Chapter 2, Chapter 2: Confession
Feng Jinqiu refused to leave, as she hadn't achieved her goal yet. Yang Meiyu also refused to leave, having come all this way only to be kicked and gain nothing.
Seeing that Shi Ling was getting increasingly impatient, Yang Fuguo simply grabbed one of them by the arm and pulled them away.
Finally, it's quiet.
Qin Shiyuan was prepared to speak openly about the matter. As her mother, Shi Ling was the most qualified to know about her daughter's situation, but Shi Ling clearly had no intention of talking to Qin Shiyuan.
"Good girl, Yuanyuan, Mommy will take you to your room to rest."
Just as Qin Shiyuan was about to speak, Shiling covered her head and said, "Mom is a little tired and wants to lie down for a while. Yuanyuan, can you sleep for a while too?"
Qin Shiyuan: ...She was never coaxed like this when she was young and didn't know any better!
After thinking for a moment, she was pushed into the room by Shi Ling's force.
Perfect timing, she thought it through.
Unlike the bizarre shapes and sizes of the post-apocalyptic rooms reinforced by various supernatural powers, her room was quite square, with newspapers pasted on the walls. The room contained only a bed, a cabinet, a desk, and a chair, and the furnishings were very simple.
Qin Shiyuan drew back the curtains, paused, and slowly opened the window. Sunlight streamed onto her face, and fresh air filled her lungs.
Outside the window is a small flower garden with all kinds of flowers. Butterflies and bees linger among them. A gentle breeze blows, the flower branches sway, and a few kingfishers fly in from afar, chirping and twittering. It's a scene full of vitality.
Qin Shiyuan was somewhat stunned. He clenched his fist slightly and his body instinctively tensed up in a defensive posture, preparing for the sudden mutation of the butterflies, bees, flowers, and plants.
Nothing happened.
A little while later, a butterfly flew up to her, twirled around, and then fluttered away.
As Qin Shi watched the butterfly fly away, the wariness in his eyes gradually faded. He then let out a long breath, his back relaxed slightly, and he lowered his eyes in deep thought.
She wasn't a particularly moral person; in the apocalypse, people with strong morals generally don't live long.
It's certain that Qin Shiyuan really likes this place and is extremely excited to be able to explore the world before the apocalypse.
But she knew even more clearly that this kind of life was not hers.
After struggling for a long time, Qin Shiyuan chuckled in relief: "Shiyuan, I changed the beginning for you, consider it a thank you gift for using your body to experience a new world."
After saying that, she closed the window, drew the curtains, locked the door, took a deep breath and exhaled, then closed her eyes and tried to channel her supernatural power to her fingertips... but failed.
Her superpowers are gone!
Undeterred, she tried again and again. When she saw the golden dot condensing at her fingertips, Qin Shiyuan almost burst into tears of joy. It was wonderful! Although it was extremely faint, her superpower had not disappeared!
She can train again and reach her peak again!
Qin Shiyuan brought his right index and middle fingers together and drew a talisman in the air to summon the soul.
In the past, she could draw a summoning talisman array in a second, but this time, she used her supernatural power sparingly, and it took her a very long time to draw a complete summoning talisman.
Qin Shiyuan frowned. The golden runes of the Soul Summoning Talisman were dim, and the rank was even lower than when she first learned talismans. She seemed to hear Ji Ying's merciless mocking voice in her ear.
Oh, Ji Ying is her friend, a mysterious, powerful, and gossipy friend whom others cannot see.
Without further hesitation, Qin Shiyuan activated the talisman and whispered, "Shiyuan, appear!" After waiting for a while without any response, she whispered again, "Shiyuan, appear!" Still no response. Clearly, the summoning of the soul had failed.
Qin Shiyuan was somewhat confused.
Ever since Ji Ying started teaching her the art of talismans, she has never made a mistake in drawing talismans using her supernatural abilities without a teacher!
Even if the talisman drawn with supernatural abilities is of low rank, it will never be ineffective!
Moreover, this was Shi Yuan's room, so the summoning of the spirit should have gone smoothly, but in fact, the summoning failed.
Qin Shi couldn't find the reason, and of course, she couldn't draw a second soul-summoning talisman.
She didn't dwell on it; instead, she lay half-reclined on the bed, recalling the story.
She just saved Shi Ling, which means that Shi Yuan's identity is likely no longer part of the original villainous female supporting character storyline, so the male and female leads in Beicheng have nothing to do with her.
If that's the case, then it seems she doesn't need to recall any plot details, since the entire plot revolves around the male and female leads.
Wait a minute, Qin Shiyuan suddenly remembered a scene: one day, after living in Beicheng for half a year, the female lead came to find her and gave her a red egg with a smile.
What did the female lead say again?
"Shiyuan, congratulations! You have a younger brother! Your stepfather's family has a new member!"
Qin Shiyuan slowly sat up straight, which means that Yang Fuguo had a son six months later.
Even if he divorced and remarried Shi Ling without stopping, six months later, Yang Fuguo's son was only six months old and still in his mother's womb!
She suddenly remembered the way Yang Guofu's eyes darted around when he mentioned he had a child.
The scumbag cheated on me!
Qin Shiyuan immediately stood up, his hand already on the doorknob, but hesitated. Without any evidence, would Shiling believe him?
Never mind, I'll just tell Shi Ling my true identity first!
She opened the door and met Shi Ling's eyes, which held emotions that Qin Shiyuan couldn't understand.
Shi Ling was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously smiled and asked in a soft voice, "Are you hungry? I'll make you a bowl of noodles."
"I'm not hungry," Qin Shiyuan called out to the person.
Shi Ling stared at Qin Shiyuan and said softly, "I'm not hungry, but I can eat something. I'm a very good cook." After saying that, she lowered her head and walked unsteadily toward the kitchen.
Qin Shiyuan followed, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Shi Ling and Mian's back, "You can tell, I'm not Shiyuan." His tone was certain.
Shi Ling stopped kneading the dough and stood with her back to Qin Shiyuan for a long time.
"I can help with the soul-summoning ritual to bring Shi Yuan back." Qin Shi Yuan felt that Shi Ling truly deserved to be called the white moonlight; even when facing her, the one who had usurped the throne, she could still maintain her composure.
Shi Ling turned around and stared blankly at Qin Shiyuan. Her expression was strange, a mixture of sadness and relief without a trace of resentment.
Qin Shiyuan soon learned the reason.
“Yuanyuan, she is a soulless person.” It was a difficult sentence to say.
Qin Shiyuan was surprised. No wonder she couldn't summon Shiyuan's soul. Shiyuan was actually a soulless person!
Shi Ling smiled bitterly: "I actually wanted to make the best of a bad situation." So she subconsciously tried to avoid it.
"I noticed it when you saved me."
She desperately hoped that a miracle had truly occurred, but a person who had just regained consciousness would never have such sharp eyes.
But she really wanted to see what Yuanyuan looked like alive.
She also saved her.
In that instant, she felt that if her Yuanyuan were a normal child, she would be just as brave and bright!
"Thank you for letting me see what a living Yuanyuan looks like." She stepped forward and reached out to trace Yuanyuan's outline. "I often think about what it would be like if my Yuanyuan could regain her senses and call me 'Mom'."
"Now, I can say that my dream has come true."
"You don't hate me?"
Shi Ling smiled bitterly: "If Yuan Yuan were a normal person, even if she were really an idiot, I would risk my life to prevent anyone from taking her body away."
But Shi Yuan is a soulless person, just as that heartless man from the Wu family said, Shi Yuan is a hollow wooden stake.
She had broken down and given up in despair, but in the end she couldn't bear to give up.
Even a wooden stake doesn't matter, she wants her daughter!
She hesitated for a moment and said, "Your situation is special. If others find out, the consequences will be unimaginable."
“If you want, you can live as Yuan Yuan,” she said. “As long as I don’t say anything, no one can question you! Not even the Wu family!”
She didn't ask Qin Shiyuan about her background, but only asked her, "Do you have anywhere you want to go?"
Qin Shiyuan shook his head: "Not for now."
Shi Ling's eyes lit up with anticipation: "Then, how about you stay here temporarily as Yuan Yuan?"
Qin Shiyuan nodded: "Okay." From now on, she would be Shiyuan.
Shi Ling breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes red, and said, "I'll make you some noodles, and I'll also poach an egg for you, no, two eggs!" Hearing this, Shi Yuan felt a pang of sadness.
In the neighboring courtyard, Yang Fuguo casually comforted his mother for a few moments before leaving. However, instead of going home, he avoided people and went to the end of the village.
"Smack!" Shi Yuan slapped the stacked flying insects flat with her palm. So weak, weaker than her, that's good.
Shi Ling came out carrying a bowl of noodles and habitually took Shi Yuan's hand to lead her outside: "Yuan Yuan, let's go wash our hands." After saying that, she paused for a moment and let go of her hand somewhat awkwardly.
"Thank you." Shi Yuan smiled, washed her hands clean, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating the noodles.
The noodles were chewy and slightly springy, the poached egg was crispy and savory, and the greens were tender and smooth.
Shi Yuan's taste buds, which had been poisoned by various expired foods and mass-produced foods after being purified by mutated plants and animals in the apocalypse, were deeply soothed. She couldn't help but sigh softly, "This is what people should eat!"
She suddenly remembered how Ji Ying had looked at her with disdain when she was enjoying the wine made from mutated plants: "You actually enjoyed it?"
She shook her head, looking sympathetic: "I've never had anything good to eat."
She didn't agree with that back then, thinking that Ji Ying couldn't get a taste of her sourness.
I can't believe it's true!
She's just ignorant!
Shi Yuan slurped up a big mouthful of noodles, looking satisfied: "So delicious!"
These three simple words brought tears to Shi Ling's eyes; it was the voice she had longed for for over twenty years!
"I can cook many other delicious things too, and I'll cook them all for you!"
"Okay, thank you!"
Shi Ling shook her head; between them, it was truly unclear who should thank whom.
In fact, looking at Yuanyuan's vivid expression, she felt that perhaps it was a sign of God's mercy on her!
She couldn't help but remind them, "Most people here are good." After a pause, she added, "When there's no conflict of interest."
“There are some who aren’t so good,” she said. “Don’t associate with Widow Wu by the reeds at the end of the village. She has a complicated past, and it’s not good for a young girl to get involved with her.”
"Don't have any open contact with the people in the livestock shed at the foot of the mountain."
"The two sons of the Yang family at the east end of the village are both good-for-nothings, but they won't cause trouble in this village. However, if you run into them, it's best to avoid them."
Shi Ling talked a lot about the Qinglinwan Brigade, and Qin Shiyuan asked some questions, but neither of them talked about their own affairs.
Shi Yuan has a very good impression of Shi Ling.
In the original timeline, Shi Ling was seriously injured. She exchanged a house and money for a letter of introduction between her and Shi Yuan. After leaving Qinglin Bay, she managed to make arrangements for Shi Yuan while she was still in good health before passing away.
Shi Ling must have been well aware that the Yang family was unreliable, yet she still married Yang Fuguo with Shi Yuan by her side.
What exactly happened more than ten years ago? Why did Shi Ling take Shi Yuan away from Beicheng?
Since Shi Ling didn't say anything, Shi Yuan naturally wouldn't ask, but she guessed it had a lot to do with Shi Yuan's situation.
Regardless, she'll expose Yang Fuguo's true colors as a scumbag.
After a few days of getting used to it, she began to follow Yang Fuguo. Thanks to the skills she had developed in the apocalypse, tracking someone like Yang Fuguo was a piece of cake, even for her when she wasn't at her peak.
Shi Yuan watched as Yang Fuguo entered the mud-brick house next to the reeds with practiced ease, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
She hates traitors the most!
However, this is not the end of the world, and you can't kill people indiscriminately. Fortunately, she remembered that Ji Ying had told her that Yang Fuguo's behavior was called having an affair, which was a crime in this era.
Between immediately setting off a fire and making a scene to attract attention to Yang Fuguo's infidelity and telling Shi Ling about it first so she could make a decision, Shi Yuan chose to respect Shi Ling's decision.
Shi Yuan quietly left to find Shi Ling, who was at work. There were many people there, so if Shi Ling chose to catch them in the act, there would be plenty of witnesses.
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