Li Xiumei crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, her smile so fake it could be squeezed for water. She glanced at Su Wantang every now and then, her eyes full of vigilance and defensiveness, as if afraid Su Wantang would steal something important.
Xiao Feng was even more direct, picking up a picture book and completely ignoring everyone. Occasionally, when she glanced at Su Wantang, her eyes were full of disdain and impatience.
Su Wantang felt a tightness in her chest, but she forced a calm expression. She turned to look out the window, trying to distract herself, but her mind was a jumbled mess. What if Qin Tianzhen really was her uncle? What about Zhang Hongwei? What would her grandparents think if they knew?
Lu Linchuan sat down beside her and noticed that she was in a bad mood. He reached out and placed his hand on the back of her hand, comforting her in a low voice: "Don't overthink it. When we get there, the truth will come out."
Su Wantang forced a smile and nodded in agreement. But deep down, she felt increasingly uneasy.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was somewhat quiet.
Yellow sand churned outside the window, and the train whistle blared, as if foreshadowing that this journey was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Qin Tian suddenly raised his head, breaking the silence, his voice low: "Xiao Tang, when we get back to our hometown, there are some old friends and old stories that I need to take you to see." He paused, his eyes darkening, "I hope... you're mentally prepared."
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat. She suppressed her unease and nodded gently, "Okay, I'll be ready." But the anxiety lingered in her heart like vines, impossible to shake off.
Li Xiumei snorted coldly, turned her head to look out the window, and her lips curled down, clearly displeased. Xiao Feng raised his eyes and said in a sarcastic tone, "Hmph, what's going on? So mysterious, so annoying!" Then he lowered his head back to look at the picture book, too lazy to pay any more attention.
Lu Linchuan frowned, glanced at Xiao Feng, and his eyes turned cold. He tightened his grip on Su Wantang's hand and murmured, "Ignore them. I'm here."
Su Wantang felt a warmth in her heart, leaned on his shoulder, and murmured softly, "Mmm."
She knew that as long as Lu Linchuan was there, she would feel at ease.
"Whether you are my niece or not, you saved my life, and my whole family should thank you properly," Qin Tian said.
"When we get to the Northwest, I'll treat you to braised beef and lamb spine hot pot," Qin Tian said with a smile.
Li Xiumei, standing to the side, was somewhat unwilling. She lowered her voice and tugged at Qin Tian's arm, "That stuff is so expensive! You won't even let me and Xiaofeng eat it, but you're giving it to her?!"
"If it weren't for Xiaotang, I wouldn't be sitting here properly right now. You need to be more sensible," Qin Tian scolded, his voice suppressed.
Li Xiumei was somewhat reluctant, but she didn't know what to say.
The train continued its journey, and the atmosphere inside the carriage grew increasingly oppressive.
Su Wantang closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, but the image of her grandmother's kind face and her uncle Zhang Hongwei's thick eyebrows and big eyes kept appearing in her mind.
She murmured to herself, "Who, in the end, is my true family?"
This question had been lingering in her mind.
As darkness fell outside the window, the train entered the desolate northwest. The dim lights of the carriage illuminated the complex expressions on everyone's faces. This journey had only just begun, yet turmoil had already stirred within each person's heart.
Qin Tian's fingers traced the old photograph, his eyes dark and unfathomable. (This chapter has been read. Please click to continue reading the next chapter!)
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