At the very least, Gong-hui had no trustworthy subordinates within the Tang Clan village. It was obvious just looking at how she took care of this fairly large pavilion all by herself.
The one exception was a maid named Geum-a, whom she used as a mere errand girl.
She won't be lifting a finger for her now.
It was safe to say Geum-a was giving her the cold shoulder. After all, she had discovered that the very item she'd been ordered to steal was already in Gong-hui's hands.
The nanny's threats were frightening, sure. But what Geum-a truly feared was Gong-hui's hidden agenda—and what she might do with that porcelain bottle stashed away.
And to think I was excited about my poison spoon.
Soye's original plan was simple: eat well, grow up, and eventually track down the secret storehouse from her past life.
But what do you know, living with a poison spoon isn't easy.
"We are going out to play together today."
The nanny bustled over, holding a set of clothes Soye had never seen before.
"Outside?"
Soye opened her eyes wide.
An outing?
She knew the nanny had been anxious because she hadn't been able to go outside lately, but she didn't expect the results to show so quickly.
"Yes. Something came up that can't be delayed any longer."
Cupping her cheeks, Gong-hui let out a deep sigh.
"But I don't feel comfortable leaving you all by yourself, young lady. You keep sneaking out these days," the nanny said, giving a playful glare.
"I dun wanna be alone~"
Soye purposely dragged out the end of her words and lowered her eyes innocently.
"You must hold my hand tight when we go outside."
"Okay!"
"That's my lady. I hear human traffickers are running rampant these days… It's incredibly dangerous out there."
It sounded more like a mutter to herself.
"Buuuut…"
Soye wiggled her fingers, pretending not to understand what human trafficking meant.
"Even if it's dangerous, you will protect me, right?"
Gong-hui's face crumbled in an instant before returning to normal.
It happened in such a brief flash that Soye didn't catch it.
"Seriously…"
She seemed to mutter a quiet complaint about how the young lady was going to shorten her lifespan.
"You must really stick close to my side."
The clothes Gong-hui held out for Soye were a bright yellow, just like a forsythia.
It looked expensive, even at a glance.
"Let's put it on."
Soye instinctively took a step back, thoroughly horrified.
The second she put that on, she would look exactly like a freshly hatched yellow chick.
Simply adorable.
It's going to stand out too much.
As a master thief among thieves, Soye preferred muted, neutral clothes.
It was a sort of occupational hazard.
"Do I… have to wear this?"
"If you don't wear this, I won't take you with me."
Gong-hui put on a deliberately stern expression.
She seemed to think that glaring like that would make Soye listen.
But it wasn't scary at all.
However…
"I'll wear it!"
Soye realized it would be more troublesome if the nanny left her behind.
Gong-hui dressed the child in the new clothes and braided her hair into twin tails, rolling them up into buns.
Looking in the mirror, Soye saw a fluffy chick covered in downy feathers staring back at her.
"How is it? Am I pretty?"
Soye decided to enjoy the situation.
"Oh my, it suits you so well!"
The nanny clapped her hands in delight.
She seemed quite sincere.
Then again, even I have to admit it's pretty cute.
"My young lady, you're so beautiful. Whatever am I going to do with you?"
Soye giggled, stepping forward to snuggle into Gong-hui's arms.
"The clothes were so big when you first came here."
The nanny murmured to herself while tidying up the outfit.
"Hm?"
"No, it's nothing."
Brushing it off, the nanny knelt before Soye to match her eye level.
"Now, young lady. You remember what you promised this nanny, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Shall we say them one by one?"
Clasping her hands politely, Soye rattled off the string of warnings she'd been given while getting dressed.
"Always hold nanny's hand."
"And?"
"If I lose nanny, stay still."
"What else?"
"Never follow anyone, even if they offer me tasty treats."
Soye spent quite a while reciting the words the nanny had told her.
Pretending to slowly recall each rule was a chore in itself.
Just as she took a breath to casually wrap it up, the nanny stared intently at Soye.
It wasn't a gaze that would end just by avoiding eye contact.
"There's still one left."
Gong-hui wrapped her arms affectionately around Soye's shoulders, drawing out the end of her words.
As if she would leave her behind if she couldn't remember.
"Um… and… nnn…"
Soye, deliberately hesitating, clapped her hands and said, "Ah!"
"Never tell anyone that I am Tang Soye."
The nanny emphasized this part in particular.
"Good. You remembered well. There are many bad people in the world."
Gong-hui, holding Soye's hand, warned her once more.
"If they find out the young lady is from the Sichuan Tang Clan… they might get bad ideas."
Of course, a child from a wealthy family was an easy target for kidnappers.
Even so, the nanny's words did not sound like genuine concern to Soye's ears.
"I'll be careful."
Soye gave an innocent smile.
Gong-hui, looking completely smitten by how adorable the child was, gently pinched her cheeks.
"Shall we go then?"
The nanny held Soye in her arms the entire way out of the Tang Clan village.
She kept doing so even though her arms were visibly trembling.
Especially when passing the gatekeepers, she held Soye tightly and gently pressed the girl's head down against her, as if cradling a sleeping child.
It was only after leaving the village that Soye was placed on the ground.
"Is there anything the young lady wants to do at the market?"
"Yeah!"
Soye nodded vigorously at the nanny's question.
"I'm gonna buy a ball."
"A ball?"
Gong-hui asked in confusion.
"I… broke a wooden ball while playing with Socheong."
She whispered to Gong-hui in a tiny voice.
"I think Socheong's sister is upset because of that."
Soye deliberately pouted, looking as though her feelings were hurt.
"I want to get along with them."
"You don't need to associate with kids like that."
Gong-hui's voice quickly turned sullen.
"To think they'd throw a fit over a silly ball when our young lady is so precious."
"But…"
Soye hesitated before speaking.
"I want to apologize."
The nanny's chest heaved deeply as she held Soye close.
It seemed like she was swallowing a sigh.
"Alright. Let's go buy a wooden ball."
"Nanny's the best!"
Soye wrapped her arms tightly around Gong-hui's neck.
They hadn't walked far, but carrying Soye had already made the nanny break a sweat.
Yet, it didn't smell unpleasant at all.
I'm getting too soft for my own good.
Walking at Soye's pace, Gong-hui arrived in front of a shop.
Several finely crafted wooden balls were on display.
Soye looked around, picking them up one by one.
"I want this one!"
It was a wooden ball woven from bamboo and painted in various colors.
As expected, you have to use your head.
This errand doubled as a perfect cover story for an outing and a chance to give Socheong a gift.
Best of all, it would completely disarm Soso.
Apologizing first after losing her temper was bound to make the prickly child lower her guard.
I'll get close to her. I'll definitely win her over, and then…
The adult inside Soye smirked slyly.
I'll squeeze those chubby cheeks all I want… No, wait. Focus.
Soye blinked, quickly catching herself before she got completely carried away.
The real plan was to get close to Soso, meet her parents, and casually drop hints about the nanny's crime.
"Alright. Let's go now. Geumo Bank is this way…"
Geumo Bank?
Soye tried her best to look indifferent to Gong-hui's words.
However, just as the nanny had feared, the crowd on the street was considerable.
"Why are there so many people today?"
The nanny muttered, tightening her grip on Soye's hand.
Just then—
"Uh, ugh!"
Someone bumped into Soye's small body.
Worse yet, the nanny was swept away in the opposite direction.
Their tightly interlocked fingers slipped apart in an instant.
"Excuse me! Our baby—young lady!"
Soye was tossed around like a small piece of driftwood on open water.
A few people seemed to notice, but Soye was far too small and was carried off too quickly.
"Young lady!"
The nanny's frantic shout echoed from somewhere far behind.
Before she could answer, her small body was swept away, swallowed into the current of strangers.
What should I do?
Soye shouted with all her might.
"Nanny!"
She couldn't just stand still.
A child's body would be severely injured if trampled by adults.
Pressing herself against the edge of the street, Soye scanned the area for an alleyway.
Just in time, she spotted a narrow gap between two buildings.
Good. Let's go there.
Soye's eyes flashed sharply.
One, two, and—
"Careful."
Before she could move, a hand shot out from a nearby stall and snatched her up.
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