Outside Liyue Harbor...
A group of young children surrounded a girl, pointing at her and laughing.
"You've always got that sour face—no wonder your parents left you!"
"Yeah! Always looking so grumpy. So ugly!"
"Orphan! You're just an orphan with no parents!"
Hearing their mockery, the girl in the middle clenched her small fists, gritting her teeth as anger welled up in her eyes.
She had reddish-brown gradient twin ponytails and wore a Chinese-style outfit with patterns and a long trailing hem. A black robe draped down to her waist, paired with shorts, black shoes, and white socks tied with red ribbons.
"Hu Tao is not an orphan!!"
She shouted and lunged at the nearest child.
Caught off guard by her sudden outburst, the others shoved Hu Tao to the ground.
"Hit her! Show her what we're made of!"
"She dares fight back? Beat her up!"
The children kicked and punched the curled-up Hu Tao, venting their anger on her small, fragile body.
But...
The pain from their fists and feet couldn't compare to the sting of their words.
Hu Tao lay curled like a shrimp in the grass, their insults echoing in her mind. A single, clear tear slid down her cheek.
"Ah! Her grandpa's coming! Run!"
"Run!"
The kids screamed and scattered.
Elliot Yuan rushed over. Once the bullies had fled, he knelt beside Hu Tao and gently helped her up.
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, then suddenly threw her arms around him.
"Grandpa... they... they said I'm just an orphan nobody wants..."
She sobbed, burying her face deeper into Elliot's chest.
"They're wrong. Little Tao isn't some unwanted orphan." Elliot gently stroked her hair, his voice calm and warm.
"Then... where are my mom and dad... where did they go..."
She looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears.
"They went up to the sky to pick stars for Little Tao. Once they've picked enough, they'll come back."
Elliot smiled softly, ruffling her hair.
"Stars..." She tilted her head, gazing blankly at the vast, endless sky.
"Mm-hmm, the twinkling stars in the sky."
"And besides, you've got me. How could you ever be unwanted?"
Hu Tao stared at him, momentarily entranced by the warmth and sincerity in his eyes.
"Alright, let's go home." Elliot wiped away her tears.
"Mm!"
Hu Tao rubbed her eyes and smiled brightly.
Elliot was a typical time traveler. His mission: complete nine reincarnations.
This was the first life—playing the role of Hu Tao's grandfather, guiding her until she was ready to become the master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Once she was, he would move on...
Night fell.
Liyue Harbor buzzed with life.
Walking down the busy street, Elliot spotted two well-dressed scholars drinking and laughing.
He casually said, "Red hands, yellow wine, two orioles singing in the green willows."
His sudden poetic outburst immediately caught Hu Tao's attention. She widened her eyes and stared up at him.
"Grandpa, what was that? It doesn't sound like reading or singing—so weird, but so fun!"
"Hahaha, that's called a doggerel poem. Made on a whim, spoken on the spot."
Elliot chuckled.
"Doggerel...? Made on a whim? Spoken on the spot?"
Hu Tao turned to look at the laughing scholars.
She repeated his words softly.
Her big eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Grandpa, Grandpa! I want to learn doggerel too! It sounds so fun!"
She tugged at his arm, pleading.
"Little Tao wants to learn?"
"Mm-hmm!"
"Well, it's not that easy."
"Don't worry! I'm super talented!" Hu Tao puffed out her flat chest proudly.
"Oh? Then I look forward to seeing what Little Tao can do." Elliot smiled.
"Hmph! Just wait and see!"
Hu Tao raised her chin with pride...
They soon returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Master Hu, welcome back," a clerk greeted.
"Yes, we're back," Elliot replied with his usual gentle smile, giving off a calm, soothing presence.
"Eh? What happened to our little Miss Tao?"
The clerk noticed Hu Tao's dirty appearance and asked, puzzled.
"That's..."
"Excuse me, sorry to intrude."
A woman's voice came from the doorway before Elliot could respond.
Everyone turned to see a beautiful woman in a cheongsam walk in, holding a child's hand. The dress flattered her figure perfectly.
"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?" Elliot stepped forward with a smile.
Just as he moved, Hu Tao tugged at his clothes.
Surprised, he looked down to find her glaring at the boy beside the woman.
Elliot quickly understood what was going on.
The woman noticed too and walked forward with an apologetic expression.
"Master Hu, I apologize on behalf of my son," she said softly, giving the boy a gentle pat on the back.
The boy stepped forward timidly, eyes downcast.
"I'm sorry..." he mumbled, lowering his head even more and holding something out. "This is for you."
Hu Tao froze. She stared at the small, delicately wrapped box in disbelief.
Elliot patted her head.
She looked up, saw his eyes, then slowly reached out and accepted the box.
The boy's face turned red as he bolted back behind his mother.
"These are homemade mung bean cakes. I hope you can forgive Ethan Chen for his rude words," the woman said sincerely.
But Elliot didn't answer her. His eyes remained on Hu Tao.
Hu Tao looked up at him, seeming to understand his unspoken words. Blushing, she hugged the small box tightly and murmured, "It's okay..."
"Whew..." The woman let out a long breath and smiled again.
"Master Hu, I'd like to discuss an upcoming funeral with you."
"Of course. Please, come inside." Elliot led her in.
Left behind, Hu Tao and Ethan Chen glanced at each other awkwardly.
"Today... I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to..." Ethan Chen apologized again, his voice soft.