Chapter 348 : Dai Yu’s Story 32 (1/2)

My name is Dai Yue. And actually, I do have a surname. It’s Jun.

I’m a branch member of the Jun Clan. Technically, the Prime Minister should refer to me as Elder Cousin.

Ever since I could remember, everyone around me kept drilling into my head the fact that my life belonged to the little mistress of the Jun Clan, Jun Liyou.

I was told to be loyal to her. I had to protect her with my life.

At the time, I didn’t understand these circumstances and couldn’t help feeling a bit rebellious. So, I often ran away from home.

The first time I saw her was at a restaurant.

I had run away from home for several days by then and long since squandered all the money I’d taken with me. Facing the threat of starvation, I could only try to sneak into a restaurant to steal something to eat. But I was caught and beaten.

It was then that I saw the little girl, as delicate looking as carved jade, standing on the second floor of the restaurant and looking down at my situation in curiosity.

And of course, I saw my mother at her side.

My mother was her wet nurse. At the time, I didn’t like this little mistress. After all, she had stolen my mother and even wanted me to devote my entire life to her.

While I was being beaten, my mother simply held her back, telling her not to look with a soothing voice. She did not spare me a single glance.

Because of my pride, I bit my lip and refused to call out to my mother.

But then, I heard her speak in that soft voice to my mother, “It’s Dai Yue-jiejie! Nana[1], hurry up and make them stop!”

She actually recognised me…and knew my name.

Mother dispatched people to bring me upstairs.

I had filth all over me, but she didn’t care as she dragged me over to the food and presented it to me. She was like a busy little bee as she buzzed around me.

But I disliked her even more for this.

Perhaps it was because my rebellious years came early, for I got so annoyed that I reached out to shove her away.

She was merely 5 at the time. My shove caused her to fall to the ground. And then she used a very…aggrieved and innocent look on me.

I think I felt a bit guilty then.

But upon thinking that everything I suffered was because of her, my guilt instantly vanished into thin air.

As a result of my actions that day, my mother slapped and punished me, forcing me to kneel in the ancestral hall.

At the time, this was what confused me the most: why did someone who was clearly my mother hit me for someone else’s sake?

I believe it was late autumn then. I knelt in the ancestral hall alone as this question filled my mind, yet I could not find an answer.

I hadn’t expected her to secretly run over. Her tiny body was carrying a quilt that nearly buried her completely, her small face red from the cold.

She chatted with me a lot, but now I can’t remember what it was about. I only remember the warmth of her body beside mine, as we curled up together beneath the quilts.

The next morning, my mother brought people to search every nook and cranny for her. When she found her with me, I was nearly disciplined then and there. But it was her who stopped my mother and said that if she wanted to hit someone, then my mother should hit her instead. In the end, this matter was forgotten.

Ever since then, I have served at her side.

At the time, she was a very cute, soft, and lovable thing. She was adorable whenever she spoke with childish innocence.

At first, I hadn’t been willing to serve her. But after interacting with her for a long time, I’d long since forgotten the childish oath I once made—to never serve her, even on pain of death.

It was only after joining her side that I realized how much more she had to learn than me.

But she would always obediently finish her studies. She would always work hard to finish her homework, so she would have time to bring me out to play.

As time wore on, everyone else knew she liked me, so they treated me more politely.

It was then that I discovered just how important her preferences were to them.