Till The End Of The Moon [SEASON- 2]

7. Personal & stranger?

Li Susu bent down to lift Tantai Jiang into her arms, but just as her fingers brushed against her daughter’s sleeve, she felt a presence behind her. She froze. Slowly, she turned—and saw Miang Tao standing by the door, staring at her with guarded eyes.

His arms were at his sides, but his stance was tense, like someone ready to intervene.

Li Susu blinked. “…What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Miang Tao’s voice was firm, cautious. “I already asked you once—who are you, and what do you want from this little girl? But instead of answering, you called me someone else and started crying. And now, you’re trying to take her while she’s still sick? She has a fever. She needs rest. Why are you here, and what’s your relationship with her?”

Li Susu straightened up slowly, clearly offended. “Excuse me? What do you think I am—a kidnapper? I'm not here to hurt her. I’m her mother. Her name is Tantai Jiang, and my name is Li Susu. She ran away from home—"

Miang Tao interrupted, narrowing his eyes. “Because she wanted to find her father. Am I right, Miss Susu?”

Li Susu paused, surprised. “Yes... but how do you know that?”

Miang Tao folded his arms. “She told me herself. And while we’re talking—where is your husband? Her father? Why did you think I was him? Do I really look that much like him?”

Li Susu’s expression softened slightly. Her voice grew quiet. “Yes. You do. Exactly like him. But… you don’t act like him. He was stubborn and serious, but kind. And he had this... warmth in his eyes whenever he looked at Jiang.”

She looked down at her daughter, her face clouding.

“Tantai Jiang is all I have left in this world. I would do anything for her. Her happiness, her safety… they’re everything to me. But—” She stopped herself.

Miang Tao caught it. “But what? You were going to say something.”

Li Susu hesitated. “But I don’t know you. Why should I tell something so personal to a stranger?” She took a small breath and reached out again. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to take my daughter home.”

Miang Tao stepped aside but spoke calmly. “You can take her, Miss Susu. I’m not stopping you. But this forest isn’t safe at night. It’s deep, cold, and full of wild animals. The road back is rough. Jiang’s still running a low fever—if she gets weaker, you’ll just put her at more risk.”

Li Susu clenched her jaw but slowly nodded. “...You're right. It's too late to travel now. I’ve been searching for her since morning. I guess one more night won’t hurt.”

Miang Tao offered a small smile. “Good. You must be hungry, too. I made some simple food earlier. Let’s eat together.”

Li Susu hesitated, then finally said, “Alright. And… thank you. Thank you for taking care of her. Is she… doing better?”

“She’s doing fine now,” Miang Tao replied gently. “She just needs rest. She’s a sweet kid.”

As if on cue, a sleepy voice piped up from the bed.

“Mama…?”

Li Susu turned sharply. “Jiang?”

Tantai Jiang sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. When she saw her mother, her face lit up, and she jumped from the bed, running into Li Susu’s arms. “Mamaaa!”

Li Susu hugged her tightly, burying her face in her daughter’s shoulder. “You silly girl… You scared me so much.”

“I’m sorry,” Tantai Jiang whispered, sniffling. “I just… I just wanted to find Daddy. You said he’s brave and kind, and I thought… maybe if I found him, you would be happy again…”

Li Susu pulled back slightly, wiping Jiang’s face with her sleeve. “Jiang, you can’t do things like this. You’re too little. You could’ve gotten hurt. What if something had happened to you?”

“I won’t do it again, Mama, I promise,” Jiang said tearfully. “I’ll listen to you. I’ll never go anywhere without telling you again. Pinky promise!”

Li Susu nodded, her own eyes glistening. “Pinky promise.”

Just then, Miang Tao cleared his throat from the corner. “So... now that the promises are done, how about we finally eat something?”

Li Susu and Tantai Jiang turned to look at him. For the first time, Li Susu let out a quiet, genuine laugh. “Yes. Let’s eat.”

Miang Tao smiled slightly and began setting out the bowls. That night, the three of them sat together around a small wooden table, steam rising from their food. The hut was quiet except for the occasional giggle from Jiang, and the flickering of the fire in the hearth.

Though none of them said it aloud, there was something strange and peaceful about that night—as if fate had quietly drawn them together for a reason none of them fully understood yet.

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Chapter ended.
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