Xiao Jie thought for a moment, recalling everything he had just seen. Then he hesitated before speaking: “I don’t know what she was doing.” Those neatly written numbers – he recognized each one individually, but put together, he couldn’t understand any of them. He saw that Bai Lian was wearing a middle school uniform, so she should be studying middle school material, yet what she wrote was so strange.
“Hmm,” Butler Lou wasn’t concerned about what Bai Lian was doing. He said gravely, “Ji Shaojun received education from the Mu family when he was young. Taking him back won’t cause any problems, but we’ve stayed in Xiangcheng for too long.”
Butler Lou felt there was no reason to stay here any longer. The outcome of this trip was unexpected, yet somehow made sense.
“What a shame…” Xiao Jie looked back at Ji Heng’s brightly lit courtyard. All three of Ji Heng’s children only seemed to have talents in arts. The situation in Jiangjing was too complicated.
Meanwhile, Yang Lin had just finished her part-time job.
She was walking towards the dormitory building with her head down, carrying her backpack, when a hesitant voice called out from ahead, “Xiao… Xiao Lin?”
That voice…
Yang Lin suddenly looked up. Three meters away, a middle-aged woman in a plaid shirt was looking at her uncertainly.
“Is it really you?” The middle-aged woman unconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear. “How have you been all these years?”
Yang Lin slowly lowered her head, seeing a seven or eight-year-old boy holding the middle-aged woman’s hand. She stared at the boy.
The middle-aged woman quickly pulled the boy behind her. “This… this is also your brother.”
“Ugly!” The boy peeked out from behind Yang Ma and made a face at Yang Lin. “She’s not my sister!”
Yang Lin’s dark eyes watched from behind her thick hair as she stared at the pair before her.
“Why are you two walking so fast?” A man’s deep voice called out.
The boy ran toward him, “Dad!”
“Hey – my precious son!”
Yang Lin didn’t look at the woman again. She walked forward, and soon she could hear the conversation behind her.
“Was that your ex-husband’s daughter? Listen, we just moved back, and there’s no room for her at our place. You’re not thinking of bringing her back for me to raise, are you?” The man’s voice was wary.
Yang Ma spoke softly, “I… I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Good, because with a father like that, she can’t be much better. Don’t even think about bringing her to my house – what if she’s a bad influence on Shanshan and Tianbao…”
Yang Lin quickened her pace and soon returned to the dormitory building. A pile of junk and garbage was stacked on the stairs.
Fourth floor. On the right, an elderly lady gently pushed open a crack in the door and whispered to her, “Your father seems to have come back…”
Early in the morning, Bai Lian saw Jiang Fuli’s blue car parked at the entrance of Qingshui Street. “What’s this?” She noticed a small thermos next to the driver’s seat.
After she was seated, Jiang Fuli started the car. His features were elegant as he spoke softly, “The chef made it. I brought a bowl for you too.”
Bai Lian played her English reading material while opening the lid to smell it. There was a faint medicinal scent. She identified blood-enriching herbs. Her pale fingers paused at the thermos opening, hesitating.
Bai Lian glanced uncertainly at Jiang Fuli beside her. Blood enriching? For just that small blood sample? Was it necessary?
At a red light, Jiang Fuli stopped and turned his head, his stern features lifting slightly: “What is it?”
“Nothing.” Bai Lian looked away. She remembered that Jiang Fuli had his blood drawn that day too. She sipped the soup slowly. Well, everything made sense now.
When they reached school, Bai Lian asked him to stop at the bus stop intersection. She waited until Jiang Fuli’s car left before walking leisurely to school.
When she got to class, few people had arrived. Neither her desk mate nor Ning Xiao were there. Bai Lian put down her bag and sat down. Seeing her phone light up in her bag, she checked it.
It was from the person Xiao Wu found who lived below Yang Lin— [Her father is back]
6 PM. Drip…
In the dark bathroom, Yang Lin gradually regained consciousness, her vision blurry. The bathroom door wasn’t fully closed. She could see faint light from outside, and hear Yang Jianping talking on the phone, “What… thirty thousand? Wasn’t it thirty thousand seven years ago? Fine, fine, come get her right away.”
Yang Lin suddenly became alert. Thirty thousand? Get her? She opened her eyes, held onto the sink to slowly stand up, and used all her strength to walk outside.
Outside was a mess. Yang Jianping finished his call and saw her come out. He crushed his beer can: “What about your homeroom teacher? Hasn’t she been supporting you? Why don’t you ask her for living expenses?”
Yang Lin suddenly laughed and spoke hoarsely: “Don’t go to Teacher Lu. I still have two thousand in my card. I’ll go withdraw it for you.”
“Hurry up then!” Yang Jianping threw the beer can at her head. Looking at her expressionless face, his excitement spread in his alcohol-glazed eyes, “You’re a monster too!”
Not even crying.
Yang Lin looked down at the lily under Yang Jianping’s feet. It was her lily. She thought about how Auntie Zhang always saved the best ones for her, now crushed under his feet.
With blood running down her head, she slowly opened the door to leave. Across the hall, the elderly lady opened her door a crack to watch her, wanting to say something but ultimately remaining silent.
Yang Lin looked away. She knew what the elderly lady wanted to say: “Things will get better when you grow up.”
Everyone kept telling her this. When she was nine, even the police said this to her. But how old was grown up? She walked slowly downstairs. She was already 19 now. She had been waiting to grow up since she was five. Was 19 grown up? Yet why could she still not see the end of this road?
She had walked such a long way, endured so much hardship, never afraid. Her only fear was that this road had no end. People on the street stared at her strangely. Some asked if she needed the police or hospital. Yang Lin ignored them all.
Her bangs were stuck to her forehead with blood. From blood loss, her vision was becoming unclear. Yang Lin walked to the street corner and mechanically withdrew the money – all her savings from work for college. She bought a bottle of white liquor, then went to the pharmacy for sleeping pills. The clerk saw her head and wanted to say something, but Yang Lin walked away. Outside, she calmly opened the bottle and put the pills inside. Finally, she went to a small shop and bought a knife.
Holding the knife and liquor bottle, she walked step by step back to the dormitory building.
In Ji Heng’s courtyard.
Ji Shaojun was leaving early for the northern city today. Ji Heng took advantage of Bai Lian’s after-school time to message her. Butler Lou was discussing precautions with Ji Shaojun and Shen Qing.
Ji Shaojun seemed confused, “But my students…” “At a time like this, you shouldn’t worry about that. I’ll help handle it,” Xiao Jie said meaningfully from the side.
Butler Lou lowered his head and slowly sipped his tea, this tea… He paused, this should be the tea from his memory. Back when the Mu family was at their peak, the old master would reward Butler Lou with it. Butler Lou naturally remembered this familiar taste.
“Where did this tea come from?” He suddenly looked up. Shen Qing looked over, “Should be from Young Jiang.” “Young Jiang?” Butler Lou heard this name for the first time, “Who is he?”
“He’s Ah Lian’s…” Shen Qing paused slightly. What was Jiang Fuli’s relationship to her? Beside them, Ji Heng blew out a smoke ring, speaking coldly, “Ah Lian’s friend.”
Ah Lian must be Bai Lian, Butler Lou thought in surprise. Bai Lian had such friends? He looked down at his teacup… or perhaps there was something wrong with his taste buds.
6:30 PM.
Xiao Jie spoke up, “We should go. Any later and we’ll miss tomorrow’s flight.” Hearing they were leaving, Shen Qing couldn’t help clutching Ji Shaojun’s clothes. The group went outside Qingshui Street, with Ji Heng only smoking and not speaking.
The Ren family hadn’t been told about Ji Shaojun leaving, though even if they were informed, they might not come. A silver business car was parked at the street entrance.
Shen Qing looked at the bus stop and said softly, “Why isn’t Ah Lian back yet?”
Butler Lou looked at Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun. He knew these two treated Bai Lian as their own child, so he advised, “Don’t tell her yet about you going to Jiangjing.”
Taking these two to Jiangjing was already Butler Lou’s limit. It would be troublesome if Bai Lian found out and wanted to go too. Thinking about how much these two needed to be taught in Jiangjing, Butler Lou felt another headache coming on.
A taxi slowly stopped across the street. Bai Lian usually waited for the number 12 bus, but hearing Ji Shaojun was leaving, she unusually took a taxi back.
Still in her blue and white school uniform. She only carried her phone. Her slender figure appeared on the long street, eyes downcast, appearing lazy yet refined, both obedient and somewhat mysterious.
The street had few cars but many evening walkers. Those who saw Bai Lian smiled and greeted her. Though she’d only been in Qingshui Street for half a year, more people knew her than knew Ji Heng.
Shen Qing’s expression immediately softened, “Ah Lian.”
“Grandfather, Aunt,” Bai Lian returned without her backpack, greeting them one by one, finally looking at Ji Shaojun and casually asking, “Uncle, why are you suddenly leaving?”
Butler Lou gave a low cough.
Ji Shaojun considered for a moment, then patted Bai Lian’s hair, his eyes deep, “In the second half of the year… I’ll explain everything properly then.”
Second half of the year? Xiao Jie looked at Ji Shaojun. Half a year might not be enough. He thought Ji Shaojun wanted to rely on his own ability to bring Bai Lian to Jiangjing in the second half of the year.
Bai Lian lowered her eyelashes, speaking unhurriedly, “Will you be safe?”
“Don’t worry.” Ji Shaojun’s lips twitched. He had too many things to give up in Xiangcheng, and leaving suddenly made him very reluctant, but he looked at Ji Heng… He narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, “Nothing will happen.”
“We should go now.” Xiao Jie politely reminded them.
Everyone got in the car.
As long as they were safe, that was fine. Bai Lian’s phone buzzed. She lazily raised her hand to say goodbye to Shen Qing and the others while lowering her head to unlock her screen. It was from that person earlier— [She took a knife upstairs]
Bai Lian’s expression froze. Yang Lin’s father had returned several times before, but nothing had happened each time. She had thought he would behave this time too.
She quickly typed: [Go check on her, I’ll be there right away] She returned to the page to order a car. Neither Xiao Wu nor Xiao Qi were around.
Nearby. Xiao Jie sat in the driver’s seat, about to start the car when from the direction of Qingshui Bridge, the roar of a sports car engine approached.
Xiao Jie instinctively looked up. He saw a flashy red sports car ahead and narrowed his eyes, waiting for this car to pass first. It was rare to see such a high-end car in Xiangcheng.
Just as he was thinking this, the car made a loud screech— Arrogantly stopping in front of Bai Lian.
The window lowered, and Xu Nanjing lazily rested his hand on the steering wheel, smiling at Bai Lian: “Little sister Bai Lian, what are you doing here?”
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