Setting off again
In early July, the temperature in Fengcheng gradually rose. When I got off the plane, I was hit by a scorching heat. Fortunately, the wind was relatively cool and the air felt dry, unlike some southern cities where the air was sticky and made people feel damp as if they had been licked by a cow.
Lin Chaoying had texted her parents yesterday, saying she was bringing friends home for a few days. As they were leaving the terminal with their luggage, they spotted a middle-aged couple holding a sign that read "Welcome to visit."
Qin Ming smiled and said, "Your uncle and aunt seem very easy to get along with!"
Lin Chaoying waved to them and led the group over. Jiang Chuangu stood beside her, completely covered from head to toe, worried about being photographed in the crowded airport, making him look like a bodyguard.
Qian Fei pushed him aside, and Kong Yue followed. The two asked in hushed tones, "What should we call you? Uncle's surname is Lin, and Aunt's surname is what?"
Lin Chaoying explained, "My dad's name is Lin Guan, and my mom's name is Lin Yang. You can just call them uncle and aunt. What's there to be nervous about?"
Qian Fei chuckled and said, "You have quite a few trees."
Kong Yue patted her arm to remind her that there were elders in front of her and that she shouldn't say anything inappropriate.
Lin Chaoying was saddened to find that her parents had not only come to pick her and her friends up, but had even dyed their gray hair black. She thought that if her younger brother, Lin Chaotai, were still alive, he would have gotten along better with Qin Ming, given his unreliable personality, but he would have been more attached to Jiang Chuangu because of her.
Lin Guan and Lin Yang were overjoyed to see that their daughter had so many friends.
Qian Fei and Qin Ming were very sweet-talking and knew how to please their elders. On the way, one of them asked all sorts of questions while the other subtly coaxed the elders. The two worked together so well that Lin Guan and Lin Yang's mouths were dry from smiling all the way.
Kong Yue muttered to herself from the back seat, "These two should go and perform crosstalk."
Lin Chaoying, who hadn't been home for a long time, was greeted by a unique homey fragrance as she opened the door. Sunlight filled the entire house, giving her a sense of peace and warmth.
Her room was still decorated the same as before she left, with pink bear sheets and duvet covers, soft pillows, a row of rabbit plush toys on the bed, and photos and posters hanging on the table and walls.
Lin Guan said, "You guys rest and chat first. Your aunt and I prepared the dishes this morning and will cook them now. We guarantee you'll have a hot meal in less than an hour."
Qin Ming and Qian Fei were like accessories to the two of them, helping out in the kitchen and living room. Their sticky, lively energy made the whole house come alive, like it was Chinese New Year.
Kong Yue followed Lin Chaoying into the bedroom, while Jiang Chuangu took off his hat and mask and leaned against the bedroom door to listen to their conversation.
Kong Yue was shocked to see Jiang Chuan Gu's photo on the wall: "So you really are a die-hard fan of Jiang Chuan Gu! This poster even has an autograph!"
"And there's something even more outrageous." Lin Chaoying opened the cabinet door, revealing a floor-to-ceiling cabinet with six large compartments filled with album light sticks and piles of merchandise. She smiled, her eyes crinkling, "All of them!"
Jiangchuan Valley was somewhat stunned.
Kong Yue leaned closer, casually picked up a photo album, flipped through the dates, and asked, "When did you start liking it?"
Lin Chaoying thought for a moment, then pointed to the tallest album and said, "It must have been in 2023, when he was 22? I was drawn to his original songs when he won the Golden Melody Award and the Best Newcomer Award for Film. Later, I watched his movie 'Bird Has a Nest' and became a fan..."
She turned to look at Jiang Chuan Gu and said seriously, "I wasn't lying to you, was I? I've always been your fan!"
Kong Yue looked down and calculated the timeline, then suddenly realized, "So you liked him in 3023, and last year, in 3030, a car accident caused your soul to leave your body and travel back to 3017, to when Jiangchuan Valley had just debuted a year ago? Is that what you mean?"
Lin Chaoying: "So, after I came back, I kept asking Qin Ming to investigate who harmed my brother back then, and who sent me back 15 years. What was the point of doing this?"
Jiang Chuan Gu realized what was happening, grabbed the highest-priced album, and looked at the cover photo, which revealed a youthful innocence. He said, "Lin Chao Ying, actually, for 23 years you liked yourself, not me."
Lin Chaoying exclaimed "Ah!" and looked at him blankly.
Jiang Chuan Gu said, "Back then, you were the one who guided me to create the original song, and that song contained your emotions. You were the one who decided on the movie after you saw it, and you taught me how to present myself during my audition. So, your initial liking for me was just a way of loving yourself through me..."
Lin Chaoying hadn't thought of this angle.
Kong Yue frowned and retorted, "That's possible, but you don't need to belittle yourself. After all, you're the one who sang the song and acted in the movie. Maybe Lin Chaoying couldn't have trained someone else."
Lin Chaoying nodded, "Yes..."
She began searching her mind, trying to recall why she had initially taken a liking to Jiang Chuan Gu and decided to pursue him. Her memories were too distant, and it seemed that Lin Chao Tai was also involved... Oh well, her memories of anything related to Lin Chao Tai were all very vague.
Kong Yue closed the cabinet door and said cautiously, "Don't let Qian Fei see this later."
Lin Chaoying: "What happened?"
Jiangchuan Valley also expressed some dissatisfaction, "Exactly."
Lin Chaoying asked her curiously, "Why does Qian Jun dislike Jiang Chuan Gu?"
Kong Yue couldn't help but laugh. "Qian Fei genuinely dislikes all men. She thinks Jiang Chuangu is useless and fake, and Qin Ming is useless and pretentious." She explained softly, "Qian Fei is the youngest daughter in her family. Her father always wanted a boy, believing that male ability users would be more willing to sacrifice everything for Twelfth Street, unafraid of injury or death. He couldn't bear to have a girl. Unexpectedly, after having a girl as his first child, his second was also a girl. Her father was devastated. He talks about these things every time he drinks. Her older sister works in the information network department in Chongqing and has a strong personality, so her father doesn't dare complain to his eldest sister, only to his younger sister. This makes Qian Fei a doormat at home, and she has even more resentment towards men..."
Lin Chaoying heard about it for the first time, "but I felt that her family loved her very much, otherwise she wouldn't have such a straightforward personality, and she wouldn't be so bold and unpredictable in doing things."
"Of course!" Kong Yue glanced at Qin Ming and Qian Fei outside the door, who were busy at work, and became bolder. She said, "I went home with her once and found that her way of getting along with her father was very similar to how she gets along with her eldest son. She called him 'elder brother' all the time, which sounded very respectful, but in reality, she would argue with him, roll her eyes, and even point at him while shouting. Qian Fei is the same way at home. He calls her 'Dad' all the time, and then says some rebellious things, and then gets a good beating."
Lin Chaoying and Jiang Chuangu stood around her, and when they heard the last sentence, they couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Lin Chaoying asked again, "That's strange. Logically speaking, Qin Ming comes from a very good family, so why is he so sweet-talking? And why doesn't he seem arrogant at all?"
Kong Yue: "Their family's arrogance is all in his brother. His brother Qin Li's superpowers, whether it's mental strength, control, or attack power, are the strongest among his peers. At that time, in the centralized training camp in Yuzhou, the instructors, teachers, elders, and higher-ups all said that he was the genius of the Twelfth Street newcomers. So their family's attention is all on his brother. He only has a sense of presence at home when he causes trouble or acts spoiled."
Lin Chaoying offered a precise assessment of the two, saying, "Actually, these two are the kind of children that old people like the most. One is just right in his naivety, and the other has just the right amount of sweet talk."
She looked at the photo of the family of four on the table and thought: If Atai were here, he would definitely like her friends.
"Dinner's ready!"
"They're here!"
Several people helped tidy up the odds and ends on the table, helped carry bowls and chopsticks, and brought out new stools from the storage room. They chatted and laughed as they gathered around the table.
Lin Guan and Lin Yangxin felt a warm glow in their hearts as they watched.
During the meal, Qian Fei strongly recommended the large crispy chicken meatball soup in the center, saying, "These meatballs are so delicious! I just secretly ate a lot!"
Qin Ming nudged her with his leg, "You're so drool-worthy!"
Lin Chaoying said, "These meatballs are a specialty of our hometown. We eat them every year during the Lunar New Year. My parents specially prepared them this year!"
Lin Guan happily raised his glass, "Welcome to Fengcheng! Thank you for taking care of my child in Jiaozhou. Please come again often, and I'll cook you even more delicious food!"
Lin Yang touched Lin Chaoying's hand and said, "Your father is really happy today." As she spoke, her eyes reddened. "It hasn't been that long since we last met, and you've lost weight again."
"Mom!" Lin Chaoying coaxed, "Being thinner means I have a good figure!"
Lin Yang pointed to Jiang Chuangu next to her, "When he took off his mask just now, your dad and I recognized him as the boy in the picture on your wall! He's even more handsome in person than in the picture!"
Lin Chaoying quickly interrupted her, saying, "Mom! What do you mean by 'on the wall'!"
"Auntie!" Qian Fei exclaimed, "Lin Chaoying is so strong, do you feed her meat every day?!"
Lin Guan chimed in, "She used to be a real handful. She would stand up for others at school and fight with boys and girls. We thought that since her personality was hard to change, we should make her eat more to avoid losing fights. But we didn't expect her appetite to get better and better during puberty. She ate more than her younger brother. Luckily, she absorbs nutrients well and doesn't get fat. Otherwise, this little girl would be making a fuss about losing weight when she goes to college."
Qin Ming: "She didn't digest it well; she probably used up all her energy fighting."
Lin Yang said, "I used to think that since the little girl was so outspoken, I should have a younger brother to protect her. But I never expected that my brother would be bullied so often. As a result, A-Ying not only got into fights at her own school, but also had to go to A-Tai's school after school to stand up for her brother."
The two elderly people gradually became depressed when Lin Chaotai was mentioned.
Qin Ming immediately picked up his wine glass and started talking to Lin Guan, making the scene lively again.
After dinner, Jiang Chuan Gu and Lin Chao Ying took on the task of washing the dishes, while the other three cleaned up the restaurant's trash and tables, and discussed where to stay for the night.
As they were talking, Qin Ming's phone vibrated. He opened it and said, "Let's stay at Lin Chaoying's place tonight. Cen Ting sent me a message."
Cen Ting, Chi Jiang, and Feng Yang were arranged by the Twelfth Street to infiltrate Yanmen Village in advance to search for the whereabouts of the Ghost General Huang Sheng. After any further developments were discussed and agreed upon, the five of them would then enter the village to provide backup.
Kong Yue: "When will we enter Yanmen Village?"
Upon hearing "Yanmen Village," Lin Yang, holding a mop, asked, "Are you going to Yanmen Village? I'll have Aying show you around; she's been there before."
"Me?" Lin Chaoying herself didn't recognize the name. "Mom, I've never heard of this name before?"
“You silly child,” Lin Yang said, “Have you forgotten? A few years ago, Atai took you to that Wu Family Manor. When you came back, you even jokingly asked your dad why our family doesn’t have a manor.”
Wu Family Manor?
Lin Chaoying recalled some memories and said, "I seem to remember something. So Wu Family Manor was Yanmen Village?"
Qian Fei: "What? What villa?"
Lin Chaoying casually said, "It was just the home of a landlord who was a merchant. I remember that only two courtyards were open to tourists at the time. I just wandered around and there was nothing special about it."
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