Harry Potter and the World of Cultivation

The Boy-Who-Just-Wanted-to-Be-Normal

A/N: Thanks for reading! (ˊσ̴̶̷̤ ₋̮̑ σ̴̶̷̤ˋ)₊ෆ⃛⁺˚

By morning the next day, Yu'er, who was happily escorting —holding hands with— his mother to the dining hall, finally noticed the strange stares and whispers that followed them. He stopped at the doors.

"Mama?" He had to crane his head up to meet her eyes. She wasn't tall but Yu'er was so small he barely reached her waist. He tilted his head in question, "Are people staring at us?"

When he glanced at the room, all the gazes quickly turned away. He couldn't tell if it was his imagination. Maybe he was being too sensitive?

His mother laughed softly. When her husband had carried her darling Yu'er back to their rooms yesterday, she was delightfully surprised. It was the first time Ah Yue had initiated contact with Yu'er. His gaze had softened considerably and there was something indescribable in his demeanour toward their son. She knew Yu'er had noticed as well. Her baby was so intelligent!

Last night after the honoured guest had taken his leave, the clan head called a meeting with the family heads and seemed to discuss some new circumstances surrounding her son. Despite the details being strictly confidential to those of the inner circle, all outer members of the clan were still ordered to treat Yu'er well. This was all she knew, but it was enough for her as a mother to be satisfied with the situation. People were probably wondering what Yu'er had done to win the favour of the patriarch who had a reputation for being hard-to-please. They certainly weren't being very subtle.

"Come, Yu'er. The lunch line is this way." She calmly bypassed the stares and approached the head cook. Yu'er gazed at his mother with awe and trepidation. She normally wore a gentle smile, even when she was provoked into one of her rare upset moods. He'd never seen her like this; with her head high, features aloof, gracefully gliding across the floor, she looked every bit the refined lady — even with a small child on her arm.

Kamitani Mei was one of the most beautiful women in the clan; with wavy jet black hair that brought out her porcelain skin, the elegant slope of her nose and fine brows. Even her lips resembled delicate petals. Yet her most distinctive feature —ones that Yu'er shared— were her brilliant green eyes. Many coveted her beauty and her husband. Ah Yue, despite his cold demeanour, adored her dearly for her gentle disposition. It could be said that they Kamitani Yue and Kamitani Mei made a very handsome couple.

Not one to stoke the flames of jealousy, Mei rarely made an appearance. But today her handmaids who normally brought her and Yu'er lunch were busy organizing a surprise birthday party for Yu'er. In honour of his recent good fortune, it would be a larger celebration than usual.

"Mei'er," called one of the cooks, "it's rare to see you here."

"Sansan!" She greeted the cook with enthusiasm, pulling Yu'er in front of her. "This is my youngest, Yu'er." This was the cook who had known her since she entered the clan and now regularly sent food up to them.

"Greetings ma'am."

"Oh none of that now," The cook laughed jovially, her belly jiggling with her. "I'm not old enough to be called ma'am yet! Call me Sansan-jie."

Understandably, the surrounding eavesdroppers all paled slightly in disdain. The suffix '-jie' means older sister and is typically used for older female friends or relatives. To hear an older woman calling herself such— well, what an eccentric person. Yu'er laughed awkwardly.

While his mother chatted with Sansan, Yu'er glanced around the dining hall. The windows on the south and east bathed the room in the warmth of the early morning sun. There were low squarish tables with cushioned seating for four spread throughout the spacious room, with capacity for maybe 50 people. It was then Yu'er noticed that more seats had been claimed from the time he and Mama entered. There were at least four-fold the number of occupants, which was strange since there was quite some time until lunch was ready. What's more, many of those occupants seemingly "minding-their-own-business" were stealing covert glances in their direction. It wasn't his imagination after all!