Chapter Three: Tongzi Found Milk

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5188 never expected that being taken by the humans was just to change her clothes, and upon stepping outside, she immediately saw Nai. Her eyes instantly lit up, and with quick, eager footsteps, she ran to Jiang Hua’s side, wrapping her arms tightly around her legs. Her voice trembled with emotion, yet joy shone through: “Nai!”

5188 had finally found you!

She didn’t know how much time had passed since Nai had left. All she knew was that she had learned to update her own system, to find patches and fix bugs by herself, but Nai had not returned.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had to infiltrate other bases’ systems to search for clues.

Nor would she have encountered danger.

Now, at last, she had found Nai.

Clinging to Jiang Hua’s leg, 5188 wanted to tell her so much, but when she met Jiang Hua’s somewhat bewildered gaze, she froze.

She had forgotten—she was no longer a system but a reincarnated cub. Nai must also have reincarnated and might not remember the system.

5188 lowered her head in disappointment. She couldn’t say much now, nor dare to tell Nai that she was the system.

When she changed clothes earlier, she overheard humans talking about cracking down on feudal superstitions and outdated beliefs. Would reincarnation count as such an outdated belief?

If the humans found out she was the system, they would surely detain her.

5188 clung tightly to Nai’s leg, trembling slightly, hoping the humans wouldn’t see that she was a reincarnated system.

“Wait!”

Suddenly, 5188 sniffed the air and remembered the lunchbox, calling out immediately.

With a sweet smile on her face for the still-shocked Jiang Hua, she turned and ran toward the nurse’s station.

Bai Chu signaled Wang Lianjun to follow before helping Jiang Hua to a nearby seat. “I was wondering why Jiang Jing suddenly ran after a child, but now I see this little girl looks so much like you, madam. Could she be a lost relative’s child?”

From the moment Jiang Hua first saw the little girl, she felt a strange familiarity. Now, hearing Bai Chu, she recalled that those fox-like eyes resembled her own children’s, especially her husband’s.

But their family’s only girl in recent years was the third daughter of the second branch—no, there was another possibility—

Jiang Hua looked at the little girl, who seemed to be offering a treasure, handing over a lunchbox. Her lips trembled as she asked, “Child, where are your parents? Who are they?”

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5188 looked at her blankly. As a system, how could she have parents?

“No!” She shook her head obediently, then, as if remembering something, hurriedly added, “Dead!”

Her parents were dead, and the system had nowhere else to go, so she could follow Nai home, right?

The system was clever!

Disappointment spread in Jiang Hua’s eyes as she reached out to pat the little girl’s head. This was a pitiful child.

Although the eldest had been out of contact for a long time, the organization said he was on a mission and still alive.

Since the little girl had seen her parents and knew they were dead, she clearly wasn’t from their family.

“Eat!”

Seeing that Nai no longer pressed about her parents, 5188 relaxed and tiptoed to hand her the lunchbox.

The best things should always be given to the system’s beloved Nai!

Jiang Hua took the lunchbox, looking at the little girl’s obedient expression. She truly resembled the eldest son—not only his features but also his gentle demeanor, which reminded her even more of the eldest son’s wife.

Tears fell drop by drop onto the metal lunchbox.

5188 panicked, not understanding why Nai was crying. She tiptoed and lifted a small hand to wipe away the tears: “No! Don’t cry, Nai!”

Jiang Hua, watching the sensible little girl, could no longer hold back and hugged her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

Her heart-wrenching cries echoed through the corridor, as though she was releasing all the pain she had buried for years.

Those sobs were like sharp blades, piercing the hearts of Bai Chu and Wang Lianjun standing nearby.

They wanted to comfort her but, thinking of Jiang Jing lying unconscious in the ward, didn’t know what to say.

5188, however, was frightened and froze in place, tears streaming down her thin cheeks.

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Yet she couldn’t make a sound, silently crying in Jiang Hua’s embrace.

Bai Chu stepped forward with a heavy heart, whispering, “Madam, please don’t scare her! Right now, Jiang Jing and this little girl are counting on you to stay strong!”

Though harsh, Bai Chu had no choice but to speak.

After crying, Jiang Hua felt as if the long-held grief weighing on her heart had lessened somewhat.

She looked up, seeing the little girl’s tearful gaze filled with concern. A pang of sorrow struck her heart as she raised a hand to wipe her tears: “No more crying, Nai won’t cry anymore!”

5188 looked closely at her Nai. Although the tears had stopped, the sorrow lingering in her eyes made the system’s heart ache.

Her gaze shifted slightly to the closed white wooden door. Was Nai so sad because her younger brother had not yet awakened?

Noticing her unease, Jiang Hua’s eyes turned to the door, recalling her youngest son’s condition. Warmth welled up in her eyes again, but this time she held back her tears.

Her voice choked as she asked Bai Chu, “Captain Bai, what is Jiang Jing’s condition exactly?”

“Madam, I have more to tell you about Jiang Jing and this child,” Bai Chu said, motioning for her to step aside for a private conversation.

But 5188 clung tightly to Jiang Hua, refusing to let her go.

She had finally found Nai and would never let her out of sight again.

“Can you watch over the person inside for me?” Jiang Hua crouched down, lovingly smoothing the little yellow hair. “If he wakes up, you come find me, alright?”

5188 tilted her head, thought for a moment, then nodded, the small tuft of yellow hair atop her head bouncing slightly.

Her adorable gesture brought smiles to the three adults present.

Yet none of them knew how great a shock Jiang Hua’s casual excuse to comfort the little girl would bring them later on.