Entering from the living room, we reached the study Arthur had prepared for me. Two entire walls of bookshelves were packed with all sorts of books—a dazzling, overwhelming sight.

Arthur was very satisfied with his arrangement, standing with his hands behind his back, looking proud.

In both of my lifetimes, I had only ever seen this many books in a library, and for a moment, I couldn't tear my eyes away. Seeing the joy shining in my eyes, Arthur chin-tilted toward Xie Wanzhi like a mischievous child.

Xie Wanzhi gave him a playful, chiding look.

"Your father loved to read. Even though he was a soldier, he had this scholarly air about him. Every spare moment he had, he was reading. Hey, I don't know what he read, but whenever he was on the battlefield, he rushed forward faster than anyone!"

"He always said, 'When the war is over, I'll go take the college entrance exam.' I just thought, you’re his daughter, you must love reading just like him."

"I searched high and low for these books. It took a lot of effort to preserve them. At first, I didn't even know why I was doing it."

"But seeing you now, I know that everything has a divine purpose."

Chapter 13

Seeing the atmosphere becoming heavy, Xie Wanzhi quickly pulled me further inside, not forgetting to distract me by saying: "Books are wonderful, but you shouldn't stay up so late reading them. Come, let me show you your bedroom."

When I stepped into the bedroom, I froze in place, my eyes widening.

Double-layered French lace curtains hung by the window. In the center, a two-meter-wide bed was large enough to fit three or four of me without feeling crowded. Pale pink sheets were pressed over lace ruffles, and a soft, plush-looking rug covered the floor beneath the bed.

One entire wall was occupied by a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe. On a cabinet facing the bed, there was even a television set, and a fan stood near the foot of the bed.

I had never seen such a setup. Even in my previous life, when I married Julian, it had just been a change of new bed sheets.

"How is it? Do you like it?"

Xie Wanzhi watched me with eyes full of anticipation, opening the wardrobe doors one by one to reveal them packed full of various dresses and clothes.

One had to realize that a single ordinary dress cost four or five yuan; I couldn't even imagine how much a closet this large must have cost.

I still owed Julian over a thousand yuan. Now, I just felt a heavy mountain pressing down on me—I would never be able to finish paying it back, simply never.

"Auntie Xie, this... this is too much. You’ve been so extravagant, I don’t even know how I can ever repay you..."

My nose stung, and my eyes grew moist and hot.

"These are just a few pieces; it’s not nearly enough for you to wear. Don’t always be thinking about 'thanking' us or 'repaying' us. Just settle in peacefully. We treat you well because you are worth it."

Xie Wanzhi held my hand, her concern gentle and sincere.

Arthur also chimed in: "True. Your Auntie Xie was the daughter of a capitalist in her early years and studied abroad; she just loves these gor—gorge—gorgeous and pretty things, heh heh."

Under Xie Wanzhi’s sharp gaze, Arthur stood with his hands behind his back, pulling at the curtains and admiring them for quite a while.

Lying in the soft, comfortable bedding, I had a good night's sleep.

Capital, The Julian Residence.

Julian lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Eventually, he simply got up. Before three in the morning, he went to the police station, retrieved Victor, Selina, and the simple-minded boy, loaded them into a truck, and drove toward their village.

The road was rough and bumpy. The simple-minded boy wailed and made a mess in the car the whole way. Selina danced about in hysterical collapse, and Victor’s pipe-banging on the floorboards did nothing to stop them.

The young soldier who accompanied Julian frowned deeply, hesitating for a long time before speaking: "Captain Julian, what kind of people are these?"

Julian kept his face grim and gave no reply.

After two days of such noisy chaos, the vehicle finally drove into the village.

It was a remote mountain village. They rarely saw strangers throughout the year, let alone soldiers in uniform. Villagers stood on the roadside, house by house, watching the spectacle and pointing fingers.

"Isn't that the girl from the Xu family that the old village head adopted? Didn't she go to the city to live a good life? Why is she back!" The older woman’s voice was loud, carrying a hint of deliberate malice.

"The moment the village head got sick, you jumped ship and ran. Now that he’s been dead for over a month, you’re back? Are you here to visit the grave? Or to mourn?"

The old woman’s words were laced with venom. Selina, dirty and smelling foul, was surrounded and scolded; at that moment, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.

Victor, however, didn’t care at all. He led his simple-minded son along, carefree and at ease, looking as if he were a leader being escorted home by soldiers—an inexplicably arrogant air about him.

He was a local bully whom no one dared to provoke, so most people just watched coldly.

After dropping them off, Julian gave the new village head a few instructions. Before turning to leave, he asked: "Has Elena been back?"

"Elena?" The new village head was startled, then realized: "You mean Martyr Gu’s daughter? The one from Victor’s family?"

The new village head’s voice dropped very low, as if afraid of being overheard.

Julian’s brows furrowed involuntarily, and he nodded.

"She better not come back. Such a spirited girl—if she returned to this village, she wouldn’t have a chance at life. Not even counting others, just Victor and that simpleton son of his would be enough to break her."

"That girl and her mother... they are both tragic souls."

Chapter 14

One year later.

South City, Eastern Theater General Hospital, High-Dependency Unit.

I wore a beautiful floral long dress paired with a bright, tender yellow short-sleeved shirt, flying toward Evelyn’s hospital bed like a little butterfly.

I carefully placed a bouquet of flowers that still held dew into the vase at Evelyn’s bedside.

"Auntie Xie says that seeing fresh flowers can put people in a good mood. These flowers are so fragrant, Mom—if you wake up, you’ll be able to smell them right now."

I leaned my nose close to the flowers to inhale their scent, then took a book from my bamboo handbag and sat on the chair beside the bed, reading aloud slowly.

Although Evelyn had not yet woken up, her complexion was very rosy, and her limbs were no longer as cold as they used to be.

After finishing a chapter, I expertly helped my mother move her arms and legs.

By the time I finished all this, the afternoon had arrived. I put clean clothes on Evelyn, tucked her in, and prepared to leave.

Just then, I heard a faint, weak call—

"El... E... lena..."

I froze for a moment, turning mechanically, and locked eyes with Evelyn’s slowly opening eyes. Incredible tears welled up in mine instantly. I rushed out of the door, shouting in ecstatic joy: "Doctor! Dr. Sterling! My mom is awake!"

After calling for help, I ran back into the room, sobbing and throwing myself onto the bed. I cried tears of joy, asking anxiously: "Mom, do you feel any discomfort? Wait a moment, the doctor is coming right away."

Dr. Sterling and his medical team hurried into the ward. I was briefly isolated outside the door.

Before long, Arthur and Xie Wanzhi rushed over with Fu Shuning. Xie Wanzhi ran over to hug me, comforting me nervously.

"It’s okay, it’s okay. Since your mother is awake, it must be good news. Sterling is the best doctor; everything will be fine."

After a long, agonizing wait, Dr. Sterling walked out.

The four of us swarmed around him, asking for updates all at once.

Dr. Sterling pressed his hands down, a look of relaxed relief on his face: "The patient is awake. What’s needed now is observation, rest, and rehabilitation therapy."

He looked at me: "Your mother is fine now. Go inside and see her."

My pupils dilated instantly, and an indescribable joy washed over my face. I stood stunned for a few seconds before hot liquid welled up from my eyes.

It was the worry I had suppressed for so long, finally being released.

I could no longer hold back the excitement in my heart; I shoved the door open and rushed into the room. Looking at my mother smiling at me from the bed, the heavy stone that had been pressing on my chest finally dissipated into smoke.