Returning to Infancy with my Nemesis - Chapter 51

Tang Mian’s little hand was nudged by the damp nose of the large dog, causing him to slightly freeze. He met the gaze of the woman holding the dog.

She was a beautifully-featured woman, probably a few years younger than his mother. Her other hand held a slightly taller little girl. Both of them had a mixed appearance of Chinese and American heritage, and they spoke fluent Mandarin.

However, Tang Mian didn’t recognize them. He hadn’t seen them in his previous life, and he hadn’t seen them in this life either, so their faces were completely unfamiliar.

How did they know his name?

Was it because they were looking for him along with Fu Shizhao, and that’s how they knew?

However, he hadn’t heard any broadcast about a missing person.

Although Tang Mian was more inclined to believe that they were good people, it was crucial to remain cautious. Being in a foreign country and getting lost made it challenging to feel secure.

Seeing Tang Mian’s lack of response, the Samoyed nudged his little hand with its head again.

The adult Samoyed was quite large, with long fur, enveloping his hand in a soft touch.

Usually, Tang Mian would enjoy petting a dog like this, but now he had no interest at all.

While Tang Mian was contemplating how to respond, the dog owner didn’t press for an answer. Instead, she loosened the leash on her dog, letting it comfort the little one’s emotions. She then bowed her head and made a phone call.

Mian Mian, is just in south of the fountain pool, probably scared. Come over quickly.

Tang Mian’s inner confusion intensified.

Soon, an anxious voice reached Tang Mian’s ears from a distance.

“Big Brother!”

The voice was undeniably familiar.

It was Fu Shizhao.

Tang Mian quickly turned his head to look and saw a small figure rushing toward him at high speed, with Fu Yu almost unable to catch up.

The somewhat unsteady Fu Grandmother was also hurriedly assisted by the housekeeper, following closely behind.

In fact, Tang Mian hadn’t been lost for long. The bodyguard caught up with him shortly after being enveloped by the crowd. However, Tang Mian was too small, and in the rush, he ran around on his own. The bodyguard lost him in the crowd and quickly went back to inform the others. Finally, they found him.

Tang Mian hadn’t fully reacted yet when Fu Shizhao came to him and hugged him tightly.

The hug was strong, and Fu Shizhao was slightly out of breath, probably worried sick.

Tang Mian blinked, and the stone in his heart finally dropped after he was found.

‘Luckily, I didn’t shed tears; otherwise, it would have been too embarrassing.’

Suddenly, something soft gently nudged the two small figures tightly held together.

Tang Mian’s attention shifted to the large dog.

Fu Shizhao also released the embrace, instead holding Tang Mian’s hand tightly, as if afraid he might get lost again. Together, they examined the large dog.

Samoyeds, being pure white, are prone to getting dirty, but this one was well-groomed. Aside from a few paws inevitably picking up some dust on the road, the rest of its body was exceptionally clean. It even wore a dog tag around its neck with characters from country B, which Tang Mian couldn’t understand.

As if sensing Tang Mian’s gaze on the dog tag, Fu Shizhao took the initiative to explain, “Its name is da xue [big snow].” Tang Mian nodded.

The name indeed suited its color.

Moreover, this kind of long-haired animal tends to shed, and Tang Mian had just been brushed by it, with some white fur sticking to his cuffs. During shedding season, it would probably look like a snowstorm.

But immediately, Fu Shizhao pointed to the smartwatch on his wrist. His expression was unusually serious as he said, “Big Brother, next time you go out, remember to wear the smartwatch. Wearing the smartwatch allows you to contact people directly, and it has a positioning function, providing double security.”

Tang Mian nodded guiltily and quickly shifted his gaze from Fu Shizhao back to the Samoyed.

Meanwhile, Grandma Fu also joined them. Seeing that Fu Shizhao had already comforted Tang Mian, she started chatting with the Samoyed’s owner in the language of country B.

Tang Mian blinked.

So, did this person know Grandma Fu?

Tang Mian couldn’t understand their conversation, so he continued to focus on the big dog. He locked eyes with its grape-like black eyes, and the dog happily wagged its tail at him.

“Da Xue has a good temperament; you can touch her.” The girl standing next to the woman suddenly took two steps forward and came over to them, saying.

The girl had slightly curly hair, wore a beautiful little dress, and draped a thin cloak over herself. Although it was already chilly in autumn, wearing leggings made her not feel cold.

Tang Mian listened and then reached out to rub Da Xue’s head. The sensation was much better than he had imagined.

The hands of a six-year-old child are very small, it was almost completely wrapped in the thick, long fur of the Samoyed.

The location they were in was near the fountain pool, and the temperature was a bit lower. Inside the fur was very warm, like a mobile hand warmer. Tang Mian wished he could just throw himself into it.

Back home, Tang Mian also liked to tuck his hands into the belly of a little cat for warmth. However, compared to the Samoyed, the cat was too small and not warm enough.

But after all, it was someone else’s dog, and Tang Mian didn’t dare to be too unrestrained.

The little girl was quite sociable. During a gap in the adult conversation, she exchanged names and some simple information with Tang Mian and Fu Shizhao.

Her name in Hua country was Xu Qingying, and she is currently in the second grade of elementary school. The Samoyed’s name was da xue  [big snow], it was brought home by her mom on a snowy day. It also has a Samoyed boyfriend, but it’s a “long-distance relationship.” The Samoyed boyfriend is raised by her mom’s friend’s family, and they have been childhood friends with a very close relationship.

Tang Mian found the dog’s love story interesting, but his attention couldn’t help but be drawn to the little girl’s surname.

Xu…

While patting the Samoyed’s head, Tang Mian quickly ran through the families with surname Xu he knew from his previous life in his mind.

Xu… Suddenly, a light flashed in Tang Mian’s mind. If he remembered correctly, Fu Shizhao’s mother’s surname seemed to be “?” (Xu). Could it be that these two people are relatives from Fu Shizhao’s mother’s side?

Is it just a coincidence?

Or did they already know that they would come to this square?

Tang Mian regretted not knowing the language of this country. He really wanted to know what the old lady and the little girl’s mother were talking about…

Fu Shizhao should understand, but he still held Tang Mian’s other hand tightly, rubbing the dog with him, not paying attention to the old lady and the little girl’s mother. Tang Mian couldn’t ask Fu Shizhao either.

Although he really wanted to know the answer, he could only continue to hold it in. If it was really a relative from Fu Shizhao’s mother’s side, there would likely be further contact after meeting.

Maybe he would find out in a few days.

Fu Shizhao did notice the conversation between the old lady and the little girl’s mother, but right now, what concerned him the most was Tang Mian.

When they came out of the public restroom with their foster father, he saw the bodyguard anxiously looking for something. His gaze quickly swept around, and after not finding the figure of Tang Mian holding strawberry candied haws, he instantly had an uneasy guess.

Sure enough, Tang Mian was lost.

In a foreign land where language barriers hindered communication, the fear of losing someone consumed Fu Shizhao.

Drifting through the unfamiliar surroundings, surrounded by an endless abyss of uncertainty.

In response, he tightly grasped Tang Mian’s hand, his palms subtly moistened by anxiety, yet he refused to release it. In the previous life, he couldn’t be there for Tang Mian during his moments of vulnerability. In this life, he was determined not to let go.

Regarding the woman and the little girl… While collaborating on the song with the street performer earlier, he had noticed their presence in the crowd and recognized them at a glance.

The woman was his aunt, named Xu Zhen, his mother’s biological sister.

However, Xu Zhen inherited more features from their maternal grandfather, while Fu Shizhao’s mother inherited more from their maternal grandmother. Despite their differing personalities, it did not diminish their strong bond.

The little girl was his aunt’s daughter, his cousin, just a year older than him. Girls generally mature earlier than boys, and she appeared somewhat taller than them.

When his mom was pregnant with him, his aunt had just given birth to his cousin. Although his aunt wanted to go to Hua country to take care of his mom, she was rejected by his mom.

Unexpectedly, they hadn’t seen each other since then.

His Aunt had never approved of his Mom and Dad being together.

Although she was somewhat satisfied with his Dad as a person, and during their courtship, she never expressed any objections to Mom’s boyfriend, the depth of the Fu family’s complexities was beyond her endorsement. She didn’t support Mom marrying Dad.

However, after her efforts to persuade them were in vain, she didn’t involve herself in the matter again. After all, one was in Hua country, and the other was in country B—too far apart for her influence to reach.

Little did she expect that the thing she feared most would still come to pass.

Aunt didn’t harbor any particular opinions about Dad, especially since he, like Mom, had departed to another world following her sister’s death. She couldn’t blame him for much anymore.

However, she held significant reservations about the Fu family, particularly the group of people who had resorted to extreme measures for power—the ones who had fought fiercely for it.

This was one of the main reasons why Fu Shizhao refrained from contacting them after taking over the Fu family last time. After all, he had also been involved in the power struggle. Even though he was compelled by revenge, he couldn’t overcome this internal obstacle.

 He considered his past self utterly regrettable, having done many remorseful things, missed out on important people, and yet continuously struggled to find effective solutions to these problems. He felt useless.

Listening to the conversation between the old lady and Aunt, Fu Shizhao could clearly sense Aunt’s aversion towards the old lady. However, he had to maintain a polite demeanor, likely because of his presence.

After all, he was the only “legacy” left by his mom.

The old lady could easily prevent Mom’s relatives from meeting him. After all, she probably knew very well—they were strongly against the Fu family. They might instill some negative beliefs in him, causing potential harm. It wasn’t worth taking that risk.

However, not only did she not prevent it, but she personally brought him to country B. This was the old lady’s sincerity, and even if they harbored reservations, they had to accept her goodwill.

They likely knew about his adoption into the Fu family long ago, and they must be well aware of how the old lady had treated him over the years.

—-

As the three children and the big dog gathered to chat, Xu Zhen suddenly approached them, bending slightly and asking, “The fountain show is about to start. Would you like to go see it first?”

Her gaze lingered a bit longer on Fu Shizhao.

Xu Qingying, after hearing this, raised her little hand and exclaimed, “Let’s go!”

From their recent conversation, Xu Qingying learned that they were visiting country B for the first time. Excitedly taking on the role of a little guide, she chattered away, introducing the fun places around.

Despite having just met recently, they inexplicably started to accompany each other, yet there was no sense of discomfort.

The old lady also didn’t introduce the identities of the woman and the little girl to them. It seemed she had no intention of telling Fu Shizhao about his background. This “coincidental encounter” might have been intentionally arranged.

That sounds good.

Fu Shizhao was quite fragile, often seeking comfort and reassurance. Given his complex background at such a young age, it might be challenging for him to digest easily. It could be better to naturally reveal the details to him when he grows a bit older.

The fountain pool was quite large, with a sculpture of a woman holding flowers in the center. The fountain show had not yet started, and the water in the pool beneath the sculpture remained calm.

Tang Mian speculated that the flower held by the sculpture might be the symbol of this square. However, both the flower and the woman were colorless, retaining the original marble hue. Tang Mian couldn’t discern the true appearance of the flower.

The area around the pool was already crowded with people, and there seemed to be no space to squeeze in. However, the design of the steps around the fountain was thoughtful, with each tier being sufficiently high. Even if one couldn’t get to the front row, it didn’t hinder the view.

At his current height of around 1.2 meters, being quite small, Tang Mian could see very clearly without needing to tiptoe.

In the previous life, after the incident at home, Tang Mian’s only hobby and way to relieve stress were to watch various stage plays or art exhibitions. Some of the stage plays also incorporated fountains, especially those open-air performances, which were much more stunning than the open-air fountain in this square.

But Tang Mian was still in good spirits, watching the entire performance attentively. After all, his mindset had changed.

Back then, it was for a brief escape; now, it was simply for joy. After the brief fountain performance, everyone took out coins from their pockets and tossed them into the pool.

Xu Qingying, noticing their reactions, introduced, “This pool is very effective for making wishes. I came here to make a wish before the final exams last semester, and I passed all my exams!”

Tang Mian:

Fu Shizhao: “…”

Silently observing their interaction, Xu Zhen thought to herself: “…”

Trying to reassure herself — biological factors, inherited traits, it’s understandable for each child to have their unique strengths; it’s just that some struggle with academic performance.

Looking at Xu Qingying’s smiling eyes, Tang Mian decided to say something positive: “That should also be related to your own efforts.”

Apparently, Xu Qingying found Tang Mian’s words helpful. Her eyes curved a bit more, and she emphasized with sincerity, “Primary school courses can be challenging. You’ll be entering the first grade soon. If you ever have trouble, you can call me.”

Xu Qingying also had a smartwatch, and she had already added Fu Shizhao and Tang Mian as friends earlier. She suggested that Tang Mian do the same after getting his smartwatch.

Tang Mian: “….”

Tang Mian: “…Okay.”

Fu Shizhao noticed Tang Mian’s bewildered expression and couldn’t help but deepen his smile.

As the crowd around the fountain pool diminished, Xu Qingying took Tang Mian’s hand, leading him and Fu Shizhao toward the edge of the pool.

“Let’s go, we’re going to throw coins too.”

The bodyguards quickly followed, considering the fountain pool’s water was quite deep for a six-year-old, and any accident could be risky.

The temperature near the fountain pool was lower, and Tang Mian zipped up his little jacket and pulled it all the way to the top. He then took a coin from his pocket, imitating Xu Qingying, and tossed it into the water. Folding his hands together and closing his eyes, he made a wish.

This time, his wish had nothing to do with himself; it was about Fu Shizhao.

“I hope Fu Shizhao can always be lucky.” Tang Mian wished for Fu Shizhao’s continuous luck and happiness, to grow up in love and become a upright and admirable young man. In this way, their relationship wouldn’t end in disappointment, as it did in the previous life.

In a way, this wish was still made for himself.

Opening his eyes, Tang Mian noticed that Fu Shizhao had already finished making his wish and was looking at him with a slight tilt of his head. Tang Mian had long noticed—Fu Shizhao was always quick with his wishes.

Every birthday party, Tang Mian could see Fu Shizhao looking at him after making a wish, and this time was no exception.

Tang Mian wanted to ask what wish Fu Shizhao had made, and he even suspected that Fu Shizhao might not have made any wish at all. However, he remembered Fu Shizhao’s words from before, “Wishes won’t come true if you talk about them,” so he managed to suppress his curiosity.

Fu Shizhao did make a wish, though.

His wish was the same every time: “I hope to be with Tang Mian forever in this lifetime.”

The fate of the Tang family had been altered by Tang Mian more than two years ago. Tang Caihua had been sent to prison due to gambling, loan fraud, and tax evasion. Chen Junyu divorced him and left the capital with Tang Wei.

Tang Mian made sure to take his foster father for regular check-ups every year, ensuring that any health issues would be detected early on. He believed that he could handle things on his own without relying on supernatural beings. Each wish he made was related to Tang Mian.

The only thing he couldn’t be sure about was his relationship with Tang Mian when they grew up. He knew that their brotherly bond wouldn’t last into adulthood, but he had no solution. He didn’t even know when to confess the fact that he had also experienced a rebirth.

Even though confessing now would probably not make Tang Mian angry, he felt that this revelation might become a strong bond between them in the future. Timing was crucial, and he worried about the impact on their relationship.

So, he dared not act recklessly.

They were still young, and he could still indulge in their brotherly relationship. The unresolved issues from the past life persisted into this one, and he felt just as powerless. It was frustrating.

Fu Shizhao resumed his warm smile, nodded, and retook Tang Mian’s hand, exchanging body heat.

Tang Mian eagerly pulled Fu Shizhao back to the side of the Samoyed, burying their little hands in the warm fur together. It was as if they had made a wish and depleted the warmth battery, finally charging it up again with the mobile hand warmer.

Their hands intertwined also began to feel slightly warm.

Dogs… are truly warm.

Inexplicably and yet naturally, the group spent a long time strolling around the square together. With a local guide, they explored almost everything interesting and delicious on the square.

 After some taste testing, Tang Mian brought back three boxes of strawberry-flavored nougat cakes, declaring them to be one of his favorite snacks despite being close to expiration.

It was clear that Xu Zhen wanted to talk to Fu Shizhao, but she didn’t know what identity and approach to use. Most of the time, she silently watched her daughter interact with them.

Although her daughter was not good at textbook learning, she had many other strengths, such as being socially adept and having an interest in martial arts like taekwondo.

She had become the child king among the children of similar ages at home, not to mention having many little followers and admirers in school. She enjoyed quite a bit of popularity.

Despite her fondness for wearing dresses, once she changed into her taekwondo uniform, she could make several children cry. However, she knew how to measure her actions and wouldn’t bully other kids.

So, when she learned that Zhao Zhao planned to come to the square to play today, she deliberately brought along the family’s very friendly dog and her daughter, who was great at chatting.

The effect was excellent.

As they were about to part ways, Xu Qingying took the initiative to invite them, “Oh, by the way, do you want to come to my house tomorrow? Da Xue gave birth to a lot of cute little puppies last month. They’re adorable.”

Tang Mian’s eyes lit up.

Da Xue’s puppies!

Little Samoyeds!

****************

Woah the author is writing unusually long chapters… 

This is probably the last chapter for this month!