Chapter 395: Mother’s favorite little boy
Several minutes later, Lian slowly withdrew his hand from Terry’s forehead, the lingering silver light dissolving into the dim air like mist.
Almost immediately, both Rory and Yuel stepped forward, drawn by the same magnetic thread of parental anxiety.
"How is he?" Yuel asked first, his voice tight.
Rory looked at Lian just as anxiously, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for the verdict.
Lian glanced down at the peacefully sleeping child, a gentle smile softening his features.
"The inherited memories have been successfully erased," he reassured them, his tone calm and steady. "When he wakes up, everything will be fine."
A simultaneous, heavy sigh of relief escaped both Rory and Yuel, the invisible suffocating weight lifting from the room.
Rory hurried to the bedside. She reached out and tenderly took Terry’s plump little hand in hers, stroking his soft skin with a quiet reverence. The more she looked at him, tracing the innocent contours of his face, the more impossibly precious he seemed to her.
Beside her, Yuel’s tense shoulders finally unknotted. The crushing anxiety that had wrapped around his chest all night slowly dissolved.
"When will he wake up?" he asked.
Lian considered it briefly. "About half an hour. He should come around naturally by then."
The underground chamber was still cold and damp, a stark contrast to the warmth returning to their hearts.
Yuel glanced around the bleak stone walls before looking back at Rory. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke softly, using her familiar name.
"Rory... the environment down here isn’t very comfortable."
He gestured toward Vincent and Vangar, who stood nearby. "Why don’t you go back upstairs first? Vincent and Vangar can stay with you. I’ll remain here to watch over Terry."
A tender expression crossed his face as he looked at the sleeping boy. "As soon as he opens his eyes, I’ll bring him straight to you."
Then, remembering something, he added casually, "Oh, and this auction house belongs to me. If you see anything you like while you wait, just send it to my communicator. I’ll have someone deliver it to you immediately."
Rory blinked, momentarily stunned. The auction house belonged to Yuel? First, the massive video platform, and now an underground auction house. Did every single business he owned operate in these dark, shadowy industries?
"No, thanks," she refused without a second thought. "I want to stay right here with Terry." Right now, all the treasures in the world couldn’t compare to her son.
Seeing the stubborn devotion in her eyes, Yuel didn’t push. With a fluid, casual wave of his hand, several vibrant vines emerged from the cracks in the floor, weaving themselves together into a plush, comfortable chair. He gestured for her to take a seat.
Rory smiled gratefully and sat down, nesting into the foliage.
Nearby, Vincent, Vangar, and Lian exchanged flat, speechless looks.
Really? The three of them were still standing there like pillars. Couldn’t he have spared a few more vines? He had enough flora to furnish an entire mansion—was creating three extra seats really going to deplete his cosmic reserves?
Yuel caught the collective weight of their resentful glares, but he ignored them entirely. His vines weren’t public property, and certainly not just anyone was entitled to lounge on them.
Settling back into the chair, Rory suddenly thought of something, a faint trace of worry lingering in her mind. She looked up at Yuel.
"Now that Terry’s inherited memories are gone..." Her voice softened, laced with a sudden vulnerability. "Will he still remember me?"
Yuel gave her a deeply reassuring nod. "Of course. Only the ancestral inheritance was erased." A faint, warm smile touched his lips. "He still remembers everything from when he was a fruit."
Those sweet, shared memories remained untouched. Hearing this, Rory’s heart finally found its anchor.
A moment later, curiosity sparked through her grief.
"So..." She looked at Yuel, trying to piece it together. "The business you mentioned earlier... was this what you came here to deal with?"
Yuel nodded, a flicker of apology crossing his face.
"It was. I originally planned to finish everything here first, and then come find you." He had guessed Rory would spend her evening exploring the auction house. His plan had been simple: deal with Layton, wrap up operations, and join her. But Terry’s unexpected, premature awakening had completely shattered that timeline.
Rory didn’t ask what dark business had brought him to the underground. She didn’t need to know. As long as Yuel and Terry were safe and beside her, nothing else mattered.
Time drifted by in the quiet chamber. Then, the tiny figure lying on the vine bed stirred.
"Terry?" Rory instantly leaped to her feet. She rushed to the bedside, carefully cradling his small hand.
His tiny fingers twitched against hers. Slowly, his long eyelashes fluttered open, revealing clear, bright eyes. The very moment he focused on Rory, his entire face blossomed into pure radiance.
"Mother!" His delighted, high-pitched cry echoed off the damp stone walls.
Rory immediately scooped him up, pulling his warm, small body tightly against her chest. "Terry!" She hugged him as if she would never let go. "I’m so happy you’re awake."
Terry looked up at her, his eyes wide and bursting with innocent excitement. He reached up with a chubby little hand, his soft palm gently cupping her cheek.
"Mother... I missed you so much," he whispered eagerly. "When I was sleeping, I worked really, really hard absorbing energy every single day."
He smiled proudly, seeking her approval. "I wanted to wake up as quickly as possible so I could see Mother." Then, he triumphantly hoisted both of his chubby arms into the air. "Look! I’m human now!"
His smile grew even brighter, practically glowing. "And I awakened a really amazing ability. From now on, Terry can protect Mother, too!"
Rory’s heart overflowed, a brilliant smile breaking across her face. "My Terry is incredible."
Unable to contain her love, she leaned down and planted a firm, adoring kiss right on his soft, chubby cheek. A loud, wet smacking sound echoed clearly through the quiet room.
Terry froze for half a second, his little brain processing the sensation. Then, his entire face erupted into the happiest, most radiant smile imaginable. He giggled so hard his eyes curved into beautiful little crescents.
Mother had kissed him. That meant Mother really, truly liked him. Only the children who were deeply loved by their mothers received kisses like that. Which meant... he was Mother’s absolute favorite little boy.
Watching the pure, heartwarming interaction from a few steps away, Yuel’s chest tightened with a profound warmth. He finally stepped forward, extending his arms with a soft look, intending to take Terry back into his own embrace.