The Kitty Became a Cutie and Was Pampered in the 80s

Buddha Beads.

Before Jiaojiao faced her last death calamity at twelve, she never parted with this Buddha bead. Ruan Hao had asked for it for her. After the calamity passed, to redeem the spirits killed by Old Lady Yuan, the Ruan Family conducted several rituals. The last ritual took place shortly after the Master’s death. During the ritual, Ruan Jiaojiao even burned this Buddha bead, hoping it would allow the spirits to rest in peace and be reincarnated.

But now, this bead, which had long been burned, was being worn by Lu Meng.

Before Lu Meng could dodge, Duan Xi picked up the bead and asked him, "Is this the one you brought with you at birth?"

Lu Meng instinctively looked at Lu Xian.

Lu Xian noticed the sound of footsteps drawing closer from the other side of the room. He immediately stepped forward, snatched the bead from Duan Xi’s grasp, and pulled Lu Meng behind him.

"What’s going on here?" Zhao Li came out, holding two bags, and asked in surprise upon seeing the scene.

She remembered something and turned to look at Duan Xi, "Xiaoxi, are you here to see Azheng?"

Duan Xi glanced at the unusually tense Lu Xian, nodded, and said to Zhao Li, "Aunt Li, please go ahead. I have something to discuss with Brother Lu and Xiaomeng."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Li suspiciously glanced at Lu Xian and Duan Xi.

The strained relationship between Lu Xian and Duan Xi was well known to everyone in the Ruan and Lu families. What business could require them to speak alone?

Even though she thought this, Zhao Li did not show it on her face. She smiled subtly and said, "Alright, you talk. I’ll go ahead. Azheng, Xiaoxi is several years younger than you, so speak nicely, understand?"

Lu Xian nodded. Zhao Li still felt uneasy but, after glancing at the well-behaved Xiaomeng standing behind him, thought she might be overthinking it. He wasn’t the biological father, but she felt that becoming a father likely changed him from three years ago.

Watching Zhao Li’s figure disappear behind the door, Lu Xian finally withdrew his gaze and intended to send Lu Meng away first, saying, "Xiaomeng, you go up first..."

But before he could finish, Duan Xi interrupted him, "Lu Xian, didn’t I warn you? I won’t allow anything that threatens Jiaojiao’s life to exist!"

Lu Xian was also angered by his attitude, scoffing, "Duan Xi, who do you think you are? Do you still consider yourself the king of that world, capable of deciding life and death at will?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Xi didn’t get angry. Instead, he snorted coldly, half-smiling as he looked at him, "If you want to try me, I can show you whether I can or not."

Though his instincts had regressed over the years, he still retained the ability to summon all beasts. If he wished, he could silently end anyone’s life in this world.

However, he disdained to do so and even more preferred to refrain for Ruan Jiaojiao’s sake.

Lu Xian’s eyes turned cold, and his grip on Lu Meng’s arm tightened. In the past, he wouldn’t have believed it, but knowing his identity, he did. After all, the animals coming and going from the Ruan family over the years weren’t illusions.

Seeing Lu Xian silent, Duan Xi knew he had conceded. He crouched in front of Lu Meng, "Answer my previous question."

Lu Meng looked directly at him and, after a long pause, nodded.

"Are you one of those children from back then?"

Lu Meng tightened his grip on his clothes and glanced at Lu Xian again.