Director Hao couldn’t keep calm at all. Back at the institute, he had managed to maintain his composure to save face in front of his disciples. But now, he was completely out of sorts. If it weren’t for his position, he might have even grabbed His Majesty by the collar to shake him.
He had already explained the significance and uses of the orchid about a hundred and eighty times, and now he looked at Almer with a hopeful expression.
“Your Majesty, did you only find this one orchid? I mean, are there any siblings around it, so to speak?”
Almer: “…”
“There are no siblings. Since the orchid’s fragrance cannot be replicated, when will you return it to me? I still need to take it back to the elders on Dragon Island.”
In an instant, Director Hao pretended as if he hadn’t heard a single word.
“Your Majesty, what are you talking about? This orchid has a lot of research value. Just give me a bit more time, and I’ll thoroughly understand everything about it.”
Since there were no other orchids, he thought he’d better leave quickly in case His Majesty asked for the orchid back right now.
No way, he thought. Such an important item must be studied thoroughly.
Almer chuckled. Heh, did they really think that lending the orchid to the research institute for study meant it was theirs? No one could take anything from the dragon clan.
However, since it was ultimately meant for the elder dragons back home, he decided to inform the group on Dragon Island so they could come and take it themselves.
Meanwhile, three days later, Ruan Shu was finally able to turn back into her human form.
The morning mist hadn’t yet dissipated. Inside a room decorated as beautifully as a little princess’s, a small, subtle bump rose beneath the soft, luxurious bed covers.
Ruan Shu slept soundly, waking up naturally. She burrowed forward under the covers, and a small, fluffy, snow-white head emerged from beneath the blanket.
Her hair, soft and billowy like clouds, framed her small, plush face, which was a bit rosy from sleep.
Her long, curled lashes trembled as her eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of beautiful, gem-like eyes, clear and luminous like the ocean.
Still drowsy, her eyes carried a hint of mist. Her small, soft, white arms rested on the pillow as she lay on her side, rubbing her cheek against her own arm with a little squint.
Her chubby, soft cheeks were slightly squished.
After lying there in a daze for a few minutes, Ruan Shu suddenly noticed something unusual.
She held up her white, tender hand and, seeing not a cat’s paw but an actual hand, her eyes opened a bit wider.
She could turn into a human child again!
Her eyes sparkled with joy as if they held an entire galaxy. Her pink lips curved into a smile, and her soft, round face exuded a sweet, heartwarming expression.
Ruan Shu hopped out of bed, pulled a dress over herself, and, without even putting on shoes, excitedly scampered out of her room on her short little legs.
At this time, she was the only one still sleeping in. All the adults in the house were already up. Her father and big brother had gone to work, leaving only her third brother, who was not yet in school, her second brother, who was enjoying some downtime, her cousin, and her grandfather at home.
When Ruan Shu came downstairs, they seemed to be discussing something.
Hearing the sound of her little feet pattering down the stairs, several pairs of eyes in the hall turned to look at her.
“Shushu!” Ruan Ling’an’s eyes lit up, and before he could even stand, he saw a figure zip by swiftly and reach her. Before she could finish descending the stairs, Ruan Shu was lifted up in an embrace.
The little one looked up with her clear, bright eyes and saw it was her cousin.
“Brother.”
Ruan Shu called out softly, her voice like a sticky rice dumpling, and Ruan Linzhan’s smile widened.
“Mm, are you hungry?”
These past few days, perhaps out of guilt or some other reason, Ruan Linzhan had been extremely indulgent and affectionate toward Ruan Shu. Initially, it was indeed out of guilt, but as he spent more time with her in her adorable kitten form, he genuinely began to love this soft-hearted little one who always thought of others.
He finally understood why his uncle and younger brothers were so fond of her—she truly deserved it.
Well, he was officially smitten too.
The little dumpling in his arms, delicate and snow-white, beamed with such sweetness that her smile could melt hearts.
Ruan Linzhan looked at her with pure affection in his eyes, almost as if he were gazing at his own daughter. The only downside was that his uncle seemed to be looking at him with increasing disapproval.
“You’ve changed back! Do you feel any discomfort anywhere? Does your head hurt?”
Ruan Ling’an walked over and immediately asked a flurry of questions.
Ruan Shu replied softly, “I woke up this morning and found I could change back. I don’t feel any discomfort.”
Ruan Linzhan held her plump, adorable little foot in his rough, warm hand, which was calloused from work.
“Why did you run out without shoes?”
He couldn’t hide his concern in his tone. What if his little cousin, who had always been frail, caught a cold?
Ruan Shu wiggled her toes and replied in her soft voice, “I wanted to tell everyone as soon as possible, and I got so excited that I forgot.”
Ruan Linzhan had barely helped her down the stairs when Grandfather Ruan came over and scooped her up.
“Shushu, come over here so Grandpa can have a good look at you. Knowing you can change back puts my heart at ease.”
Ruan Linzhan: “…”
Fine, he’d let the elders have their time.
Ruan Linzhan called his brother to come over and give Shushu a quick check-up to make sure she was in good health.
After running around the room in her slippers, Ruan Shu decided she quite preferred being human again—she could finally reach things!
Sipping a glass of milk juice and nestled on the soft sofa, Ruan Shu wiggled her toes and started planning all the things she hadn’t yet finished. Once she ate, she’d get back to her felting project!
When Ruan Qingran arrived, he examined her thoroughly. Once he confirmed that there was nothing wrong, the entire family breathed a sigh of relief.
With thoughts of all the plant seeds in her room on her mind, Ruan Shu grabbed her little watering can and headed there.
But she wasn’t just watering them—each day, she carefully practiced channeling her energy into the seeds so they could absorb it.
And in just three short days, many seeds had already sprouted.
She’d planted each type of seed in a designated area, as some would need to be replanted later on.
After checking her little plants, Ruan Shu ran over to check on the tiny kumquat tree.
It was already laden with fruit, and in about another day, the fruits would be ripe and ready to pick.
Her father needed some kumquats for the military doctors to study, and her second brother, Qingran, also wanted some. Plus, they needed to send a few to Almer.
After counting off on her fingers, Ruan Shu gently patted the little kumquat tree and said, “Thank you, thank you! I’ll give you a bit more energy now.”
After feeding energy to the kumquat tree, she felt a bit drained, sensing a sort of emptiness, as though her energy was used up.
It seemed… this energy wasn’t connected to her Jingshen after all.
Ruan Shu looked inward to her mental sea, where her two little energy spheres were happily playing, completely unaffected.