Huo Qi walked with Lin Ruanruan along the snowy roadside. The farmhouse where his grandparents played cards was not far away, about a ten-minute walk away.

Sure enough, they could already see the brightly lit farmhouses across the wooden bridge. Inside, there were not only people shouting at mahjong tables, but also people singing karaoke with microphones, and many children throwing firecrackers around.

Huo Qi chuckled. No wonder A Ruan was afraid to come over; this was hell for socially anxious people.

Lin Ruanruan listened to the whistling wind and the lively atmosphere of the farmhouse blending together, "It's like a melody, the wind and snow singing in my ears."

Huo Qi patted her head and said, "You're quite good at making connections. You must write very well."

Lin Ruanruan smiled without saying a word, but she was a little nervous inside. She really did hear the ethereal singing voice drifting from the snowflakes. It seemed that she would have to take some time to visit a psychological clinic when she returned to Nan Province.

She thought she was all better...

Unable to resist clutching Huo Qi's clothes, she smiled and looked in the direction of the farmhouse, knowing she had to hurry and call her grandparents home.

When the two found their grandparents' mahjong table, the elderly couple had just finished a round. Hearing that distinguished guests had arrived, they stopped playing mahjong, quickly tidied up, and went home with them.

When they got home, they were greeted with familiar compliments, and the grandparents were flattered and overwhelmed by the greetings from Mo Jiang.

Mo Jiang repeatedly praised the Lin family as an excellent enterprise, saying that Mr. Lin Guoqing was not only an outstanding veteran, but also a master at educating his children.

Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin wanted to give Mo Jiang some local produce, but Mo Jiang repeatedly declined, saying that he could not accept even a needle or thread from the people.

Before leaving, he patted Lin Ruanruan on the shoulder and said, "Daughter, study hard in the future so you can contribute to the development of our hometown!"

Lin Ruanruan smiled sweetly, "I will try my best."

Grandma Lin had originally wanted Mo Jiang and his group to stay for dinner, but after much persuasion, they only said they had come to pay their respects for the New Year and would leave soon. In the end, the whole family, along with Huo Qi and Fang Si, saw them off at the door.

The car with snow chains on its tires started up with a roar, coming with great fanfare and leaving with great noise.

People from the Lin family village who had nothing to do all came to join in the fun. Occasionally, a few people would say something sarcastic, but Grandpa and Grandma Lin would pretend not to hear it.

Standing behind her family, Lin Ruanruan's eyes were not as innocent as usual; she looked at the shoulder that Mayor Mo had just patted with disgust.

After seeing everyone off, she went straight upstairs.

Huo Qi frowned and looked at Lin Ruanruan's back with concern. Ruanruan's emotions had clearly been a bit off just now.

Fang Si patted Huo Qi on the shoulder, "It seems we need to prepare in advance."

Huo Qi nodded with a stern face and discussed the next steps of the plan with Fang Si in a low voice.

Grandpa and Grandma Lin watched the two young people talking without disturbing them. Grandma Lin frowned, "Why is Mayor Mo doing this at this time..."

Grandpa Lin shook his head. "Since we don't know anything, then we don't know anything. As long as it doesn't affect Ruan Ruan, that's fine."

Qi Xiaozhi and Fang Si must have other purposes for coming to Linjia Village, but he could only assume they were there to have fun.

Meanwhile, Mo Jiang, who was sitting in the car, closed his eyes and rubbed his fingers together, saying, "It's a pity she's a daughter of the Lin family."

If he had a girl like Lin Ruanruan under his command, he could have broken into Nan Province much sooner.

The secretary, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke up: "Mayor, it seems that Young Master Huo and Young Master Fang are unaware of the background of the Apple Foundation. Are you still letting them invest and donate?"

Mo Jiang didn't open his eyes. He said calmly, "It's better not to know. Even if the truth comes out, it will drag Fang Guowei and the Huo family down with them. It won't do us any harm."

...

in the bathroom,

Lin Ruanruan squatted on the ground, hugging her legs, her fingers trembling uncontrollably. She couldn't control it at all. Various sounds rang in her ears, as if everything around her had come to life and was vying to share something with her.

Uncontrollably, memories of the days in the orphanage flooded his mind, and a smooth, slippery sensation ran down his face.

'This child is the prettiest of all the girls; look how beautiful her eyes are.'

'Mr. Li, this girl has really beautiful eyes…'

"If you like, just wait for me at the usual place tonight..."

...

"don't want……"

Lin Ruanruan covered her ears, her eyes filled with an indistinguishable mix of water and tears.

"don't want……"

She couldn't help but dig her eyes out with her hands, "I'm not pretty, I'm going to gouge my eyes out, gouge them out..."

Boundless darkness enveloped her; suffocation, fear, helplessness, and loneliness filled her entire soul, which was distorted in the dark space.

She had almost forgotten about it, she was already dead, so why did these things still follow her?

Just as she felt the pain in her eyes, there was a knock on the door, and Huo Qi's slightly worried voice came from outside, "Aruan? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

He had just finished talking with Fang Si when he realized that A Ruan hadn't come down since she went up. His heart clenched involuntarily; he had a feeling that something had happened to A Ruan.

Seeing no response from inside, he quickly knocked again. "Ruan Ruan? May I come in?"

Fresh air entered her lungs again, and her brain was finally able to think again. Lin Ruanruan quickly stood up from the ground, but due to low blood sugar, her vision went black and she almost fell again. She barely managed to steady herself.

"Brother Huo, I just fell asleep, I'll be right out!"

She hurriedly dried herself with a bath towel, got dressed, and opened the bedroom door.

Huo Qi frowned as he looked at Lin Ruanruan's wet hair, which was still dripping water droplets that left marks on the floor. "Did she just fall asleep?"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!