A Tale of Chase and Love s1

All four of them turned their heads and saw a kid of around five years old. She possesses light brown hair, big black eyes and pale red lips. She’s dressed in a black knee-length gown and white shoes.

An ‘?’ appeared in their minds. Where is their Theresa? Who was this kid and how did she get here? Why didn’t they feel it? Something is definitely wrong here!

The kid ran towards Fu Jin, hugged his legs and began to cry profusely.

“Is this kid made of water?” Fu Jin thought with a frown.

“Uncle, that guy…”she pointed at Long Ren and continued: “He… he’s a thief. A big bad wolf. Uncle, help me beat him!”

“Me? A thief?” Long Ren asked in disbelief.

“Uncle, he kills people… he beats people. He eats people. He’s ugly too. Uncle didn’t you say that ugly men like him deserve a beating? Please beat him for me. Beat him to death. No, just beat him into his casket. I will help bury him. Uncle…” the lass tugged at Fu Jin’s sleeves with poppy eyes.

“Kiddo… ahem… I’m not your uncle. What’s your name, little one?” he asked.

“Bush baby!” she replied.

The four stared at each other and thought: “Bush baby? What sort of name is that?”

“Uncle…”

“Okay, I will help you beat him but you must remind uncle of your real name first.” said Fu Jin in a small voice.

“It’s Bush baby!”

“B… Bush baby?” old Long asked.

“Old man, you don’t like my name? My parents gave it to me.” she sounded aggrieved.

“Oh! They did great. Kiddo, where are you from?” old Long was getting a headache.

“Uncle…” the lass tugged at a tired Fu Jin’s sleeves again.

Using the nicest tone of voice he could have, he spoke: “My dear Bush baby, what is it again?”

“Uncle, I think he’s a kidnapper. He must be an accomplice with that ugly guy. As they say, one’s ugliness rubs on other people. It’s no wonder this old man is hideous. His hairdo makes things worse.”

“Wow!” Ju Wei applauded in delight.

“Mistress, you are the best.” he screamed in delight.

“That’s Theresa?” the other three exclaimed in shock.

“How did you know?” asked old Long.

“Easy! Look at her right wrist.” Ju Wei pointed at the little girl’s right wrist and all could see the crest of a fox on it and when they subconsciously glanced at her right legs, there was the tattoo of a snake.

“She’s mistress. She’s so cute. Bush baby, come to Papa!” Ju Wei laughed as he spread out his hands.

“Monkey, get away from me! You can’t be my dad. My dad is the most handsome in the world and my mum is the prettiest. How dare you try to steal my dad’s position? You must be an accomplice with these hideous people. I know what you are… you are a child thief,” the little girl retorted and then hugged Fu Jin’s leg tighter.

“Uncle, there are three monkeys here. Help me beat them.” she said in a small voice, nearly hiding her face in Fu Jin’s sleeves. He sighed and stooped to her level.

“My dear, these hideous people are not bad.” he explained as he petted her head which she seemed to like very much.

“They are good people?” she asked skeptically.

“Yes! There are some good people who are hideous like them.” Fu Jin pointed at the unhappy three.

Who liked being called hideous continiously?

‘Bush baby’ left Fu Jin and ran over to Long Ren.

“Hideous uncle, what’s your name?” she asked in sincere eagerness but Long Ren itched to slap her. She was still stubbornly calling him, a handsome guy, hideous? She needs to be taught a lesson.

He went on one kneel and wanted to pat her head but she avoided it.

“…”

“Hideous uncle, I asked for your name not pat.”

“Oh, call me Long Ren,”

“Lone Bread?” ‘Bush baby’ asked in puzzlement.

“Long Ren,” he corrected.

“Long Rain?”

Long Ren gritted him teeth. Damn this little version of his Ex-mistress. She’s so annoying! How dare she spoil his awesome name?

“Forget it! You name’s too hard. I’ll just call you uncle hideous. Sounds better!” she decided before moving on to Ju Wei.

“Hideous guy here, what’s your name?”

“Eh…” Ju Wei scratched his head.

“Is there lice in your head? Ewww!”

“No, little angel, my name is Flower.” Ju Wei replied. Flower is easy for her to say right? So he’ll just lower his pride. No pain in it.

‘Bush baby’ frowned.

“Flower? Are you a girl?” she circled around him and shook her head.

“Little one, that’s my name.”

“Then your parents must have been blind. They’ve disgraced the flowers. No, I think I should call you uncle thorny. Sounds better!”

“You…” Ju Wei was at a loss for words.

‘Bush baby headed to the last person- old Long.

“Hideous old man, what’s your name?”

“…”

He refused to answer.

“Could it be that your parents gave you no name? So pitiful. Since you met me today, I’ll give you a name. Flower man!” she decided without giving him a chance to talk.

“That’s settled with the three of you.” she ran back to hug Fu Jin’s leg.

“Uncle yummy, I know their names now. That one is uncle hideous, then there is uncle thorny and Flower man. Uncle yummy, did I do well?” she asked.

“Yes, you did well. Hideous, Thorny and Flower man, please give her a gift.” Fu Jin said with a mocking chuckle.

“I’m poor!” said an unhappy Long Ren. All he wanted to do now was leave this instant but he knew he couldn’t.

“Uncle hideous, since you are poor, you can work for me. I will pay you enough to feed yourself. Uncle thorny and Flowerman, you can still work for me too. What do you say?” she asked.

“Eh, I have money so I can afford you a gift,” Ju Wei took out a golden necklace from his spatial ring and walked to her. He stooped and placed it in her hand.

“Do you like it?”

“Uncle, I feel you are handsome now.” ‘Bush baby’ hugged a stunned Ju Wei who hugged her back.

“Uncle thorny, you smell,” she whispered into Ju Wei’s ears.

“What?”

She left his embrace and went back to hugging Fu Jin’s thigh.

Old Long walked to her and gave her a small jade bracelet but she threw it away.

“I don’t like it. Give me sweets!” she threw a tantrum making Fu Jin and old Long sigh in defeat.

Suddenly, the door opened and three people rushed in – Aarti, Clark and Marabella.

“How’s Theresa?”

“How my baby doing?”

“How’s my daughter doing?”

They asked in unison but were stunned to see the empty bed.

The four men in the room earlier “…”

“Mummy? Daddy?” a little girl’s voice broke the silence.