The wind whistled through the trees softly, ruffling Ren's hair as he looked at the 2 unfamiliar figures behind his father.
One was a tall man dress in neat, simple robes, his hair black but full of white streaks, his hands were behind his back as he wore an indifferent but polite expression.
The other was a girl who seemed to be of eight or nine with her brown hair tied in a ponytail, he hazel eyes seemed sharp while she scanned Ren, sizing him up.
Ren blinked at his father, then blinked again at his mother who just smiled lovingly and gesturing towards his father.
"Who....???"
Before he could think of what to ask, his mother came besides him, patting his head saying "These two will be with you from now on, they'll stay with you and help around the house."
"They'll be like your helpers, attendants for a better word. Try to get along as they'll be with you for a long time and you might even learn from them." His father continued.
Ren tilted his head in confusion. Attendants? For him? Why? He's just a kid.
He was only four, so did he really need someone like that? Then again, his days have become almost like a routine, which he's gotten bored of, his games were becoming easier and repetitive, his bedtime stories became talks, which Ren is sure they are lectures. So a change of pace could be fun and more useful.
"So you're the young master huh?" The browd haired stepped forward first, her hands on her hips.
Young master? It still hasn't registered in his mind, after all he never thought of having one before.
"You don't seem to be much." The girl said haughtily, he childlessness evident in her tone, "but I guess we'll see what you're made of eventually."
Ren's eyes narrowed, to which she only gave a cheeky grin.
'So she is that kind of person' Ren thought inwardly, already preparing himself for future arguments with her.
"What's your name?" Still, out of politeness, he asked.
To which his good intentions weren't reciprocated. "Beat me in a game first and then I might tell you."
That earned her a deadpan expression from Ren that he kept for a few seconds before commenting. ".... you're really annoying, you know that?"
His mother giggled softly and his father just coughed into his fist, pretending not to have heard anything.
To break the tension before any of them could say anything more, the other man stepped forward with a small bow and a more polite tone than the brown haired.
"Young master Tianyu, I'm called Wu and I'm honored to serve you as I have served and stood by your parents for years."
Ren examined him slightly, not being unpolite. Unlike how the girl acted and behaved, he was much more composed and calm, maybe even too calm. He seemed like a calm lake, one that's normally still and peaceful till what's underneath comes out.
Wu's eyes held no condescension nor were they judgmental, just pure calmness and....patience.
Ren returned the gesture, albeit a bit clumsy, but full of earnesty. "Nice to meet you Mister Wu, I'm Ren Tianyu as you already know."
To which the man gave a small nod "Likewise."
The girl stayed still, but made a face that said otherwise." Look at you being all formal now~"
"And you still haven't told me your name." Ren smiled back, grinned to be exact, reminding her.
"You still haven't beaten me in anything." She said smugly.
"And that would be because you didn't dare challenge me to anything yet." His grin grew wider.
Her smirk widened further in response. "Let's see who can stack the most pebbles."
Ren's grin now turned into a smile, 'she didn't think that I've played this game since I was little.' Then he turned to look at where he was sitting earlier, stacking pebbles.
"You're on."
A few minutes later, the girl stared and Ren's stack and then at hers, the difference in height cleary evident.
Getting up, Ren dusted his hands and gave her a look to which she understood.
"Ugh fine. My name's Mei Lin, you can just call me Mei, okay?! But don't think you're better just because I lost this ti-------"
"Sounds like a sore loser to me." Ren interrupted her before she continues blabbering.
They then started a pillow fight back in the house, which of course earned them both a scolding from Mu Qinglan, though she couldn't hide her smile. In truth, she had been worried about Ren, he's acting too mature and calm for his age, she did like his brightness and brilliance, but she also wanted him to enjoy his childhood like any other kids, so maybe Mei's brashness and playfulness was exactly what he needed.
Then the day came to an end with the little girl grumbling about how unfair it was while picking grass.