little Overlord's dust, hahaha!” Zhuang Xun mocked her over his shoulder, completely at ease as he pulled Xia Xingmian with one hand and pushed a lagging child with the other.
Soon, with his help, everyone successfully escaped the woman's pursuit.
“That woman has corpse spots on her face, hahahaha!” Only then did the children stop. They gasped for breath while laughing so hard they couldn't even stand straight.
“Little Overlord, you're so strong. You didn't even flinch when that woman came over. I, the Cold King, am thoroughly impressed,” Zhou Zihao said in admiration.
“He who remains calm in the face of crisis is fit to be a king. I, the Little Overlord, am born with the aura of a king!” Zhuang Xun put his hands behind his back.
“He who remains calm in the face of crisis is fit to be a king? I, the Cold King, have learned something valuable today.” Zhou Zihao's admiration deepened.
He decided that when he knocked on people's doors in the future, he would also stand still at the doorway like the Little Overlord to temper his courage.
“Whose door are we knocking on next?” Zhuang Xun was eager to try again. The escape just now had made him feel like a child again.
In his past life, he had often regretted not fully taking advantage of his childhood 'newbie protection period.'
Now that he was a child again and back in the newbie protection period, he naturally had to thoroughly experience all the things adults weren't allowed to do.
“Please don't, Brother Yi. It's not very nice,” Xia Xingmian advised softly.
“Then don't come.” Zhuang Xun heartlessly shook off Xia Xingmian's hand.
Seeing this, a sturdy, wheat-skinned boy who had been watching Xia Xingmian the whole time immediately became displeased. “Yi Wangyou! How can you treat Miss Xingmian like that!”
Xia Xingmian, who had been a little sad, became displeased upon hearing this instead. She puffed out her cheeks and spread her arms to protect Yi Wangyou.
“You're not allowed to speak ill of Brother Yi!”
“Miss Xingmian, I...” The wheat-skinned boy was instantly at a loss.
Zhou Zihao stepped forward, gave the wheat-skinned boy a shove, and said coldly, “You're not welcome here. Leave.”
The other children, who had only managed to escape with Yi Wangyou's help, also chimed in. “What business is it of yours? You're not welcome here. Go away.”
“I... I...”
Seeing them argue over him, Zhuang Xun felt a bit helpless. He said in a deep voice, “Alright, alright. He who can point out my faults to my face shall be rewarded!”
“It was indeed wrong of the Little Overlord to treat Xingmian like that just now. You did well to point out my mistake. Here, this is your reward.” He pulled a piece of candy from his pocket and tossed it to the wheat-skinned boy.
Then, he pulled out a few more pieces and distributed them to Xia Xingmian and the children who had spoken up for him.
Zhou Zihao's eyes widened. Feeling as though he had learned something, he clapped and said in admiration, “Well said, Little Overlord! I, the Cold King, will do the same! In the future, if you can point out my faults to my face, you will also be rewarded!”
“Thank you, Little Overlord!” the children who received the candy shouted in excitement.
The other children who didn't get any candy felt a bit envious, secretly resolving to speak up for the Little Overlord next time.
The wheat-skinned boy stared blankly at the candy in his hand, then looked at Yi Wangyou, who shone brilliantly at the center of the crowd. For a moment, guilt and gratitude welled up in his heart. He squeezed closer and joined in the shouting:
“Thank you, Little Overlord! But I was also in the wrong just now...”
Just like that, through their games, Zhuang Xun somehow became the leader of the children in the Zhou Manor. Every day, a group of kids would follow him around, wanting to play. He was more than happy to lead them on various mischiefs, savoring his reclaimed childhood.
Before long, the title of the Little Overlord became widely known, and everyone in the Zhou Manor paled at the mere mention of it.
Naturally, some went to complain to Yi Xiaoxiang.
But seeing that Yi Wangyou was only leading the children in minor pranks and not doing anything too outrageous, Yi Xiaoxiang doted on him and let him have his way.
After several days passed in this manner, Zhuang Xun finally welcomed his third New Year since crossing over into this other world.
Rate on N.U.
