Chapter Text
‘Where exactly am I…?’
.
.
.
“恭喜，是个男孩!”
'Huh, who just said that?’
“太好了，真是松了一口气”
‘What… language is that? Chinese? Where is it coming from?’
“我担心自己没有继承人”
Slowly, Shun’s eyes flutter open. They feel heavy, like his body just awoke from a twelve hour nap. When he opens his eyes he’s suddenly flashed by a bright, white light. Momentarily blinded, it takes Shun a moment to compose himself and get his vision back. But, when he finally is able to take in his surroundings- Who are these people?! There’s four people surrounding him, three women and one man. They’re wearing downright odd clothing. Nothing he has ever seen before. It looks more like something he’d find in his novels - ancient looking robes - and yet they look a lot more low quality than he would have imagined. ‘And… Is one of the women holding me?!’
The one second closest to the bed (other than the women holding him) that Shun is supposedly in is a man who looks to be in his late thirties. He has dark brown hair and, by modern day standards, is quite long for a guy as it reaches just below his shoulder blades. He has a decently long, well trimmed beard. He looks like the type of man you wouldn’t want to mess with but the panicked look on his face doesn't really make him look as intimidating as the rest of his appearance frames him to be, “苗湘小姐，他为什么不哭? 他不应该哭吗?”
A similarly middle-aged woman walks closer to the bed at the man's words, leaning over Shun with concern yet, unlike the man, she looks far more composed. Her frown reveals soft wrinkles around her lips. Some grey hair from her neat bun falls loose and frames her face. She observes Shun closely and carefully before responding to the panicked man, “嗯，这可能意味着有些问题，但并不是所有的宝宝都会哭”
Shun desperately wants to speak up. He has so many questions to ask; ‘what's going on, who are you people, what are you saying, where am I???’ He moves his mouth open and closed a few times but no words come out, no matter how much he stresses his throat or vocal cords. The only thing that does come out, however, is this weird babbling sound. It’s like something you’d hear a baby make. So, how come he’s the one making such sounds?
Whatever those noises he just made are seems to put all four adults in the room at ease. The tense atmosphere dissipating. “啊！看！他现在在出声了，他只是需要一点时间” The middle aged woman exclaims. Her words succeed in relaxing everyone even further.
The next thing Shun tries to do is move. But, just like when he first tried to open his eyes, his whole body feels unusually heavy but luckily it’s not heavy enough for it to be impossible for him to move. It does take Shun incredible effort though. Although with enough time he’s able to lift his hands high up to see them above him. His hands look so small and chubby. Like little babies' hands…
Shun shivers at the thought. His stomach churns and he feels like he’s going to be sick. Whatever’s going on he doesn't like it but there's nothing he can do. He doesn't understand the language these people are speaking. He can’t even speak himself so he has no way to communicate. And he can barely move his body, the only movements he can do are small hand gestures. Shun decides to simply sit and observe for now (as he can’t really do anything else anyway).
“薛书，你跑去哪儿了!?”
“他只是个小孩子，他不应该走得太远!”
Right behind a restaurant, hiding from a panicked young woman, is a young boy. He looks as though he can’t be any more than four or five. He’s thrown his shoes off messily to the side, leaving them deserted and him completely barefoot. He’s crouched down, digging his toes into the sandy dirt. With the stick in his hand he writes until drawn out in the dirt are the characters 薛书 (Xuē Shū).
“Xuē Shū, Is that what they named me?”
It made sense to Shun, obviously he wouldn’t have been given the same name he had in his previous world. The chances of that were close to none.
Over the past few years Shun has managed to pick up on quite a few things. Most importantly, this world is clearly not his own. It’s reminiscent of ancient China and Shun is positive the language spoken here is Chinese, a language he knows nothing about. While Shun had picked up a few Chinese words from the novels he’s read there weren’t any he imagines he would need to know in daily conversation, so they’re essentially useless. He’s already five and still can’t speak. Shun doesn’t know the exact age kids are supposed to start talking but he knows he’s definitely very overdue. While he can’t understand what the people around him are saying he’s not oblivious to the concerned hushed whispers and stares. Although he does have some sort of excuse for now since he’s still rather young and at least he seems to please his parents in other regards other than speaking and writing, but he’s on a thin line. ‘I'm so screwed. They're gonna, like, exorcize me or something If I don’t figure it out soon… Well, probably not but I’m not quite sure what people in the ancient times did to underdeveloped children.’
“Xuē Shū, 你在这儿!”
Shun was pulled out of his thoughts as a young woman came rushing over to him. Her youthful, freckled face contorted in panic. Once she gets close enough she outstretches her arms to hastily gather Shun up and cradle him against her chest.
This young lady, Li Yang, is one of Shun’s nannies, at least from what he’s observed so far. She’s clearly the younger out of the two nurses he has. The older one, Zhi Ying, is typically the one taking care of Shun while Li Yang stands to the side, watching and being taught by her elder.
Shun still can’t quite wrap his head around how exactly his family affords two full time nannies. They own a restaurant (the one he and Li Yang are currently behind) and while it’s normal rather popular he can’t imagine that his family is all too wealthy from just that. Although… Shun still doesn’t exactly know how this world's economics and wage distribution works…
“Xuē Shū…” Li Yang weeps softly, “你为什么总是跑开？你把你妈妈和我吓得半死.”
Shun feels awful. Even though he can’t understand exactly what she’s saying he can put two and two together. And with her distressed face who wouldn’t feel bad. Maybe he doesn’t have to run off to practice writing.
‘What’s the word for sorry again? I heard mother saying it once to a customer. Du… Bu… Q…. Duìbuqǐ! Right? I think that’s it!”
“Sorry...” Shun mumbled stiffly. He winches at his own pronunciation. He sounds so downright awful that it’s making him cringe. He notes that he needs to practice that one later. At least he has his child body to blame for now though.
“Sorry… 你刚才说 sorry了吗?” Li Yang’s face lights up and she squeezes shun even closer against her chest in a tight, bone shattering hug, “干得好！小 Xuē Shū你真聪明！干得好！干得好!”
‘Is it really a big deal?’ Shun thinks to himself, ‘I know those are my first words but isn’t praising me this much over a simple sorry a little excessive? I must’ve worried them with my lack of words a bit more than I realized… On a side note… Does she have to hold me this tight?! I can hardly breathe!”
“Xuē Shū, fetch me some more tea, will ya!”
“Coming right up!”
“May this wandering cultivator have some warm soup in these trying times?”
“Of course, shūshu!”
“Hey, where’s my food? I’ve been waiting for almost five incenses time!”
“Sorry! It’ll be out soon!”
Shun feels like his legs are going to give out. He’s worked plenty of different jobs in his previous world but he’s never worked at a place this busy before. Everyone’s shouting their orders at him and he’s struggling to remember them all. The smells from the kitchen are all just so intense. After a few hours of doing this he can feel his noise start to sting and his eyes water. It’s not the worst thing though, Shun knows that, so he tries hard not to complain.
The good thing though is that the reason he’s started to work at his family's restaurant is because his Chinese has gotten so much better! He’s still far from being a prodigy or even at the local skill he should be at but it’s still a major improvement from before. It took him fifteen years of observing, studying and sneaking off from his overbearing parents and nannies to practice in peace and quiet but he did it! And now he gets far less odd, concerned looks from the people around him.
—
“Xiǎobǎo, are you cleaning up well?” Shun’s mother comes up behind him as he whips down the table. All the customers finally left as it was getting late and they didn’t typically run their restaurant at night. He doesn’t know exactly what Xiǎobǎo means but his mother always said it in such a warm, soft way that he assumes it must mean something nice.
Shun turns to her and nods.
His Mother smiles kindly, the edges are her lip and eyes creasing in the corners. Shun had to admit his mother is gorgeous, even in her growing age. His Father is definitely one very lucky man. ‘That guy doesn’t deserve someone so sweet.’
His Mother’s wrinkled hand comes to warmly rest on his shoulder. The smile never leaves her face. “You’ve been working so hard even since you started working, Xiǎobǎo.”
“Not really, I’ve been struggli-”
With her pointer finger to his lips his Mother cuts him off, “Shh… Don’t cut your Mother off, Xiǎobǎo. Now, listen to me, you’ve been working very hard and you deserve a break. In a few months The Lantern Festival will take place and apparently our Crown Prince, Xie Lian, has been chosen to perform as the God-Pleasing Warrior during the Heavenly Ceremonial Procession! It’s said to be the grandest Lantern Festival in all of Xianle history! Although we’ll surely be very busy from everyone visiting for the sights I was able to convince your Father to let you go. I think you’d enjoy it and the much needed- Xiǎobǎo, are you listening to me?”
“Uh… uh… um… Yeah… Just, uh, I’ll be right back-!”
“Huh?! Xiǎobǎo! Where are you going?! Xuē Shū!”
Shun doesn’t know where his legs are taking him, but he can feel them trembling, almost like they can give out any moment. He’s far too consumed by his own thoughts to notice the dark slowly surrounding him as the sun retreats from the sky.
‘If The Lantern Festival is coming up then Xie Lian must be around sixteen, right? And he ascends when he’s seventeen. And after that is when the-...’
Shun’s body trembles and he quickly shakes his head. He can’t think about that right now, he has to keep a cool head. ‘It’s fine. You’re fine. Everything’s fine. If you freak out now then you’ll never find a way to fix this. And besides you have time. Plenty of time to avoid it, all of it. Just think, think. You know that the whole reason everything goes to shit is because White No-Face takes an interest in Xie Lian, which probably has already happened somewhat. But, if The Lantern Festival hasn't happened yet - Xie Lian hasn’t fought the ghost on the bridge - and Jun Wu still hasn’t gone completely obsessed. As long as I can somehow avoid the ghost bridge event then everything should be fine. Or at the very least I need to stop Xie Lian from saying the one quote White No-Face hates so much; “Body in Abyss, heart in paradise.” But how the hell do I-’
Shun only feels one drop at first, then another, then another, until he’s completely soaked head to toe, “Fuck!” He curses, rushing back the way he came. He hadn’t noticed the way the clouds got dark and heavy but now he wishes he had. He really shouldn’t have run out of the restaurant. His Mother’s probably worried sick and he needs to get back quickly before he catches a cold. Although something causes Shun to stop in his tracks.
In a hushed corner of the street is a little boy, frail in stature. Bandages are messily wrapped around his face, leaving only one bright, large black eye visible. His clothes and skin are littered with blood and dirt. He looks like the definition of pitiful - Shun thinks. The small boy looks around cautiously and when he notices Shun staring at him he freezes.
‘Hong Hong-er… He must be so cold. Poor kid.’ Before Shun knows what he's doing he's already walking over to the battered child. The approaching stranger makes Hong Hong-er tense up and he takes a meek step back. Shun frowns.
“You must be cold, huh?” Shun inquires. He kneels before Hong Hong-er so they're at eye level. Shun doesn't care if his pants are also getting soaked from the puddles forming on the ground, he can simply dry them later. Shun turns his face upward into a soft, gentle smile as he rests his cheek on his palm. He waits patiently for a response but when he doesn't receive one, however, Shun doesn't fret. Instead, he slowly starts taking off the outer layer of his robes, causing Hong Hong-er’s pitch black eye to grow impossibly wide. In a quick, practiced motion Shun drapes his outer robes over the boy’s head and tugs it down a little, making sure it’s nice and secure.
“I know they're already pretty wet but they should still be able to warm you up a bit.” Shun makes sure the soft smile never leaves his face, “No one should be out in the rain like this, especially not a sweet kid.” Shun can’t help himself and so he gently pats Hong Hong-er’s head.
‘Gods, he’s so cute! Aw, I love him so much!’ Shun quickly shakes his head to himself, ‘Geez, calm down, now is not the time to get all excited. You’re probably fricking the poor kid out.’ Low and behold when Shun looks back up Hong Hong-er simply stares at him with that wide, beady eye of his. His expression is hard to describe, maybe something of awe or confusion… ‘Yeah… I’m definitely freaking him out.’
Shun clears his throat, looking a bit more nervous now but he quickly reclaims his calm smile. “You keep that, m’kay?” He says, pointing to the robes draped atop Hong Hong-er’s head with his index finger, “No need to return it, simply use it however you’d like.” With one final pat to Hong Hong-er’s head Shun pushes himself up with his hands on his knees, “I gotta go now but I’ll see you again later, okay? Make sure to find somewhere warm to sleep tonight.”
When shun’s a good ways away he turns back around to look at Hong Hong-er one last time. Hong Hong-er has taken Shun’s robes off his head (despite the rain still pouring down on them) and is now holding them tight against his chest. Shun wants to scold him for not using the robes to keep himself dry but he decides against it. With one final wave Shun yells, “Bye-Bye!” And then he’s off.