At this point, Hua Lanshi looked at Chang Le with a complicated expression and said:

“That day, I stood in front of you two, but I was quickly knocked unconscious. I don’t know what happened that day, but when I woke up, I saw you and Mother covered in blood.”

"Mom, nothing... will happen."

"No! Go away! You're not, you're not my daughter! Go away, go away!!!"

Standing amidst the corpses, Xiao Changle and the terrified Wei Zi came into view. Blood stained the entire back street, a horrifying sight. Even now, Hua Lan still feels a chill when she thinks about it.

He looked at Chang Le cautiously and asked, "Do you remember what happened that day?"

Chang Le's eyes were deep and dark. Suddenly he laughed: "I remember one thing. That day, I scared her."

...

As those people rushed over, a row of vines, more ferocious than swords and knives, had already risen behind Xiao Changle.

However, Wei Zi and Hua Lanshi shielded her behind them.

Neither of them had any fighting ability. Even though Hua Lanshi knew some martial arts, she was no match for them. She was hit on the head and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

Wei Zi turned pale with fright, but a mother's instinct is strong. She fiercely protected Xiao Chang Le behind her and confronted the person opposite her.

Those men roughly dragged her over, tied her up, and tried to grope her.

Wei Zi carried several secret weapons for self-defense, but the ones that were triggered were probably not powerful enough; the powerful ones required a life-threatening situation to trigger.

These people were careful and tactful, ensuring that Wei Zi was not in mortal danger but was still humiliated.

They harbored inappropriate thoughts towards Wei Zi, who was on the verge of collapse in extreme fear.

Amidst screams, someone suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Dozens of vines quickly emerged from the darkness, swiftly piercing through the bodies of the people on the periphery.

Blood splattered, staining the drizzle red.

Before those people could react to the sudden change in the situation, the small figure weaved through the vines, dancing with them as thunder roared and lightning arcs danced wildly in the sky, like a bloody waltz.

Wei Zi was having difficulty breathing and was beginning to hallucinate. When she saw the man's outstretched hand, she screamed in terror.

"kick--"

A small hand, wrapped in vines, passed through the man's body and stopped in front of Wei Zi.

Blood splattered all over Wei Zi's face and body, and she froze.

Xiao Changle kicked the man to the ground, using his injured back as a shield, and forced a smile despite his blood-covered face:

"Mom, nothing... will happen."

That was the first time she called Wei Zi "Mom".

but……

"Get away—" Wei Zi pushed her away.

Xiao Changle stood there, stunned. Wei Zi, frantically hugging herself with one hand and waving the other, cried hysterically, "Go away! Go away! You're not, you're not my daughter! My daughter is gone!!"

A bolt of lightning illuminated the sky above Xiao Changle's head, and her blank expression.

Xiao Changle took a step back.

"Madam! Young Master! Miss!"

"Azi!!"

Hua Lihan arrived with her men, sheltered the out-of-control Wei Zi in her arms, and comforted her. The others cleared away everyone around them and took them away.

When Xiao Hualan saw Xiao Changle's injury, she hesitated timidly, about to say something, but Zhou Liang and his men had already taken her away.

Hua Lihan, holding the sleeping Wei Zi, called out to Xiao Chang Le.

The cold-hearted, aloof man looked at her, his eyes red, and solemnly said:

"Thanks."

Xiao Changle wasn't moved at all; she only felt that the rain today was exceptionally cold.

What happened next overlapped with the memories in "The Brocade Zither".

Overwhelmed by shock, Wei Zi's old illness relapsed, and she returned to her previous state, muttering incoherently about her daughter Ningning and refusing to let anyone other than Hua Lihan get close.

Hua Lihan ordered that Xiao Changle be moved outside the main building.

Xiao Changle's situation suddenly became awkward.

Fortunately, Hua Wuyan was oblivious to the awkwardness of those around them, and Hua Xiange didn't care about the Hua family's expressions. The two of them didn't want to stay in the oppressive main building, so they came to Xiao Changle's place every day to keep her company.

With them by her side, Xiao Changle wasn't lonely, but the rain that night was truly heartbreaking.

Xiao Chang Le was no ordinary six-year-old. She was perceptive, insightful, intelligent, and gentle. After that night, she understood—

Before finding her biological daughter, Wei Zi was unable to truly give other children maternal love;

Hua Lihan didn't love her; he was only grateful to her for temporarily curing Wei Zi.

She wasn't the daughter of this family; she was just a useful guest.

Xiao Changle reached out and hid the brightly colored Rangoon creeper that had been soaked by the rain.

However, the vast manor could not accommodate this little girl in the end. Wei Zi's condition worsened, and Hua Lihan had no choice but to take her for treatment.

Wei Zi became obsessed, believing that Ning Ning would leave them if she saw Chang Le upon her return, and was determined to send Chang Le away.

Hua Lihan thought this was a good solution and told Xiao Changle:

"You are very talented. I can help you apply for a spot in the Junior Army and cover all your future expenses. I will send you back to the orphanage first, and once the application is approved, I will send someone to take you into the army. Do you agree?"

Looking at his indifferent expression, Xiao Changle felt the frost in her heart crack, and cold, bone-chilling blood flowed out.

"You...you don't want me anymore?" Xiao Changle didn't cry, but her voice trembled.

Hua Lihan shook his head: "I didn't abandon you, I just need to change my identity to get along with you."

Xiao Changle stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into a mocking laugh. The little girl's laughter was both tragic and absurd: "Listen to this, hahaha! Listen to this! Everyone says they won't abandon me, but what happened?! You're all the same!!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!